I have a question for the accoustic experts!

I just bought a new subwoofer (s12) and want to know about placement.  The best place for me to put this subwoofer (to protect it from small children) may not be the best place to put it acoustically speaking. 

I built a cabinet in the back wall of my theater room, so that I can access the back of my components from the laundry room behind the theater.  I also cut a hole in the back wall for the current subwoofer I have and built a "cabinet" inside the wall just large enough for the subwoofer and plan on enlarging that to place my new sub in it's place. 

So, am I loosing a lot of sound quality having just the front of the subwoofer inside the room with the back of the sub in the room behind my theater room?

Any advice is greatly appreciated!

thanks, j.selander

Honestly, no one will be able to help you by just reading the description of your room. Place your subwoofer in several different locations and test it out. Subs usually work best in a corner, but every room has different acoustics. You are the only one who can truly determine any sound quality loss by having the sub in that cabinet.

Thanks for the response. I guess the better way to word my question is: Does the port in the back of the sub need to be heard, or just the cone? Or does that also depend on the listener's preference. My question stems from what I was told by a salesman who stated ported subs produce a sort of "echo" from the port.

The port direction really doesn't make a big difference. If the port is pointed at the rear, chances are it was designed to point at a wall anyway. If it sounds good to you, I wouldn't sweat it too much. Subwoofers aren't intended to be directional.

It is hard to say if you will lose any sound with this setup, but it will sound different. The air flow through a port needs to be free of restriction. If the area around the back of the sub is small, air will be restricted a little bit.

Generall speaking, If you place a sub in a corner, it will sound "boomier" and maybe even a little muddy. I don't know why the same would not apply in your setup.

Have you already done it? How does it sound? If you are happy with it, then all is good.

-James

I got my new subwoofer yesterday!  I bought the s12 because I wanted to make sure it had plenty of power since my room setup is not ideal. 

     It sounds a little bit muddy, (obviously do to one of the following since I know aperions speakers are top-notch, It is either my setup, the sub not being broken in yet, the material I have listened to thus far, or a combination of those things)

  but I have not listened to enough music/movies on it yet to really tell.    It has plenty of power though!!

     What I really need is to rent MISSION IMPOSSIBLE II and listen to the part where they are "tap dancing"  There is some really good quick bass in that, and it would help me decide if I need to move my subwoofer.

     The other thing that would help my evaluation would be to have my new 533-t's  My current speakers (kenwood home theater in a box speakers) just don't do the Aperion subwoofer justice.

Congrats on the new arrival!

Be sure to let that sub break in nice and easy before you let'r loose (and judge itsp placement).  They come pretty tight and could use some good break in time before you go nuts   It will sound different in 30-40 hours.

-James

I dont think it will be a good idea have a enclsoure around the sub. it will most likely alter the sound quite a lot. both cone and ports should have sufficient room to "breathe" into the room where they will be heard.

I will have to try it outside of the cabinet once it is broken in, and then make the decision if the difference in sound quality is enough to risk exposing it to 3 small children and risk damaging that beautiful finish  (or possibly turning it on one day and suddenly realizing one of my children had turned the level all the way up)

It is always a good idea to protect the equipment from the halflings.  Be sure to let us know your thoughts on the sound once it is all broken in!

-James

Joseph,

 

If you place the rear ported S-12 Sub in an enclosure, you may compromise the design characteristics of the Sub. Since it breathes in and out, you may reduce the efficiency of the Sub.

 

With the S-12 you may be overwhelmed with its performance wherever you decide to place it. I would prefer that my speakers perform to the best of their capabilities.

 

I find the S-10 Sub to be possibly a little more than I need, but more is better than less, unless one speaks of pain.

 

Jack