Front Firing Or Down Firing Subwoofer?

H

Hellfire94

Audioholic Intern
Hello everyone. I'm planning to have a 7.1 surround sound setup in the next few weeks. I want to get a subwoofer but as this is my first time having a home theater system I'm a novice in this matter and would like to gain a bit of knowledge on which type of subwoofers are best before buying one. I have a choice to get either the Wharfedale WH-S10 (front firing) or the Wharfedale SPC-10 (down firing). The store owner recommended the SPC-10 and said it was better than the WH-S10. Plus I read somewhere online that the SPC-10 is more suitable for the Wharfedale Diamond 200 series speakers which I bought. The SPC-10 has a sealed box design and comes with spikes to install under the subwoofer. Is it safe to have a sealed down firing subwoofer in a wooden tv cabinet or should I just get the front firing WH-S10? Plus are sealed subwoofers better than ported ones?
 
tyhjaarpa

tyhjaarpa

Audioholic Field Marshall
Where you from and what is your sub budget? As I believe you can do a lot better than those subs. For front vs down firing it doesnt really matter. Down firing can be easier for placement how ever but thats pretty much it.

Edit: Ported subs generally have more output and sealed have more even rolloff.
I would not place any sub on cabinet as this is far from ideal placement.
 
H

Hellfire94

Audioholic Intern
Hello tyhjaarpa. I live in Fiji unfortunately and this place is what you audiophiles would call hell lol. I have no choice but to get a Wharfedale subwoofer as it's the only brand available here. We don't have speakers and subwoofers from top brands like SVS, Klipsch, Polk Audio, GoldenEar Technology, Jamo, Paradigm, Dali, Bowers & Wilkins, KEF, Elac, Martin Logan, Bose, Monitor Audio, Pioneer, Yamaha, etc. Plus we only have a few Onkyo av receivers here and no other brand. There is only one major audio and visual store in Fiji which sells av receivers and speakers but they only have Onkyo and Wharfedale products. They also have a few Quad and Mission speakers but they're really expensive. There is another store which sells just two old model Harman Kardon av receivers (AVR 151S and AVR 171S) and the JBL Studio series speakers but they're really expensive. For a 7.1 setup those JBL speakers would cost around $8000. I bought the Onkyo TX-NR555 avr for $1450 as it was the cheapest 7.2 avr and the seven Wharfedale Diamond 200 series speakers cost me $1560. My budget for a subwoofer is $600 and not more than that. We also don't have any other brand amplifiers or preamplifiers apart from Onkyo. No McIntosh, Emotiva, Outlaw Audio and Anthem brand amplifiers available. Importing from other countries is not an option as Fiji's currency is very low and the customs charges and duties are way too expensive.
 
Pogre

Pogre

Audioholic Slumlord
Hello tyhjaarpa. I live in Fiji unfortunately and this place is what you audiophiles would call hell lol. I have no choice but to get a Wharfedale subwoofer as it's the only brand available here. We don't have speakers and subwoofers from top brands like SVS, Klipsch, Polk Audio, GoldenEar Technology, Jamo, Paradigm, Dali, Bowers & Wilkins, KEF, Elac, Martin Logan, Bose, Monitor Audio, Pioneer, Yamaha, etc. Plus we only have a few Onkyo av receivers here and no other brand. There is only one major audio and visual store in Fiji which sells av receivers and speakers but they only have Onkyo and Wharfedale products. They also have a few Quad and Mission speakers but they're really expensive. There is another store which sells just two old model Harman Kardon av receivers (AVR 151S and AVR 171S) and the JBL Studio series speakers but they're really expensive. For a 7.1 setup those JBL speakers would cost around $8000. I bought the Onkyo TX-NR555 avr for $1450 as it was the cheapest 7.2 avr and the seven Wharfedale Diamond 200 series speakers cost me $1560. My budget for a subwoofer is $600 and not more than that. We also don't have any other brand amplifiers or preamplifiers apart from Onkyo. No McIntosh, Emotiva, Outlaw Audio and Anthem brand amplifiers available. Importing from other countries is not an option as Fiji's currency is very low and the customs charges and duties are way too expensive.
What did you do to anger the speaker gods?!? :p

I don't know anything about Wharfedale subwoofers. As far as down firing or front, Ty explained in post #2.

Is there a return policy at your store? If so, you could take one home and demo it. If you don't like what it does for you, return it and try the other one out. Agree with Ty also about ported offering more output.
 
lovinthehd

lovinthehd

Audioholic Jedi
No friends/acquaintances on US military bases there to use their PX priveleges? Just a thought....
 
H

Hellfire94

Audioholic Intern
What did you do to anger the speaker gods?!? :p

I don't know anything about Wharfedale subwoofers. As far as down firing or front, Ty explained in post #2.

Is there a return policy at your store? If so, you could take one home and demo it. If you don't like what it does for you, return it and try the other one out. Agree with Ty also about ported offering more output.
Hello Pogre. Yes it seems the speakers gods are punishing me lol. I'm considering getting out of Fiji as soon as possible. I'm fed up of this terrible country. I'm thinking of migrating to America or Australia after completing my college education. Unfortunately we don't have the return policy system you are referring to. I'll ask the store owner to give me a demo of both subwoofers and I'll buy whichever one sounds better.
 
S

sterling shoote

Audioholic Field Marshall
Hello everyone. I'm planning to have a 7.1 surround sound setup in the next few weeks. I want to get a subwoofer but as this is my first time having a home theater system I'm a novice in this matter and would like to gain a bit of knowledge on which type of subwoofers are best before buying one. I have a choice to get either the Wharfedale WH-S10 (front firing) or the Wharfedale SPC-10 (down firing). The store owner recommended the SPC-10 and said it was better than the WH-S10. Plus I read somewhere online that the SPC-10 is more suitable for the Wharfedale Diamond 200 series speakers which I bought. The SPC-10 has a sealed box design and comes with spikes to install under the subwoofer. Is it safe to have a sealed down firing subwoofer in a wooden tv cabinet or should I just get the front firing WH-S10? Plus are sealed subwoofers better than ported ones?
Come on, be a critical thinker. Listen to each in the store. Ask to audition in your home. Use your ears to determine if one or the other design is more pleasing. Sound wise, folks here may prefer one type over the other for a multitude of reasons exclusive to their taste, media interest, and listening environment, which might not equate to your taste, media interest, and listening environment. But, for starters, you might want to listen to the guy at the store. After all, he has an informed opinion; and, if he qualified you, he likely understands what will provide you with the most satisfaction you are seeking from your budget.
 
MR.MAGOO

MR.MAGOO

Audioholic Field Marshall
Where you from and what is your sub budget? As I believe you can do a lot better than those subs. For front vs down firing it doesnt really matter. Down firing can be easier for placement how ever but thats pretty much it.

Edit: Ported subs generally have more output and sealed have more even rolloff.
I would not place any sub on cabinet as this is far from ideal placement.
What about placement of subwoofer(s) in a wall to wall carpeted area? Any thoughts on down vs. front firing?
 

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