Subwoofer Placement

[LostIdentity]

So I am getting two subwoofers

 

• SVS PB-2000 Pro : Ported with dimensions 440mm(W) x 571mm(D)
• Martin Logan Dynamo 1100: Sealed with Dimensions 380mm(W) x 411mm(D)

 

Room: 5800mm(L) x 3500mm(W) x 2700mm(H). Screen drop from a bulkhead which is probably going to 5500mm

 

Reading few guides, it recommends ideally to have the two subs diagonal in the room if possible. I have a L shape couch with the end finishing at approx 3140mm and the wall is 3500mm. So gives me approx 360mm between sofa and wall. Neither will fit.

 

So I will have to move the couch in-front to accomodate a sub at the back. Which will mean to move the couch at-least 600mm (depending on sub) + 100-200mm due to the curtain for it to close and not over the sub. So assuming 800-1000mm which means the sitting position has already lost a meter in a room which is length of approx 5500mm from the drop screen for 130". So makes the viewing distance roughly 4m or around for that screen size.

 

So the questions are

 

1. Should I put a subwoofer diagonally behind or just keep both in front?
2. Which one should it at the back? Ported or Sealed? Or doesn't matter? 
3. If I put it behind the sofa, should there be need for it to have some space to breath right and can't stick the sofa right on the cone? Or just put the sub sideways and thus stick the sofa right to the sub?
4. Should I put the 2nd sub in front (behind the screen as it drops) or in the middle of length of the room where the sofa ends (so a middle room sub and front room sub / back room sub)

 

Just trying to see what size cable I need to buy depending on the position of the two subs. I can't try it right now due to the house not ready so trying to guesstimate it here. Otherwise I will have to buy maximum lengths cable (approx 15m to go around to back and another 10m for middle room placement) and then just warp up the waste if all in front room. I want to avoid really large cables and then waste on behind the cabinet if possible. Just becomes a mess.

 

Attached guide from SVS for subwoofer placement

[hopefullguy]

with subs you just need to be flexible as svs says. i prefer one behind seating and one at the front but mine are more centred.

 

imo 4m to a 130" screen may be ok as long ast the screen from floor is not too high. i would think 600mm will give good immersion.

 

you shouldnt have the couch up against the back wall sub behind or no sub behind. in the end placement is a compromise, no good side placement if people walk into it etc, no matter which you use with EQ and a little experimentation it will be fine.

 

not sure why but for some reason if one sub was at the front and one at the rear/side i would have the ported at the front...

Edited April 13, 2020 by hopefullguy

[betty boop]

with a 5.8m deep room... you DONT want to be back against wall in anywise.... no matter where the sub is... it is highest gain and also back to wall will not be best for vocals....  also back to wall will mean a viewing distance of 5.8m which is massive and mean a need for a very big screen to not only resolve 1080p let alone be resolving 4k another. reason to not have wall to back of the room is it compromises things with regards surrounds leaving no real room for them to breathe let alone squashing in rear and side speakers and overhead speakers with not enough room for them to work

 

with a 5.8m room you want to be sitting about 3.8m back from screen. using the rule of thirds.... this also gives some room behind you for rear speaker and for rear heights if going for those. 

 

before p[lacing two subs you want to start with 1... the second is really going to want to work with it to resolve any issues the 1st one creates. 

 

in typical harman fashion you would try one in front and one at rear. trying the beefier one of the two in front. the rear one will work as slave in this arrangement. I hope you have a good avr with eq system to adequately dial setup and eq 2 subs as not all do a great job in this regard. 

[petetherock]

IMHO, do consider getting two identical subs.. easier to manage trust me..

I tried it before and in the end, I sold one and get the model again...

[doogie44]

There's lots of fun to be had reading the excellent suggestions from REL online, and from other companies. And lots of moving subs around and playing with settings in your particular room. You get a general idea and then a specific series of fine tuning ideas over time. BUT

 

I only achieved excellence (during 3 decades of fooling around) with dual REL subs after using the DSPeaker 8033 for digital equalisation. It is phenomenal. 

 

Review in The Absolute Sound: http://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/dspeaker-anti-mode-8033-dsp-subwoofer-equalizer-tas-204/

 

Just my 2c worth

[LostIdentity]

10 hours ago, hopefullguy said:

imo 4m to a 130" screen may be ok as long ast the screen from floor is not too high. i would think 600mm will give good immersion.

 

Sorry what do you mean by this? can you explain? I need to modify my 130" screen build from ST?

 

10 hours ago, hopefullguy said:

not sure why but for some reason if one sub was at the front and one at the rear/side i would have the ported at the front...

Thanks

9 hours ago, betty boop said:

you DONT want to be back against wall in anywise

Thanks.. its a mixed room so i can't put couch in middle. the actual viewing distance will perhaps become 4-4.5m.

