TIPS AND TRICKS FOR FINDING THE PERFECT HOME FOR YOUR SUBWOOFER

If you want to shake things up (literally!), then a subwoofer is the way to go. Subwoofers add a level to your surround sound system that goes beyond what ordinary tower and bookshelf speakers can achieve. They add that visceral impact of bass that gives you that deep rumble you want from those action movies so you can feel when those two cars crash or when that fiery explosion rips a building in half. Plus, subwoofers take pressure off the rest of your speakers, improving their performance and expanding and filling in the low ends that your main speakers can’t reach.

But finding the right spot for your subwoofer can be tricky. The thing is, there is no “one size fits all” solution for where to place it. It often takes experimentation and willingness to play around with the positioning. Plus, it depends on your space and decor - after all, you can’t place it in the middle of your only walkway even if it sounds great there!

But don’t let yourself be daunted. Just follow these simple tips and tricks, and you’ll be sitting back, hearing - and feeling - that rumble of bass while watching your favorite movie in no time!

START AT THE FRONT

Most people don’t have the space to place a subwoofer just anywhere. Between furniture and decor, it’s unlikely you have the luxury of finding more than one or two spots to fit your sub. That’s why starting at the front of the room is a good bet. If you align the subwoofer on the same vertical plane as your front speakers and center channel, you’ll usually get the beat blending of sound. It’ll eliminate acoustic issues like phase cancellation, resulting in more precise imaging and better timing accuracy.

However, do not place it directly against the wall. This will cause bass reflections to build up, making the sound boomy and uneven. Instead, place it 12 to 18 inches away from the wall.

GO FOR THE CORNER

If your subwoofer doesn’t produce the sound you want from its place beside one of your front speakers, then move it to one of the corners. Placing it in the corner can result in a denser standing wave pattern in the room, which reduces the chance of encountering dead spots in the room where the bass doesn’t reach. The corner is also a great option because the walls can create boundaries that amplify the bass, keeping the low-pitched audio heading in the right direction.

And as with the front wall, keep it at least a foot away from the two walls of the corner. And if you can follow the “rule of thirds,” where you place the subwoofer about a third of the way from the wall into the room, even better! A spot that’s one-fifth of the way into the room can produce an even bass response as well.

TRY THE SUBWOOFER CRAWL

No, the “subwoofer crawl” is not an old-school dance move - it’s a popular technique for finding the best spot for your subwoofer. This is helpful once you’ve narrowed down some potential locations for your sub. Basically, it involves placing the subwoofer where you would normally sit, then you sitting in the spots where you would potentially like to place your subwoofer. Just follow these steps:

1. Move the subwoofer to where you would normally sit, preferably so it sits at ear level. Go ahead and set it directly on your couch or atop a chair.
2. Put on a track or action movie sequence that’s full of low notes. For example, a hip-hop song with a heavy bassline.
3. Crawl around the room on your hands and knees - this isn’t to torture you, it’s just to get your head at the same level as the subwoofer would be. As you move, listen to where the bass sounds smoothest, tightest, and most consistent. Mark these areas with a piece of tape or any nearby objects.
4. Once you’ve marked those, narrow it down to a couple areas that would be most convenient to have your subwoofer placed.
5. Move the subwoofer to those spots while you listen from your ideal position on the chair or couch. Identify the sweet spot, make any fine adjustments needed to its location, and set it up there!

This is one of the best methods for getting the placement right as it allows you to try spots you normally wouldn’t think of - such as right behind the couch!

CONSIDER MULTIPLE SUBWOOFERS

Two can be better than one when it comes to subwoofers. If you have the space, multiple subwoofers will greatly reduce the variation of sound waves, allowing for more effective equalization. This means a boost in your sound system’s headroom, resulting in better dynamic range and less distortion. In other words, having two subwoofers will give you smoother, more consistent bass that will better fill the room.

Traditionally, people like to place their dual subs in a stereo configuration next to their front left and front right speakers or along the front wall near the corners. However, it can be more effective to place them diagonally in opposite corners; for example, one at the front right of the room and the other at the back left of the room.

SUMMARY

Finding the perfect spot for your subwoofer takes trial and error. Bass is omnidirectional, meaning the sound waves from a subwoofer will create the sensation that sound is coming from all around you when compared to the higher pitched frequencies coming from a tower speaker. In other words, a subwoofer won’t give away its location as obviously as your other speakers.

However, while that’s true, it’s also true your subwoofer will perform better in some spots than others. If it’s too close to the wall or if its sound waves bounce off walls and other surfaces in the wrong way, the sound waves can combine and cancel each other out so that you get either boomy, exaggerated bass or dead spots where you won’t hear any bass at all. That’s why it’s important to find the right spot for your subwoofer. You deserve to hear your bass the way it’s meant to be heard!

Thanks for reading! We hope these tips helped. If you want to shop our large selection of speakers and subwoofers, we’ve got everything from Carvers to Polks to JBLs to Velodynes to BICs. You can find all of your subwoofers here. Have a great day!

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