This is ugly, my wife told me so!

D

diegs

Junior Audioholic


However the improvement in low frequencies is substantial.

My house is 85 years old and the original oak floors are a little creaky. After performing a bass crawl the sub was moved from the front corner to a rear position behind the sofa. The new position was a big improvement in overall bass response. Although the sub is crossed over at 80Hz, it could still be localized behind the sofa, which at first I thought was impossible from what I read and really annoying for music. It turns out I was hearing resonance from the old floors. I started researching subwoofer isolation and read about the auralex gramma and recognized this is exactly what I needed. Which I plan on buying... maybe.

The temporary solution is a piece of 2" high density foam left over from my wife's contrabassoon travel case modification. Turns out the foam was exactly as wide as the T250 and I folded the edges over in the front and rear. This foam eliminated the floor resonance and more importantly bass now sounded like it was coming from the front speakers. However the foam seemed to reduce output, but it was floor resonance SPL I was missing. Bumping the sub channel from -6db to -3db fixed this problem. Wow clean, tight, non-localized POWERFUL bass!!! I'll need to re-audessey.

I may use this foam to create my own gramma. If it fails WAF, I'll just buy a gramma or subdude. Any other nice looking option besides the auralex solutions?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
mtrycrafts

mtrycrafts

Seriously, I have no life.


However the improvement in low frequencies is substantial.

My house is 85 years old and the original oak floors are a little creaky. After performing a bass crawl the sub was moved from the front corner to a rear position behind the sofa. The new position was a big improvement in overall bass response. Although the sub is crossed over at 80Hz, it could still be localized behind the sofa, which at first I thought was impossible from what I read and really annoying for music. It turns out I was hearing resonance from the old floors. I started researching subwoofer isolation and read about the auralex gramma and recognized this is exactly what I needed. Which I plan on buying... maybe.

The temporary solution is a piece of 2" high density foam left over from my wife's contrabassoon travel case modification. Turns out the foam was exactly as wide as the T250 and I folded the edges over in the front and rear. This foam eliminated the floor resonance and more importantly bass now sounded like it was coming from the front speakers. However the foam seemed to reduce output, but it was floor resonance SPL I was missing. Bumping the sub channel from -6db to -3db fixed this problem. Wow clean, tight, non-localized POWERFUL bass!!! I'll need to re-audessey.

I may use this foam to create my own gramma. If it fails WAF, I'll just buy a gramma or subdude. Any other nice looking option besides the auralex solutions?
Hey, that is a very nice sub:D

Ask your partner what would make her happy short or getting rid of it?;):D
Perhaps a nice material on the sub like a table runner over the top and down the sides? A skirt for that foam base? Dress it up:D
 
Last edited by a moderator:
j_garcia

j_garcia

Audioholic Jedi
Get some more attractive foam and I think she will go for it :)

You could just make a "skirt" or lip that covers the foam so you don't see it.
 
highfigh

highfigh

Seriously, I have no life.
Get some more attractive foam and I think she will go for it :)

You could just make a "skirt" or lip that covers the foam so you don't see it.
You beat me to it. I was going to suggest a black rim that would look like it's the subwoofer's base. Made so the gap is maybe 1/16" on each side, nobody will ever see the green foam.
 
son-yah-tive

son-yah-tive

Full Audioholic
Get some more attractive foam and I think she will go for it :)

You could just make a "skirt" or lip that covers the foam so you don't see it.
I agree. Just find the same foam in Black. That should do it. Or, just tuck it in a Black pillow case and smooth over the edges to get out the wrinkles, and you'll be all set.:D
 
D

diegs

Junior Audioholic
I like the skirt idea, great suggestion. First I'm going to krylon the foam edges flat black and see how it looks. If its ugly then, then I'm going to the frabic store and making a skirt.
 
Gaigebacca

Gaigebacca

Audioholic
Wow... in a "male" dominated hobby.. the words... "wife" "did'nt like" "put a skirt on it" and "I will make a skirt..." should not be used in the same SENTENCE much less same paragraph... how whipped are we...? lol (and I am there too... trust me, has taken a year to convince my wife to just even let me put my PSW10 in the living room...)
 
highfigh

highfigh

Seriously, I have no life.
Wow... in a "male" dominated hobby.. the words... "wife" "did'nt like" "put a skirt on it" and "I will make a skirt..." should not be used in the same SENTENCE much less same paragraph... how whipped are we...? lol (and I am there too... trust me, has taken a year to convince my wife to just even let me put my PSW10 in the living room...)
You'd rather he posted "I'll put a kilt on it"?
 
