Subwoofer placement helper
Placement changes a subwoofer's sound more than any knob on the back of it. Tell the helper what you're optimising for and which spots your room realistically allows, and it ranks them — honestly, including the ones to avoid.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to put a subwoofer?
There's no universal answer — it depends on your room's dimensions and where you sit. The front corner gives the most output, near the front speakers gives the easiest blend, and beside the couch lets you play quieter in apartments. The subwoofer crawl finds the true best spot for your specific room.
Does a subwoofer have to go at the front of the room?
No. Deep bass is largely non-directional, so a sub at the side or rear can work well — as long as you set the distance in your receiver's speaker setup and check the phase control so its output arrives in step with the front speakers.
Can I put a subwoofer in a cabinet?
Avoid it if at all possible. The cabinet resonates, smearing tight bass into a drone, and ported designs need free air around the port. If there's genuinely no alternative, use a compact sealed sub on an isolation pad and leave the cabinet back open.