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ZDNET’s key takeaways

• Placing your subwoofer correctly can maximize its bass output.
• Every room has its limitations, but simple workarounds make a difference.
• For living rooms and common areas, you’ll have to get creative.

A subwoofer is a surefire way to upgrade your home theater, whether you’re following the expansion recommendations from Sonos or Sony, or building a more advanced setup with receivers, in-ceiling speakers, and more. Whether you’re upgrading the equipment in your living room or a dedicated theater room, a subwoofer is a wonderful addition, but where you place the device in the room matters.

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Audio geeks may find few opinions to agree on, but one commonality is that a subwoofer should go in the front quadrant of a room. In this position, your room’s walls act as barriers that guide the woofer’s low-pitched sounds in the right direction. However, optimal placement can be a complicated task because of your room’s dimensions and listening area, and it’s paramount to keep an open mind. Let’s talk more about specifics.

1. Avoid corners

The rule of thirds in audio states that placing speakers one-third of your listening room’s length from the front wall minimizes low-frequency distortion, enhances depth, and delivers a cleaner, more enjoyable audio experience. So, if possible, avoid placing your subwoofer directly in a room’s corner where the walls meet, especially if you only have one subwoofer for your entire system.

By placing your subwoofer in a corner, the walls act as an amplifier, making your bass sound muddy and boomy and overpowering the output from your other speakers. Though most home theater rooms may not be perfectly square, the rule of thirds, when possible, reminds you to pull your speakers farther into the room rather than set them up directly against the corners.

2. The infamous subwoofer crawl

Every room is different, and if you’re upgrading your living room’s home theater, your room may be open or asymmetrical. The good news is that lower frequencies aren’t disturbed by furniture as much as middle to higher frequencies are, but your room’s walls (or lack thereof) play a bigger role.

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If your room isn’t a perfect square or doesn’t have four walls enclosing it, home theater enthusiasts will encourage you to perform a subwoofer crawl. Place your subwoofer where you usually sit to listen, and elevate it as close to ear level as possible (a chair or stool can work). Then, crawl or walk around the room and note where the bass sounds clearest and most precise. The spots where your ears are most pleased are where you should put your subwoofer.

3. Use calibration software

If your subwoofer uses an app, it likely has built-in room calibration software. Some people overlook this software, but it can significantly enhance your subwoofer’s performance. These room calibration features use internal microphones to generate sound, measure your room’s frequency response, and correct the subwoofer’s output.

Though this software can be very useful, it can only do so much. First, ensure your subwoofer is in the optimal position in your room, then use room calibration to fine-tune its performance.

What if my optimal position isn’t … optimal?

Say there’s a scenario where your subwoofer’s optimal audio output position isn’t ideal for your room or household. This dilemma could include the subwoofer becoming a tripping hazard, being too far from a power source, or simply being an eyesore. These scenarios are especially likely if your listening room is your family room rather than a dedicated home theater. Here’s what you can do.

If your sub is too far from a power source, try to run an extension cord. You might have to get creative about hiding longer cords, but adhesive clips to run the cord along baseboards and furniture are a decent place to start. You can also wire your subwoofer through a decorative wire basket, place the basket near the outlet, and cover the wires with extra blankets or throw pillows to add a layer of utility.

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If your sub is small enough, consider an end table that can cover the sub and serve as a place to set down drinks, keys, and other household items. Some companies offer subwoofers that can stand upright or lie flat to accommodate your space; consider a flat-laying sub to place under a taller console table. Also, don’t be afraid to experiment with placing your subwoofer behind a couch or chair.

The bottom line is that sometimes you have to get creative and make certain sacrifices to accommodate the cards you’re dealt, and that’s OK. Most rooms, especially family rooms, weren’t designed for bulky subwoofers. Still, you can find some subwoofers with modern, low-key, and nondescript design elements if concealing them isn’t an option.