What are the benefits or negatives of a side/ front/ bottom firing sub. Is one better than the others? One work better in certain situations? Please help a newbee out.

Any ideas.

One benefit of a down firing subwoofer is that the woofer cone is better protected from physical damage.

--Regards,

Sounds best firing down if you’re on the top floor of high-rise building and the depth charges, dropping down the chimney stack!:D

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee15/Evolution3417/U-571DVD8.jpg

Front firing is less likely to anger your neighbors if you live in a 2nd floor apartment or higher.

Placement is the main issue when choosing a configuration, leaving enough room for the ports and driver. Downfiring also hides the driver so it's less prone to accidental damage as stated above.

Providing the sub is properly calibrated with yoru system you're use of the volume control is what's will or wont anger your neighbors, front or down firing will have no effect on that, low frequency sound waves are not directional.

If you are easily entertained, then front firing is better. You can remove the grill and watch the driver move.

Downfiring subs do have one disadvantage and thats driver sag due to gravity. It does affect excursion and over time the driver will "sag" and bottom out sooner.

Downfiring subs do have one disadvantage and thats driver sag due to gravity. It does affect excursion and over time the driver will "sag" and bottom out sooner.

Good downfiring subs do not sag due to gravity. I have a
Velodyne ULD-12 in a stereo only room. It's a down firing
sub, and it is as good now as the time I bought it (1993).

As far as which way a sub fires, it makes no difference. I have down firing, front firing, and side firing (HSU VTF-3/3). Subs are not directional (a front firing sub does
not fire all the bass from the front, down firing sub does
not fire all the bass to the floor, etc and so on)...so, that's
my opinion,and two cents:)......vardo

Alternatively you can place ii in close proximity, with the sofa, it takes a bit of doing to get it right but once, you’ve figured the best position and tested it and re-calibrated the level, as to not overwhelm the rest of the soundtrack, you should get a nice thumping bass line that rumbles gently kicks presently and jolts you with surprise.

I tried this method out around 18 years ago with (JBL SB-5 TCB) sub bass and films like Robin Hood Prince of Thieves (1990), gave on friend what he described as (back massage) when the arrow flies though the air, and sticks into the hangman’s head, ouch!:eek::cool::p

http://i233.photobucket.com/albums/ee15/Evolution3417/hood3.jpg