Putting SUb into wall?

**Chicago** · **06-12-08, 01:17 AM**

I was wondering if it was a good idea or bad idea to sink a sub into a wall? It would be around ear level and roughly 10 feet from couch.and about 4 feet to the side of couch, Reason im asking is because 1.) Wife hates it big takes up room. 2.) The only place that possibly could go is about 18 feet from viewing area(seems far), And it would kinda be blocked by another couch, But havent tested this location yet, waiting on a cable ordered it today, But would like to have a back up plan. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated as well as the goods and bads about doing this . This will be last thing holding me up in HT Room .. Thanks Again for any help

**hddummy** · **06-12-08, 05:25 AM**

In concept, people do put subwoofers in walls. The question is how are you going to execute it? What kind of sub are we talking about here? What is on the other side of the wall? How are you going to let the sound into the room and how are you going to seal off the box so the sound only enters the listening room?

**Chicago** · **06-12-08, 07:14 AM**

Quote:

hddummy wrote:

In concept, people do put subwoofers in walls. The question is how are you going to execute it? What kind of sub are we talking about here? What is on the other side of the wall? How are you going to let the sound into the room and how are you going to seal off the box so the sound only enters the listening room?

Ok the wall is L shaped, 2'x2' . The long part of the L is facing the viewing area,the short part of the L attachees to outside wall, so i guess you could say it U shaped, I built it so i could hide AV,DVD ,SATE. What i was thinking of doing was reframe it ,drywall, and possibly , insulate it even more if needed? The front of sub (grill) would be the only thing showing, in wich id hang like a painting over it (im thinking velcroed to keep rattiling down). The painting would be for lack of better term made out of like panty hose type material. The sub is front firing, and would face the viewing area off to left. Ok so the shape of the wall right now is a U, with the open part of the U facing away from viewing area, I could totally enclose,or box in and leave top open,or totally enclosed but have ports cut open in drywall. While typing this im leaning towards leaving the U open. Viewing area is left side of U, the TV is towards the bottom of the U around 8 feet away but on the outside wall, and the outside is the right side of U looking at your computer screen, open end of U is where all equipment is at. It would look good open because no one would really notice sub, grill side or the open side of the U................ Any comments,good or bad welcome, like i say this is the only thing holding me up, by the way the sub is 15", little big but was bought mainly for partying . Thanks for any help I think if some or all you guys say yeah do it , it will be very clean looking when finished , I am by no means a expert or even a novice at the A/V world.

**Rodny Alvarez** · **06-12-08, 07:30 AM**

Can you post some pictures of the room.

**Chicago** · **06-12-08, 07:38 AM**

Quote:

Rodny Alvarez wrote:

Can you post some pictures of the room.

Yes i Can ill do it now. If i can figure out how to put them in here. Ok here are 2 ,I couldnt get flash to turn off show there showing tons of glare and odd reflections. Where i put the tape would be the center of sub, I could raise it or lower it. As you can kinda see wife is READY FOR ME TO FINISH!!!! She is a decorator and wants all her () lol up ,and in the perfect spot. Sorry for the mess its ending soon

**Mike P.** · **06-12-08, 07:47 AM**

Even a line drawing of the room would be good.

**Chicago** · **06-12-08, 08:01 AM**

Quote:

Mike P. wrote:

Even a line drawing of the room would be good.

ill take one more showing the main part of room. Heres the viewing part of room. roughly 14x 20. When all cleaned up ill take better pics. Right now looks messy, but looks really good cleaned up . Off to left of Tv you can barely make out tape on wall where i would like to place sub in. P.S the sonys are going , being replaced by rti 6s for my rears. And my rti 150s are going in each corner L/R of fire place

**Mike P.** · **06-12-08, 09:41 AM**

Quote:

I was wondering if it was a good idea or bad idea to sink a sub into a wall?

I take that to mean you would build a sub cabinet and cut a hole in the wall so the box fits flush to the wall. Correct?

**Chicago** · **06-12-08, 09:45 AM**

Quote:

Mike P. wrote:

I take that to mean you would build a sub cabinet and cut a hole in the wall so the box fits flush to the wall. Correct?

Yes, I would just insert the whole sub cabinet into wall

**Mike P.** · **06-12-08, 09:58 AM**

Any reason why you want it ear level? Floor level would probably give better output due to the sub interacting with the room boundaries.

**Chicago** · **06-12-08, 10:15 AM**

Quote:

Mike P. wrote:

Any reason why you want it ear level? Floor level would probably give better output due to the sub interacting with the room boundaries.

