best way to set up dual sub's?

[smoke3]

I want to add psw1000 to my existing psw505 should i use LFE on one and line direct on the other or both LFE ?? any info would help:)

[Keiko]

I would just use a simple, RCA Y splitter.

[thsmith]

^^^What K said ^^^^

Thats the easy part, positioning is a whole other matter. REW is you friend.

[Blownrx7]

I would just use a simple, RCA Y splitter.

Ditto!

I would start by positioning them next to the main L and R, nearer a corner if convenient.
hth

[Mike21]

Hi Smoke.

As an experiment, you might try stacking them. Put the 505 on top of the 1000.
Mike

[Rocco1]

Bad idea!

I have tried this in the past. Vibrations between the three subs would create a "competition" if you will between the 3 subs. This lead to distortion and vibration and movement among the cabinets.

[apphd]

Not really a bad idea Rocco. It just needs to be done differently than just putting the subs on one another.

A quote from the well respected sub designer Mark Seaton (Seaton Sound)

"If you stack the subs, you really only need something tacky between the subs. You can use anything from thin rubber bumpers you can buy at any hardware store to sheets of rubber or strips of Sorbothane which can be found at suppliers like McMaster-Carr. The main point is to keep the subs in place while operating and not sliding against each other."

Stacking subs helps eliminate some of the problems of dialing in 2 subs.

[kolyan2k]

i have my 2 subs next to left and right speaker. the one in the corner does most of the work (because its in the corner) and another one is there to help. i have them connected to SMS1, before i had a Y

[Rocco1]

taking someones word, pro or not, and hearing/experiencing it for your self are two different things. I had 3 subs stacked one on top of another, all three down firing and even with rubber feet between them and a strap around the front and back to hold them together very well i still got some distortion and movement amongest the cabinets. The middle sub some how always found it self wiggling out of the top and bottom cabinets.

Now that is just my experience with those specific specifications. I would imagine that under different specifications and you could get different results. Most of the time unless you do it with your specific equipment you will never know.

[Rocco1]

bottom line my friend. the only way you will know how things sound best is to:
1. you stage the speakers according to the specifications.
2. make sure you have someone to help you with setting and a different ear
3. experiment
4. experiment

[danz1906]

Has anyone stacked one sub on top of another?

[apphd]

bottom line my friend. the only way you will know how things sound best is to:
1. you stage the speakers according to the specifications.
2. make sure you have someone to help you with setting and a different ear
3. experiment
4. experiment

Rocco hope you did not misunderstand my post as something personal, wasn't intended as a negative towards you. Just trying to point out what you said later that in your situation it did not work. Trying to let the OP know that it is not necessarily a Bad Idea, but an option to try. They may get good results or they may have the same results as you. But until they try they will not know what works for them.

[Rocco1]

i didnt mean for my post to sound snooty. but your right, people will have different out comes. I would recommend trying anything that sounds good to the users ear. I have had people buy speakers that where $200 a pair and for their ears sounded better than the lsi25's. its all in the ears of the beholder. though sometimes you may think they are actually crazy.

[xcapri79]

I would not recommend stacking down-firing subwoofers for the reasons cited by Rocco. For example, I think stacking DSW600's would be a disaster, however I would stack smaller front firing subwoofers such as PSW505's. I have this set up with one system and it works well for me.

I wouldn't stack anything on a PSW1000 because I would not want to scratch its beautiful finish. With the PSW1000's, I purchased some rectangular end tables that were large enough to allow the sub to fit under it. A second sub could be placed on top of the table. In my case, that's were I put my amps, one each on either side of the entertainment unit.

I agree with experimenting, since each room and furniture placement is different. I like the front controls on the PSW1000's and remote controls on the DSW series for that reason.

[xcapri79]

I want to add psw1000 to my existing psw505 should i use LFE on one and line direct on the other or both LFE ?? any info would help:)

This all depends on your room size, equipment set up and other furniture. The Y splitter off the LFE works well for subs at the front. However my personality would not permit me to run a PSW1000 and a PSW505 up front where I could see both. I like symmetry.

I would use the PSW1000 up front and install the PSW505 at the back (rear or side). It isn't always practical to have a RCA cable going to the back of the room. I prefer the using the speaking inputs and running off the side surrounds in that case. If you are running subwoofers off the speaker inputs, those speakers need to be set for large and your LFE needs to be set to plus or double depending on your receiver.

[Mike21]

Some comments on stacking subs:

> I would not stack downfiring subs.

> In my home theater system I have 2 relatively small Sony subs (10" x 100w ) stacked in one corner. I tried this after hours of trying varying arangements with the 2 subs. I was plaeasantly surprised to find that stacking gave the best result. I cannot give a technical explanation why.

> I got the idea to try stacking from a post I read on another Forum. The guy gave some technical reason for doing this but I can't remember what it was.

> Pro sound engineers for large rock concerts often stack their passive sub cabinents 2 and sometimes 3 high. I do not know if they do this becuase of space limitations or to get better SQ.

> I did not mean to imply that the OP would get better SQ by stacking. I merely suggested that he try it.

> My top sub deos move around a bit. I know I should put some Blu Tak between them, but I'm too lazy to order it.

Mike

[apphd]

I think everyone is on the same page here. Basically integrating a sub into a system takes some time and effort, integrating two has some benefits, but increases the challenge of integration.
Because of different rooms/equipment/ears there is no "ONE" solution and experimentation and time is needed to get the results that one feels is the optimal for them and their circumstances.
Here is a collection of comments that tends to show different strokes for different folks


"Co-locating is the easiest way to minimize peaks and nulls, but not the only way."

