DIY Subwoofer Risers

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by Driver_King

Well, the next time I'm at the HD, I'll make sure to pick up some. Do you think they'll work just as well even if my speakers don't have legs? Or should I add some?

They work without legs or spikes. If you add legs or spikes and put them on top of these mouldings, they become more stable.

[liquidice]

nice work BD. Well, I've got a couple things I'm pondering over lately. One is something Jomari mentioned to me awhile ago about isolating my center channel. I've pm'd him for more details and what he thinks I should do, this of course is now wide open for any feedback. Second, with some recent server and computer upgrades at work, I am left with one of those gel wrist rests for computers:


So I sat there poking the thing for quite awhile the other night wondering what the heck I could do with something like this. I've already raised my 12" sub with foam rubber to give it the 'floating' effect, but maybe I could do something to a second sub? I'm thinking I can cut the wrist rest into 4 equal parts, and then use something to seal the fabric on the open end that will be cut, basically making 4 little gel feet. Well, I've got another smaller piece that is used for your mouse, but doesn't have the mouse pad attached like most of these do, it's just the gel wedge thingy. Thought I might be able to use that for the center channel, which leads to question #1. However, the material on these pads are slick, and using the mouse wedge for a center channel riser would probably result in it falling right off my tv stand. Anyways, random thoughts are all these are for now, I'll figure something out soon enough. My biggest dilemma is wanting to upgrade my center channel, but I have no where to put anything larger: can't wall mount, can't put underneath tv because of vertical support shelf. That's enough yammering for now...

[erict]

OK, here are my pics of my isolator I built for my A2-300. I used 1" closed cell neoprene foam which is firm enough to support the weight but also compresses as the one pic shows with my finger. It worked out much better then open cell foam as it just compressed way to much and I didn't like the stability of it. The neoprene worked out fabulous and will support the 70lb eD sub.

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[Driver_King]

That's my kind of decoupler!

[liquidice]

nice work erict, very nice. Looks just like the pro-model. One thing I'd like you to mess with once you get your setup in place is raising the sub more. I know you've seen us all do it, but since your now experimenting like the rest of it, you at least just have to promise to try it. You'd be able to expand on your current project if you like the results. Again, nice work!

[crazyBLUE]

looks real good erict ! Nice job . I agree with ice on playing with the VERTICAL aspect of the sub !!

[erict]

I may play with the height a little bit once I give this a test run. I just have to be careful of how far I go because of the WAF

[jomari]

nicely done!

[liquidice]

erict, have you gotten your house set up yet? It's been awhile since we've talked about certain placements and what-nots, but I'm not sure if you've every said your good-to-go yet. Were you waiting to buy certain components or something?....can't remember. You've been very active in talking with all of us, I'd like to see more pictures of your setup, or setup space, or anything for that matter.

Actually, same for you Jomari, I'd like to see more than just your sub re-stuffing project.

[erict]

Originally Posted by liquidice

erict, have you gotten your house set up yet? It's been awhile since we've talked about certain placements and what-nots, but I'm not sure if you've every said your good-to-go yet. Were you waiting to buy certain components or something?....can't remember. You've been very active in talking with all of us, I'd like to see more pictures of your setup, or setup space, or anything for that matter.

Actually, same for you Jomari, I'd like to see more than just your sub re-stuffing project.

I still have everything sitting in boxes I will be setting everything up at the end of June on my vacation. I have to re-arrange my family room so I can make room since my TV is setup in a corner right now I wont have the room for everything. The two chairs and two tables will be moved to make way for my setup in the pic.

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[Fors*]

Originally Posted by erict

OK, here are my pics of my isolator I built for my A2-300. I used 1" closed cell neoprene foam which is firm enough to support the weight but also compresses as the one pic shows with my finger. It worked out much better then open cell foam as it just compressed way to much and I didn't like the stability of it. The neoprene worked out fabulous and will support the 70lb eD sub.

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These look very similiar (but on a smaller scale) as the pair of decouplers I built for my front speakers. You can get an idea of what I mean if you look at pics #1 and #3 in my gallery. I even stuffed polyfill betwen the rubber on the front and back of the decoupler to further dampen them.

[erict]

Originally Posted by forsberg21

These look very similiar (but on a smaller scale) as the pair of decouplers I built for my front speakers. You can get an idea of what I mean if you look at pics #1 and #3 in my gallery. I even stuffed polyfill betwen the rubber on the front and back of the decoupler to further dampen them.

The idea looks the same but it looks like you used more of a solid rubber mat like material? I ended up using neoprene closed cell foam.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by erict

The idea looks the same but it looks like you used more of a solid rubber mat like material? I ended up using neoprene closed cell foam.

Yeah, it is the kind of matting that is used in an exercise room. It is harder, but it "gives" all the same and I have been happy with it's appearance. Can't say for sure if any benefit came from doing so (perhaps minimal), but I got piece of mind anyway.

[lolwaut]

question for BigDaddy about the risers:

would it be ok to use a thinner fabric (instead of the carpet). i have some thin crushed velvet fabric that i want to use for aesthetic reasons, would this be ok?

[crazyBLUE]

WOW ~ Big Daddy , The GRAMPA'S are turning into an obsession

[erict]

Originally Posted by lolwaut

question for BigDaddy about the risers:

would it be ok to use a thinner fabric (instead of the carpet). i have some thin crushed velvet fabric that i want to use for aesthetic reasons, would this be ok?

It shouldn't be a problem. You just want to make sure the sub won't walk off the base. If you use spikes it shouldn't move at all. I would try it and see if you have any issues.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by lolwaut

question for BigDaddy about the risers:

would it be ok to use a thinner fabric (instead of the carpet). i have some thin crushed velvet fabric that i want to use for aesthetic reasons, would this be ok?

Originally Posted by erict

It shouldn't be a problem. You just want to make sure the sub won't walk off the base. If you use spikes it shouldn't move at all. I would try it and see if you have any issues.

The idea is not only for making the surface less slippery. You use carpet to dampen the surface of the riser. Carpet, particularly in the case of down-firing subs, absorbs some of the port noise. Dr. Hsu of Hsu Research always recommends that you put an area rug under a subwoofer.

[erict]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

The idea is not only for making the surface less slippery. You use carpet to dampen the surface of the riser. Carpet, particularly in the case of down-firing subs, absorbs some of the port noise. Dr. Hsu of Hsu Research always recommends that you put an area rug under a subwoofer.

School is now in session. Thanks BD I learn something new every day

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by lolwaut

question for BigDaddy about the risers:

would it be ok to use a thinner fabric (instead of the carpet). i have some thin crushed velvet fabric that i want to use for aesthetic reasons, would this be ok?

I forgot to answer your question. Velvet, particularly thick velvet, can work. You can put a thin layer of foam under it.

[lolwaut]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

I forgot to answer your question. Velvet, particularly thick velvet, can work. You can put a thin layer of foam under it.

ok great...

the crushed velvet fabric i have isnt thick... it is actually so thin that you can stretch it and see through it in some places. so, not ideal for dampening which is what i was concerned about to begin with. although, i think some thin foam underneath it (per your suggestion) will make it more than adequate.

now another question, i went and bought some wood about an hour ago. the birch plywood was way too expensive.... 50 bucks for a sheet. i might as well just buy a pre-assembled riser at that price. the MDF board was more reasonable, but still 25 bucks a sheet and i didnt really want to spend that much. instead, i bought some 3/4 pine ply wood for 11 bucks. is there any reason that pine isnt as good as the birch or MDF you suggested?