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Sub Location Help - please don't yell at me.

post #1 of 21
12/20/11 at 8:43am
Thread Starter 
Ok, so I've been reading and reading and learning a ton...but I am stuck.

Attached is my room layout, basically a "home theater" in a open floorplan.

I have a 809 AVR with some fairly nice sounding infinity's for LCR fronts.

I have a Klipsch RW-12D that I am trying to place.

I thought somewhere around the front wall was idea, WIFE flipped out and she wants it in the "corner" where I have circled. I am ready to drywall so I gotta get the connections in place.

I tried the SUB CRAWL and honestly my ears might not be great, but I could not tell a huge difference if any.

So in order to make my wife happy is there any signficant reason I should avoid this spot. I could angle it like shown, or move it flat against either wall, so turn 45% either direction.

Or should I FIGHT for front location. I will most likely never get a second sub, so this is gonna be it.

Any help and thoughts are welcome. Oh, also I don't have any meter to record levels, etc. and really don't want or have the budget to invest.
LL
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post #2 of 21
12/20/11 at 8:48am
That location for the sub is not necessarily bad. The seating along the walls can tend to cause the bass to sound a little "thick" due to the way bass tends to pile up near walls.
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post #3 of 21
12/20/11 at 8:51am
Thread Starter 
So if I understand what you are saying, this might actually HELP my sound vs. hurt it :-)

Wow I really like my wife more every day...
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post #4 of 21
12/20/11 at 8:51am
Quote:
Originally Posted by mojomike View Post

That location for the sub is not necessarily bad. The seating along the walls can tend to cause the bass to sound a little "thick" due to the way bass tends to pile up near walls.

That, and it also brings the subs nearfield which is usually a good thing in a fairly decent sized room.
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post #5 of 21
12/20/11 at 8:54am
It will tend to give you more bass, but not necessarily more accurate bass. It can result in some bass peaks. Do you have auto-eq such as Audyssey in your AVR? That might help.
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post #6 of 21
12/20/11 at 8:56am
I see no major issues with the wife's chosen placement as said above neat field placement to seating area is never a bad thing in large rooms
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post #7 of 21
12/20/11 at 9:20am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by mojomike View Post

It will tend to give you more bass, but not necessarily more accurate bass. It can result in some bass peaks. Do you have auto-eq such as Audyssey in your AVR? That might help.

Yep I do have the multi setup options for Audyssey in my AVR. Now that my stress is over, I will run that.

Is there a "preference" in the CORNER angle vs. FLAT against either back or side wall? Or am I now splitting hairs ?
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post #8 of 21
12/20/11 at 9:27am
Quote:
Originally Posted by toofast68 View Post

Yep I do have the multi setup options for Audyssey in my AVR. Now that my stress is over, I will run that.

Is there a "preference" in the CORNER angle vs. FLAT against either back or side wall? Or am I now splitting hairs ?

Probably little difference.
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post #9 of 21
12/20/11 at 9:34am
I too sometimes have a hard time listening to a sub crawl by ear. Do yourself a favor and pick up a Radio Shack Analog SPL meter - they are on clearance right now for ~15.00. If you can find one near you, it makes finding the exact placement a bit easier.
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post #10 of 21
12/21/11 at 6:09am
Quote:
Originally Posted by toofast68 View Post

Ok, so I've been reading and reading and learning a ton...but I am stuck.

Attached is my room layout, basically a "home theater" in a open floorplan.

I have a 809 AVR with some fairly nice sounding infinity's for LCR fronts.

I have a Klipsch RW-12D that I am trying to place.

I thought somewhere around the front wall was idea, WIFE flipped out and she wants it in the "corner" where I have circled. I am ready to drywall so I gotta get the connections in place.

I tried the SUB CRAWL and honestly my ears might not be great, but I could not tell a huge difference if any.

So in order to make my wife happy is there any signficant reason I should avoid this spot. I could angle it like shown, or move it flat against either wall, so turn 45% either direction.

Or should I FIGHT for front location. I will most likely never get a second sub, so this is gonna be it.

Any help and thoughts are welcome. Oh, also I don't have any meter to record levels, etc. and really don't want or have the budget to invest.

Why are you trying to replace the sub?
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post #11 of 21
12/21/11 at 6:15am
Thread Starter 
Sorry, if my OP was confusing. No trying to "replace", but rather trying to place.

It is a new sub and for me it is just perfect...just "struggling" a bit on placement.
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post #12 of 21
12/22/11 at 6:02am
If you plan to go with a sub that is that close / near-field to you (in the corner between the sofa's).
Check out the MBM-12
http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/mbm-12mk2.html



Quote:
Originally Posted by toofast68 View Post

Ok, so I've been reading and reading and learning a ton...but I am stuck.

Attached is my room layout, basically a "home theater" in a open floorplan.

I have a 809 AVR with some fairly nice sounding infinity's for LCR fronts.

I have a Klipsch RW-12D that I am trying to place.

I thought somewhere around the front wall was idea, WIFE flipped out and she wants it in the "corner" where I have circled. I am ready to drywall so I gotta get the connections in place.