"How well stacking subs will work is dependent on your room. For some it works well, for others it's better to place them in separate locations. The advantage of having 2 separate subs is you have the ability to experiment to see what the best placement option is."


"There are advantages to each type of placement.
Co-location of subwoofers will give you approximately 6dB more output - 3dB from the addition of the second subwoofer and 3dB from the units having constructive interference (essentially acting as a single woofer). Stacking can help remove room modes on the Z axis in the room although such issues are rarely of significant interest compared to other axial modes.

Placing the subwoofers in different points in the room will yield about 3dB in SPL, but will allow you to maximize bass response for the most number of seats via placement and phase adjustment. This method allows you to force interaction of the subwoofers such that the effects of room modes are mitigated or removed.

The basic point here is if you have a single spot in your room that yields good results for the intended listening locations then co-location is probably best. If you are having room interaction issues placement of the subs in varying locations is ideal. If the latter is chosen use REW, equalization and phase adjustments to maximize response."

[danz1906]

Has anyone setup Subs in the Rear of the Room?

[Vette C6.r]

I stacked my two PSW 150's and had a better result than other combo I ever tried. Any I tried alot. Even got my friends to do blind sound sound tests. There was beer involved so maybe they were just saying that to shut me up.

[xcapri79]

Has anyone setup Subs in the Rear of the Room?

Yes. Many people use front and rear subwoofers.

[XJRGUY]

Has anyone stacked one sub on top of another?

Yes, I have two PSW1000's stacked one on top of the other.

No problems here, and sounds great.

[Dawgfish]

I have a sub in the rear of my room. I use one DSW Pro 600 in the front between the front mains, and have a second DSW Pro 600 in the rear corner of the room. I get really good results with this setup. I like the fact that I can make phase, volume, and other adjustmetns with the DSW subs via a remote control to suit the listening application. That way I can remain in my easy chair with my beverage of choice. Man, am I lazy! ;-)

[Knucklehead]

like some of the others have said, use a "Y" cable, if you need one I have several laying around you can have one if you need it. As for stacking, Im running 2 psw10's and it sounded kinda crappy stacking them, just my opinion though.

[Vdr1973]

Does using Y cables weaken the signal much? Ive been considering adding a secound sub behind the couch and was just wondering how that may affect incoming signal. was woundering if i would have to re adjust my gain?

[kevhed72]

I have a sub in the rear of my room. I use one DSW Pro 600 in the front between the front mains, and have a second DSW Pro 600 in the rear corner of the room. I get really good results with this setup. I like the fact that I can make phase, volume, and other adjustmetns with the DSW subs via a remote control to suit the listening application. That way I can remain in my easy chair with my beverage of choice. Man, am I lazy! ;-)

Just out of curiousity Dawfish, roughly how big is your room?

[concealer404]

Does using Y cables weaken the signal much? Ive been considering adding a secound sub behind the couch and was just wondering how that may affect incoming signal. was woundering if i would have to re adjust my gain?

No to the Y cables. There isn't a whole lot of signal that goes to subs.

I ran a bit of a daisy chain back when my HT setup was still in use. I had my S8s set up in stereo, just inside the mains, but about 12 feet apart from each other. Stacking didn't sound quite right to me.

I doubt you'd have to mess with the gain, either.

[Dawgfish]

Kevhed72,

Sorry for the late reply. My living room is about 15'X20', but that's just a guess. The thing about it is it adjoins the dining room area and the kitchen area. It's basically one big open area. To compound this, it has high vaulted ceilings. In reality theres quite a bit of room that the subs are working in. There are pictures of my living room and setup on the sytem showcase section of the board. The pictures will describe the situation better than my words. Depite this large open area, the two DSW 600s preasurize the area nicely and are very tight and musical to boot. I also have a third sub in the system, a Klipsch Sub 12. I only turn it on when watching some movies and I want to get really deep and low for exlposions and other effects. I definitely turn it off for music because it is overly boomy and muddy for music.

[Bad Dog]

When using two powered subs in front by the main speakers, how do you hook them up?
There's too many different ways of hooking them up and I don't know the best way. I have 2 sets of pre out on my preamp (no LFE). One set going to mains, the other set will go to the subs.

1. Should I send the signal from the left out to left in on the left sub and the signal from the right out to the left in of the right sub?

2. Use a "Y' connector to send left signal to both inputs on the left sub and send right signal to both inputs on the right sub?

3. Use a "Y" connector to send left and right signal to both inputs of left sub, and send left and right signal to both inputs of right sub?

Hope this isn't too confusing.

[kevhed72]

I guess I am just piling on our question to this thread, but my room is approx. 15' X 19' w/ standard ceiling height (9' I guess?) I am wondering if a single DSW PRO 600 or dual DSW PRO 400s would be the way to go...there are deals on Ebay on both right now...

[Dawgfish]

Kevhed72,

That's a tough decision and it really depends on what your needs are or what you are looking for. If you are using the sub mainly for home theater, I would lean towards the single 600. It goes a little lower in the frequencie range than the 400, which is nice for explosions and other sound effects. If you listen to mostly music, or roughly a 50/50 mixture of music to home theater, I would definitely lean towards the dual 400s. The 400s amaze me with the amound of nice clean, tight bass they produce. They also go surprisingly low for having 8" woofers. Really, the more I think about it, I would probably lean towards the dual 400s unless you are using the system for home theater almost exclusively.

[classic carl]

I have two subs stacked with an old rubber car mat in between. They're never on at the same time because one is for my HT and the other is for my 2 channel music system. The music sub is on top. No issues at all.