Setting up VTF-3 for the first time!

[maxman]

I'll be setting up the VTF-3 within the next couple of days. Any pointers/suggestions/do's/don'ts/etc.?

[DavidD]

If you haven't already, send your room dimensions and equipment setup to Dr. Hsu. He'll recommend where best to locate your sub. Congratulations on your purchase!

[Sasha_G]

Because bass is not localizable, you can place the sub in a variety of places in the room. However, room positioning can greatly effect the quality of the bass.

A good rule of thumb is to use corner placement, perferably with 6 feet of wall to either side of the corner.

Another good rule of thumb is that close placement to the listener sound great. There are several advantages:

1. You can turn down the volume level of the sub so neighbors, spouses, etc. are less distubed.

2. Nearfield sound sometimes drowns out room anomolies.

3. Even higher dynamic peaks for more "chest pounding" type impact.

When getting cable/interconnect leave a extra few yards so you can move the sub around a bit.

You can do the volume adjustment by ear, but a RadioShack SPL meter is a useful and fun tool. The analogue one works better than the digital one. It can help you adjust the volume level to match the other speakers.

[maxman]

Do you mean 6 INCHES of wall to either side of the corner? 6 feet would be the middle of the room!

[Sasha_G]

I didn't mean 6 feet away from the corner.

Rather, I was referring to Tom Nousianne's recommendation of putting it in a corner that is not near a room opening.

The corner should not have an unclosable room opening near it, with at least 6 feet of solid wall recommended.

Sasha

[maxman]

I knew I wasn't understanding correctly. OK, that's not an issue. But how far out from the walls (back wall, and in my case, left wall) is required. I've heard at least 1.5 feet from the back wall, is this true? Any side wall distance requirement?

PS: Please feel free to move this thread to the 'setup' category if possible. I should have posted there in the first place.

[Sasha_G]

You should keep it tucked into the corner, perferably within 1 foot from the walls.

The reason being that if you move it farther, some of the higher frequency bass might start breaking up as the out of phase reflected wave cancels out the direct wave.

[tomes]

I have started seriously considering the VTF3 - but I have a very 'tight' corner.

My viewing position (a leather 3seater couch) is positioned up against the back wall of the room, and my wife has accepted we put a Sub in the left corner. The problem; It's about 20-22 inches of room there, from the couch to the sidewall, and also, she does not want the sub to stick out too much next to the sofa, so it shouldn't be too dep either. I think I can physically fit it, but it will only be a few inches between the couch and the sub, the sub and the side wall, and the sub and the back wall. Plenty of room in the front of the sub though...

What do you think?

[Sasha_G]

It probably will be a great corner. As long as there is 3 inches of room between the back wall and the port holes, it will work. The narrowness and tallness of the VTF-3 makes it a good fit.
The dimensions are:
20"(height) x 15"(width) x 22"(depth)

[tomes]

Thanks Sasha! Sounds great! :)