frontfiring or downfiring?

[Grand Dizzy]

I'm just about to buy a sub. I'll probably go for a downfiring but I want to be certain I've made the right choice!

Can anyone advise me?

I'll be using it mainly for home cinema/TV, with occasional CD listening. My room is medium-sized and my floor is carpeted wood.

[eviljohn2]

There shouldn't be any difference as long as they've been well designed. There's certainly no way of predicting which will integrate best into your room I'm afraid.

[PJTX100]

I went for a FF BK because, well, IMO, it looks better then the DF!

...PJ

[Grand Dizzy]

I agree. I much prefer the appearance of the front firing subs.

But appearance is the least important thing to me. I want it to sound great! Any more advice?

[JBL 4645]

I have a JBL 4645 professional THX 18in 600watts forward direct firing…
…I still haven’t got over the size of it….

So yes forward firing rock on…

[PJTX100]

Originally Posted by Grand Dizzy

Any more advice?

Well, we've commented that sound-wise the general concensus is that there's no difference.

Hence, it's just personal preference in terms of practicality and aestethics.

And you've said you prefer the look of front firing.

I think we'd be struggling to give any more advice.

...PJ

[Nimby]

Though there's always chicken wire......?

Nimby

[Sly]

would a forward firing unit send less noise or vibrations to a downstairs room?
my HC stuff is in a bedroom with floorboards.
ta.

[Jules Tohpipi]

Originally Posted by Sly

would a forward firing unit send less noise or vibrations to a downstairs room?
my HC stuff is in a bedroom with floorboards.
ta.

No, the bass driver in a sub will radiate sound equally in all directions. Hence why it doesn't matter if it is forward or downward firing.

[JBL 4645]

Lets think this in terms of 3-D!

Why not a downward firing one, then if you don’t like the way it is, turn it up on its side so that it is facing the room…

Or you can face it upwards so that is firing towards the ceiling, or build a platform high up made to size to hold the sub near to the ceiling…

And yes it’s very doable…it’s a question of science…

[Nimby]

One could make a case for increased mechanical excitement of the surface on which a downfiring sub rests. (usually the floor)

The driver attempts to accelerate its enclosure in opposition to its rapid cone movements.
(Every action has an equal and opposite reaction)

The forward firing sub merely tries to slide its enclosure backwards and forwards parallel to the floor.

That said, my own SVS (downfiring) cylinder doesn't seem to produce much transmitted noise through the floor in comparison with its acoustic output. But then again the room below is open to the listening room via the open stairwell.

Though the bass can be heard through the ceiling in the bathroom across the hall. But is it transmitted mechanically or carried through the air with acoustic waves?

Summing up and all in all: It's swings and roundabouts.
So I should forget everything I've said so far.

Hope this helps?

Nimby

[Mroizouk]

You can always isolate the sub to keep the sound in your listening room. I've got a downward-firing svs and was worried about the transmission of noise through the floor, but it's not appreciable worse than a forward-firing sub. Now its isolated though, I can turn it up pretty loud before it bothers anyone downstairs.

[bob1]

Originally Posted by Nimby

Summing up and all in all: It's swings and roundabouts.
So I should forget everything I've said so far.

Hope this helps?

Nimby

[Sly]

Originally Posted by Nimby

So I should forget everything I've said so far.

Hope this helps?

Nimby

yes you should cuz i have!

[Sly]

Originally Posted by Mroizouk

Now its isolated though, I can turn it up pretty loud before it bothers anyone downstairs.

how have you done this , and has it made a lot of differance?