Your entertainment system is only effective if you have good sound. Good sound enhances your enjoyment of music, TV shows, and movies. It is therefore essential that you purchase a high-quality sound system and position it correctly. Find guidelines on how to place the soundbar with a subwoofer for the best effect below.
Where to place your subwoofer
Most people place the soundbar below or above their TV. However, it is essential to consider the placement of your wireless soundbar subwoofer because its position has a considerable effect on sound quality.
Before you position your soundbar subwoofer, consider the room acoustics, your setup, and the size of the TV. Then, to help you make the right choice, think about the following placement guidelines for your subwoofer.
Placing your subwoofer at the front of your listening space is an excellent choice and offers good sound. It also ensures that your subwoofer blends well with your center channel and your subwoofer. Bear in mind that when you correctly position your subwoofer, listeners will not be able to tell where it is.
That means the bass will fill the room, and the sound will seem to come from all around since bass is omnidirectional. After placing your subwoofer at the front of the room, make sure that there is no localization. If there is, change its position several times to find the best spot in the front of the room.
ProTip: If you have a small room and don’t want the subwoofer hustle, you can consider punchy soundbars without subwoofers.
You can also place your sub in the corner of the room. Placing the subwoofer in a corner will make the bass sound louder and reduce distortion. That is because it excites all room modes creating a dense wave pattern.
In such a situation, there is a reduced occurrence of dead spots in the room. Test out placing the sub in a corner in the room, and if you like the sound, there is no need to change it. If you do not, use the technique below to find the best spot for your subwoofer.
- Start by placing the sub at your preferred listening position. You may need help moving it if it is heavy.
- Play a song with a repeating bass line.
- Walk around the room and assess the sound from all possible subwoofer locations. You will need to stay at knee level, which is why this technique is popularly known as subwoofer crawl.
- Place your subwoofer at the place where the sound sounds most balanced and accurate.
FAQS About Soundbar Subwoofers
1. Should a soundbar subwoofer be in the front or back of the room?
You can place the subwoofer in any part of the room. That said, if the sub is too far from the soundbar, it may affect sound quality. So make sure that you place the subwoofer 10 feet from the subwoofer. That said, most subwoofers can still connect 30 feet from the soundbar.
2. Should a soundbar subwoofer be placed on the floor?
You can place your subwoofer on the floor. Since the bass from the subwoofers causes vibration, they could easily fall off one of your shelves and get damaged. Also, remember that some models are heavy and large, making putting them on shelves impractical.
3. Do subs sound better facing up or down?
You can place your subwoofer in any way you like. That said, pay attention to its design and weight to ensure that the position you choose does not affect the sound quality. Remember, do not place down firing subwoofers on their side as that will distort the sound. You can, however, place front firing subwoofers on their side without affecting sound quality.
4. How to place different subwoofers
Samsung subwoofer
Place your Samsung soundbar subwoofer on the floor. It will function perfectly no matter its distance from your speakers.
Sony subwoofer
The Sony soundbar subwoofer offers diverse placement options. So, for example, if you wish to put it in your entertainment unit, you can lay it on its side without interfering with the sound. That said, make sure that your subwoofer model is front-firing before you place it on its side.
Check this too: What is the Thinnest Soundbar?
Bose subwoofer
Place the Bose soundbar subwoofer close to the wall or corners to increase the bass. Bose advises placing the subwoofer on the same side of the room as the TV.
LG subwoofer
With the LG soundbar subwoofer, it is best to try it in different parts of the room. You can also use the technique described above to position it to your satisfaction.