Bottom or Front firing?

[ZIPPO]

Which type of subwoofer performs better? Bottom firing or front firing?

[Beta Man]

There isn't really a right or wrong answer to that...... a lot depends on your room, placement issues, etc.

[DavePS3]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

There isn't really a right or wrong answer to that...... a lot depends on your room, placement issues, etc.

I totally agree but got majorly slammed by so-called pro's here who feel it makes no difference whatsoever and have the anechoic chambers to prove it. I said I didn't know anyone who has an anechoic chamber in their house even if all that is true. Personally, I prefer bottom firing, elevated about 3 inches but Beta man is correct.

[Big Daddy]

There are no major performance differences between down-firing and front-firing subwoofers. Some people like the idea of looking at the big bad woofer of a front-firing sub. However, the down-firing subwoofers may also have a few advantages:

• They can be constructed more cheaply as you do not need a grill.
• If designed properly, they can look like a coffee table and may have more WAF appeal. See the picture of my down-firing sub below.
• If you have children, you definitely need down-firing. Who needs a little child poking a hole into the woofer?
• A rug under a down-firing sub can absorb some of the port noise and the noise from poorly-designed subwoofers.

This is what Dr. Hsu said in an interview:

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.

[DBlackGT]

The performance issue where it doesnt matter may be right, but the way your room is setup and the type of flooring you have also come into play.

For example my sub has the option of being a front firing or down firing. When I positioned it to be front firing and sat in my sweet spot it wasnt the deep low bass that I was looking for...it sounded tighter. But then when I switched it to down firing, wow! It hit every bass note that it was supposed too, deep and low. I guess the way my room is setup and having it being front firing I was sitting in what they call "standing waves" or something like that.

However what I do know is that by putting my sub as down firing made a world of a difference and you would just have to experiment with it on your own.

[saprano]

I put a rug under my downfiring sub to, i also have wood floors. it sounds much better.

I prefer downfiring.

[Opips2]

Originally Posted by ZIPPO

Which type of subwoofer performs better? Bottom firing or front firing?

A sub bottom firing and front firing are different sound.

- a clear sounded tighter wave for an front firing but little less rumble.

- a good sounded wave and great rumble like boom for bottom firing.

[hagar852]

Originally Posted by Opips2

A sub bottom firing and front firing are different sound.

- a clear sounded tighter wavelenght for front firing but little less rumble.

- a good sounded wavelenght and great rumble like boom for bottom firing.

wavelength is the wrong word to use there.

[Opips2]

Originally Posted by hagar852

wavelength is the wrong word to use there.

i fixed it my grammar.

[Opips2]

My theory,

725 watts = 1 Horsepower.
362.5 watts = 0.5 Horsepower.



twice 725watts = 2 Horsepower cause great move.

[Opips2]

My eD sub is 550 watts amp = 0.75 Hp

that's right?

[JasonR]

Originally Posted by Opips2

My theory,

725 watts = 1 Horsepower.
362.5 watts = 0.5 Horsepower.



twice 725watts = 2 Horsepower cause great move.

Not sure what you are getting at?

[Opips2]

Originally Posted by JasonR

Not sure what you are getting at?

I can't remember ago long time. I'm not sure.. I think that Rotel Amp explainer information science and technology.

rotel.c

[Carlsberg19]

Now i prefer front firing, my old subwoofer was front firing and had more "umph" to it, particulary with music tracks, my current set up is a down firing sub and its a rattly old vibrationery piece of crap, lacks the "umph" but in saying all that i think it could just be a bad subwoofer, i have the A2-300 on order now and im hearing nothing but good things about it, lets hope im not disapointed.

[Blu_Ray_Fan]

Carlsberg- Your sig is funny, sad and true all at the same time...

Sorry, on topic- I love my front facing SuperCube!

[Carlsberg19]

Originally Posted by Blu_Ray_Fan

Carlsberg- Your sig is funny, sad and true all at the same time...

Sorry, on topic- I love my front facing SuperCube!

just one of those things that "grinds my gears" lol

[mikewills]

Originally Posted by Opips2

My theory,

725 watts = 1 Horsepower.
362.5 watts = 0.5 Horsepower.



twice 725watts = 2 Horsepower cause great move.

I'm not sure that it really matters. Check out craigsub list and re-attack this one. Box and port design are a huge factor.....not just horsepower. MFW-15 has a 350 watt amp, but blow the doors off higher priced subs with a lot higher wattage. Mark Seaton the king of subs....

Mike

[Opips2]

Originally Posted by mikewills

I'm not sure that it really matters. Check out craigsub list and re-attack this one. Box and port design are a huge factor.....not just horsepower. MFW-15 has a 350 watt amp, but blow the doors off higher priced subs with a lot higher wattage. Mark Seaton the king of subs....

Mike

you fail understand. (sign) when you drink soda is empty on the sub. your MFW-15 has a 350 watts is not greater vibration or eathquake because weaker horsepower. the soda empty won't move.


725 watts amp is good vibration cause 1hp.

[SavageSam]

I have a down firing and I put a mirror under the sub to help keep the carpet from absorbing to much sound from the woofer and it looks kinda cool. At least I think so.

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by DavePS3

I totally agree but got majorly slammed by so-called pro's here who feel it makes no difference whatsoever and have the anechoic chambers to prove it. I said I didn't know anyone who has an anechoic chamber in their house even if all that is true. Personally, I prefer bottom firing, elevated about 3 inches but Beta man is correct.

Actually that wasn't what was said AT ALL and that's a total misrepresentation of what was said.

Allow me to recap:

No he did not. This is what he said:

You are confusing directionality with hearing Dave.

Wrong again - that wasn't said at all. Placement makes a different, driver orientation does not.

Because subs carry information from under 20Hz to over 150Hz, that's why.
They don't want you to put your sub behind a wall anymore than your speaker. If you just want to cross it over at 30Hz, different story. They're writing manuals for joe schmoe who doesn't have a clue, not av-philes.

Which is just what was said:

In your case the position of the subwoofer is changing, but you make no mention of the driver position. Hence whether it's a side-firing, down-firing or forward firing is not important, only the location is, which no-one is arguing.

Way to clearly undefine bass. 200Hz is bass and yes it's directional.
60Hz is bass and no it is not directional.

Again, no-one is saying you can't hear frequencies below 80Hz, geez.
As for the anechoic chamber, what it does is shows you that the reasons why you "hear" these low frequencies you think you do with directionality has nothing to do with the actual sound, but everything else...because when you're in an anechoic chamber with no reflection points the subsonic bass cannot be placed.