SubWoofer Help ASAP...
Funny you mention NJ's "Cold Cold Heart," Paul. That's a track I've used many times during tests. Probably my most frequently used test track is Cassandra Wilson's "Strange Fruit" from the album New Moon Daughter. It has great low level detail, explosive instrument attacks, and a variety of instruments, rhythms, and timbres. So it's useful for judging not only bass quality but also resolution, dynamics, soundstaging, PRaT, and harmonic accuracy. And it's wonderful music. I often bring "Strange Fruit" to shows like RMAF and ask a vendor to play it when there isn't much traffic in a room. I can't tell you how many manufacturers have leaned over half way through the song and said, "What is this? It's great." It's both a great way to show off a system, and a great way to reveal its shortcomings. If you haven't heard, give it a listen. :-) Bryon |
It takes some time till one starts to hear the frequencies that are reinforced or weakened by the room. This is why it takes time to set up decently a subwoofer. A pair of decent headphone, however, can solve this problem in no time. By listening the selected walking bass (or bass solo) alternatively via the headphones and via the speakers one can easily identify the artifacts induced by the room, viz. what one hears in the headphones is not affected by the room and consequently the bass is always tight and fast (no bloat). To find a decent position for the subwoofer I play track 3 on Norah Jones' "Come away with me" album, i.e. "Cold cold heart". I make a look with my cd player and play only the first measure of the bass line starting the song. The passage lasts 3-4 seconds and has only 6 notes which are easy to follow but are sufficiently different frequency-wise. To find tune the position of the sub I use a bass solo. Any will do. The one suggested by Bryon is certainly good. |
08-16-12: NvpHi Paul - I think this is a very good suggestion. It's exactly how I make fine-tuning adjustments after general placement has been determined through measurements. One of my favorite tracks for double bass is "Use Me" from Patricia Barber's album Companion, especially the solo in the first 30 seconds. If you can make the bass on that track sound deep, even, and fast (the most difficult), you're in very good shape. Bryon |
You can also try raising them and/or placing them on a platform, such as on a Subdude ... http://truesoundcontrol.com/products/SUBDUDE.html?gclid=COSM7oXb7rECFQQ6nAodEz4A_A |
You might also want to read the thread I have started a few month ago: Looking for the BASS However, Bryon suggestions are very good and clear and pretty much cover the subject. I have but two minor comments, which I hope he does not mind and also agrees with them: 1) When applying "METHOD 1", it is helpful to play a jazz walking bass line (make a loop with the cd player if possible) and look for the position in the room where all notes of the double bass sound equally loud and tight. This is what Bryon means when he writes "listen for the location where the bass is the most *consistent* across low frequencies" 2) When applying "METHOD 2", at step 2) is the crossover frequency of the subwoofer, of course. Finally, start with only one subwoofer. The second one you can place following the exact procedures outlined above. Good luck and be patient! Paul |
I posted the following in another thread a couple days ago... _____________________________________ IME, the two simplest and most effective methods for subwoofer setup that require no equipment other than a SPL meter are... METHOD 1: Optimizing frequency response. Place the sub at the listening position, then walk around the room and listen for the location where the bass is the most *consistent* across low frequencies. You can do this by ear with music, or you can use a SPL meter and low frequency test tones. Once you find the location in the room that has the smoothest frequency response, place the sub in that location. Now the bass response at the listening position should be in pretty good shape. METHOD 2: Optimizing transient response. IMO, good transient response requires time aligning the sub with the mains. A procedure that can help with time alignment... 1. Flip the polarity of either the sub or the mains (but not both). 2. Play a test tone at the crossover frequency. 3. Use an SPL meter to measure the output level. 4. Adjust the sub position (or digital delay, if you have that capability) until you MINIMIZE the SPL at the listening position. 5. When the sub is in place, flip the polarity back so that the sub and the mains are the same polarity. In steps 1-4, you are essentially maximizing the *destructive* interference between the sub and the mains. In step 5, you are restoring the sub to the correct polarity, which now maximizes the *constructive* interfere between the sub and the mains. That will help with both frequency response and transient response. IME, the first method is the best place to start. When the sub is roughly in position, use the second method to fine tune. ______________________________________ Good luck. Bryon |
There are many ways to configure your subs. Not just positioning, although that is the most important, but also try placing them on theirs sides, up and down and pointing in all positions. It is really hard to place subs and without very sophisticated equipment (and even with, as stated by Harman Kardon in their white papers) it is a case of trial and error. |
Yes-keep moving the sub away from the corners, behind your speakers is usually a good place. However, a suspended wood floor (I assume its suspended wood rather than concrete since youre on the second floor) will probably never sound as good as a concrete floor but im sure you can find a place for the subs that is not boomy. Good luck with your downstairs neighbors. |
