| We all know what bass can do to a movie | | | | that the signal received from the amplifier |
| soundtrack. It can create drama, danger, even | | | | receiver is enhanced by the subwoofer itself, |
| a feeling of strength depending on the | | | | without taking any of the power from the |
| visuals that go along with it. Bass is one of | | | | other speakers. Once you have your home |
| the most important elements of any audio | | | | theater subwoofer and other speakers picked |
| format because it provides balance and | | | | out, lay them out to get the best sound from |
| contrast to the overall score of a movie, | | | | each. Bass sound is omni-directional, meaning |
| television show, even commercial. Quality | | | | that it goes out from the speaker in all |
| bass in a sound system is impressive while | | | | direction. To decide where to place the |
| not being overpowering. In a 5.1 surround | | | | subwoofer, put it in the same position that |
| sound system, one of the most common for home | | | | you will be sitting in, whether it is on the |
| theater installations, the '.1' is the bass. | | | | couch facing the television screen or in a |
| The speaker for the bass sounds on a | | | | home theater chair. Turn on a favorite film |
| soundtrack is called a subwoofer. Lower | | | | then move around your room and listen. Find |
| frequency sound waves use a larger diaphragm | | | | the spot that the bass sounds best and move |
| to move the amount of air it takes to make | | | | your subwoofer to that location. It can be |
| these sounds. While smaller speakers can | | | | set on the ground, on a shelf or off of a |
| produce these lower frequency waves, they | | | | wall depending on where you feel the best low |
| typically cannot produce the kind of quality | | | | tone sound is heard. Since the sounds are |
| that one would expect from a quality theater. | | | | going out and bouncing around the room in |
| Smaller speakers can often sound tinny when | | | | roughly the same direction, the sound should |
| trying to produce these lower sounds. Large | | | | be great when you get it into place. We've |
| home theatre speaker towers are capable of | | | | all heard the laments of mothers and fathers |
| handling this part of the soundtrack though | | | | forced to deal with the incessant thumping |
| it may require the reduction of sound quality | | | | and pounding of boom box bass lines from |
| from the mid and high range frequency | | | | their adolescent's car or room. There is |
| speakers. Choosing a good sound system with a | | | | something to say for the potential for this |
| quality bass speaker is not impossible, even | | | | phenomenon to occur in a home theater as |
| for people who do not have a lot of | | | | well. While walls, ceiling and floor will |
| experience. First, start with the subwoofer. | | | | generally block high sound frequencies from |
| Homeowners will need to consider whether they | | | | leaving the room, they can actually increase |
| require a passive sub or an active woofer. A | | | | the volume of the lower range sounds. While |
| passive subwoofer does not need a separate | | | | laying out your speakers, try to also find |
| power supply. Rather it uses power from the | | | | the right volume balance for all frequencies |
| same amp that is driving the other home | | | | that your family can enjoy the sound quality |
| theatre speakers. Volume from the amplifier | | | | a bass can provide without driving your |
| can usually be controlled, there is less | | | | neighbors crazy. ~Ben Anton, 2008 |
| control overall with a passive sub. An active | | | | |
| sub has a separate power supply. This means | | | | Ben Anton lives in Portland, OR. |