Setup options when a subwoofer won't fit

[jiggahits]

Hi Folks,
We just moved into a new home and the TV wall in the family room is just a little too tight for a subwoofer. I need some suggestions.
Current setup:
RBH 1266 - SE towers
RBH 661 - SE center
RBH 41-SE rears
Denon 3808-CI Receiver
Outlaw Audio 7500 200x5

At the moment I have turned off the sub in the speaker selection within the receiver. I believe the LFE is being sent to the towers which are set to "Large." Clarification on this is appreciated.

What would be my best solution considering I cannot put a dedicated subwoofer in the room.

A: Run my 200x5 channel amp to all speakers and let the towers produce the bass.
B: Set the speakers to "Small" and pull the binding post clip on the towers and power the highs with the amp L&R signals. Then, split the subwoofer out signal with a y-splitter and use the Outlaw amp to power the sub signal to the 12" woofers on the RBH. Finally, power the rears with the Denon's internal amplifier.
C: Purchase a "subwoofer amplifier" for the 12" sub drivers on the towers (rather than use the outlaw amp).

I'm not sure if a dedicated subwoofer amplifier would be any different than using the outlaw.

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Thanks!

John

 

[slipperybidness]

Hi Folks,
We just moved into a new home and the TV wall in the family room is just a little too tight for a subwoofer. I need some suggestions.
Current setup:
RBH 1266 - SE towers
RBH 661 - SE center
RBH 41-SE rears
Denon 3808-CI Receiver
Outlaw Audio 7500 200x5

At the moment I have turned off the sub in the speaker selection within the receiver. I believe the LFE is being sent to the towers which are set to "Large." Clarification on this is appreciated.

What would be my best solution considering I cannot put a dedicated subwoofer in the room.

A: Run my 200x5 channel amp to all speakers and let the towers produce the bass.
B: Set the speakers to "Small" and pull the binding post clip on the towers and power the highs with the amp L&R signals. Then, split the subwoofer out signal with a y-splitter and use the Outlaw amp to power the sub signal to the 12" woofers on the RBH. Finally, power the rears with the Denon's internal amplifier.
C: Purchase a "subwoofer amplifier" for the 12" sub drivers on the towers (rather than use the outlaw amp).

I'm not sure if a dedicated subwoofer amplifier would be any different than using the outlaw.

Any suggestions would be most appreciated.

Thanks!

John

There are some people on this site that prefer to run those tower subs separately, like you are suggesting.

Why not purchase a wireless subwoofer kit, then place the sub in a convenient location?

 

[jiggahits]

There are some people on this site that prefer to run those tower subs separately, like you are suggesting.

Why not purchase a wireless subwoofer kit, then place the sub in a convenient location?

I did consider a wireless subwoofer kit. The WAF is keeping me from putting it in the only open location behind the couch... Great suggestion. Thanks!

 

[shadyJ]

Put this one behind your couch, with driver facing inward toward the listening position. That is a 24" woofer with a 4,000 watt amp, disguised as an endtable. That will annihilate you with bass.

 

[tyhjaarpa]

I would just place the sub somewhere in the room where you got space or make space for it, as long the location is not bad null position.

 

[rojo]

You could put a THspud or two under the couch. If that's out of your budget, could you spare 1 cubic foot of floor space in a corner? Or you could build a couple of subs that look like end tables.

 

[slipperybidness]

I did consider a wireless subwoofer kit. The WAF is keeping me from putting it in the only open location behind the couch... Great suggestion. Thanks!

Perhaps a slim sub would do.
http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-sub-1000l-10-100-watt-low-profile-powered-subwoofer--300-639

This one likely wouldn't be up to snuff for those RBH though.

 

[jiggahits]

Put this one behind your couch, with driver facing inward toward the listening position. That is a 24" woofer with a 4,000 watt amp, disguised as an endtable. That will annihilate you with bass.

That is quite impressive! I like that idea.

 

[jiggahits]

Many are giving great ideas about subs under the couch or disguised as end tables - thank you. I'm guessing my idea of using the 12" woofers in the RBH is not a good solution, right?

 

[slipperybidness]

Many are giving great ideas about subs under the couch or disguised as end tables - thank you. I'm guessing my idea of using the 12" woofers in the RBH is not a good solution, right?

Send a PM to AcuDefTechGuy

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

If those RBH 1266 towers are like the SX-8300 towers, I would remove the metal jumpers and power the built-in subs like any other dedicated non-powered subwoofer. Option B is good.

On the SX-8300 & 6300 towers, when you remove the jumpers, the bass is completely separated from the tweeter/midrange drivers.

This is what I do with my five SX-T2/R towers.

 

[j_garcia]

Perhaps a slim sub would do.
http://www.parts-express.com/dayton-audio-sub-1000l-10-100-watt-low-profile-powered-subwoofer--300-639

This one likely wouldn't be up to snuff for those RBH though.

I bought that sub for the kids. It is surprisingly very decent for the space it occupies. For the price, you really can't go wrong with one or two of those.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

One thing I would add. If the amp for the built-in subs don't have gain control, you should turn the speaker channel level for the subs to -12.0 on the Denon before starting. You can always turn it up later.

If you need to further decrease sub volume, you can manually increase all the other speaker channel levels by 5.0dB to 80dB, instead of the usual 75dB. Audyssey will set to 75dB. Just increase each channel level by 5.0dB, but keep the subs level to -12.0 when starting. This way, your MASTER volume will be lower (thus the Sub volume will be lower).

 

[jiggahits]

Thanks all for your great input. It's wonderful to have other enthusiasts and experts out there to share best practices!

 

[herbu]

Have you considered one like this:

 

[jiggahits]

Have you considered one like this:
View attachment 16778

That's a great sub - I used to own one. I sold it to my brother when I purchased my RBH 1010 -SEN. I kind of miss it. I'm an RBH guy (I live in the same town as the headquarters and I know Roger, Shane and John). I will only purchase RBH from here on out. But SVS makes a fantastic sub despite the low WAF.