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why are two subs harder to place than full range?

sorry if this is a dumb question, but i notice that whenever someone talks about getting stereo subs there usually ensues much hand wringing over placement and room modes, etc., but this rarely is the case when someone talks about full range speakers with large 10 or 12 inch woofers (with or without built in amps for them).

Is there a sound technical basis for this different treatment or is it merely convenience, i.e., since subs can be moved about separately from main speakers, then it makes more since to talk about eliminating room modes by moving them around?

I'm getting a second sub for a rather large vaulted room, have an injured back, and would rather minimize what seems like a rather long process, at least for the time being by just keeping the subs with the mains.

thanks
thomp9015

Showing 4 responses by magfan

magfan
1,583 posts
 
You can EQ a room to death and still have bad sound.
Take the case of a room with dimensions which are even multiples of one another.....say 8foot ceiling with 16x24 foot floor size. NO amount of EQ will get you away from all sorts of standing wave problems.
HSU (Dr.) recommends near-field sub placement. Right next to you, if possible!
The Harman White Paper recommends 2 subs, placed assymetrically. If anyone is interested, I'll find the link.
My personal listening space is a very odd shape. 8 walls, some at a 45, and a vault ceiling, also not symetric. My sub is near the mains, up against a side wall (the longest wall) and about 4 feet from the corner. Downfiring sub, with the port facing backwards. Decent integration, and with the X-over at 40hz, quite seamless with my Maggies. The room is well over 5000ft3. This is the right way to measure a room, since for any given floor space 8' vs 12' vs high vault ceilings will make quite a difference.
magfan
1,583 posts
 
Whatever works in THAT particular room.
/ listen / move sub / listen some more.
repeat until satisfied. Than leave it alone
for a while.
magfan
1,583 posts
 
Try this link on for size.
Some people have already said similar stuff, but this wraps it up and presents it properly::

http://www.harman.com/wp/pdf/multsubs.pdf
magfan
1,583 posts
 
I'll bet my 1.6s would scare you sitting on top of my HSU VTF2mkIII. Total of about 7 1/2 feet tall!
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