DIY Subwoofer Risers

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

ROUND GREAT GRAMPA SUBWOOFER RISER'S ! I want to know how you got such perfect circles !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

That is my secret.














Acutually, I cheated. I bought round ready-made table tops from Home Depot for around $15 each.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Did you mean he is FULL OF IT?

With the Round Great Grampa and longer legs for the cylindrical subwoofers, I noticed a bigger difference. I don't know if it was because it was taller or if it was because I used them on down-firing subwoofers that had very short spikes.

I have my TSI's on stools that have A hole in the middle ! the bass port is on the btm. of the speaker Why they did this I have no idea . that bass port stuffed in the carpet hurts the bass dramaticly ! On the stools the bass is 10 fold more present know .
I think you stumbled on to something with the round subs there Big Daddy !

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

I have my TSI's on stools that have A hole in the middle ! the bass port is on the btm. of the speaker Why they did this I have no idea . that bass port stuffed in the carpet hurts the bass dramaticly ! On the stools the bass is 10 fold more present know .
I think you stumbled on to something with the round subs there Big Daddy !

With the round risers installed, my SPL meter read about 9db or 10db higher. The speakers were perfectly calibrated before.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

With the round risers installed, my SPL meter read about 9db or 10db higher. The speakers were perfectly calibrated before.

Well calibrate them again to perfect & they are that much better ! Someday I want to take A week off & come to cali for A day just to experience you're HOME THEATER ! Of course I may never want to come back !!!!!!!!

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

Well calibrate them again to perfect & they are that much better ! Someday I want to take A week off & come to cali for A day just to experience you're HOME THEATER ! Of course I may never want to come back !!!!!!!!

Governor Terminator welcomes you to California.

There is such a thing as horizontal and vertical axial modes. With subwoofer placement, we affect the horizontal axial mode. By putting it on a subwoofer riser, we affect the vertical axial mode. That could be the reason why I noticed such a big difference. For the explanation of horizontal and vertical axial modes, read A Guide to Subwoofers (Part II): Standing Waves & Room Modes.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Governor Terminator welcomes you to California.

There is such a thing as horizontal and vertical axial modes. With subwoofer placement, we affect the horizontal axial mode. By putting it on a subwoofer riser, we affect the vertical axial mode. That could be the reason why I noticed such a big difference. For the explanation of horizontal and vertical axial modes, read A Guide to Subwoofers (Part II): Standing Waves & Room Modes.

I guess There is A real big thing (difference) with VERTICAL AS TO HORIZONTAL ! Last two thing's I have done to my setup has improved it allot !
Just keep the idea's coming !

[Driver_King]

Originally Posted by Slec

I might build one as a test, for $30 why not! There seems to be plenty of anecdotal support (elsewhere as well as here), I'm just curious what the reasoning / physics of sound behind this would be.... off to research.

Did you build one yet? I have a bunch of MDF wood lying around that I could use to make a couple risers for my subwoofers. Big Daddy, how would you recommend me making the two for my subwoofers. How tall should they be? Can I use some carpet samples from the Dollar Tree on top of the risers instead of the carpet you are using? Should I use some bass absorption material underneath the risers as well? I like the idea. I'm sure I could benefit somewhat with the risers. The floor vibrates like crazy during certain frequencies (actually, it vibrates all the time.) Even the windows will shake from time to time.

[chaser23]

just curious, maybe adding some sort of padding on top of the stand similar to the gramma material would help. Maybe some of that soft styrofoam material, not the crumbly type but the softer style. what do you guys think?

[Driver_King]

One more question Big Daddy, do you think I would benefit with putting Poly-fill in both of my subs? If so, how much would I need for both? I have also been thinking about making risers or something for my SDA's. What do you think of this? Thanks for all your help in advance.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by Driver_King

Did you build one yet? I have a bunch of MDF wood lying around that I could use to make a couple risers for my subwoofers. Big Daddy, how would you recommend me making the two for my subwoofers. How tall should they be? Can I use some carpet samples from the Dollar Tree on top of the risers instead of the carpet you are using? Should I use some bass absorption material underneath the risers as well? I like the idea. I'm sure I could benefit somewhat with the risers. The floor vibrates like crazy during certain frequencies (actually, it vibrates all the time.) Even the windows will shake from time to time.

