Facing subwoofer into corner?

[Kungen2]

So I have two fairly big Klipsch 15 inch woofers. I have placed them in two corners but since they are so big the woofer and the port (both pointed forward) are actually not “in the corner” they are actually more then half a meter away from the corner because of the big box and cables protruding. Have anyone tried pointing their subwoofers into the corner instead? And if so measured the difference? I am thinking they should point directly into the corner to get maximum support from the corner or pointing into one of the walls but that would need some distance. Your thoughts and preferably measurements on this.

 

[KenMasters]

You would need to take your own measurements to draw conclusions - every room is different. Pointing a sub at the wall can help to solve/alleviate some issues, like SBIR, but no way to know without measuring.

Do you feel you are lacking output in the first place?

 

[diablo]

I have a single SVS2000 Pro in my lounge. I found that the best place for it was in a corner of the bay window. I had it facing outward at first, but got a dip (at 60Hz I think), pointing it towards the wall fixed that.

All depends on your room.

 

[Kungen2]

For maximum output it does not really matter what the room look like, right? But for simplicity let’s say my room is square. So the question is, will a “real” corner placement give more output compared to the traditional corner position which isn’t really a corner placement but often half a meter from the corner. I can do some measurements and try it out but I only have an IPhone for measuring so it would be interesting to hear from you if it has been tested.

 

[witwald]

I have a single SVS2000 Pro in my lounge. I found that the best place for it was in a corner of the bay window. I had it facing outward at first, but got a dip (at 60Hz I think), pointing it towards the wall fixed that.

I'm quite surprised by that. The change in the position of the sound radiator is minimal compared to the wavelength at 60Hz. As expected, a simulation in REW's Room simulator shows a quite negligible change in the position of the null around 60Hz. Maybe something else was modified as well?

 

[KenMasters]

For maximum output it does not really matter what the room look like, right? But for simplicity let’s say my room is square. So the question is, will a “real” corner placement give more output compared to the traditional corner position which isn’t really a corner placement but often half a meter from the corner. I can do some measurements and try it out but I only have an IPhone for measuring so it would be interesting to hear from you if it has been tested.

The thing is a subwoofer's output is not linear in-room, you'll have dips and peaks across the range of frequencies it reproduces. Where those dips and peaks are and at what degree depends on a combination of factors. You might increase a dip bringing it closer to the corner, or not... no way to know without taking measurements from your listening position.

Also, what makes you think you currently lack output? If you're not going to measure anyway, just try it and see what you prefer.

 

[diablo]

I'm quite surprised by that. The change in location is minimal compared to the wavelength at 60Hz. As expected, a simulation in REW's Room simulator shows a quite negligible change in the position of the null around 60Hz. Maybe something else was modified as well?

Oddly I found the tests I did at the time. It was 60Hz.

Orange line is the final position I'm still using today. I don't use the built-in EQ in the SVS. Only thing I was changing was the position and angle of the sub. I can't explain it. REW's room simulator doesn't work to well for me, due to the bay window I think.

 

[Pareto Pragmatic]

My first thought is it won't matter, or not much. But with some more thought...

But for simplicity let’s say my room is square.

You are talking about moving the driver/port a couple of feet (max) closer to the corner. But what happens if we move it further out? Eventually it will be in the center of the room... which is definitely not a corner placement. So it makes sense that distance matters at some point. What point is the question.

I would see the "turn it around" as having an effect similar to moving the sub closer to the physical corner by one cabinet dimension. So if I wanted to test that I would put my sub back in the corner. then rotate it 180, then rotate it back and put it one cabinet further out from the starting point. Three measures to see if there is a pattern.

I am curious enough that I would test it, if it would not require moving some very heavy furniture to get my sub closer than 5' from the corner.

Only thing I was changing was the position and angle of the sub. I can't explain it. REW's room simulator doesn't work to well for me, due to the bay window I think.

Is there any way to account for direction/angle in REW's simulator? It's not something I use since my room is so odd. But in my ignorance, I assume it assumes a point source for subs.

Angle plays a big role in my room, but my room is open to the house on the stereo left side behind the listening position. I use an angle to bounce the sub towards that open area, otherwise I have more problems with 60-90hz at my typical listening volumes.

 

[Kungen2]

I did measure with HouseCurve and iPhone. The position with woofer towards sidewall but as close to the corner as possible seemed to flatten out the curve a little bit where I had a dip @60Hz. +2dB The worst position was the “normal” “corner” position. Let me know your results if you try it out