Subwoofers behind screen?

I

IcarianVX

Audiophyte
I have had a DIY home theater that I have really enjoyed for the past 4 years. However, I have decided to upgrade and make it "real" and wanted to get some opinions on subwoofer placement behind the screen. I will be putting in full acoustic treatment into the 15L x 12w x 8h room - absorbers and diffusors on walls and ceilings, and bass traps in the corners, etc.

I have a transparently acoustic 100" screen that has served me well with my 20+ year old Infinity RS speakers that I bought brand new back in the day. Upgraded my 5.2.2 system to new Klipsch THX-504-L for LCRs and THX-5000-SUR surrounds. I am keeping my subs - 2 x Klipsch R-12SW that I bought about a year ago which, up until now, have been at the base of the screen, in the room. I have a storage room behind the wall where the screen is, so I am able to move things around pretty easily. These subs will not be "in-wall" as I have seen a lot of threads about those, but rather front firing subs on platforms behind the screen.

The one thing that I would like to do is see if anyone has experience with placing subs behind their screen with 2 major questions about it.

1.) Is this an optimal sub solution, placing them at ear level between the center and the l/r speakers respectively? I will be doing the bass crawl at those points to check (before creating holes in the wall) but if you put them behind the screen and either regret it or wish you had done it sooner, please let me know.

2.) Any issues with the screen moving with heavy bass in movies?

Thanks for taking the time to read this and give me any info/advice you can.
 
Last edited:
JasonGSG

JasonGSG

Audioholic
I have had a DIY home theater that I have really enjoyed for the past 4 years. However, I have decided to upgrade and make it "real" and wanted to get some opinions on subwoofer placement behind the screen. I will be putting in full acoustic treatment into the 15L x 12w x 8h room - absorbers and diffusors on walls and ceilings, and bass traps in the corners, etc.

I have a transparently acoustic 100" screen that has served me well with my 20+ year old Infinity RS speakers that I bought brand new back in the day. Upgraded my 5.2.2 system to new Klipsch THX-504-L for LCRs and THX-5000-SUR surrounds. I am keeping my subs - 2 x Klipsch R-12SW that I bought about a year ago which, up until now, have been at the base of the screen, in the room. I have a storage room behind the wall where the screen is, so I am able to move things around pretty easily. These subs will not be "in-wall" as I have seen a lot of threads about those, but rather front firing subs on platforms behind the screen.

The one thing that I would like to do is see if anyone has experience with placing subs behind their screen with 2 major questions about it.

1.) Is this an optimal sub solution, placing them at ear level between the center and the l/r speakers respectively? I will be doing the bass crawl at those points to check (before creating holes in the wall) but if you put them behind the screen and either regret it or wish you had done it sooner, please let me know.

2.) Any issues with the screen moving with heavy bass in movies?

Thanks for taking the time to read this and give me any info/advice you can.
1.) Optimal is a difficult thing to guarantee someone as these things really would require measurements to make absolute.
1a.) Optimal aside.. Is definitely the practical approach & aesthetically ideal! Based on the geometry of the room I'd not expect much issues assuming your seating location is also optimal (not mid room, not on back wall)
1b.) The sub crawl is so '1990's'.. Head over to 'Home theater guru's' YouTube channel for a tutorial on alternative proven testing methods. Also, plan on a MiniDSP 2x4 being mandatory kit with four subs in play & spending some time researching 'REW, Room EQ Wizard'.
1c) It sounds like your subs & LCR will be sitting inside another room altogether but oriented into the AT screen.. You'll likely have a much better experience if we utilize that space with a baffle wall. It's not expensive, It's cleaner looking & will greatly improve performance.
2.) You'll have no issues with the screen moving

Shoot me a message 'say hi' & we can discuss some subs, placement & share some photo's of other similar projects.
 
I

IcarianVX

Audiophyte
1.) Optimal is a difficult thing to guarantee someone as these things really would require measurements to make absolute.
1a.) Optimal aside.. Is definitely the practical approach & aesthetically ideal! Based on the geometry of the room I'd not expect much issues assuming your seating location is also optimal (not mid room, not on back wall)
1b.) The sub crawl is so '1990's'.. Head over to 'Home theater guru's' YouTube channel for a tutorial on alternative proven testing methods. Also, plan on a MiniDSP 2x4 being mandatory kit with four subs in play & spending some time researching 'REW, Room EQ Wizard'.
1c) It sounds like your subs & LCR will be sitting inside another room altogether but oriented into the AT screen.. You'll likely have a much better experience if we utilize that space with a baffle wall. It's not expensive, It's cleaner looking & will greatly improve performance.
2.) You'll have no issues with the screen moving

Shoot me a message 'say hi' & we can discuss some subs, placement & share some photo's of other similar projects.
Thanks for the info!!! I thought I replied to this months ago but apparently, I hadn't. Have watched a LOT of the Home Theater Guru's videos and have learned quite a bit.
 
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