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Subwoofer and bare floor

I have discovered that I get better bass from my speakers (hybrid electrostats with integrated subwoofers) if I put a folded up towel under the down-firing base drivers. I have them on bare floors, normally.

Does anyone have an explanation for this? Is it common for subwoofers to work better on carpeting than bare floors?

In case anyone is wondering, I discovered this while moving the speakers around to try different placements: I put them on towels to slide them around. Usually I take the towels out before playing them, but this time I forgot. The difference in sound is really striking.
steverw

Showing 3 responses by kr4

kr4's avatar
kr4
3,649 posts
 
Depends on the woofer and the type of floor. I use Auralex Gramma (or SubDude) between my sub and the wood floor. It reduces the floor resonances.

Kal
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,649 posts
 
You could google Auralex or Gramma or SubDude.
You could search at or www.auralex.com or www.auralexelite.com
You could read my review at www.stereophile.com/musicintheround

Kal
kr4's avatar
kr4
3,649 posts
 
You can test for a polarity error with a bassy mono source by trying it with normal wiring and with one speaker reversed. The correct polarity will give a summation rather than a cancellation of the bass.

Floor resonances are usually wide-band since the surface consists of many planks with different characteristics loosely coupled to each other.

I cannot think of how the towel is having an effect unless it is damping higher frequencies that should not be coming out of the woofer.

Kal
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