Expert: Steven L Smith - 6/6/2007

Question
I would like to know the best place to set a subwoofer. Our TV and receiver are right next to each other in an entertainment center. It is sitting catty corner in the room. Our chairs are sitting in front. The front speakers are on either side and beyond the receiver. The rear speakers are behind us.

 Thank you,

Lorraine

Answer
Hi Lorraine,

Well, the simple answer to this question is "wherever it sounds good!"  You'll want to play music or tv at different volumes while walking around the room. Then, move the woofer somewhere else and listen again.  Repeat until it sounds good to you.

When placing a subwoofer, you'll probably want to put it on a carpeted surface. If it's on a hard surface, like a hardwood or tile floor, you'll get an annoying buzzing sound when the woofer vibrates on the floor.

Also, since a subwoofer is designed to produce low bass frequencies, and because of the way these types of sound waves diffract around objects, it doesn't make much of a difference *where* you place the woofer, since the waves will propagate around the room rather evenly.

For your situation, I would either place the woofer in the center of the two rear speakers or under / in back of the entertainment center.  It is not necessary to have line-of-sight to the woofer in order to have good sound.

Have fun experimenting, and good luck!