Which way to face sub?

[naveb]

I've read hundreds of pages on subwoofer setup but dont recall ever having seen this answered, so forgive me if it's been dealt with here before.

I've got stereo dipole subs sitting each side of my mains the go down to 30hz and now have a 3rd sub(sealed) that I want to place in the rear corner to fill in 20-30hz. I'll have it eq'd flat for music and have a bit of a house curve for movies.

The little I've read on the matter suggests firing the sub towards the listener will give a more accurate output and firing it into the wall will produce more output but make it sound boomy. I'm wondering though if more output might not always be better provided one has an equalizer to make sure it still measures flat? The other thing that occurs to me is that Rel, who make very musical subs, fire there's into the floor which to me seems no different from firing into a wall at an inch or two's distance.

Any input here greatly appreciated,

B.

 

[pikers]

You know it's funny, the best response I get is facing the sub along the front wall, as opposed to forward. Bass is much more impactful and "present" and avoids the need to crank it.

 

[ski2xblack]

I think you should place your subs in locations which result in the flattest, deepest response, regardless of orientation...facing subs down or drectly against a wall serves to increase room-boundary effects and loads the room more efficiently, but sometimes at the expense of even response throughout the room. Since your existing subs roll off at 30hz, corner placement could help extend the response (unless they are reflex enclosures), but that could end up exciting room modes excessively. Since you have multiple subs, careful placement can even out the response and prevent the nodes and nulls. There are plenty of threads and articles here and elsewhere on sub placement, and experimentation is the key to success.