Subwoofer placement (ear pressure)

[subpressure]

I purchased a VTF2 MK4, and have been playing around with placement.

I ran audessey with one port open, Q = 0.7, EQ = 1. Afterwards, I closed the port, set Q = 0.3 and EQ = 1. After audessey, the volume (on the knob to get 75dB through Audessey) is set somewhere between the min and 9 o'clock position)

I have an open room, and placed the sub next to the couch (as was recommended in the instructions). Location X. I watched TV, at a fairly low volume for about an hour, and I could feel pressure in my left ear. The subwoofer is literally about 6" from the couch and about 1' from the listening position. (the speakers are on the walls and next to the TV, not in the diagram)


I moved the sub around, found a different location (but it's not great aesthetically, location Y). I tried position Y, but it protruded into the nearby room (I had to increase the volume by hand, I didn't re-run audessey) but I couldn't tell if there was pressure or not... (I didn't test it there long enough)

The listening area/TV area in the living room is 11ft by 15ft. The overall living room is 11ft by 23ft. (the drawing is not to scale)


It's not the loudness of the sub that's bothering me, it's the pressure my ears feel sitting next to it.

Any advice? Is it my settings on the subwoofer? Or is it placement?

[Dr_Hsu]

Originally Posted by subpressure

I purchased a VTF2 MK4, and have been playing around with placement.

I ran audessey with one port open, Q = 0.7, EQ = 1. Afterwards, I closed the port, set Q = 0.3 and EQ = 1. After audessey, the volume (on the knob to get 75dB through Audessey) is set somewhere between the min and 9 o'clock position)

I have an open room, and placed the sub next to the couch (as was recommended in the instructions). Location X. I watched TV, at a fairly low volume for about an hour, and I could feel pressure in my left ear. The subwoofer is literally about 6" from the couch and about 1' from the listening position. (the speakers are on the walls and next to the TV, not in the diagram)


I moved the sub around, found a different location (but it's not great aesthetically, location Y). I tried position Y, but it protruded into the nearby room (I had to increase the volume by hand, I didn't re-run audessey) but I couldn't tell if there was pressure or not... (I didn't test it there long enough)

The listening area/TV area in the living room is 11ft by 15ft. The overall living room is 11ft by 23ft. (the drawing is not to scale)


It's not the loudness of the sub that's bothering me, it's the pressure my ears feel sitting next to it.

Any advice? Is it my settings on the subwoofer? Or is it placement?

We suggests taking both port plugs out, EQ2 and Q=0.3 after Audyssey tuning, not put back the port plug. If the sub next to you bothers you, try placing it on the other end of the sofa.

How deep (front to back) is the room at the 'dining area' section? Can you sketch the whole area including the dining area and the area to the right side that the Sub Y position protrude into?

This 'pressure' you experience - does it happen only on program with very low bass? Usually very low bass (30 Hz or below) gives a sensation of 'pressure' on your ears.

Remember to re-run Audyssey with the sub in the new location. Also remember to set the sub to one port open, EQ1, Q=0.7 before re-running Audyssey, and set it back to two ports open, EQ2, Q=0.3 after that.

What is the sub out level on the receiver after Audyssey tuning? If it's too low (e.g. - 13 dB), then you want to lower the volume on the subwoofer and re-run Audyssey so the sub out on the receiver is around 0 dB, +/- 5 dB.

[subpressure]

Originally Posted by Dr_Hsu

We suggests taking both port plugs out, EQ2 and Q=0.3 after Audyssey tuning, not put back the port plug.

Done, thank you.

Originally Posted by Dr_Hsu

If the sub next to you bothers you, try placing it on the other end of the sofa.

I can try over the weekend (I need to move the whole sofa to put it on the other side, there's other furniture there now).

Originally Posted by Dr_Hsu

How deep (front to back) is the room at the 'dining area' section? Can you sketch the whole area including the dining area and the area to the right side that the Sub Y position protrude into?

I attached the floor plan. X is where I feel pressure, Y is where it's not aesthetically pleasing (but may work) and Z is where I believe your recommendation is.

Originally Posted by Dr_Hsu

This 'pressure' you experience - does it happen only on program with very low bass? Usually very low bass (30 Hz or below) gives a sensation of 'pressure' on your ears.

I'm not sure... I was just watching regular primetime TV.

Originally Posted by Dr_Hsu

Remember to re-run Audyssey with the sub in the new location. Also remember to set the sub to one port open, EQ1, Q=0.7 before re-running Audyssey, and set it back to two ports open, EQ2, Q=0.3 after that.

What is the sub out level on the receiver after Audyssey tuning? If it's too low (e.g. - 13 dB), then you want to lower the volume on the subwoofer and re-run Audyssey so the sub out on the receiver is around 0 dB, +/- 5 dB.

