Subwoofer Placement - Emotiva X-Ref 12 User Manual

Subwoofer Placement

Deciding where to place a subwoofer (or a pair of them) is often a compromise
between practicality and acoustics. When selecting the ideal location for your X-Ref 12
DSP Managed Subwoofer, the goal is to choose a location that produces smooth, clean,
well defined bass (and not necessarily the location that produces the most bass). Even
though the sophisticated DSP Management System in the X-Ref 12 gives you very
precise control, you will still get the best overall results with the least amount of work if
you find a location where the subwoofer sounds clean and well defined before you start
adjusting it. Because low bass is non-directional, it is not necessary to choose a central
location for one subwoofer, nor to locate two subwoofers in symmetrical locations.
The locations that work best in a given room depend on the size, shape, and
construction of the room, as well as on room surface treatments (like carpeting)
and furniture. The most precise method for determining where to place one or more
subwoofers is to take careful measurements with a sound pressure level (SPL) meter,
analyze the results, and then test the likely locations that result. However, with a little
experimentation, you can achieve excellent results by ear alone.
Sub-woofer
Left Front
Left Side
Surround
Sub-woofer
Left Rear
Surround
Display
Center
Right Front
Listener
Right Rear
Surround
Sub-woofer
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Sub-woofer
Several factors determine
which locations work best for
a subwoofer in a given room.
The easiest way to get great
results is to experiment with
Right Side
different locations until you
Surround
find the right one. Here are
some locations you can try.
Sub-woofer