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?
+1 @soix @mike_in_nc It is so room dependent, that in a way, the question is ill formed. There are room mode calculators -- look up amroc, e.g. -- that can help. But ultimately, rooms have so many idiosyncrasies that after getting some "rules of thumb" to at least have a starting point, it will come down to whether or not you have a trial and error method that is systematic enough to keep you from working on this for the next year. |
@hilde45 ....so one will default to the 'on the knees, outdoor chess' means of sub sites.....corners, wall sites. One will have to apply a certain amount of exertion to attain a 'base level' of response (and Yes, pun intended...). Little tweaks Will follow...yes...😏 Note to nerds: Code a 'ware similar to REW that 'scans' the 'raw space', crunches awhile, and suggests placements for previously 'auditioned' drivers used in the scan.... It will cost whatever, but the audio community will build an off-ramp to your door. ;) Running the app will likely bake your laptop...*L* I'm kidding....but only slightly....;) Our 'spaces' vary so much, and what with what's within them, that 'AI Assistance' seems inevitable...or desirable....*G* "Alexa....Fix my audio issues...." *Alexa explodes* ; |
my question was whether or not a subwoofer between speakers would have a negative effect on imaging & sound staging; if I am reading your answer correctly, you are saying it is room dependent.
I have some comments on the video, but I spent another tough day in the garage & I am awfully tired right now. Briefly I would say that while it was interesting, I think that home theater systems & music only systems have different desired effects from their subs. However, with that typed, I realize that the principles (localization, standing waves, etc.) are probably the same. I found the discussion of the subject to be complex, reminding me that I am not doing a good job of integrating into the 21st century. (Good thing I probably won’t have to deal with it a whole lot longer.) One thing I was able to grasp a rudimentary understanding of is WHY two subs are important. And NOT for the reasons I previously would have thought--music or HT. A couple of other things I learned, my near field listening room is not sub suitable, and, my sub is probably obsolete. (It is a M&K I bought in ’94 after I was introduced to the wonders of Dolby Pro Logic. It was actually my first venture into ’better’ audio equipment.) I just did a 180 in my near field listening room, and although I like some aspects of the rearrangement better than before, I lost a lot of what I had been getting out of my sub. There are three or four other things I want to try with the speakers & the sub, but I am starting to think I may wind up removing it from the system. My near field listening room has a couple advantages from the previous living room location . . .I enjoy the isolation from distractions, and after my beloved Rat Terrier died last year I over compensated for the loss by adopting THREE dogs, and two of them were Staffordshire Terrier (aka Pit Bull) puppies, and although at a year old they are turning out to strike me as rather lovable, I could throw them further than I trust them (& I couldn’t throw either one of those Tasmanian Devils very far at all), so the near field room it is. Depending upon who outlives who, I may or may not ever be back in the living room, which was far from an ideal room, but even with the distractions and lack of autonomy, I do find that I miss the flexibility. Oh well, Ramble On. Thank you for posting that video; I enjoyed it, and I may refer back to it.
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@immatthewj - I have my dual opposed firing sub facing crossways (30 degrees) in my room, between and to the left side of my standmounts. Since I’ve installed the quadratic diffusers, I’ve unplugged the sub and rarely use it. |
I understood your question. I will tell you that I have moved and measured my subs in virtually all positions around my room. They are currently between my speakers. The reason they wound up there was precisely because they (a) sounded best, tonally there and (b) had a positive effect on imaging & sound staging. (Seen here in a recent shootout):
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