I tried the SUB CRAWL and honestly my ears might not be great, but I could not tell a huge difference if any.

So in order to make my wife happy is there any signficant reason I should avoid this spot. I could angle it like shown, or move it flat against either wall, so turn 45% either direction.

Or should I FIGHT for front location. I will most likely never get a second sub, so this is gonna be it.

Any help and thoughts are welcome. Oh, also I don't have any meter to record levels, etc. and really don't want or have the budget to invest.
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post #13 of 21
12/22/11 at 6:52am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by Shift View Post

If you plan to go with a sub that is that close / near-field to you (in the corner between the sofa's).
Check out the MBM-12
http://www.hsuresearch.com/products/mbm-12mk2.html

Well I already did purchase my sub....so I will keep this in mind for the next purchase down the road. Thanks!
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post #14 of 21
12/22/11 at 7:00am
In contrast to everyone else, I would shy away from corner placement of any kind. Issues revolving around the number of boundaries and the factors of pi involved can result in an increase of up to 18 dB. Not such a good thing when the problems associated with small rooms are exagerated by that increase in level. In addition, built in Audyssey is traditionally not very good for low frequency correction for a host of reasons.
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post #15 of 21
12/22/11 at 7:03am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by SierraMikeBravo View Post

In contrast to everyone else, I would shy away from corner placement of any kind. Issues revolving around the number of boundaries and the factors of pi involved can result in an increase of up to 18 dB. Not such a good thing when the problems associated with small rooms are exagerated by that increase in level. In addition, built in Audyssey is traditionally not very good for low frequency correction for a host of reasons.

So based on my room layout and my WIFE not wanting this giant sub "her term" on the front wall, is directly behind the coach better ? The front firiing sub would be facing "horizontally" meaning toward a side wall vs. the front...

Try trying to understand my other options...
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post #16 of 21
12/22/11 at 7:08am
Quote:
Originally Posted by toofast68 View Post

So based on my room layout and my WIFE not wanting this giant sub "her term" on the front wall, is directly behind the coach better ? The front firiing sub would be facing "horizontally" meaning toward a side wall vs. the front...

Try trying to understand my other options...

Try on the other side of the couches opposite the corner. Behind may be ok as well. I would pull those couches away from the wall as well. Direction of woofer doesn't have too much bering here.
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post #17 of 21
12/22/11 at 7:17am
If the Radio Shack meter is available for $15 get one, I paid full retail for mine and it is a very useful tool (even if it does not get used much).
Play the test tones out of the AVR and set the volume / gain control of the sub so the reading at the main listening position is 75.
Run your AVR' calibration and enjoy your new subwoofer.
Chances are it will be fine.
Worry about all the small stuff later (if there even is a reason to worry).
Lots of people have to put audio equipment in less than optimal places, its just what happens in the real world.
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post #18 of 21
12/22/11 at 7:30am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by chashint View Post

If the Radio Shack meter is available for $15 get one, I paid full retail for mine and it is a very useful tool (even if it does not get used much).
Play the test tones out of the AVR and set the volume / gain control of the sub so the reading at the main listening position is 75.
Run your AVR' calibration and enjoy your new subwoofer.
Chances are it will be fine.
Worry about all the small stuff later (if there even is a reason to worry).
Lots of people have to put audio equipment in less than optimal places, its just what happens in the real world.

OK, tried searching on line and could not find it. I am ONLY trying to really figure out optimum placement now, as the drywall is going in. So where I put my jacks etc has a huge impact. Moving subs from one side to the other of the coach could become a wiring issue down the road. If anyone has a link to his meter, I will buy for $15 for sure if it helps me.
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post #19 of 21
12/22/11 at 7:43am
Thread Starter 
What about this...would this help me pinpoint, or am I just being overly compulsive.

http://www.amazon.com/USB-Digital-So...hu-rd_add_1_dp
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post #20 of 21
12/22/11 at 8:01am
If you have an iPhone, iTouch or iPad you can download studiosix digital's app for 19.99. They have a "radio shack" style SPL meter built in. Plus, a slew of other audio products as part of the app. There are many functions with the app that you need to pay for in addition to the 19.99, but you get the basics as part of the $19.99. http://www.studiosixdigital.com/. Believe it or not, the mic used within the the apple products is pretty good. http://www.studiosixdigital.com/audiotools/
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post #21 of 21
12/22/11 at 8:06am
Thread Starter 
Quote:
Originally Posted by SierraMikeBravo View Post

If you have an iPhone, iTouch or iPad you can download studiosix digital's app for 19.99. They have a "radio shack" style SPL meter built in. Plus, a slew of other audio products as part of the app. There are many functions with the app that you need to pay for in addition to the 19.99, but you get the basics as part of the $19.99. http://www.studiosixdigital.com/. Believe it or not, the mic used within the the apple products is pretty good. http://www.studiosixdigital.com/audiotools/

We do have an iPhone...so I will dig into that as well. So now I gotta ask, HOW exactly would I use this meter to determine ideal placement along the back wall. I've tried searching and reading, but there is almost too much info.

I do have a AVR that has Audessy of course...but I assume I want to go further than that.
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