• Make the surface of the top is a couple of inches longer than your subwoofer. Make the legs around 6" to 10" long.
• I put 6" legs on the round risers and replaced the spikes of my Hsu subwoofers with 4" wooden legs and the effect was unbelievable. I had to turn their volume down.
• I went back and added another 6" to the height of the square risers in Post #104.
• I suppose any type of carpet works. Use 3M spray glue to attach the top and make it nice and smooth.
• Put an area rug under the risers to reduce the vibration.
• Bass absorption materilal really helps and dampens the riser.
• You will definitely benefit from a riser. The cost is less than $30 and a couple of hours of work.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by chaser23

just curious, maybe adding some sort of padding on top of the stand similar to the gramma material would help. Maybe some of that soft styrofoam material, not the crumbly type but the softer style. what do you guys think?

Anything that dampens the riser helps.

[crazyBLUE]

I did something today !My sub is know perfect in sound blends so much better know then before ! Not muddy at all anymore !!

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

I did something today !My sub is now perfect in sound blends so much better know then before ! Not muddy at all anymore !!

Why the mystery? Please tell us what that SOMETHING was.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Why the mystery? Please tell us what that SOMETHING was.

I wanted to make you wait ! I had the day off & was going through thread , when I saw (again) that you raised the round subs up off the new stand I thought how can I do that !
This sounds so much BETTER !!!!!!!

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

I wanted to make you wait ! I had the day off & was going through thread , when I saw (again) that you raised the round subs up off the new stand I thought how can I do that !
This sounds so much BETTER !!!!!!!

You Bad Boy. Now, I am tempted to raise mine about 6 feet.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

You Bad Boy. Now, I am tempted to raise mine about 6 feet.

I may put that thing on the ceiling just to see how it will perform !!

YOU'RE IDEA !!!

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

I may put that thing on the ceiling just to see how it will perform !!

YOU'RE IDEA !!!

Actually, the legs I put on the round subwoofers are pretty flexible and I can easily replace them with longer ready-made screw-on table legs from Home Depot. The only problem is to paint them.

Unfortunately, if I make another trip to Home Depot, I will end up in divorce court. As long as I get to keep my Grampa risers and subwoofers, I will be happy.

Just kidding. My wife loves the subwoofers as much as I do.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Actually, the legs I put on the round subwoofers are pretty flexible and I can easily replace them with longer ready-made screw-on table legs from Home Depot. The only problem is to paint them.

Unfortunately, if I make another trip to Home Depot, I will end up in divorce court. As long as I get to keep my Grampa risers and subwoofers, I will be happy.

Just kidding. My wife loves the subwoofers as much as I do.

I watched 2 movies this afternoon , The incredible hulk is the one to really test , & did it make A difference to the movie itself ! & that movie is full of sub .
BTW ~ THANKS FOR ALL YOU"RE IDEAS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by crazyBLUE

I watched 2 movies this afternoon , The incredible hulk is the one to really test , & did it make A difference to the movie itself ! & that movie is full of sub .
BTW ~ THANKS FOR ALL YOU"RE IDEAS !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If you want new ideas, here is one to consider.

According to Todd Welti, a researcher and subwoofer expert at Harmon International:

You shrink the whole room by 25% and put the subwoofers at the corners of that virtual room. Of course you get incredible performance, but that is not practical for most people.

Imagine 2 subwoofers at each corner, one raised and one hanging from the ceiling, for a total of 8 subwoofers.

[crazyBLUE]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

If you want new ideas, here is one to consider.

According to Todd Welti, a researcher and subwoofer expert at Harmon International:

Imagine 2 subwoofers at each corner, one raised and one hanging from the ceiling, for a total of 8 subwoofers.

Could you even hear the speakers when the subs were doing there job ! I would like to experience that but couldn't imagine 8 ! How about just 4 of BRAINS ANTHOMS hanging from the ceiling !!!