Update and question about home theatre

Chris97K1500 · November 20, 2003

Well I decided to hold off on getting the Yamaha NS777 floorstanding speakers. I am going to go to a higher end audio store, Ovation. I've gotten every audio component from them, they know what I've got and what will work best with my size room. One question I'd like an answer to before I go talk with them deals with the placement of my Subwoofer. It is currently next to my Front right main speaker. My wife wants to get a new entertainment center and I will need to move the subwoofer to make it fit. We need to order the EC now in order to get it by New Year's, we are having a party and I want the stereo set up. I will not be able to get to Ovation for at least two weeks, so I need to know ASAP. I told her I could probably move it behind our L shaped couch in the corner. The couch is touching two walls behind it. Hopefully I explained where the SW will be located clearly. I've read some Dolby Digital and DTS sights, they did mention that putting a subwoofer in a corner behind the listeners could actually be beneficial, but I'd rather hear it from someone who might have tried this or is currently doing this. Appreciate the help, Chris

stebob · November 20, 2003

Placing the sub in a corner will yield higher SPL's (louder). Typically the sub. is placed in the right front corner of the room. However, sub. placement is a trial and error situation depending on the room demensions, shape, and what's in it (furniture, ect.). Sub. placement is something no one is really going to be able to tell you. It's something you are going to have to experiment with.

Every room will have nodes and anti-nodes (high and low spots). What that means is that at point in the room the sub may sound great. In a different spot the sub may sound loud and boomy. In an ever different spot within the room the bass may sound very weak. This weak spot is NOT what you want at your listening position.

As far as where in the room the sub is placed is not all that important. Low freq. is non-directional. You can place the sub behind your couch and it will not seem like all the bass is coming from behind as long as you have the sub set up CORRECTLY. If your crossover points or gain are out of whack you'll be able to locate the sub easily when it plays. This is not what you want.

In a corner will yield higher sound levels from the sub, but may also be a little more boomy. Along with middle of one of the boundary walls the bass may sound a little tighter and still have the boundary gain from being close to the wall. This may or may not be a good thing depending on your room acoustics. I prefer to have the sub. located along the front wall, close to corners if possible. Sit about 3 feet from the back wall. However, room setup can only allow you certain places to put the sub. best thing to do is try them all and see where it sounds the best.

If you want to find the BEST place in the room for the sub. Put the sub at your listening position. Get on your hands and knees and crawl around the floor. Where the bass sounds best is where you would want to place the sub.

Keep in mind the farther away from the walls you get the sub the tighter the bass becomes and the lower the output it will have. Also, you will want to keep the sub. away from openings within the room where the bass may escape.

I hope I've helped, if not let me know and I'll see if I can help guide you.

Chris97K1500 · November 21, 2003

I appreciate your help. I just wanted to make sure that it wouldn't be obvious where I put the sub when it "booms". I have the x-over at around 80, and set my Denon reciever to small front speakers, that way, all the lower end bass will automatically go to the sub. Since some tracks are sent with an LFE signal, if I put them up to a large speaker setting, the sub may not "hit" sometimes, thus no bass. The room is not square by any means, it's got a 20ft vaulted ceiling, only 1 90 degree angle in the room (that's where the sub is going), about 20x25. I guess I'll just have to try it out and see how it sounds. Thanks, Chris

stebob · November 21, 2003

Chris,

You mentioned Ovation...where are you located? Ovation is one of our authorized Klipsch dealers. You may be located close to me.

BTW, which Denon receiver do you have?

Chris97K1500 · November 23, 2003

I live in Frankfort KY, but go to the Ovation Home audio Center in Lexington, KY. I got the Denon from them around '99. It's the AVR-1700. I have since added an AudioControl Equalizer. It's called the Rialto, it's a Theatre Series Equalizer with 24dB/Octave Crossover. My first audio equipment came from Ovation, they are great to work with. I went ahead yesterday and moved my speakers around, the sub now sounds much better. Can't wait to get new fronts, then I'll be set for a couple more years. Ovation will be where I get my future professionally installed theatre system. I am going there this Friday after Thanksgiving. I will look at the Klipsch again, I would much rather buy from them than from Best Buy or similar. Thanks, for you help! Chris

stebob · November 24, 2003

Well, you're not too far away from me. I'm in Indy. I've purchased a huge majority of my stereo components from Ovation myself through the years. The 1700 was a nice piece! I have the 3300.

Good to hear about the sub. Yeah, check out the Reference series Klipsch and let me know what you think.

Chris97K1500 · November 24, 2003

I go to Indy all the time. I have family there, plus I usually go to the Brickyard 400. I was at a factory outlet place about 45miles south of Indy last weekend. I'll be sure to let you know how things turn out with my speaker situation. Appreciate the help! Chris

stebob · November 24, 2003

Cool! And, you're welcome! Anytime. Hey, one of these weekends you are coming up here we should do lunch. Hell, at least get together and talk trucks or go to Ovation . I have a '97k1500, too. Reg cab, short bed, 350, white, Z71. I have pics, but I don't know how to post them here. I guess I could figure it out. If you want to see it I can email them to you.

I see now, my pics aren't posted in the internet. I just have them on my hard drive. Oh, well, I guess.

Wingnut · November 25, 2003

I'll host a couple of pics for you if you want.

Just email them to me at [email protected]

stebob · November 25, 2003

Thanks, Wingnut!! You have mail.

Wingnut · November 26, 2003

I don't see any....

k1500chevy97 · November 26, 2003

Cool! And, you're welcome! Anytime. Hey, one of these weekends you are coming up here we should do lunch. Hell, at least get together and talk trucks or go to Ovation . I have a '97k1500, too. Reg cab, short bed, 350, white, Z71. I have pics, but I don't know how to post them here. I guess I could figure it out. If you want to see it I can email them to you.

I see now, my pics aren't posted in the internet. I just have them on my hard drive. Oh, well, I guess.

Nice to see more people with great trucks

stebob · November 26, 2003

ARGH! You're right, they came back to me. I'll have to send them one at a time I guess.

Well, I tried a few more times with only sending 1 pic and it comes back to me saying either the file it too big or your mailbox is full. I tested by sending pics to a couple of other people and they went through ok. Hmph. Beats me.

Thanks, 97!