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Uptown Audio uptownaudio@rev.net wrote:
>That's the reason. Why would you want to pay more for the same options
>unless it is just to save space? Most makers like to keep a range of
>product looking similar as well. I never recommend corner placement as
>a rule, but it can work in some situations where space is limited or
>the xover frequency is very low.
I've response mapped over a dozen rooms for single subwoofer placement and in
every case with one exception corner placement provided the best response at
the main and up to 2 other listening psoitions what weere actially used in
those rooms.
I was initially surprised but there's a good reason for this. The biggest
in-room subwoofer problem is adequate SPL at low frequencies; but the 2nd
biggest problem is the presence of nulls (or sometimes peaks) in reponse caused
by modal interaction relative to the wavelength of the sound. (20 Hz has a
wvavelength over 50 feet long.)
In a typical room there will only be 5 modes active below 100 Hz and any
location that fails to excite any one of them will leave a hole in response.
The ONLY location that will excite all low frequency modes is a closed-corner
(one with at least 5-6 feet of wall to both sides) meaning that the best
listening position response will be most likely attained with a corner locus.
Response won't be perfect but in most cases it will as smooth as you can get.
Another option is to place the subwoofer close (in the direct field) to the
listener. This is complicated because listening positions tend to be in nulls
and things like suspension and port noises will draw attention of the
subwoofer.
>Tannoy actually makes a corner sub and it is triangular. It is also
>more expensive than their square options. In a rather neat placement
>option, it can be hung at any height on the walls corner, so ceiling
>placement is an option if you want the floor space badly.
I've tested the Tannoy tri-angle. It's a nice touch but the subwoofer itself
lacks sufficient displacement to deliver adequate SPL at low frequencies.
Companies
>that shape them in other styles do so to try to appeal to people who
>just want something different or feel that it may be superior for some
>reason. The best boom for your buck is square man, like L7. It also
>has space saving appeal as most rooms are square and so most furniture
>follows suit.
>-Bill
>www.uptownaudio.com
>Roanoke VA
>(540) 343-1250
IMO a tall rectangle is the best floor space saver and an optimal enclosure
shape. I'm surprised that there aren't' more floor standing coat-closet-like or
crystal closet shapes that are made to resemble furniture. Or more subwoofers
made to look like structure such as a corner "column' painted or wallpapered to
match the walls.
>
>"CCSman" <ccsman@aol.com> wrote in message
>news:cjfjql024b3@news1.newsguy.com...
>> Most subwoofer manufacturers recommend corner placement. Seems to me
>that a 3
>> sided enclosure would be ideal, yet that's not the norm. Why is
>that? It's
>> probably cheaper to make a regular box but with so many high priced
>subs
>> available, I doubt that's the reason-