Subwoofer boom is too much for me...

1) Auralex Lenrd bass traps from floor to ceiling in the corners of front wall (see pic in my virtual system)

2) An isoacoustics or ASC stand for your sub 

3) The DSPeaker 8033 sub eq device

@mikeydee 

+1 for old JBL's, you should marry your girlfriend, you will have a high WAF for future audio needs. 

@erik_squires

A well integrated subwoofer is a rarity

That isn’t true among home theater enthusiasts, even entry level receivers have EQ wizards that walk you through sub integration. There is NO difference between music and movies when integrating a sub.

I estimate 1 in 8 audiophiles with subs actually can take full advantage of 1 sub.

This isn’t really helpful at all, it might be 1 in 8, or 1 in 2, or 1 in 100. Why not post how you integrated your sub?
For anyone reading this who wants better bass the recipe isn’t secret. Get a preamp with a "sub out" and uses some type of room correction software. Place your sub like the manufacturer suggests, stack bass traps from floor to ceiling in the corners of your room, then run the room correction EQ wizard per the instructions.
If you don’t want to buy a new preamp just get this subwoofer equalizer:

DSPeaker Subwoofer Equalizer:

https://www.dspeaker.com/anti-mode-8033

Bass traps:

@erik_squires

I didn’t recommend EQ as a panacea, The process is to include EQ AFTER placing the sub as the manufacturer suggests and adding bass traps (which you yourself use in your system and neglected to mention in your post).

As for goals of LFE and stereo in music they don’t matter. Bass is bass and the sub is integrated or it isn’t.

If you want to prove this for yourself try measuring. A well integrated sub will measure well for movies and music. If your sub measures well for one and not the other it isn’t well integrated.

BTW, I forgot to mention, always use at least TWO subs if possible rather than one.

@erik_squires

I see your confusion, yes, it is plain to see from your post that you don’t understand the logic of how to set up a sub for proper integration with music and movies.

I will break down my post for you, NP:

For anyone reading this who wants better bass the recipe isn’t secret. Get a preamp with a "sub out" and uses some type of room correction software.

Here are some links as examples:

A) https://www.dspeaker.com/anti-mode-x2

B) https://www.anthemav.com/products-current/model=str-pre-amplifier/page=overview

There are many others available, these are two examples.

Place your sub like the manufacturer suggests.

Why reinvent the wheel right? The company that built the sub generally know how to place it. Here is a link as an example.

Stack bass traps from floor to ceiling in the corners of your room:

When it comes to bass traps I feel quantity is very important, this is a starting point of course. I notice you use GIK Acoustics so here is A LINK to an article by them to learn more:

then run the room correction EQ wizard per the instructions.

You will need to run the software based on the instructions that come with your preamp or device.
I hope you aren’t confused anymore, just follow the above step by step, take measurements and post when you are done. Thanks.

@erik_squires 

I might have missed it in your virtual system, what subs are you using? Your Anthem receiver has two sub outs right?

@mbmi 

I agree you don't "need" a sub as long as you have full range speakers. There are some advantages to monitor/sub setups vs towers. Generally the best location for bass output is different than the location of your front speakers. if you use towers you are locked in, if you use subs you can place them anywhere.

@ghdprentice

I may have missed it in the video but where did they say that bass management for the LFE channel is different than managing bass for two channel stereo?

They recommend 4 subs, how many do you have? How are they placed?

Glad to see you are studying up on the topic though.

@frogman 

should start the new year on a higher note

should start the new year on a LOWER note= subwoofer thread 😁

There is a setting in my processor that is for late night listening that tones down bass volume so as not to wake up family or neighbors while still having dialog clear. Most receivers have something similar that could be used instead of changing sub settings.

@ghdprentice

The trick is to have the space to set them up and a deep knowledge of the physics.

Hmmmm, so in your opinion the layman shouldn’t use a subwoofer without engaging a physicist? I have 0 problems with your system, I think it is excellent. Your room is excellent. Your advice makes me wonder. I don’t think you need to be a physicist to set up a subwoofer. I stand by my post above:

A) Place your sub (s) according to the manufacturers recommendations.

B) Place bass traps from floor to ceiling in the corners.

C) Run a dsp program like DIRAC, Audyssey, ARC,Mini-DSP, DSPeaker, etc.

Leave the physics to the sub designers and DSP programmers.

You don’t have to believe me, a simple measurement will confirm. Using two subs should be much better bass management than one. If you have the space for four, great, but that is a nice to have, not a need to have.

Earl Geddes:

"There is a whole mystique around subwoofers I won't get into. This is the LEAST critical of all speakers because of its limited bandwidth."

pg 236 (12.3.b The Subwoofer)

@ghdprentice

So audiphiles go through the expense and toil of getting a subwoofer but refuse to use the high pass filter for fear it introduces more noise and distortion, which if true, would be hundreds of times smaller than the problems it fixes. They want a pure benefit, no downside solution only. Never mind the pure benefit is so vastly superior to the downside.

All audiophiles EXCEPT @ghdprentice of course. You are baffled by subwoofers. don’t use them, and are publishing misinformation.

Earl Geddes (look him up) shoots down the mystique stating a sub is the LEAST critical of all speakers. "Audiophiles" are not toiling except the one in your imagination. Before you respond with more stuff you make up find some research that backs it up. Just because you are toiling with your sub doesn’t mean anyone else is.

@erik_squires

I suspect the quote is out of context

I posted the entire paper in this thread, you don’t have to "suspect" anything. I even noted the page and section.

Those last two octaves are the hardest to get right consistently

No, I already posted a pretty easy method to get it right. Like I said, you don't need to believe anything I wrote, just implement, measure and prove it to yourself.

@erik_squires

Reading this as saying that getting good bass in a room is easy or that bass doesn’t matter is misguided

What part of "least critical speaker" don’t you understand?

Anyone who states getting excellent bass in a room is an easy and straightforward task for any audiophile with a single subwoofer

I said to use more than one, two is better, one in the front corner and one in the rear of the room (in the paper Earl suggests the rear opposite corner).

I can get excellent results with one subwoofer

Then why don’t you use one?

It’s hard for most to do the same,

Who is "most"? Of course you mean anyone who is NOT @ghdprentice ?? Again, you are shooting from the hip, where is the link to the research?

The swarm fanatics of course don’t understand

Yes, you have made it clear, only @ghdprentice understands, fanatics need not apply.

(BTW, if you are interested in a swarm they are available for $4100)

but most consumers expect to get to great bass with 1

More fiction, "most", "many", "some"??? Can you show me some type of marketing research that substantiates this?? Do you think the "average consumer" lacks the skills to use a search engine, or talk to a dealer, or a manufacturer? This isn’t 1989, there is a plethora of resources for anyone remotely interested in how to get good bass response (don’t believe me, just search and see for yourself.)

@mikeydee

Key point in this review of the DSPeaker 8022 II subwoofer optimizer "super easy to use" (3:45 mark). Get this unit, follow the instructions. One unit can optimize up to 4 subs (get at least two subs) and don’t forget your bass traps:

Don't forget the bass traps: