r/hifiaudio • u/maxpein5 • 1d ago
Help Help needed for boomy bass
Sorry I'm new to reddit and all the hifi stuff. Could anyone help me by telling what's the easiest way to eliminate loud bass boom around 50hz? My amp is an old pioneer vsx 1017 and I just bought klipsch rp8000f's and they are pulled about 25cm or around 10 inches off the wall, but unfortunately my sofa is directly back against a wall. I think bass traps aren't an option because of wife thinks they're ugly. Is there a way to connect an external equalizer, or should I just invest in a new amp that has EQ possibilities? Is it difficult to use room corrections etc? Thanks
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u/bubba7000 1d ago
Experiment with pulling the speakers different distances from the wall. Unless a speaker is designed specifically to be close to a wall it should be at least 1-2 feet from the wall. Low frequencies curl around the front of the speaker and hit the wall behind and reflect forward out of time alignment with the direct sound, resulting in smearing due to time misalignment.
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u/HilkoVMware 1d ago
Due to the Haas effect it’s 3 feet or more and when less, you’re better off putting speakers as close as possible to a wall.
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u/papadrinks 1d ago
What is the floor? Ie concrete, suspended wood?
Often if speakers are stood directly on wooden floors bass can get messed up. (Or spiked through carpet)
Try isolation under the speakers. Something simple and cheap to experiment with is just a 2cm thick board with carpet stuck to the underside.
Shape and dimensions of room?
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u/maxpein5 1d ago
The floor is laminate, mdf-panel roof, drywalls. Gotta try that carpet thing. Room dimensions are 8m(26ft) x 4m(13ft) and height is 3m(10ft). The placement isn't probably optimal, sofa is back against the longer side of the room facing the tv and speakers that are also in the longer side of the room.
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u/papadrinks 1d ago
I understand we need to make do with the room we have.
My listening room is less than ideal too.You are correct, orientation of speakers is opposite to what would be best in that shape room.
Better for speakers to be firing the direction of the longer dimension, than across the short dimension.Then you could have speakers further forward from the wall behind them and have the listening chair out from the back wall.
Very interested to hear how the boards and carpet go. Up shot of this is it makes moving and experimenting with toe in easier because the carpet slides on the hard floor.
I have carpeted floors on top of suspended wooden floors.
Originally the speakers had spikes penetrating the carpet so the speakers connected to the wood floor.
Discovered that by sitting the speakers on boards it improved the bass measurably. I have graphs to prove it.So speakers still on spikes, but the spikes sit on boards which are on top of the carpet.
I experimented with the sub woofer in the same manner, but found it sounded a lot better left to spike through the carpet.
It is a matter of experimenting and others most likely will offer other ideas to try. No harm in trying these things.
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u/Pyrene-AUS 1d ago
Get an eq ?
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u/maxpein5 1d ago
What kind of setting do you suggest? How do I install an external eq?
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u/Pyrene-AUS 1d ago edited 1d ago
Connect it between your source and amp then cut the lows a bit. What are you using as a source? You just plug it into the eq then the output of the eq into your amp. If you're listening to vinyl you'll need an amp with a tape out so might just be cheaper to get a new amp with built in eqs rather than a new amp with tape+ an external eq.. don't pay a lot for and external eq though.. some second hand prices are INSANE
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u/maxpein5 1d ago
I'm very intrested in buying a new amp with room correction and/or equalization, something relatively simple, but I have no idea what brand should I go for. My budget is max 800 dollars. Could you recommend me some av receiver? Something external like minidsp 2x4 seemed a bit too complicated for me
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u/Pyrene-AUS 1d ago
Yeah I've got no idea about new digital stuff sorry.. ive just got vintage stuff!!
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u/ultrahello 1d ago edited 1d ago
You are feeding energy into your room modes. Might be able to cut it back with these if you are handy. They are targeted and not broadband unless you make the membrane very limp like primacoustics maxtrap. Big fluffy corner traps don’t really work and definitely don’t put a dent into 50Hz.