Need Help! - SVS Subwoofer on/adjacent to Riser

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post #1 of 5

1/25/07 at 7:22am

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31 Posts. Joined 3/2004
Location: Oakville, Ontario, Canada
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Below are two quick sketches of my room. The risers and the Stage (not shown) have not yet been constructed. Note the Grey areas indicate reduced headroom due to HVAC plenum. I was originally planning on placing my SVS (cylinder) sub at the front on the stage, however even right against the side wall it would still block the edge of my planned screen. It would also be in the path of my right main speaker.

My new planned location is at the back corner of the room on a 5 riser (essentially the same height as the main riser step) adjacent to the 10.5 main riser platform at. I was planning of filling this 5 sub riser with Sand, and fill the main riser with pink insulation. The plenum directly above is partly insulated and constructed with 5/8 drywall. There will be an in wall equipment rack just in front of the sub, but it will be enclosed at the wall as much as possible.

I would really appreciate any comments or concerns about this design.
Thanks!

Room layout - plan view- not to scale:

looking towards the back- not to scale:

Edit: I forgot to add. The floor is concrete but I have a "DriCore" subfloor installed and secured with tapcon screws.

post #2 of 5

1/25/07 at 7:45am

391 Posts. Joined 7/2003
Location: Abilene, TX
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If possible I would keep the subwoofer in front of you, I've tried subwoofers behind me and even though you're not supposed to be able to localize the subwoofer it sure seemed like it sounded like it was coming from behind me.

Possibly could of just been the particular room wasn't very well suited to having the sub back there but there was a definate difference. If you're far enough along in your construction that you can try it out in a few places you might want to, it will definately sound different in different locations in the room, good or bad is hard to predict. But I have heard a few others complain that when the sub is behind them they can localize it easier.

post #3 of 5

1/25/07 at 8:00am

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31 Posts. Joined 3/2004
Location: Oakville, Ontario, Canada
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That's concerning!- re: being able to locate the sub by ear. At least I still have a sub wire and outlet running to the front.

What about the riser so close to the sub? Will this cause a problem?

post #4 of 5

1/25/07 at 8:05am

391 Posts. Joined 7/2003
Location: Abilene, TX
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I think you should be ok with the sub close to the riser since you're going to be filling it with sand & insulation, but I have little experience with stages myself so someone else would probably be a better source of information on that.

If you wanted to be extra careful you could opt to go with sand in the main riser also, but I'd guess it's probably not needed.

I do understand your problem though, I also have a SVS subwoofer and those suckers definately aren't very petite. I'm currently designing my theater also for a house we're building and I decided to go with a little smaller screen so that I could fit the sub comfortably in the front, though I'm still a little concerned that the main speaker with the sub close by will sound a little different than the other. I think I may put some kind of sound absorbent on the other side to balance out the speakers.

post #5 of 5

1/26/07 at 5:04am

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