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Positioning a Subwoofer for Good Sound, Low Distortion

This Tutorial addresses:
  • Audio
aprilklazema
By ,
So you’re installing a state-of-the-art surround sound system for your living room entertainment set-up, but you can’t seem to get the sound you want and keep struggling with distortion. Subwoofer sound problems and inconsistencies can have a range of different causes, from the size of the woofer to the size of the room. However, the easiest way to solve the problem is to simply play around with the placement of the subwoofer. Use the following steps to find the optimal position for great sound and low (or no) distortion.

Step 1
There are different schools of thought on the science of subwoofer positioning. Some experts will tell you that a corner is the perfect place for a subwoofer no matter what. Others will tell you that a corner is a fine place for a smaller and more modest sub but not for one that produces particularly deep bass, as it will cause the booming bass sounds to reverberate back toward you in a way that isn’t preferable. Read up on the varying schools of thought to get ideas for placement.

Step 2
Play around with different positions for your subwoofer. Part of the reason that expert opinions on subwoofer placement differ so much is that every room is different. From the geometry of your space to the layout of the furniture, everything about your specific living room may influence where you put your subwoofer. Try in the corner, against the wall, and perhaps even next to your furniture, making sure to assess the differences in sound at each position.

Step 3
Consider moving your furniture around. Some experts say that if your furniture is against the wall, you are bound to get a bass sound that is too heavy no matter where you place the subwoofer. If you are having trouble finding good sound simply by moving the subwoofer, try moving the furniture away from the wall instead.

Step 4
If possible, put your speakers and subwoofer on the same side of the room. The result will be a better blending of bass and treble sounds than you will get if the speakers and sub are on opposite sides of the room.

Step 5
It’s possible that one subwoofer simply won’t be able to provide consistent, high-quality bass sounds to a room—especially if that room is particularly large. Consider buying a second subwoofer to solve the problem.

Recap
As you can see, there is a lot of ambiguity when it comes to subwoofer placement. Because every room is different, you will have to experiment a bit to find the right placement for a subwoofer in your space.
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