Subwoofer between speakers?
After reading through a thread relating to the equipment rack between speakers, I assume that the sub between the speakers is also a no-no?
My speaker stands are 24.5" high, and my sub is 24" high, so I was thinking that the sub cabinet being below the mid-range driver might mitigate the detrimental effects to imaging. But I read a reply in the thread that I alluded to which talked about an amp between the speakers having a negative effect on imaging . . . therefore it stands to reason that a big bulky sub cabinet would be about 20 times worse.
I know that ideally I should experiment with placement . . . this is an extreme near-field listening room, and options are limited. I could get it to the outside of my right channel speaker . . . in theory, would that be better than in between?
From my understanding, one sub works well between speakers. 2 subs work well in the corners. I tried placing a sub in the corner of the room and the result was terrible. The bass sounded uneven and smeared. Much better results when it was placed in between the speakers. The key to the integration between the sub and main speakers is to have a seamless and even bass response. In my system, the impact of the sub is not earth shattering and rather subtle, but the improvement is an important one. There’s a slight lift and punch in the low bass and midbass which add to the musical enjoyment. The speakers that are used will also play a part. With some speakers, the sub doesn’t blend well in the system. I only managed to achieve a good integration with select speakers. |
+1 @soix The best place for a sub is where it works best in your room. There is no general rule, at least none that makes sense. Evenness of bass response at the main listening position will vary tremendously from position to position. That’s why many of us use two, three, or four subs to get the most even bass response. Don’t neglect adjusting sub phase, as that makes a large difference in overall bass response when both the mains and the subs are playing. By "large," I mean the worst phase arrangement can give a 30 dB null. (This issue also is reduced in importance with multiple subs.) |
Thanks again for all the helpful replies. What I was intending to ask was not so much on how to maximize my sub's potential, but more along the lines of how not to have my sub's placement/physical presence have a negative effect on the imaging & sound staging of my speakers. @ghdprentice I still haven't watched the youtube yet (in a moment I am heading out into the garage on still another project) but I intend to watch it before I do some listening this evening. |
