Subwoofer in the corner? Forget about it

Cmpromo - My sub is an Edgar Seismic Sub, 18" JBL pro driver horn-loaded exhuasting on three sides. Your problems with the REL are similar, but bigger, than mine.

Programmergeek - yes, I agree with you. The uneven bass in my room was driving me crazy. I don't know how anyone can get smooth and musical low bass using a single sub in the corner.

There is alot of misinformation on this issue, and I hope this helps shorten the learning curve for someone else.

scott

When I added a second sub (temporarily on loan from my neighbor) to the system, it was positioned in the right front corner, symetrically opposite my sub. This configuration was much smoother than the single sub, but still not good enough. Re-positioning my single sub to the sidewall midpoint is better yet. Still, there is room for improvement, and I'll borrow my neighbor's sub again to check out the pair against opposite sidewalls.

On the issue of needing multiple subs because of left channel / right channel information, I confirmed this is required. Using test tones and disabling the mains, the subwoofer is clearly audible up to 200 Hz! And this is with a 24dB/octave crossover, with crossover frequency around 60Hz. A natural way to side-step the stereo signals is centrally locating a single sub between the mains, with summed left and right channels. When Bruce Edgar demos his horns, he uses a single Seismic Sub on the front wall, foregoing the second sub. I can relate to this due to the size of the enclosure (refrigerator-sized).

I am finally getting a glimpse of "quality" bass, after moving the sub out of the corner. This is a goal worth pursuing. To me, great bass is not about SLAM or other audiofool stuff. Great bass provides a robust foundation which supports the music, provides ambient and spatial information about the size / dimensions of the venue, and believe it or not, manifests itself most clearly in a better midrange experience. Unfortunately, great bass is really hard to obtain without effort, knowledge, and probably some element of luck.

scott

I've lived with the Seismic Sub against the sidewall for a week or so. This location continues to work for me, the benefits outweigh the single drawback of lowered output. Bass quality is pretty nice now.

So, do I spring for a second huge subwoofer for the opposite wall? This hobby is getting ouit of control!

It is interesting that moving my ears (head) slightly forward or backward from my seat makes a noticable difference in bass. Room nodes are not visible, but they are very audible in my room. I also notice that the bass is much louder and boomy when I stand in a corner. Corners would be a terrible location for locating the equipment rack, even if convenient.

Over a week since moving the sub out of the corner, I'm comfortable with the results. Sub-bass rolls forward naturally, supporting music with confidence and setting the stage for midrange and high-frequencies to sparkle. I'm not fully satisfied with the side location due to stereo effect. I will ultimately try the sub on the front wall, inbetween the mains. This should solve channel imbalances, while hopefully not losing the good qualities of the present side location. Unfortunately, this has to wait unitl after I replace the large rear projection TV (between my speakers) with a front projection system.

In conclusion, get 'yer subs out of corners for better performance!

Seurat,

***In the end this issue can be challenging or frustrating. Adopt the challeging view. Try a scientific approach: do some reading, make your calculations, do the necessary changes, do some music test and then report here.***

Yes! There are many variables, many not easily adjusted (like room dimensions and wall construction) leading me to say in an earlier post that obtaining great bass at home requires both knowledge and effort, as well as a little good luck. I prefer the path of knowledge and effort, but as in all life, some good luck is welcome.

I picked up the Rives CD last week to begin with some primative response measurements (Rat Shack SPL meter). It's a start, for an objective benchmark. Will "report here".

Scott

Redwoodgarden-

Thanks for sharing your experience. I agree that the corner is best for max SPL. But, I amicably disagree with one part, or perhaps simply misunderstand-

***Don't blame the corner for a one note, or boomy bass. Blame that on the resonance of your walls.***

Actually, I think it is the corner location. My wall "resonances" (does this refer to wall dimensions, construction, something else?) are uniform throughout the room. So that should not be a factor, again unless I misunderstand you.

I wish I had taken a response measurement when the sub was in the corner, to compare it with its present location, to have data for my room. But others have measured various placements. Check out the two links in the original posting. Maybe they will interest you as much as they did me. In both articles, corner location measurements show powerful but ragged output, compared to mid-wall. My personal experience was consistent with this. Both articles also used models and measurements to advocate multiple subs.

Food for thought.....

scott

Warrenh and Stanhifi - Right-on! But the sub also added benefits, maybe most of the benefits, beyond simple LF response in my system. Mostly increased quality in the mid-range (sounds strange, I know) and a much better recreation of "acoustic space".

scott