Single Sub and Large Room

[Weavz]

I have the Onkyo HT 7.1 surround system setup in a very large ceilinged room...okay the room is just large, it's hard to explain, but our dinning room and living room are together, and we have a California Kitchen next to the dining room (Walls but no ceiling.) The sub is currently on the back large wall, near the corner but inside my right channel. Here's my question, the bass is collecting in the bedroom and hallway that is behind my left shoulder (#1 sitting position). I just noticed this the other day when the music was playing and I was cleaning the bedroom. The bass was ridiculously loud! What type of treatments/suggestions does anyone have for keeping it in the room? Adding another sub is out of the question right now due to WAF. The back wall is bare, but decorating it with treatments would be possible.

 

[mazersteven]

Don't know if this will help.

http://www.ethanwiner.com/basstrap.html

 

[j_garcia]

Aside from putting in a door, there isn't much you can do. Bass traps can help, but they will not stop the bass from collecting in the hallway, they will just make it less pronounced IMO.

 

[Buckeye_Nut]

I have the Onkyo HT 7.1 surround system setup in a very large ceilinged room...okay the room is just large, it's hard to explain, but our dinning room and living room are together, and we have a California Kitchen next to the dining room (Walls but no ceiling.) The sub is currently on the back large wall, near the corner but inside my right channel. Here's my question, the bass is collecting in the bedroom and hallway that is behind my left shoulder (#1 sitting position). I just noticed this the other day when the music was playing and I was cleaning the bedroom. The bass was ridiculously loud! What type of treatments/suggestions does anyone have for keeping it in the room? Adding another sub is out of the question right now due to WAF. The back wall is bare, but decorating it with treatments would be possible.

Room treatments are necessary for clean accurate sound within the room, but room treatments provide no real soundproofing benefit. Dont mistake acoustic treamtent for soundproofing, because they are two completely different things.

It sounds to me that what you're really complaining about are rattles, right? (rattles in hallway and bedroom) The one thing you can do fairly easily is to rattle proof both the hallway and bedroom. Once the rattles are gone, it will help alleviate the problem.

You should also do the same in your theater because it will sound much better when annoying & distracting rattles are eliminated

A rattle free environment is a must!!

 

[Davemcc]

Move the sub to the front wall.

 

[j_garcia]

Take a look at this thread too, regarding treatments:

http://forums.audioholics.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32958

 

[westcott]

Move the sub to the front wall.

I will second that. The best listening position is usually opposite the subwoofer location. Placing it mid, front wall may help by reducing room mode interactions and may even provide a flatter frequency response. You may sacrafice a few dB but it may be worth the trade off if the overall sound is cleaner and more accurate.

 

[j_garcia]

Moving the sub won't stop the bass from collecting in the hallway and other rooms though. I had the same thing in my former place - my bedroom was down the hall from the HT and bass was very pronounced in the hall and in my bedroom.

 

[westcott]

Moving the sub won't stop the bass from collecting in the hallway and other rooms though. I had the same thing in my former place - my bedroom was down the hall from the HT and bass was very pronounced in the hall and in my bedroom.

Every room is different and it may not help, but it could. It may be worth a try.

 

[Dolby CP-200]

You can try a few pounds of concrete to start with, oh I’m quite serious.

To make sure its rattle free requires hours of testing and re-testing, are you up to the Pepsi challenge? Playing different sine waves at different sound pressure levels will have you climbing the walls within less than a hour that’s how difficult it is and if you have a wife she would not tolerate it for 10 minutes, unless she’s understanding about the science behind it.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Open floor plans are difficult and sometimes you have to just work with what you have although it may never be perfect. The most bass out of my system seems to collect in the kitchen pantry. I was going to go ahead and put the sub in there but then I was afraid that it would shake my fruit loops on to the floor and then ants would come in for dinner...lol... All joking aside; the front wall has proven to be the best location for me. It is not perfect but it sounds very good.