Shock

Shock

Audioholic General
I'm gonna have to agree with your wife, that looks pretty fugly. If it was black it would be fine, but that light neon green is so 1984.
 
mtrycrafts

mtrycrafts

Seriously, I have no life.
I like the skirt idea, great suggestion. First I'm going to krylon the foam edges flat black and see how it looks. If its ugly then, then I'm going to the frabic store and making a skirt.
If she sews, have her participate; let her pick the material and sew it up for you perhaps with some elastic top seam to pull it under the sub:D
Have her do a table top runner if she likes that idea.:D
 
W

Weasel9992

Junior Audioholic
Auralex GRAMMA? Those things are pretty great to putting subs on. The ugly factor would go slightly up though.

Frank
 
radridd

radridd

Audioholic
My wife would probably put some black fringe around the foam with a red tassle on each corner.
 
lsiberian

lsiberian

Audioholic Overlord
I'd say Rubber would be a more effective isolator than foam in most cases.

I suggest you look into some rubber feet. They will reduce sub to structure sound transmission by about 20 db to 25 db.
 
D

diegs

Junior Audioholic
Tassles... haha, I could see my wife doing the same thing.

Rubber feet :confused: The sub already has rubber feet and I can say for sure that the ugly green high density foam is light years more effective in terms of sound isolation for my situation.

I tested flat black krylon on a scrap piece of my ugly green foam. The paint dried and sticks well. So I am going to build my own subwoofer isolation platform with the ugly foam and 1/2" mdf. I'll post some pics this weekend and also measure the spl with the isolation platform and then with the rubber feet.
 
lsiberian

lsiberian

Audioholic Overlord
Tassles... haha, I could see my wife doing the same thing.

Rubber feet :confused: The sub already has rubber feet and I can say for sure that the ugly green high density foam is light years more effective in terms of sound isolation for my situation.

I tested flat black krylon on a scrap piece of my ugly green foam. The paint dried and sticks well. So I am going to build my own subwoofer isolation platform with the ugly foam and 1/2" mdf. I'll post some pics this weekend and also measure the spl with the isolation platform and then with the rubber feet.
I doubt they were very good rubber feet. Good rubber is a very effective isolator. A Gamma would be even more effective.
 
D

diegs

Junior Audioholic
The isolation platform is 99% done, still needs another coat of paint. Here some pics:

Before painting:


After painting:


In Action:


Response Measurements (ran the test twice)
<table> <tr height=17 style='height:12.75pt'> <td height=17 class=xl24 width=58 style='height:12.75pt;width:44pt'>freq.</td> <td class=xl25 width=69 style='border-left:none;width:52pt'>Platform</td> <td class=xl25 width=75 style='border-left:none;width:56pt'>No Platform</td> </tr> <tr height=17 style='height:12.75pt'> <td height=17 class=xl24 style='height:12.75pt;border-top:none'>20Hz</td> <td class=xl25 style='border-top:none;border-left:none'>85db</td> <td class=xl25 style='border-top:none;border-left:none'>83db</td> </tr> <tr height=17 style='height:12.75pt'> <td height=17 class=xl24 style='height:12.75pt;border-top:none'>25Hz</td> <td class=xl25 style='border-top:none;border-left:none'>95db</td> <td class=xl25 style='border-top:none;border-left:none'>96db</td> </tr> <tr height=17 style='height:12.75pt'> <td height=17 class=xl24 style='height:12.75pt;border-top:none'>31.5Hz</td> <td class=xl25 style='border-top:none;border-left:none'>99db</td> <td class=xl25 style='border-top:none;border-left:none'>99.5db</td> </tr> <tr height=17 style='height:12.75pt'> <td height=17 class=xl24 style='height:12.75pt;border-top:none'>40Hz</td> <td class=xl25 style='border-top:none;border-left:none'>101db</td> <td class=xl25 style='border-top:none;border-left:none'>100.5db</td> </tr>
<tr height=17 style='height:12.75pt'> <td height=17 class=xl24 style='height:12.75pt;border-top:none'>50Hz</td> <td class=xl25 style='border-top:none;border-left:none'>100.5db</td> <td class=xl25 style='border-top:none;border-left:none'>101db</td> </tr> <tr height=17 style='height:12.75pt'> <td height=17 class=xl24 style='height:12.75pt;border-top:none'>60Hz</td> <td class=xl25 style='border-top:none;border-left:none'>100db</td> <td class=xl25 style='border-top:none;border-left:none'>99db</td> </tr></table>

Measured using a Radioshack Analog SPL meter at 3 feet with the Bink Audio Test CD. With no platform the floor shakes like crazy! With the platform no shaking. Although I kinda like the feeling of the floor shaking, it sounds like crap. Wonder what the wife will think about the looks?
 
Last edited by a moderator:
W

Weasel9992

Junior Audioholic
Very cool...and very cool of you to take before/after measurements too.

Frank
 
newsletter

  • RBHsound.com
  • BlueJeansCable.com
  • SVS Sound Subwoofers
  • Experience the Martin Logan Montis
Top