Dead spot in my room with my bass

[BLindsay]

It seems like there is bass everywhere in my room cept where i sit, and the bass is def. there because shit is rattling all over the place but it just seems to have a void where i sit, any thoughts ideas or suggestions?

[D]

Looking at your list of gear, no sub, right? Have you used the auto calibration setup in the Onkyo ? If not, try that, it should help some. Sounds like standing wave problem in room. If you don't have a sub yet, low frequencies will not be able to be achieved, especially in a room with bass issues. Best of luck.

[BLindsay]

Originally Posted by db01

Looking at your list of gear, no sub, right? Have you used the auto calibration setup in the Onkyo ? If not, try that, it should help some. Sounds like standing wave problem in room. If you don't have a sub yet, low frequencies will not be able to be achieved, especially in a room with bass issues. Best of luck.

i am actually using a sub sorry, in addition to what you see i have an alpine type R that i pulled from my car

[krazeyeyez]

bump because i wanna know too lol, i dont have the problem where i sit but there are one or two areas the bass seems to be lacking or not there at all and a slight move and its booming, just curious what some of the tech heads around here would have for advice on void issues

[D]

Okay, so you are using a sub, lots of variables, crossover settings, placement, but more likely room acoustics due to height/ width/ length and is it carpet, hardwood with or without rugs? Open to adjacent room? You have dead spots due to standing waves, a qualified acoustics expert can diagnose the problem and make recommendations, but don't know if you want to go that route? Bass dropouts can be tricky, but hopefully this helps.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by BLindsay

It seems like there is bass everywhere in my room cept where i sit, and the bass is def. there because shit is rattling all over the place but it just seems to have a void where i sit, any thoughts ideas or suggestions?

There is nothing unique about your room. The low frequency bass sound have very long wavelengths. These long wavelengths interact with the room boundaries and create Standing Waves. As a results, some locations in the room will receive great bass and other locations receive no bass.

Placement of a sub is by far the most important factor. With some experimentation, you can place the sub so that you hear good bass for the primary listening position. However, the other position may suffer. The solution is to use two subs or up to four.

To understand this, read A Guide to Subwoofers and A Guide to Subwoofers (Part II): Standing Waves & Room Modes.


Edit: I will move this thread to the Subwoofers section.

[D]

Well put Big Daddy, was just trying to help.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by db01

Well put Big Daddy, was just trying to help.

THAT HELP DOE'S NOT GET ANY BETTER !!!!!!!!

[Rob J in WNY]

+1 for the standing wave/cancellation phenomenon. Absolutely true.

Despite the oft suggestion that a sub can be placed "anywhere in a room because low frequencies are non-directional," only the latter part of this is fact. Sure, low frequencies are non-directional, but the issue of standing waves and room acoustics can have a major impact on your ability to get the most from your subwoofer at your listening postion.

In the case of my setup, the best location I have found is to have the sub off to the left of my listening postion - completely to the side of my couch. Its sound is quite good there. I get some beneficial wave propogation off the wall it sits against, and it's not boomy-sounding there (close corner placement tends to produce a little "boominess" from subs). Nowhere along the front soundstage does my listening position receive good bass, or any at all.

Multiple subs can really help, but if you are sticking with a single sub, definitely move your sub around the room, keeping it near any wall. You can also place your sub where your listening position is, and then walk (or even crawl) around the room to hear where the best subwoofer response is. Then, move your subwoofer to that spot, and you should hear a noticeable improvement in your sub's performance. Find the best general area, and then fine tune it's final location if you are patient enough. A difference of a foot or even less in location can make an audible difference.

You may be surprised at your sub's final location. Don't be afraid to give it a try!

Good luck!

[D]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

THAT HELP DOE'S NOT GET ANY BETTER !!!!!!!!

I meant that I was just trying to help.

[BLindsay]

ok ill read into that a bit, the room is 12x15, carpet floor, and those stupid pop panels on the ceiling. My fronts are about 10 feet apart and my sub is in between my tv (dead center of a 12ft wall) and my left front channel. Its a ported box and currently its just front firing.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by db01

I meant that I was just trying to help.

I know ! I was letting the OP know that Big Daddy knows what he is talking about !

[D]

Cool, no problem.

[BLindsay]

argh this is driving me up the wall, it seems no matter where i put the sub there is always a dead spot where i sit, it wouldnt be because where i sit is pretty much dead center in the room is it? Its so annoying because i go upstairs and listen to my deads cheapo infinity sub and he seems to have bass everywhere in the room. And i know the klipsch is def. outputting because every damn thing around me rattles lol. I have tried moving it all along my front soundstage with no luck

[Beta Man]

You're probably just hearing the stuff in the room rattle, and it's preventing you from actually hearing the bass...... Put up some bass traps to prevent things from rattling, and you should notice the bass that is reaching you at your seating position..... because I'm willing to bet it IS there.... you're just not able to notice it because you focus on the rattling etc. in the room.

[BLindsay]

Originally Posted by Beta Man

You're probably just hearing the stuff in the room rattle, and it's preventing you from actually hearing the bass...... Put up some bass traps to prevent things from rattling, and you should notice the bass that is reaching you at your seating position..... because I'm willing to bet it IS there.... you're just not able to notice it because you focus on the rattling etc. in the room.

it seems to be just where im sitting, if i stand up and move elsewhere around the room it sounds fine. And once i turn the volume up to where i normally listen to i cant hear the rattles anyways lol

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by BLindsay

argh this is driving me up the wall, it seems no matter where i put the sub there is always a dead spot where i sit, it wouldnt be because where i sit is pretty much dead center in the room is it? Its so annoying because i go upstairs and listen to my deads cheapo infinity sub and he seems to have bass everywhere in the room. And i know the klipsch is def. outputting because every damn thing around me rattles lol. I have tried moving it all along my front soundstage with no luck

Yes, the center of the room is the worst place to place a subwoofer. For the same reason it is the worst place to sit as far as bass sound is concerned. Move the seat forward or backward and get two subwoofers. Definitely read A guide to Subwoofers (Part II).

[D]

You can also try putting the sub at the back of the room, if your cable does not reach, you can use a long RG-6 coax with F to RCA adaptors just to test it. Just an option.

[BLindsay]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Yes, the center of the room is the worst place to place a subwoofer. For the same reason it is the worst place to sit as far as bass sound is concerned. Move the seat forward or backward and get two subwoofers. Definitely read A guide to Subwoofers (Part II).

so am i going to be pretty much a dead spot sitting in the center no matter where i move the sub? so the only fix is to move? gotta figure out what to do then, cause if i move much closer to the tv ill practically be sitting on my fronts, but if i move to far back ill be to far away for my tv for 1080p.

Also i doubt to be honest ill get a 2nd sub at least where im living now, the sub i have now once i fix my seating is obnoxiously overkill for my room, unless circuit city drops the price again

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by BLindsay

so am i going to be pretty much a dead spot sitting in the center no matter where i move the sub? so the only fix is to move? gotta figure out what to do then, cause if i move much closer to the tv ill practically be sitting on my fronts, but if i move to far back ill be to far away for my tv for 1080p.

Also i doubt to be honest ill get a 2nd sub at least where im living now, the sub i have now once i fix my seating is obnoxiously overkill for my room, unless circuit city drops the price again

Many people eroneously assume that the purpose of a second sub is to create more and louder bass sound. Although you can do that, the real reason for a second subwoofer (up to 4 subwoofers) is to create a more even and smoother bass across the room and a much larger sweet spot.