Subwoofer Placement (and Potential Domestic Bliss)
General Subwoofer Placement Recommendations (Assuming a Rectangular Room):
1. Every boundary surface (wall, floor, etc.) directly next to which you put the sub results in more
apparent bass in the room. Corner placement (three boundary surfaces) provides maximum apparent
output from the sub. This effectively increases the subwoofer’s efficiency, which in turn increases your
system’s maximum output and improves the dynamic capability of the subwoofer. However, corner
placement frequently results in uneven bass response throughout the room with multiple “boomy”
areas and bass “suck outs.” It may be possible to improve corner placement performance somewhat by
moving the sub out, away from the corner and/or the moving the primary seating position. With corner
placement, it can be difficult to get multiple “good bass seats” in the room. This can be more of a
concern in home theaters, where several listeners may be involved.
2. While the CLS-10 / 12 has been designed to deliver an excellent listening experience by itself,
research has shown the use of two subwoofers has the potential to enhance your system’s performance
by providing smoother, more consistent, low-frequency in-room response. With two subs, you can try
locating the subwoofers on the same wall of the room as the main speakers, with each subwoofer
connected to the adjacent speakers’ channel. You can also try locating each subwoofer precisely 1/4 of
the way out from the corner, along the front wall with the main speakers. This results in less apparent
bass than corner placement but smoother in-room response. Because you’ve got two subs, you should
have adequate output.
3. The most consistent bass response throughout the room (generally resulting in several good bass
seats) is realized with a sub placed precisely at the center of the front and back or side walls. If this
isn’t possible, try the 1/4-way placement mentioned above. In either case, the subs are fed the
combined subwoofer output from the Sub/LFE output of the electronics. (See below, “Placing One or
Two Subwoofers in Your Listening Area.”)
4. Please note that frequency response and output level are greatly influenced by the subwoofer’s
placement. If you have not chosen to use the 1/2- or 1/4-way options above, movement of the sub by
only a foot or two can dramatically change your combined subwoofer and room bass response
characteristics. We recommend that you experiment with placement in your listening room in order to
achieve the best performance from your subwoofer while considering the décor and layout of the
room, too. If you are installing a home theater, remember to evaluate the sub’s performance at more
than just the primary seat.
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