Front-firing or down-firing, which is better on concrete?

[Zman2k2]

So I'm going to be in the market for a sub upgrade soon, and I'm also working on a theater room in the basement. In the dedicated room, I'm going to have laminate flooring, pretty much right on top of the concrete. While reading this thread something came up that I've never considered before. Does the type of floor effect output? Would I get better LFE output from a front-firing sub on a concrete floor than a down-firing sub on the same floor?

[Clark Kent]

It depends on your crossover point and where you plan to place the sub. Front-firing subwoofers can be harder to tame and accurately place in a room. It also depends on your priorities. I know some high-end two channel stereo enthusiasts that will not use down-firing subs at all.

[Big Daddy]

I encourage you to put a big area rug under the subwoofer regardless of whether the sub is down-firing or front-firing.

[Twitch9]

I agree with Big Daddy about the rug, i like front firing subs myself, i find down firing too boomy and not as smooth as the front. Now allot of this depends on the class of sub your looking at. Very high end down firing sub can sound amazing and tight and outperform front.

[sheedoe]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

I encourage you to put a big area rug under the subwoofer regardless of whether the sub is down-firing or front-firing.

I can see how a down-firing sub can benefit from a rug underneath, but could you please explain how a front firing sub would benefit from it? I'm not disagreeing with you, just curious.

[Twitch9]

I think he is saying because of the rooms environment, concrete and laminate floor, the room needs something to dampen the sound waves and stop the slap back effect.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by Twitch9

I think he is saying because of the rooms environment, concrete and laminate floor, the room needs something to dampen the sound waves and stop the slap back effect.

+1. Correct. I just want to clarify a bit of misconeption.

People assume that front firing subwoofers shoot bass sound forward in one direction. The low frequency sounds have very large wavelengths and they are very nasty and can bend and go in every direction reflecting and bouncing off the walls, floor, and the ceiling and create standing waves.

This is also true about down-firing subs. Their bass sound do not shoot directly at the floor. They go in every direction and create the same standing waves.

A rug on the floor dampens the reflection and absorbs the port noise or any other noises coming out of poorly designed subs.

[Zman2k2]

Well, I was thinking about the old stand-by sub around here, the eD A2-300. But when I read in the thread I linked to about subs on concrete it got me thinking. It sounds as though either will be fine for what I'm planning to use it for, a dedicated HT setup (the 2-channel is elsewhere in the house), as long as I consider and look at having a large area rug in the basement. That's not a problem, so I guess I can rest with my choice. Thanks all.

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

I encourage you to put a big area rug under the subwoofer regardless of whether the sub is down-firing or front-firing.

For sound, or to prevent the "subwoofer dance"?

I agree on the idea, there's got to be huge sound reflection from a hard surface.