DIY Subwoofer Risers

[kefrank]

I have a quick question about sub risers. I'm planning to just buy rather than DIY, but I'm curious about a sizing issue. Does the riser just need to extend beyond the edges of the down-firing woofer or does it have to extend beyond the edges of the box?

The reason I ask is that I have the HSU STF-2 and am looking at the Subdude HD. The Subdude is only 15" deep and the STF-2 box is a few inches deeper than that, though the spiked feet would fit onto the 15" depth and the woofer would not extend beyond the edges of the riser. Any thoughts from someone knowledgeable?

[DIY_HD]

Originally Posted by MAL01

[As interesting as this riser looks to me, would it be any more effective than a subdude or great gamma?

I'm not familiar with the subdude or great gamma. All I can tell you is that my goal was to provide a solid, not-easily-vibrated base for the sub. A lot of commercial risers appear to decouple the sub by some sort of cushion made out of flexible material. I suppose either way will work. I have rubber feet on the sub and carpet under the riser, so I actually have both. It sure does rattle loose things around the house, but by sound, not shaking the floor. I can feel the power . . .

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by kefrank

I have a quick question about sub risers. I'm planning to just buy rather than DIY, but I'm curious about a sizing issue. Does the riser just need to extend beyond the edges of the down-firing woofer or does it have to extend beyond the edges of the box?

The reason I ask is that I have the HSU STF-2 and am looking at the Subdude HD. The Subdude is only 15" deep and the STF-2 box is a few inches deeper than that, though the spiked feet would fit onto the 15" depth and the woofer would not extend beyond the edges of the riser. Any thoughts from someone knowledgeable?

As long as the feet of the subwoofer are on the riser and the subwoofer is stable, you should be ok. There are different size risers. Check post #1.

[kefrank]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

As long as the feet of the subwoofer are on the riser and the subwoofer is stable, you should be ok. There are different size risers. Check post #1.

Thanks Big Daddy. I thought about the Great Gramma with it's larger dimensions, but it's not early as aesthetically pleasing. Sounds like I'll be good with the Subdude HD.

[snsguy]

Well, I've been reading this thread for a couple of weeks in conjunction with researching for a new sub and decided to make my own riser. After I chose which sub I wanted to get I started building it. My goal was 1) to get the sub off the ground due to wood floors and living in a town house apartment complex (I don't want to tick anyone off) and 2) making one that was cool to look at and not an eye soar. So I came up with a deign that wasn't too far off the ground that my wife would hate it. It's 4 tiers alternating from a 24" x 18" piece of wood to a 22" x 14 piece. It gives it a floating like effect. I bought the legs already made from Lowes. In total it brought the height of it to 7". I stained the two larger pieces with red mahogany and left the other smaller pieces unstained as well as the legs. Then I finished it with a couple of coats of semi-gloss polyurethane. So what do you think?





I no longer feel the vibrations in the floor and it's now rattling the doors behind my couch so much that they are opening on their own.

Thanks Big Daddy for starting this thread. It was extremely helpful and your knowledge on so many subjects in the forums have changed my HT in so many ways, for the better of course.

SNSGUY

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by snsguy

Well, I've been reading this thread for a couple of weeks in conjunction with researching for a new sub and decided to make my own riser. After I chose which sub I wanted to get I started building it. My goal was 1) to get the sub off the ground due to wood floors and living in a town house apartment complex (I don't want to tick anyone off) and 2) making one that was cool to look at and not an eye soar. So I came up with a deign that wasn't too far off the ground that my wife would hate it. It's 4 tiers alternating from a 24" x 18" piece of wood to a 22" x 14 piece. It gives it a floating like effect. I stained the two larger pieces with red mahogany and left the other smaller pieces unstained as well as the legs. So what do you think?





I no longer feel the vibrations in the floor and it's now rattling the doors behind my couch so much that they are opening on their own.

Thanks Big Daddy for starting this thread. It was extremely helpful and your knowledge on so many subjects in the forums have changed my HT in so many ways, for the better of course.

SNSGUY

Vary nice riser SNSGUY ~ turned out great. Good looking riser

[MAL01]

Does anyone have an opinion on whether DIY HD's homemade riser will provide better isolation than the typical riser, like a great gamma? I'm always looking for a cool little project to do and this looks cool but, for the work involved I don't want to do it if there is no benefit.

[MAL01]

NICE

Originally Posted by snsguy

Well, I've been reading this thread for a couple of weeks in conjunction with researching for a new sub and decided to make my own riser. After I chose which sub I wanted to get I started building it. My goal was 1) to get the sub off the ground due to wood floors and living in a town house apartment complex (I don't want to tick anyone off) and 2) making one that was cool to look at and not an eye soar. So I came up with a deign that wasn't too far off the ground that my wife would hate it. It's 4 tiers alternating from a 24" x 18" piece of wood to a 22" x 14 piece. It gives it a floating like effect. I bought the legs already made from Lowes. In total it brought the height of it to 7". I stained the two larger pieces with red mahogany and left the other smaller pieces unstained as well as the legs. Then I finished it with a couple of coats of semi-gloss polyurethane. So what do you think?





I no longer feel the vibrations in the floor and it's now rattling the doors behind my couch so much that they are opening on their own.

Thanks Big Daddy for starting this thread. It was extremely helpful and your knowledge on so many subjects in the forums have changed my HT in so many ways, for the better of course.

SNSGUY

[MaCruz]

Tomorrow, I will "most likely" make my order on the Elemental Designs A5S-300 pad x 2 for my Lava subs. I don't think I'll have the time to DIY right now. Just using that extra bonus money from work.

