Home » Audio » Room Acoustics » Is it safe to position a Sub facing a room's side walls?
Is it safe to position a Sub facing a room's side walls? [message #93709] Tue, 11 May 2021 11:16 Go to next message
mikehende is currently offline  mikehende
Messages: 12
Registered: May 2021
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Hello all, I am new here seeking some advice/opinions for my issue please.

I have storage cabinets, shelving and whatever else placed along the back and side walls of the rectangular shaped garage which measures 10'W x 25'L and 8'H.

I have always had an issue with hearing the bass in different ways or lower tones at different spots in my Garage. I can't do anything about the room itself, it is what it is. Few days ago, I wasn't getting any sound from my EAW SB1000 Sub so I pulled it out and plugged it's cable from the Amp into my Full Range EV Eliminators to rule out any equipment issues. I then checked and it was the SB1000's speakon connection which had failed.

Thing is when I plugged the Bass Amp into the EV's, the EV's was in the middle of the room facing the side walls and I noticed that no matter where I stood in the room the bass was constant. So I decided to experiment further and placed the EV's where the EAW Sub was but placed them facing sideways towards the side walls between the 2 Shelving at the back wall and now the bass sounds equal at any spot in the Garage.

Please see attached pic of the back wall of my Garage. I am thinking of trying the EAW sb1000 sub in the same position but right now those are the EV's showing on the bottom of the pic facing sideways between the 2 storage shelves. As you can see there is some space like maybe 10″ on each side facing the shelves. Now if I were to place the EAW sub in that same way there would hardly be any free space on either side so might this be safe for the woofers please, if I should get the same results? Thanks guys.

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Re: Is it safe to position a Sub facing a room's side walls? [message #93713 is a reply to message #93709] Tue, 11 May 2021 12:23 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Wayne Parham is currently offline  Wayne Parham
Messages: 18670
Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)

It doesn't matter what direction you face subs if they are crossed over below 80Hz or so. But if they are run higher than that - and you need the upper-end response - then orientation can matter. The only times I would want subs run high are when they are used as flanking subs.

I think you might be interested in reading about multisubs and flanking subs. Click the link below to search this site, and maybe even search the rest of the internet for more information on those configurations.
Re: Is it safe to position a Sub facing a room's side walls? [message #93714 is a reply to message #93713] Tue, 11 May 2021 12:55 Go to previous messageGo to next message
mikehende is currently offline  mikehende
Messages: 12
Registered: May 2021
Chancellor
Thanks. I looked at this thread here:

https://audioroundtable.com/forum/index.php?t=msg&goto=92847&&srch=multisubs+flanking+subs#msg_92847

and another on Flanking subs. There some terminologies there which is confusing to me tbh but if I am understanding those 2 threads correctly it involves using more than one sub strategically placed in the room? If yes, I don't have the physical space to add more than one sub and only in the middle of the right side wall.

The EAW SB1000 is crossed at 80hz as that is the recommended setting for it and also I get the best bass tone from it.

Getting back to my original question though, I am thinking since this sub has 2 port holes and also a big opening between the 2 woofers on the front that maybe air is being pushed through these openings and if any objects should be placed in front of them then this might restrict the air flow and might cause some physical damage to the woofers so may not be a good idea. Is this accurate please or would it not matter?


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Re: Is it safe to position a Sub facing a room's side walls? [message #93715 is a reply to message #93714] Tue, 11 May 2021 13:35 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Wayne Parham is currently offline  Wayne Parham
Messages: 18670
Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)

If you really crank those subs up, the airflow through the ports will increase and things nearby might cause an obstruction. But if you're not really pushing them hard, airspeed won't get high enough to matter.

Put a sheet of cardboard where your nearest obstruction is. If the cardboard flutters from port airflow, then consider moving the obstruction. If it doesn't, don't worry about it.
Re: Is it safe to position a Sub facing a room's side walls? [message #93716 is a reply to message #93715] Tue, 11 May 2021 13:44 Go to previous messageGo to next message
mikehende is currently offline  mikehende
Messages: 12
Registered: May 2021
Chancellor
Nice! Thank you very much. I will need to wait until whenever my bud can come across to fix the connector issue so will report back then, should be done by early next week.
Re: Is it safe to position a Sub facing a room's side walls? [message #93718 is a reply to message #93716] Tue, 11 May 2021 14:20 Go to previous messageGo to next message
mikehende is currently offline  mikehende
Messages: 12
Registered: May 2021
Chancellor
Meantime, as a potential idea. I am thinking I might try a pair of the EV subwoofer version which will give a little more power and more bass depth. These are the 2 versions of the EV's below, the 15" I have:

https://av.loyola.com/products/audio/ev-eliminator-i.html

and the Subwoofer version:

https://av.loyola.com/products/audio/ev-eliminator-i-sub.html

This is a screenshot of the specs from both of them, the 15" full range specs is on top, do you think the 18" Sub version might work better for me please?


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Re: Is it safe to position a Sub facing a room's side walls? [message #93720 is a reply to message #93718] Tue, 11 May 2021 14:25 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Wayne Parham is currently offline  Wayne Parham
Messages: 18670
Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)

There are few generalities that always prove true in audio or anything else.

But this is one of them:

All else being equal, a number of subs distributed throughout the room always works better than one.
Re: Is it safe to position a Sub facing a room's side walls? [message #93722 is a reply to message #93720] Tue, 11 May 2021 14:35 Go to previous messageGo to next message
mikehende is currently offline  mikehende
Messages: 12
Registered: May 2021
Chancellor
So then maybe I can try placing one of the subs at the back wall under my mids/tops and the other Sub on the side wall, can that setup work?
Re: Is it safe to position a Sub facing a room's side walls? [message #93723 is a reply to message #93722] Tue, 11 May 2021 14:52 Go to previous messageGo to next message
Wayne Parham is currently offline  Wayne Parham
Messages: 18670
Registered: January 2001
Illuminati (33rd Degree)

Yes, if both are crossed-over low enough that you can't localize them. You might start with 80Hz 4th-order and see how that works for you.
Re: Is it safe to position a Sub facing a room's side walls? [message #93726 is a reply to message #93723] Tue, 11 May 2021 15:11 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
mikehende is currently offline  mikehende
Messages: 12
Registered: May 2021
Chancellor
Thanks, think I should go with the 18" subs instead or continue using the 15' full range as Subs please?
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