Enjoyed reading this article, and was interested to see the placement of the subwoofer in all three pics.
I've always assumed the subwoofer goes next to the centre speaker/under the tv, but the diagrams have them all over the place. Anyone know which way is preferable?
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 I think the general rule of thumb is just make sure the sub is at least a metre from the television and then it's position isn't so crucial due to the frequency of the sound it emits. As such in a 5.1 layout the positionong of the sub is usually the most straight forward part as it doesn't have to be as exact as the other speakers. I'm not really sure if any one way is preferable or not.
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Tom, from what I remember there are around every room "hot-spots" where it is BEST to position a subwoofer. It seems to work like this:
Firstly, remember that MOST sub's do NOT sound their best close to a wall.
Then, from your amp, run the test-tone for your subwoofer (disconnect other speakers if necessary). Hearing the test tone, walk around your room and listen for the loudest sound from your subwoofer; these areas are the "hot-spots" and are (it seems) where your subwoofer is optimally to be positioned.
Sounds kind of strange, but try it; I did and it works for me.
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Cheers guys. Bob, how come you shouldn't have your sub close to a wall? Does it inhibit the sound in some way?
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From what I remember Tom, it CAN (though not always) cause bass "rumble" - like an echo of the bass off the wall.
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There's actually an article about subwoofer set up, in the advice section of this site. Take a look.
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 Tom, I've moved my sub around quite a bit in the last 6 years, ports firing into the wall, away from the wall, even once on the side with the ports firing up, they all had something to commend them. However, the most fun I had was to place the sub beside the couch with the ports firing into the side of the couch. This gives two tremendous benefits, firstly a good place to rest your cocktail and secondly the bass ripples through the couch adding a definite physical presence to the experience, particularly across your backside during loud and prolonged explosions.
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Cheers all for the advice. Wow Colman, that sounds like a nifty idea placing it next to the couch. Can't imagine the cocktail would stay there for long though with all that rumbling bass beneath it!
Seriously though, I might give that a go. With my living room being fairly large I sometimes feel I'm not getting the full benefits of the sub...
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In my new conservatory I have the TV at the back of the room, viewed "across" the short axis from a pair of chairs, with a Bose 5.1 surround system.
However I have a sofa on which I would like to listen to my CD's facing "along" the room, actually out side of the sound ring set up for the TV.
My idea "double pole double throw" high quality switch to switch Front Right & Rear Left. This will work if it is safe to connect the black cables in common. My sofa would then face two Front speakers. I planned to select "stereo" to remove any unwanted distortions.
Any ideas or better solutions greatfully received
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 It was thought for a LONG time that bass is virtually indistinguishable as to which direction its coming from and so you could literally place anywhere in the room. This though was when subs were a bit pap.
Its now known that the placement DOES in fact matter and its believed the best place is inbetween the 2 main speakers and firing towards the listener (or upwards, or bass 'ports' to the rear)
HOWEVER, of course you dont want the bass vibrating your equipment and suchlike which is why sometimes the center is NOT always the greatest place (And also why hifi 'racks' come into play here)
Its all down to each individuals set up really but it really should be away from walls (Especially corners) and should never be out of eyesight
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 Surprising as it may seem I do agree here, a slightly misunderstood function of a bass sub is that although it's main output is say below 150Hz it may also have significant output at 600Hz and that puts it in the very audible 'mid band' therefore affecting the main sound. I did have a system with a sub once and it was clearly audible when the sub was not in the best place, that was normally between the main speakers, if one metre behind or in front then the sound was not quite so coherent, anyway I have since sold the system and would not want another. I guess if you prefer your cocktails shaken rather than stirred then the position of the sub is less important than the sound just ask Mr Bond 007. Now a slightly more personal question Mr Rik H, have you tried the tea sugar test, I did tonight discover that I could detect just one spoon of sugar so I don't think my hearing is that shot, tell me just how much sugar is needed before you can tell the difference? Researching acoustics............ John...
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"Now a slightly more personal question Mr Rik H, have you tried the tea sugar test, I did tonight discover that I could detect just one spoon of sugar so I don't think my hearing is that shot, tell me just how much sugar is needed before you can tell the difference?" I CAN tell the difference yes. But I think you misunderstand my whole 'hearing' point. Some tones ~ especially when its just ONE particular sound is EASY to pick up on. Its when you start throwing sound TOGETHER that poor hearing can enter into the equation. Akin to listening to the radio in the car, certain sounds will be lost. Just as some instruments 'detail' will be lost amongst certain other instruments etc Picking out ONE sound in silence is easy.............
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So how little sugar can you detect, we'll stick to single sounds here because as you rightly say they are easy to detect, but how about the 'room size' listening test, this involves reflections and many frequencies so is probably a fair bit more difficult. I hope to do that test soon, so let's think of another, can you hear the difference between taking the first cigarette from a packet to the last? Can you hear if the door is open in your listening room, or a window? Can you hear the difference when a couple of others sit down to listen, because if you cannot then you certainly cannot hear a cable difference. John...
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ooooooooo John! Im afraid I cannot enter 'cable' debates with you 
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Oh shit I mentioned something that I am not allowed to, apologies all round, that was a serious lack of concentration, sorry mate it will not happen again. John...
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