[nezff]

Originally Posted by MaCruz

Tomorrow, I will "most likely" make my order on the Elemental Designs A5S-300 pad x 2 for my Lava subs. I don't think I'll have the time to DIY right now. Just using that extra bonus money from work.

it will LOOK good!

[MaCruz]

Originally Posted by nezff

it will LOOK good!

I just ordered 2 sub risers from Elemental Designs. We'll see how that goes when my Lava subs are raised 4". Currently I'm using foam from Wal-Mart. Will post pics of course once I get them.

[snsguy]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

Vary nice riser SNSGUY ~ turned out great. Good looking riser

Originally Posted by MAL01

NICE

Thanks crazy! Thanks MAL! It's working extremely well. I really like how the vibrations are removed from the floor because there were a ton before.

SNSGUY

[MaCruz]

Anyone ordered from Elemental Designs? Seems to be slow. Ordered 2 risers from them on 2/8. My account status still shows processing. Maybe they are out of stock for the A5S-300 Subwoofer Isolation Pad?

[28BlusLater]

Alright, after reading through a bunch of pages on this thread I think I'm going to try to get a buddy of mine to help me build a riser. Perhaps even one for each of my front speakers also just to get everything off the carpet.

I see all different sizes of risers on here, some that lift it just a couple inches off the ground and others a few feet. How high off the ground do you guys mostly recommend having the sub? My SVS has rubber feet on it already, will spikes be better? I want to get my sub sounding the best it possibly can here.

I love how my center channel came with a riser already . Then again, this speaker isn't shaped to be able to stand on a shelf by itself anyways.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by 28BlusLater

Alright, after reading through a bunch of pages on this thread I think I'm going to try to get a buddy of mine to help me build a riser. Perhaps even one for each of my front speakers also just to get everything off the carpet.

I see all different sizes of risers on here, some that lift it just a couple inches off the ground and others a few feet. How high off the ground do you guys mostly recommend having the sub? My SVS has rubber feet on it already, will spikes be better? I want to get my sub sounding the best it possibly can here.

I love how my center channel came with a riser already . Then again, this speaker isn't shaped to be able to stand on a shelf by itself anyways.

You can go as high as a couple of feet. The logic behind this is explained in post #2.

[28BlusLater]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

You can go as high as a couple of feet. The logic behind this is explained in post #2.

Just read the post. Do you recommend rubber tips or spikes under the sub and my MartinLogan speakers?

I have spikes on my MartinLogans and I have rubber on the SVS.

How big of a difference will it make having it 1.8 feet off the ground (I used the 25 rule) compared to just around 5 inches? I got a yelling for even suggesting the sub being over a foot tall.

I read what you were saying on the first page about rubber feet or spikes, but which would be more effective on carpet?

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by 28BlusLater

Just read the post. Do you recommend rubber tips or spikes under the sub and my MartinLogan speakers?

I have spikes on my MartinLogans and I have rubber on the SVS.

How big of a difference will it make having it 1.8 feet off the ground (I used the 25 rule) compared to just around 5 inches? I got a yelling for even suggesting the sub being over a foot tall.

I read what you were saying on the first page about rubber feet or spikes, but which would be more effective on carpet?

Spike and rubber feet depend on the type of floor that you have. I have wood floor and prefer rubber. Spikes are better on carpet. On wood, you definitely should use spikes with protection plates.

The actual performance gain from the height of the riser depends on the room and your setup. Post #2 only gives you some general guidelines and rules of thumb.

[28BlusLater]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Spike and rubber feet depend on the type of floor that you have. I have wood floor and prefer rubber. Spike are better on carpet. On wood, you definitely should use spikes with protection plates.

The actual performance gain from the height of the riser depends on the room and your setup. Post #2 only gives you some general guidelines and rules of thumb.

Alright, so spikes on the bottom of all the risers (I have carpet floors), keep the spikes on my MartinLogan Prefaces when they go on my risers, and I'm not sure how to put spikes on my SVS PB12-NSD. I'm guessing the rubber feet will do fine? I'll rise it as high as I'm allowed.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by 28BlusLater

Alright, so spikes on the bottom of all the risers (I have carpet floors), keep the spikes on my MartinLogan Prefaces when they go on my risers, and I'm not sure how to put spikes on my SVS PB12-NSD. I'm guessing the rubber feet will do fine? I'll rise it as high as I'm allowed.

The rubber feet in the bottom of the subwoofer on top of the riser should be fine. That is what I use.

[vsidhu]

Originally Posted by snsguy

Well, I've been reading this thread for a couple of weeks in conjunction with researching for a new sub and decided to make my own riser. After I chose which sub I wanted to get I started building it. My goal was 1) to get the sub off the ground due to wood floors and living in a town house apartment complex (I don't want to tick anyone off) and 2) making one that was cool to look at and not an eye soar. So I came up with a deign that wasn't too far off the ground that my wife would hate it. It's 4 tiers alternating from a 24" x 18" piece of wood to a 22" x 14 piece. It gives it a floating like effect. I bought the legs already made from Lowes. In total it brought the height of it to 7". I stained the two larger pieces with red mahogany and left the other smaller pieces unstained as well as the legs. Then I finished it with a couple of coats of semi-gloss polyurethane. So what do you think?





I no longer feel the vibrations in the floor and it's now rattling the doors behind my couch so much that they are opening on their own.

Thanks Big Daddy for starting this thread. It was extremely helpful and your knowledge on so many subjects in the forums have changed my HT in so many ways, for the better of course.

SNSGUY

Cool design. Nicely put together, it's looks like it came from a furniture store!