Yesterday it was at -3dB, today I re-tuned Audyssey (since I bumped the volume control while moving it from Y back to X) with your recommendations and it's at +5dB.



With the floor plan attached, is Z still the best position? Ideally I would like it at X, but even with both ports open and set to EQ2, I feel pressure again today (also regular TV at low volumes).

[Dr_Hsu]

Originally Posted by subpressure

Done, thank you.



I can try over the weekend (I need to move the whole sofa to put it on the other side, there's other furniture there now).



I attached the floor plan. X is where I feel pressure, Y is where it's not aesthetically pleasing (but may work) and Z is where I believe your recommendation is.



I'm not sure... I was just watching regular primetime TV.



Yesterday it was at -3dB, today I re-tuned Audyssey (since I bumped the volume control while moving it from Y back to X) with your recommendations and it's at +5dB.



With the floor plan attached, is Z still the best position? Ideally I would like it at X, but even with both ports open and set to EQ2, I feel pressure again today (also regular TV at low volumes).

I don't understand this pressure phenomenon, especially if you are listening at a low level to regular TV program. Ordinarily I would say position X would be great... Try position Z and see how that goes. That should be great as well.

[mentatgom]

Hi subpressure,

I believe I am familiar with the "pressure" you are describing. I too have my sub at the end of my couch. But I also get a similar feeling listening to my car radio after a while. I love listening to music, and just hearing in general, so I went as far as going to an Audiologist for an examination. I checked out fine, but still have that odd feeling, so not sure what to tell you. When I have the option, I just try to sit at least 4ft from my Sub, which ends up being about center of the couch. I understand how worrisome it can be feeling something affecting your hearing, especially if your a lover of music... and since you are here, I know you are!

[subpressure]

Originally Posted by Dr_Hsu

I don't understand this pressure phenomenon, especially if you are listening at a low level to regular TV program. Ordinarily I would say position X would be great... Try position Z and see how that goes. That should be great as well.

Position Z is nearly perfect. I feel it a little bit in my other ear now, I may move it another foot or two and it should be fine.

I did have another question: should I set the crossover in the sub or in my receiver? The receiver sets it to 120Hz after Audessey.

I tried changing it to 80Hz in the receiver, and when I flip the switch from Out to In (on the sub) and set it to 80Hz, there is a big sound difference.

What's the correct crossover and where should I set it?

Thank you Dr. Hsu for your help and time.

Originally Posted by mentatgom

Hi subpressure,

I believe I am familiar with the "pressure" you are describing. I too have my sub at the end of my couch. But I also get a similar feeling listening to my car radio after a while. I love listening to music, and just hearing in general, so I went as far as going to an Audiologist for an examination. I checked out fine, but still have that odd feeling, so not sure what to tell you. When I have the option, I just try to sit at least 4ft from my Sub, which ends up being about center of the couch. I understand how worrisome it can be feeling something affecting your hearing, especially if your a lover of music... and since you are here, I know you are!

I think it may just be me... my wife sat next to the sub, and she said it's perfectly fine for her (where I'm sitting about 5-6 feet away from the sub now, and I still feel a little bit of pressure in my other ear now...)

[Dr_Hsu]

Originally Posted by subpressure

Position Z is nearly perfect. I feel it a little bit in my other ear now, I may move it another foot or two and it should be fine.

I did have another question: should I set the crossover in the sub or in my receiver? The receiver sets it to 120Hz after Audessey.

I tried changing it to 80Hz in the receiver, and when I flip the switch from Out to In (on the sub) and set it to 80Hz, there is a big sound difference.

What's the correct crossover and where should I set it?

Thank you Dr. Hsu for your help and time.



I think it may just be me... my wife sat next to the sub, and she said it's perfectly fine for her (where I'm sitting about 5-6 feet away from the sub now, and I still feel a little bit of pressure in my other ear now...)

I would set the crossover on the receiver, and leave the crossover on the sub in 'out'. I would manually set it to 80 Hz. Engaging both doubles the crossover slope and also effectively lowers the crossover point for the sub.

You are most welcome!

[subpressure]

Update: So I left it where it is (at Z), re-ran Audessey with the correct crossovers, and I think everything is fine now.

I listened to music at a moderate volume (and watched TV for a couple of hours) yesterday - and it didn't bother me one bit (and the sub sounded great!).

Thanks again for the help!

[Dr_Hsu]

Originally Posted by subpressure

Update: So I left it where it is (at Z), re-ran Audessey with the correct crossovers, and I think everything is fine now.

I listened to music at a moderate volume (and watched TV for a couple of hours) yesterday - and it didn't bother me one bit (and the sub sounded great!).

Thanks again for the help!

You are most welcome! Enjoy it.