Setup options for subwoofer with main speakers

veindoc

veindoc

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Just curious as I consider all options what the majority think of placing a single subwoofer between speakers vs. a side or rear wall. In the 80s I had Celestion sl600 with a velodyne sub. . Like now I was unable to place sub between speakers. Is it blasphemy for true holographic soundstage to have sub on rear or side walls
I would like opinions on seamless integration of a small REL or JL with perhaps something like Raidho D1 or my current TAD CR-1. Although I may end up with just a larger full range speaker I still want to explore all
options. thnx very much
Nick
 
Personally, after experimenting with one, two, and three subs, and with all positioning; I prefer the front soundstage, near my two main flankers, on either side but I prefer near them two front corners.

Why? Because to my ears it's where they excite more room's modes and integrate best with the rest. Near a corner a subwoofer becomes three-dimensional; by exciting the front/side walls, and floor, in them three directions.

If only using one sub, the best near/front corner is the one alongside the longest side wall without obstruction. ...My experience.
 
I just setup a JL F110 with a pair of Raidho X1's. I'm using the front left corner and had to really play with the level and phase. It's been my experience that if I'm using a proper sized sub for my room that I can place it just about anywhere and make the not present in the room. The key for me is to use my ears and close my eyes. If I can hear the sub and not the music then I adjust the phase and volume. Once I get it correct it's very obvious and you would know where the sub is at if you couldn't see it. If you hear the sub turn it down.
 
Thnk David, home theater I want to hear and feel sub. For my music I think you said it best u want it to disappear almost.
My options mainly allow sub behind my listening chair and this appears to be the least desirable option

Nick
Design Audio Video said:
I just setup a JL F110 with a pair of Raidho X1's. I'm using the front left corner and had to really play with the level and phase. It's been my experience that if I'm using a proper sized sub for my room that I can place it just about anywhere and make the not present in the room. The key for me is to use my ears and close my eyes. If I can hear the sub and not the music then I adjust the phase and volume. Once I get it correct it's very obvious and you would know where the sub is at if you couldn't see it. If you hear the sub turn it down.
Click to expand...
 
Northstar is giving you excellent advice. I would only add that there is no "formula" concerning subwoofer integration. Every situation is different. So, there is no substitute for experimenting. One other thought as you investigate alternatives in speakers, the more bass you get from your mains, the easier the integration will be. Just make sure whatever subwoofer you choose has very flexible controls (most do, some better than others).
 
For a music system, I definitely recommend 2 subs. One for each channel.

I find that the closer to the main speaker that you can put the sub the easier it is to integrate. Certainly not impossible farther away, but easier.

I think ideally that putting each sub next to each main speaker on the outside side is the way to go. But as they said above, every room is different and you have to deal with what you have.

And for music, if you can tell the sub is turned on, the sub is too loud. It constantly amazes me how little the subs need to play to really add to the music experience of a system.
 
the professor said:
... It constantly amazes me how little the subs need to play to really add to the music experience of a system.
Click to expand...

True, my two subs are set at just a fraction over 9:00 o'clock (Gain),
and my pre/pro's subwoofer volume level at minus 9dB.
The two subs work together in tandem as one, mono signal. ...But stereo subs are cool too.

Two subs are better than a lonely one, but that lonely one is easier to adjust (Gain, Phase).

I should mention this too: I manually set the Gain of my two subs with a test disc, the balance between them both (very important), their Phase, and I let Audyssey MultEQ XT32 do the rest (distance, overall volume level to match the mains, and digital EQuing with FIR digital filters, of course).

When listening strictly to stereo music, and engaging the two subs (below 80Hz), I coulld NEVER detect if the subs are active or not, and even less tell where the low bass frequencies are coming from. ...That's now how well integrated they are with my two front mains.

For years and years I couldn't be ever satisfied. ...And I know why; the rooms. It is absolutely impossible to have a near perfect sounding room.
It finally took some digital Equing integrated into my system (room included) to dial in (fine tuning) things much more correctly.

Is it perfect? ...What is perfection? ...But it's much better than all the struggling years prior to that.

<<>> Some audio purists will NEVER use digital EQ into their sacred two-channel hi-fi stereo systems, even less a subwoofer.
I totally understand, and I myself have another secondary system dedicated for strictly purity.
But my main system is tweaked to sound more involving; that's all.
 
I hope to audition the Genesis5.3 which allow for self amplified subs as part of my desire to maintain a small footprint. The concern is how complicated it may get to dial in all the adjustability of these speakers which can go down to16. I hope to hear them within the next 2-3 weeks.

Nick
 
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