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| Question about subwoofer isolation. |
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| Howard_Casto:
So After 6 months of looking I've determined that the computer desk I want just doesn't exist so I'm buying a rather plain one and I'll modify/fortify as needed. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B08QJFGSR8?ref=ppx_pt2_dt_b_prod_image But anyway, when I move my devices over to this open plan desk I was wondering about subwoofer isolation. I read an article that mentioned ideally your sub should be elevated an isolated via some kind of deadener, like a wooden box filled with sand. I've had the same lansing 2.1 speaker set on my computer for probably 20 years. It's not super powerful but it gets plenty loud and the sound is clear with a good range. Is this something I really need to worry about? Right now my sub is sitting on the bottom shelf of my desk and it sounds fine but then again it is right up against my UPS which has those old school lead acid batteries that weigh a ton, so maybe that is absorbing the sound somewhat. |
| bobbyb13:
Whew... Sound and water waves are second only to weather in being a great study in chaos theory. I have a few audiophile friends who used to build mobile audio systems for Boston Acoustics for fun (and then for $$) and this is a rabbit hole if there ever was one Howard. Things I recall from watching/helping them... For an office desk/gaming station, and the size speaker we are talking about (4' or smaller I would imagine?) the environment INSIDE the box has more to do with how it sounds than what is around it (unless you want to get really crazy and spec out a recording studio for your gaming station room.) If you can, pack the subwoofer box with fiberglass insulation to absorb any internal backwave contamination and minimize/eliminate any irritating buzzing noise to begin with. If you are REALLY concerned about unwanted vibration then even a box of sand will still telegraph crap you don't want and would suck to deal with otherwise anyway. At probably 3" to 4" it can't move enough air to make a real resonant mess very far from it (and bass sound waves take distances measured in feet to form fully) so if you really want to isolate it from shaking ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- on the desk...? Hang it from four pieces of string/twine/cord- with the woofer facing down. Seriously. Or second to that, sit it on the points of four nails if you can pull it off in your situation. The string/harness method is probably easier to pull of and will probably work better anyway. Of course all of this is REALLY excessive for what is probably a 3" woofer in a ported enclosure that is made of particle board to begin with (and something I have squandered valuable failing brain power on-) My guess is the best one can do for a desk or cabinet setup is a 6" sub in a sealed box of 3/4" MDF which is sealed with fiberglass, fillet rope and epoxy, with the woofer glued down with 3m 3200 and then the box suspended with paracord. Volume of box depends on your personal taste in tone and the recommendations of the woofer manufacturer and the box volume will also dictate what size amp you really need to drive the thing properly (sealed enclosures needing more power than ported ones...) Something with that punch might irritate other people elsewhere in the house though- And therefore I'll build it into one of my cabs if I can make the time to do so. >:D |
| Mike A:
If it sounds fine then it sounds fine. |
| BadMouth:
For a small sub in a 2.1 computer speaker set, you would be much better served experimenting with location rather than worrying about isolation. Isolating the sub from the floor is more about preventing extra resonances (noise from the vibrating floor or other things touching the vibrating floor). Probably unnecessary, but if you want to go all out for such a small sub pick up a pack of cork coasters and put those under it. This is coming from someone who applied damping material and tracked down every vibration in his base model work truck to eliminate resonances. ;D |
| Howard_Casto:
I figured you guys would know what to look for, thanks. I'm hoping it'll still sound fine when it isn't crammed in behind a bunch of gear so I guess this is a what if scenario. |
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