Yes there is posted in original post , But wife hates it ,takes up too much room and really only one other spot i could put it and thats about 16-18 feet away from TV might be to far , And i ordered a long cable havent got it yet or tested that location looking for a back up plan
. this location would be 8 feet from the tape on wall. Oh i may have misunderstood you , yes i could lower it in the wall if thats what your asking? Thinking about that ,it maybe a better location. If you look you can actually see the top of sub in pictures (cherry). Would it work if it was lowered you think? Thanks for your comments and suggestions

**Mike P.** · **06-12-08, 10:36 AM**

Yes, I see the top of the sub. Move the sub to the wall where you want to install it and see how it sounds there. If it sounds ok, just cut an opening for the sub to slide into. You'll get more output from the sub sitting on the floor then you would from the sub being raised up to ear level.

**Chicago** · **06-12-08, 10:41 AM**

Quote:

Mike P. wrote:

Yes, I see the top of the sub. Move the sub to the wall where you want to install it and see how it sounds there. If it sounds ok, just cut an opening for the sub to slide into.

Yes , I have done that sounds ok but was originally thinking ,to raise it higher .Reason being there would be nothing in way of it, till sound hit the wall then bounced around . Do you think i should enclose the other side of wall ?, just were sub would be? im thinking it would be fine exsposed. I have no knowledge as far as sound,placement, etc etc So my thoughts could be way off base. Rather ask someone with some knowledge before i go cutting into wall and wife freaking and it sounds like if you know what i mean. Thanks for your suggestions Mike

**hddummy** · **06-12-08, 10:45 AM**

Yes, I believe he was talking about putting it in that location in the wall, just by the floor instead of by the tape. I think you will have no problem putting the sub in that location. Now that we see that it is really just a room feature and not an entirely different room, you don't have to worry about sound sealing and isolation. Is the sub ported or sealed? I just want to make sure that the port is front facing as well if that is the case. If it is rear facing, it still wouldn't be the end of the world since it is all the same air space...just not ideal. If it is rear facing, I would largely consider putting an air vent in the wall that is closest to the TV. You might consider that either way to help make the whole situation more acoustically transparent.

**Mike P.** · **06-12-08, 10:46 AM**

No reason to enclose the the other side of the wall unless for WAF reasons. It's better to have easy access to your sub in case you have to service it. (or upgrade)

**Chicago** · **06-12-08, 10:52 AM**

Quote:

hddummy wrote:

Yes, I believe he was talking about putting it in that location in the wall, just by the floor instead of by the tape. I think you will have no problem putting the sub in that location. Now that we see that it is really just a room feature and not an entirely different room, you don't have to worry about sound sealing and isolation. Is the sub ported or sealed? I just want to make sure that the port is front facing as well if that is the case. If it is rear facing, it still wouldn't be the end of the world since it is all the same air space...just not ideal. If it is rear facing, I would largely consider putting an air vent in the wall that is closest to the TV. You might consider that either way to help make the whole situation more acoustically transparent.

HD it has 2 ports in the back of it , not sure if i follow you but heres my take on what you said. The 2 ports are in back of sub so i should cut a whole in wall were glass table is ,then maybe put a heating grill over that to hide it? And hopefully that wont rattle. Thanks For your input HD

**Chicago** · **06-12-08, 10:53 AM**

Quote:

Mike P. wrote:

No reason to enclose the the other side of the wall unless for WAF reasons. It's better to have easy access to your sub in case you have to service it. (or upgrade)

AHHHH very true didnt think about service or upgrade Thanks. Hey in general what is WAF ?

**Mike P.** · **06-12-08, 10:56 AM**

WAF = Wife Acceptance Factor.

**Chicago** · **06-12-08, 11:07 AM**

Quote:

Mike P. wrote:

WAF = Wife Acceptance Factor.

THE WAF FACTOR WOULD BE VERY HIGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

**hddummy** · **06-12-08, 11:29 AM**

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Chicago wrote:

i should cut a whole in wall were glass table is ,then maybe put a heating grill over that to hide it? And hopefully that wont rattle. Thanks For your input HD

Yeah, that is what I had in mind. The low frequency sound coming from the ports will carry into the main listening area regardless, so it is really up to you. I just think it for sure won't hurt and I would feel better with it if it was my space. Use a lot of calk when you install the heating grills if you are worried about then rattling. Anyone else think it is a good/bad idea?

**hddummy** · **06-12-08, 11:41 AM**

And by the way....I'm pretty sure that little glass table is going to rattle pretty much no matter what you do being that close to a subwoofer.

I like the framed flat screen.

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