Down Firing vs. Front Firing Subs

deronb1
deronb1 Posts: 5,021
edited July 2012 in Subwoofer Hookup & Bass Management
Does either design have an advantage over the other?
Post edited by deronb1 on
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,640
    edited July 2012
    Some argue down firing subwoofers will be a tad louder as gravity is on its side...

    On the flip side some will argue that down firing subwoofers are not as accurate as front firing...

    But otherwise no... no real advantage
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • deronb1
    deronb1 Posts: 5,021
    edited July 2012
    VR3 wrote: »
    Some argue down firing subwoofers will be a tad louder as gravity is on its side...

    On the flip side some will argue that down firing subwoofers are not as accurate as front firing...

    But otherwise no... no real advantage

    Thanks, didn't really think so either. My sub is down firing, sitting on carpet.
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,640
    edited July 2012
    It would benefit you if it does not have a plate at the bottom to put a tile or concrete slab beneath it
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited July 2012
    I may be completely wrong, but it just seems to me that since a down firing sub's dispersion pattern is circular, a portion of the radiated energy will go 'away' from the listening area to hit the front wall and reflect 'back' - as opposed to a front firing sub where all of the radiated energy goes directly towards the listening area.

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • deronb1
    deronb1 Posts: 5,021
    edited July 2012
    VR3 wrote: »
    It would benefit you if it does not have a plate at the bottom to put a tile or concrete slab beneath it

    Good! I had started a thread about that very question, but had no response, thanks.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited July 2012
    Erik Tracy wrote: »
    I may be completely wrong, but it just seems to me that since a down firing sub's dispersion pattern is circular, a portion of the radiated energy will go 'away' from the listening area to hit the front wall and reflect 'back' - as opposed to a front firing sub where all of the radiated energy goes directly towards the listening area.
    Due to the size of bass sound waves, any monopole(non-open baffle/dipole) sub will have a circular pattern.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited July 2012
    Face wrote: »
    Due to the size of bass sound waves, any monopole(non-open baffle/dipole) sub will have a circular pattern.

    Wouldn't the directionality have an effect on how much is forward (front firing) vs reflected (down firing)?

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 28,640
    edited July 2012
    Bass is non-directional by default if I remember correctly... its such a large wave
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited July 2012
    VR3 wrote: »
    Bass is non-directional by default if I remember correctly... its such a large wave

    It's non-directional as far as ability to localize source, but for energy dissapation and 'accuracy' wouldn't it still be dependent on 'design'? Meaning a downward firing sub still dissipates/radiates signal content and energy equally in all downward directions (and so 1/2 or a portion thereof NOT in the direction of the listening space)?

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited July 2012
    With a standard ported/sealed sub, nope. It's polar response is still a circle.

    When dealing with dipole, ripole, and open baffle subs things change, their polar response is shaped like an 8.
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Face
    Face Posts: 14,340
    edited July 2012
    The only other considerations with a downfiring sub is the reduced amount of x-max(travel) available and not all sub drivers are suitable for downfiring: http://www.parts-express.com/resources/woofer-mount-up-down.cfm
    "He who fights with monsters should look to it that he himself does not become a monster. And when you gaze long into an abyss the abyss also gazes into you." Friedrich Nietzsche
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  • Erik Tracy
    Erik Tracy Posts: 4,673
    edited July 2012
    Fascinating!
    3214770_o.gif

    Really...thanks.

    H9: If you don't trust what you are hearing, then maybe you need to be less invested in a hobby which all the pleasure comes from listening to music.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited July 2012
    That is interesting, learn sumthin new everyday.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • Mr. Bubbles
    Mr. Bubbles Posts: 736
    edited July 2012
    good link. I've never thought about it that way before but it makes perfect sense. basically you would look for a driver with a higher Fs (at least to a point). Low Fs driver generally have either a heavier moving mass or a looser suspension or both. Those qualities would contribute to greater sag from the diaphragm / suspension. Unless the driver had an adjustable suspension to compensate, similar to the old CV Strokers. But that then would also change the Fs and other attributes of the driver.

    On another note; if one was worried about the radiation pattern of the front wave and its directionality. A down-firing sub could then be slot loaded similar to what VMPS has used for their passives in many designs. This would leave only one side open to point whichever direction you desired.
    If con is the opposite of pro, is Congress the opposite of Progress?!


    Monitor 5Jr, Monitor 5, RTA12, RTA 15TL, SDA 2A, 1c, SRS 2, 1.2TL, CRS, Atrium.
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited July 2012
    It's not the method so much, as it is about the end result.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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