Subwoofer Positioning material
- Thread starter Maximo
- Start date
You could always put your subwoofer at your listening position, crawl around the room on you hands and knees (barking like a dog (Optional)). All the while playing a low frequency sweep. When you arrive at a postion that sounds best, X marks the spot. Stop barking like a dog (if you chose that option) get off your knees and place the subwoofer on the X.
If you decide that's too much trouble, super chunk a corner, place the subwoofer in that corner.
Rope
If you decide that's too much trouble, super chunk a corner, place the subwoofer in that corner.
Rope
Do you own Godzilla? Its menu music is perfect for this. Plus, it's already looped.
If you're going to use your ears to determine the best spot, I'd suggest getting help. Sit in your listening position and have a friend move the sub around. I don't subscribe to the theory of crawling around while the sub is in the listening position unless your listening position is in a corner or up against a wall.
If you're going to use your ears to determine the best spot, I'd suggest getting help. Sit in your listening position and have a friend move the sub around. I don't subscribe to the theory of crawling around while the sub is in the listening position unless your listening position is in a corner or up against a wall.
Your plan is very weak. You cannot just loop one BluRay score with the sub in each location and get an accurate understanding of how each location sounds different. First off, you absolutely MUST calibrate the sub after moving it because one location could be 6dB SPL louder than the previous dueto acoustics while performing much worse in terms of balance, decay, and standing waves. You could easily choose the worst location due to the higher SPL without realizing the bigger issues.
If you don't already own a calibration solution (TrueRTA, Mic, Preamp), then I would strongly encourage you to look into some sort of solution - even a cheap SPL meter from Radio Shack and some downloaded test tones is a better choice than relying on your ears.
- Take the time to calibrate the sub when you move it.
- Listen to it for a day with a long list of different music and movie content.
- Take copious notes on your experience in each location.
- Make a chart of the key audible characteristics of the sound: Tightness vs. Bloat; Balance; Realism; Blending in with the rest of the sound; Extension; Impact; Decay; etc.
Then choose the best two locations and compare them again using the same criteria.
This could take a few weeks to get absolutely right, but it will be worth it in the long run.
Another option is to buy TrueRTA level 4 ($99), a calibrated mic ($39), a preamp ($49), a cable ($10), and a mic stand ($20) and use them properly to know for sure which location is most ideal in a matter of one evening. Personally, I would place the sub in the listening location at ear level then move the mic around to the various placement locations and quickly get an idea of which is best.
If you don't already own a calibration solution (TrueRTA, Mic, Preamp), then I would strongly encourage you to look into some sort of solution - even a cheap SPL meter from Radio Shack and some downloaded test tones is a better choice than relying on your ears.
- Take the time to calibrate the sub when you move it.
- Listen to it for a day with a long list of different music and movie content.
- Take copious notes on your experience in each location.
- Make a chart of the key audible characteristics of the sound: Tightness vs. Bloat; Balance; Realism; Blending in with the rest of the sound; Extension; Impact; Decay; etc.
Then choose the best two locations and compare them again using the same criteria.
This could take a few weeks to get absolutely right, but it will be worth it in the long run.
Another option is to buy TrueRTA level 4 ($99), a calibrated mic ($39), a preamp ($49), a cable ($10), and a mic stand ($20) and use them properly to know for sure which location is most ideal in a matter of one evening. Personally, I would place the sub in the listening location at ear level then move the mic around to the various placement locations and quickly get an idea of which is best.
I'm not talking level calibration, I'm talking response.DIYer said:
The sub could act dramatically different out in the open, at the listening position, than in a corner or up against a wall. When he crawls around the room trying to determine where it sounds best, he's basing that on the sub's location at that time. So when he moves the sub to where it sounded best and sits where the sub was, it's not guaranteed to sound the same.
Actually, Zing, you have it exactly backwards. In the listening position the sub acts just like your ears would. And in the placement position your ears act exactly as the sub will in that position. Basically, the crawling around approach perfectly mimmicks the real placement results - perfectly.
The only real issue is getting the big sub at ear level.
The only real issue is getting the big sub at ear level.
malsackj
Well-Known Member
Test tones for everyone.
M-Audio has some available.
http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=med ... how=tones1
M-Audio has some available.
http://www.m-audio.com/index.php?do=med ... how=tones1
Maximo
Well-Known Member
Ok, in all honesty, I am going to be moving all of my furniture out of my living room to have the carpets cleaned. (darned pleasure swing).
So I can actually realistically do the subwoofer thing. My questions is, does furniture make that much difference in the base response? If nothing else I can move everything else, except my main seat (leather couch) back into the room and place the sub there. Pics tonight I swear.
So I can actually realistically do the subwoofer thing. My questions is, does furniture make that much difference in the base response? If nothing else I can move everything else, except my main seat (leather couch) back into the room and place the sub there. Pics tonight I swear.