Front vs Down firing

[eyekyu]

ive search threw google but im not really understanding the difference maybe someone can explain a little better.

Im slowly putting together my speakers atm i have:
Front: Polk Monitor 60s
Center: Polk CS2

I have a few subs in mind just confused on weather to get front firing or down firing.

[Moefiz]

Originally Posted by eyekyu

ive search threw google but im not really understanding the difference maybe someone can explain a little better.

Im slowly putting together my speakers atm i have:
Front: Polk Monitor 60s
Center: Polk CS2

I have a few subs in mind just confused on weather to get front firing or down firing.

Why google when we have BIG DADDY
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=43669

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=48286

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Moefiz

Why google when we have BIG DADDY
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=43669

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=48286

I'll second that !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by Moefiz

Why google when we have BIG DADDY
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=43669

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=48286

Thank you. Big Daddy is better than Google.

This post specifically deals with down-firing versus front-firing.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showpost.p...51&postcount=9

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by eyekyu

ive search threw google but im not really understanding the difference maybe someone can explain a little better.

Im slowly putting together my speakers atm i have:
Front: Polk Monitor 60s
Center: Polk CS2

I have a few subs in mind just confused on weather to get front firing or down firing.

Down firing subs are usually cheaper. Front-firing speakers are my personal preference - less problems with sound propagation. I own both types, and I like sealed, front-firing subs.

[erict]

Originally Posted by Blu-Dog

Down firing subs are usually cheaper. Front-firing speakers are my personal preference - less problems with sound propagation. I own both types, and I like sealed, front-firing subs.

I wouldn't say down firing subs are cheaper or have more sound issues. I respect you're opinion but that is your opinion Now my opinion is you wont notice a difference between the two SQ wise and one thing to consider is if you have small children around a down firing sub is always a good route to take so they don't start poking or playing around with you're driver, IMO

[jomari]

On a sonic level, there is no coherent difference between the two.

The only reason why others 'consider' the down firing subs to be cheaper because of cost associated with a front firing one - aesthetics, and well, the grill.

Other than that, no difference.

[eyekyu]

thanks for the fast response everyone.

my floor is carpet does that effect anything?
I do plan on having my sub in a corner up close to my wall

[jomari]

Originally Posted by eyekyu

thanks for the fast response everyone.

my floor is carpet does that effect anything?
I do plan on having my sub in a corner up close to my wall

by default, it should not affect the performance of the sub - may it be front or down firing.

in regards to placement, it is essential to locate the best location for the subwoofer, to perform its best.

there are a number of stickies that can be found regarding these matters, all painstakingly created by Big daddy.

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by erict

I wouldn't say down firing subs are cheaper or have more sound issues. I respect you're opinion but that is your opinion

I hope nobody else has the same opinion - I'd be forced to change mine!

Originally Posted by erict

Now my opinion is you wont notice a difference between the two SQ wise and one thing to consider is if you have small children around a down firing sub is always a good route to take so they don't start poking or playing around with you're driver, IMO

I have a pair of Klipsch SUB-12's, and they perform quite well - in smaller spaces. In a large room, they get lost, and moving all the furniture around and placing them in odd spots was a pain in the neck, just to get the right propagation of sound.

Down-firing subs do strange reflective things, depending on where they're placed, which drives me nuts. I have all tile flooring, which actually helps, but building up stands, moving chairs and couches, and doing crazy stuff with cabling to make a down-firing sub capable of its potential just doesn't work for me.

Anyway, I raised two kids to full adulthood without ever having them - or their friends - ever damage a speaker of any kind, so your mileage may vary. Just gave the youngest one of my SUB-12's, I think it's safe, but he's grown so the risk is minimal.

My current front firing sub is a JL Audio Fathom, in a completely different realm of subs, but I also home-built two passive subs, and they perform admirably - as front-firing 12's.

I think it really depends on where they're placed, and the room they're in, ultimately.

[erict]

Originally Posted by Blu-Dog

I hope nobody else has the same opinion - I'd be forced to change mine!



I have a pair of Klipsch SUB-12's, and they perform quite well - in smaller spaces. In a large room, they get lost, and moving all the furniture around and placing them in odd spots was a pain in the neck, just to get the right propagation of sound.

Down-firing subs do strange reflective things, depending on where they're placed, which drives me nuts. I have all tile flooring, which actually helps, but building up stands, moving chairs and couches, and doing crazy stuff with cabling to make a down-firing sub capable of its potential just doesn't work for me.

Anyway, I raised two kids to full adulthood without ever having them - or their friends - ever damage a speaker of any kind, so your mileage may vary. Just gave the youngest one of my SUB-12's, I think it's safe, but he's grown so the risk is minimal.

My current front firing sub is a JL Audio Fathom, in a completely different realm of subs, but I also home-built two passive subs, and they perform admirably - as front-firing 12's.

I think it really depends on where they're placed, and the room they're in, ultimately.

You are correct about placement. I'm just saying the norm is you won't see a difference in SQ. That's interesting that you were able to tell the difference. Out of curiosity was this difference with both subs in the same location? With the down firing sub being on a tile surface did you have it on an isolation pad?

[Big Daddy]

Blu-Dog,

I have to disagree with you. The quality of the driver, cabinet, amplifier, port, tuning, damping, and placement have a lot more to do with the quality of the subwoofer and the bass output in a room than the orientation of the driver. In fact, many high quality subwoofers in the past 20 years have been down-firing. If you read the link I had in my previous post, you will notice the response of Dr. Hsu to this same question.

Q. I've noted that many subwoofers with good reputations for music applications use down-firing rather than front-firing drivers. Is this just coincidence or does it reflect a particular design philosophy?

Dr. Hsu: I feel that's just a coincidence. In the case of the VTF-2, the down-firing design was chosen to save money. A down-firing woofer doesn't need a grill to protect it. The upcoming VTF-3 will have a forward-firing woofer because the box is larger. We feel it would look too plain and large without a grille.