Why does my subwoofer behind me make me feel deaf?

[Aaron Bilger]

So a while ago I had my subwoofer behind me about 5 feet and I felt like I was going death fast but when I put my subwoofer in front of me or the side of me I don't get that feeling anymore and I keep the volume the same and it is a home theater subwoofer I once used a dj subwoofer for this same use and returned it because I thought it was the subwoofer making me go deaf but then bought me a home theater subwoofer which I use now and it did the samething when it was behind me. So I put it in front of the room and yes that fixed my issue and then for better bass response I put it beside me it's about 2 feet away on the floor and i'm sitting at my computer desk playing music and no problems but sometimes I get a slight headache but that's from playing my bass loud. and this setup now has been like this for about since early february 2016, it's the final subwoofer place that it's been at is beside me. [But does anyone know why I felt deaf when it was behind me?]

 

[slipperybidness]

"Felt Deaf", meaning that you "couldn't hear the bass from the subwoofer"???

Pretty well known, sub placement is critical. It all has to do with the wavelengths of the bass frequencies, the dimensions of your room, and constructive/destructive interference patterns.

 

[shadyJ]

sounds to me like you are sensitive to some low frequencies. Use this test tone generator to see what frequencies are bothering you. Slowly move the slider over the bass frequencies. You might also want to see an audiologist about this.

 

[TLS Guy]

So a while ago I had my subwoofer behind me about 5 feet and I felt like I was going death fast but when I put my subwoofer in front of me or the side of me I don't get that feeling anymore and I keep the volume the same and it is a home theater subwoofer I once used a dj subwoofer for this same use and returned it because I thought it was the subwoofer making me go deaf but then bought me a home theater subwoofer which I use now and it did the samething when it was behind me. So I put it in front of the room and yes that fixed my issue and then for better bass response I put it beside me it's about 2 feet away on the floor and i'm sitting at my computer desk playing music and no problems but sometimes I get a slight headache but that's from playing my bass loud. and this setup now has been like this for about since early february 2016, it's the final subwoofer place that it's been at is beside me. [But does anyone know why I felt deaf when it was behind me?]

You are getting noise induced hearing loss. The most damaging frequencies are at both ends of the spectrum with HF being more damaging than LF.

Now bass intensity is very dependent on the location of the generating device. This is because small movements will determine whether or not its location coincides with a node or antinode of a room eigentone.

I would turn you sub down anyway. Most people have their subs set way too loud. A sub should be set where programs like Audyssey say they should be set.

 

[everettT]

I'm sure based on your other threads that your listening habits are the contributing factor. You didn't mention what sub, but since you have an yamaha 995 with a fixed crossover @90hz ( I'm assuming your mains are set to small) and running 2 pairs of the main channel, that your only interested in loud music.

 

[Aaron Bilger]

I'm sure based on your other threads that your listening habits are the contributing factor. You didn't mention what sub, but since you have an yamaha 995 with a fixed crossover @90hz ( I'm assuming your mains are set to small) and running 2 pairs of the main channel, that your only interested in loud music.

I don't run it at 90hz I go from 110 hz from what my subwoofer has been set at to sound it's best. But My speakers are set to large yes I do use 2 pairs of speakers on main. I do listen to music at most 85db maximum is the loudest I would ever go right now. But I can go much louder if I wanted!

 

[everettT]

I don't run it at 90hz I go from 110 hz from what my subwoofer has been set at to sound it's best. But My speakers are set to large yes I do use 2 pairs of speakers on main. I do listen to music at most 85db maximum is the loudest I would ever go right now. But I can go much louder if I wanted!

Which sub, and how is it connected to the Yamaha?

 

[Aaron Bilger]

Which sub, and how is it connected to the Yamaha?

With my current subwoofer i'm using a klipsch sw-112, and i'm using a subwoofer rca cable from the receiver to the subwoofer.

 

[everettT]

With my current subwoofer i'm using a klipsch sw-112, and i'm using a subwoofer rca cable from the receiver to the subwoofer.

Not sure how that's working as with the speakers as large and the sub out your sub shouldn't be working.... The sub out need speakers to be set to small and it's a fixed crossover

 

[andyblackcat]

I have sub front of room laying on the floor and second one at back of the room that is partly laying on the floor raised up and partly laying on the seating raiser and together the sub/s create a vibration feel. Back row can be bit intense and even my dad grumbled when I played a scene from 'The Abyss' "the bass is doing my head in!" it really wasn't that high but guess not been used to films like this in a while?

Some low frequencies give me a listening fatigue after short while.

Maybe invest in some bass shakers for the seats so you can give the film or music a tactile feeling while putting a little less air-born sub bass into the room and guests friends may think the sub is doing it all? Least it will give your ears a break.

Do you have any noise in your ears any hissing or tone noise that you find unsettling?

 

[Auditor55]

You are getting noise induced hearing loss. The most damaging frequencies are at both ends of the spectrum with HF being more damaging than LF.

Now bass intensity is very dependent on the location of the generating device. This is because small movements will determine whether or not its location coincides with a node or antinode of a room eigentone.

I would turn you sub down anyway. Most people have their subs set way too loud. A sub should be set where programs like Audyssey say they should be set.

People often times feel that Audyssey or MCACC sets the bass levels too love for their taste.

 

[lovinthehd]

People often times feel that Audyssey or MCACC sets the bass levels too love for their taste.

Too much love in your bass is a bad thing?

 

[Auditor55]

Too much love in your bass is a bad thing?

Not really, that's why the levels are adjustable. Sometimes its a matter of taste. I like my bass well integrated for music. However, we like to pound some LFE and shake them room for home theater so we might have a tendency to push it pass where Audyssey, MCACC, YPAO might set the bass levels.