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Do unpowered Subwoofers/Speaker effect room modes?

In my "small two channel" room I have two small powered subwoofers. Both are ported, one with two 6.5" woofers and the other with a single 6.5". These are part of a Computer system in which I mostly sit and peruse A'gon =). Neither have anything to do with the Audio rig. They are physically located under the desk on the opposite wall from the system.

I am attempting to apply various room treatments and I am wondering what effect these woofers may have on the them. Maybe some absorptive qualities? Could they effect room modes?

I read some on this topic a few years back. I recall that someone advocated that even the tiniest of speakers, like that in a phone receiver, could have a noticeable effect.

So before, I dig through a tangled web of computer cables, I humbly ask for your opinions.
distortion
xiekitchen
821 posts
 
I have in my music listening room 4 pairs of speakers on two systems, one a 2 channel music system, the other a quasi-home theatre. I have a pair of jbl L-166's with 12 inch woofers, a pair of JBL L-200's with 15 inch woofs, a pair of Chario Academy 1's and a pair of Spica TC-50's. Usually only 1 pair is playing at any given time... I have noticed that if one of the mini monitors is playing, the woofers on the jbl's do, if you feel them, resonate somewhat. I have never been able to hear any sound or any interference on the part of the woofers in the room. I think I remember reading an article way back by Linn stating that you should only have one pair of speakers in a room and recommended to their dealers that only 1 pair of Linn speakers should be set up in a listening room. Anyone remember that?
eldartford
4,262 posts
 
Xiekitchen...Rumor is that Linn promoted this notion that extra speakers degrade sound as a way to pressure audio dealers to install dedicated Linn listening rooms.
vincehoffman's avatar
vincehoffman
50 posts
 
Well, I wiil second Rives' and Xiekitchen's observation that dormant speakers will "sing along" with the active speakers in the room. The louder you play the active speakers, the more appearant the cone resonance of the unpowered speakers is. Touch the cone of one of the unused speakers with your system playing to confirm this for yourself.

That being said, I've never bothered doing an A-B comparison by removing the inactive speakers and listening for a difference. In my case it wouldn't be practical anyway as the speakers in question are a pair of Paradigm Servo 15 subs that are used only for Movies and XBox.

Happy Trails!
Vince@freewheelcycle.com
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