Actually- especially for the novice - I wholeheartedly recommend keeping the subs up near the main speakers, especially in systems with adequate room DSP and/or Parametric EQ's, ideally. In these cases, it is most often much easier to get a coherent sound, seat to seat, with subs placed up near the mains - I find.
Yes, you need to consider the output capabilities of the subs and the volume of the room. If your sub/volume ratio is on the short side, you might consider close corner proximity for the subs, with some play. Still, if they have the output, and you can "EQ" out the response of the subs somehow, you have the strong advantage of not running into as many PHASE issues between where the mains leave off and the subwoofers pick up - among other things. And, less than ideal "modal placement issues" can be EQ'd out, as long as you're not setting the subs in "holes" in the response curve.
Basically, I like the blending ability and coherence potential of subs near mains, personally.
If you put one subwoofer next to your seat, sidewall, etc, and you have multiple seats aroudn the room, you are most assuredly running into phase issues from speakers, to subwoofers, to seating possition, ideally. I don't like this tradeoff personally. Also, If you start putting subs at 1/4 points around the room, you are DEFINILTEY starting to deal with "phase cancelation" and comb-filtering issues, most often. And this is also hard to deal with, if you're not careful and know what you're doing.
My rule here is to try and "keep it simple &*#$@%!" That way you have a better chance of well balanced, dynamic, coherent sound.
I once did a system for a guy who had a couple of monster high end subwoofers, set up mostly out of phase with each other, and the mains! He complained of "no bass" in the system, even with the subs cranked up. I placed his subs up near the mains, right next to each other, off center of the room slightly - and it sounded great, but he didn't like the look. We ended up with mostly the same performance with one sub out of phase, placed in the corner, to good effect.
Hope this helps
Yes, you need to consider the output capabilities of the subs and the volume of the room. If your sub/volume ratio is on the short side, you might consider close corner proximity for the subs, with some play. Still, if they have the output, and you can "EQ" out the response of the subs somehow, you have the strong advantage of not running into as many PHASE issues between where the mains leave off and the subwoofers pick up - among other things. And, less than ideal "modal placement issues" can be EQ'd out, as long as you're not setting the subs in "holes" in the response curve.
Basically, I like the blending ability and coherence potential of subs near mains, personally.
If you put one subwoofer next to your seat, sidewall, etc, and you have multiple seats aroudn the room, you are most assuredly running into phase issues from speakers, to subwoofers, to seating possition, ideally. I don't like this tradeoff personally. Also, If you start putting subs at 1/4 points around the room, you are DEFINILTEY starting to deal with "phase cancelation" and comb-filtering issues, most often. And this is also hard to deal with, if you're not careful and know what you're doing.
My rule here is to try and "keep it simple &*#$@%!" That way you have a better chance of well balanced, dynamic, coherent sound.
I once did a system for a guy who had a couple of monster high end subwoofers, set up mostly out of phase with each other, and the mains! He complained of "no bass" in the system, even with the subs cranked up. I placed his subs up near the mains, right next to each other, off center of the room slightly - and it sounded great, but he didn't like the look. We ended up with mostly the same performance with one sub out of phase, placed in the corner, to good effect.
Hope this helps