INTRODUCTION
This guide gives recommendations on where to place your subwoofer(s) in your listening room to:
- Get clean, high-impact bass
- Protect your subwoofer(s) from damage
- Avoid hazard(s)
The recommendations are based on an idealized rectangular room. However, as many rooms are not rectangular, have openings into other
rooms or hallways, or have unique architectural features such as cathedral ceilings, these should be used as a starting point. It’s best to
experiment with both your subwoofer and listening position seating to get the best results.
Everyone’s room layout is different. If you have a specially designed listening room, you probably already have a designated spot for your
subwoofers(s). If not, your room layout may limit where you can safely and cosmetically place your subwoofer. Don’t worry, do the best you
can at picking a safe location based on the constraints of your room.
One method of determining a single subwoofer placement that has been very successful is the “reversed positions” or as it’s sometimes
called, the “crawl test.” Using this method, you move your preferred seating out of the way, connect the subwoofer to the system and place
the subwoofer in the preferred seating position. While playing a source with deep, powerful bass, move around the room, preferably literally
crawl, until you find the best position where the bass is powerful, deep and tight (not boomy). You have now discovered a very good choice for
placing your subwoofer. Now, move the subwoofer to the discerned position and return your seating to its original place. For detailed
information on a test case of this method, see Appendix A: Case Study: Determining Optimal Subwoofer Placement using the “Crawl Test”
Technique in Velodyne’s Listening Room.
You may find that moving your subwoofer(s) by as little as six to eight inches can improve how your subwoofers sound to you. Remember, the
safe location that your subwoofer(s) sound best to you is the best location for you. The recommendations in this guide serve as a starting
point for subwoofer placement. But remember to always heed the Subwoofer Placement Cautions.
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Subwoofer Placement Recommendations Guide
INTRODUCTION