9 hours ago, betty boop said:

with a 5.8m room you want to be sitting about 3.8m back from screen. using the rule of thirds.... this also gives some room behind you for rear speaker and for rear heights if going for those. 

 

Hmm.. might be too much infront and blocking a sliding door on side. But will have a look. There is no rear floorstanding speakers but there is wall mounted ones and also 4 in ceiling.

9 hours ago, betty boop said:

I hope you have a good avr with eq system to adequately dial setup and eq 2 subs as not all do a great job in this regard. 

Its a Yamaha RX-V3085 - Not sure how good it is in that regards.

6 hours ago, petetherock said:

IMHO, do consider getting two identical subs.. easier to manage trust me..

 

Fair enough.. I did think of that. Got the ML sub in a package and removing it wasn't saving me money. There is an option to sell it as is and just use PB-2000 Pro as it should be enough for my room? 

 

38 minutes ago, doogie44 said:

I only achieved excellence (during 3 decades of fooling around) with dual REL subs after using the DSPeaker 8033 for digital equalisation. It is phenomenal. 

 

Thank mate.. let me try just like that as I am no expert with any such audiophile gadgets. Maybe even 1 sub will give me a decent result. 

 

Just trying to figure out what cable lengths I should order for placement of subs. I am now confused if I should even bother keeping the ML sub and rather sell it (not sure what I will get for new one - even if it sells) 

Edited April 13, 2020 by LostIdentity

[petetherock]

You can using just one unit, then adding the second if it’s not good enough ..

you can check out what I wrote on my own experience in Pete’s write, just search for it on blog spot.  

[betty boop]

45 minutes ago, LostIdentity said:

Sorry what do you mean by this? can you explain? I need to modify my 130" screen build from ST?

if its a screen techince it is adjustable in drop, you just set it where it stops... you down want the screen stuck up at the ceiling so get a crook neck watching. want it further down. you define this with leader spec. which can be nothing to 300 upto 600mm. want the screen off the ground as well so dont end up with centre speaker down near you shins ... some guidelines is at worst bottom of screen at eye level. but better for immersion to have eyes on bottom 1/3rd

 

47 minutes ago, LostIdentity said:

Thanks.. its a mixed room so i can't put couch in middle. the actual viewing distance will perhaps become 4-4.5m.

no one is asking to sit in the middle. infact middle is no good for audio, will  the recommendation that works or most rooms is seating at 2/3rd room depth. this helps audio and video so dont need a such a big screen. eg change seating to 4/5m and suddenly you need a 150" screen. a 150" screen looks the same size as a 130" screen at just under 4m so my suggestion try keep it under 4m. or 4m at absolute maximum.

 

55 minutes ago, LostIdentity said:

Its a Yamaha RX-V3085 - Not sure how good it is in that regards.

no idea on yamaha as their bass and sub setup is usually pretty weak. the denon and marantz AVRS come with excellent dual sub setup and eq. otherwise looking at added gadgets like speaker and such to try get best from 2 subs

 

56 minutes ago, LostIdentity said:

Thank mate.. let me try just like that as I am no expert with any such audiophile gadgets. Maybe even 1 sub will give me a decent result

you dont HAVE to go 2 subs. especially when it isnt like some make out ... that get 2 subs and things all magically work out. it can be double trouble especially when cant adequately place both and setup and eq them to work in with each other. one sub adequately placed setup and eq'd is far easier. 2 subs poorly placed can have them working against each other. with twice the peaks and each creating their own issues.

 

you also dont want two of exactly same subs if wanting to have both work in with each other in a master slave setup as have potential to neutralise each other. you want one large sub up front and a slave up back typically.... though its very hard to say and predict what your room is like in measurement and how will perform. why one sub again is far easier to integrate in with room and other speakers. get one decent sub would be my suggestion or just start with what have if already have something. can always add later.

[LostIdentity]

9 minutes ago, betty boop said:

you define this with leader spec. which can be nothing to 300 upto 600mm.

Thanks.. Is this something during the order I need to tell them? or comes with it and thus just need to config on install? Does this cost extra? Might as well order 600mm and then use less in config if needed?

 

 

 

 

[betty boop]

1 hour ago, LostIdentity said:

might be too much infront and blocking a sliding door on side. But will have a look. There is no rear floorstanding speakers but there is wall mounted ones and also 4 in ceiling.

if 4 speakers in ceiling speakers on wall.. you want some space for them to all work and not be all on top of you squished in the back.

[betty boop]

1 minute ago, LostIdentity said:

Thanks.. Is this something during the order I need to tell them? or comes with it and thus just need to config on install? Does this cost extra? Might as well order 600mm and then use less in config if needed?

all their screens are made to order. think of your ceiling height, the screen height.. where screen will be mounted ie how far want it off the floor... the rest have to specify as a leader. its quite possible if tell them nothing will give you nothing. most folks get 300mm. I wanted. how far down drops.... is upto you