What Is Subwoofer Alignment? (And Why It’s Important!)

In this video, you'll learn about subwoofer alignment and how to align a sound system. Nathan Lively from SubAligner shares a simple method for subwoofer alignment.
The Complete Guide to Measurement Microphone Placement for Subwoofer Alignment:
www.sounddesignlive.com/the-c...
SubAligner: www.subaligner.com/
Nathan Lively: / nathanlively
0:00 - Introduction
0:13 - What Is Subwoofer Alignment?
1:26 - How To Align Subs To Mains
7:57 - Choosing An Alignment Position
Book a one to one call:
audiouniversityonline.com/one...
Website: audiouniversityonline.com/
Facebook: / audiouniversityonline
Twitter: / audiouniversity
Instagram: / audiouniversity
Patreon: / audiouniversity
Gear Recommendations: kit.co/audiouniversity
#AudioUniversity
Disclaimer: This description contains affiliate links, which means that if you click them, I will receive a small commission at no cost to you.

[@leeboon2394]

Can’t believe this is free content, I came from a developing country and try really hard to learn these things to serve my company. Thank you from the bottom of my heart ❤️

[@TC_Conner]

I’m somewhat of an audiophile but after watching this I realized I need a lot more education on speaker placement, wavelength, and isosceles triangles!!

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks for watching, TCFilms! I'll try to create more content around these topics for you in the future. It's one of the most fascinating parts of audio, in my opinion! With matching speakers, time alignment is simple because the phase response of each speaker is identical - you just base the delay on the distance from the listener. The process shown in this video is useful for phase aligning subs to main speakers at the crossover frequency, because both distance and phase shift are at play.

[@TC_Conner]

@@AudioUniversity I'm still learning the ins and outs of home studio recording and do it only for myself right now. I have two KRK Rocket G4 5" monitors, and just got a KRK S8 G4 8" subwoofer. The sub is on the floor directlhy between my two monitors and out from them probably about 6 or 8 inches. My monitors are set at the height of my ears when sitting and they are 31" apart. The monitors sit directly in front of a wall, facing me of course, and are about 45" from my ears. The subwoofer has an input sensitivity switch: nominal and high. The user manual says nominal "works well with most studio recording applications." I tried both positions and you can really hear the bass when the switch is on "high," when it’s on "nominal" you have to turn the volume all the way up to hear good bass response. I find that kind of odd. I don't plan on mixing when it's set to "high," I'll put it there when I'm only listening and not mixing.

[@jimbrown9817]

‘Relative Absolute’ is priceless. Like ‘excess in moderation’ (or v/v). This is great information. You 2 have jaw-dropping brain power.

[@jlev505]

Great video. I’ve learned a lot about audio from this channel. Thank you for your time.

[@AudioUniversity]

Glad to help! Thanks for your support!

[@KJameson8]

I appreciate this video. However, I feel like this should be it's own series

[@nathanlively]

Here's a whole series on subwoofer alignment that might help: kzbin.info/aero/PLsfnoBcHUm20C8dNC4frpJ28oq_Lrkbad

[@KJameson8]

@@nathanlively Dope. Thank you kind sir

[@anandshah71]

Audio Univercity please make more content on such topics if possible for home application not concert. Mostly people have miniDSP or plate amps single or multi subs

[@ilia_amb]

Wow Amazing

[@turbo_bikini]

Thanks to the coding language of JAVA, here they are calculating these measurements via a machine language!

[@PaulGrayUK]

Oh to have an audio camera linked to a VR headset so you could see the sound, a 3D real-time spectral visualization overview. Life would be so much easier. SIde question - any suggestions for recording sub-base sound? Had some results putting the microphone in a large cardboard box (yes a more solid box be ideal) and thinking of a subwoofer cabinet but in reverse with a microphone where you would have the speaker. But any suggestions be welcome. Using a Zoom H4n field recorder, limited budget. Also been working on a design for balanced contact microphones and thinking of a drum skin with the contact microphone attached, with the drum skin surface as large as possible. Trying to track down a 100hz(and below) noise that is resonating in my bedroom at night. Had some success, but any suggestions would be greatly appreciated by my sleep.

[@corymarcotte5853]

Really enjoyed this, all be more for commercial setups. I’ve recently read an article about subs in a home environment. According to it you want to place your subs on the same level as your mains. Guess that’s what he was talking about with phase. Anyways, I’m looking at putting together an orb speaker setup with this in mind. Should b interesting. Excellent information known the less.

[@nathanlively]

Hi Cory! > more for commercial setups. As opposed to residential? Hmm, I'm not sure why. I don't work in residential audio, but it seems like the physics would be the same. Where do you find the contrast? > subs on the same level as your mains. As in magnitude, physical placement, or something else? > orb speaker setup Woah, what's that? Do you have a photo?

[@AudioUniversity]

Thanks for the comment, Cory. I'm glad you enjoyed the video! While it's more common for commercial systems to be more carefully tuned, this process can be applied to any system where you want optimal results.

[@corymarcotte5853]

@@nathanlively Thank you for the reply Nathan. So first let me say that I'm not at all as knowledgable as you. The physics are more than likely the same, more or less. I'm thinking that space could be an issue. Looking at the diagram one can see two sources. the mains on the top and the sub down below. As subs create such long waves, interact at close range could create a problem. I guess that would be the phase thing. The idea of having the subs on the same level should negate these problems. Basically the sound waves would be coming from the same location. Orbs is a speaker company. They make 4" point source speakers and a mini sub. The setup I'm thinking about is using two of their mini subs on both sides of the tv at ear level with a set orbs on the sides. Effectively creating the sound wave from the same point. I've noticed other company's doing this kind of setup. GR Research and Magnepan being good examples. But hey, i'll own that i could be out to lunch on this. Thanks again for your response.

[@nathanlively]

@@corymarcotte5853 I really don't know anything about residential sound. I'm just trying to better understand your thinking. > The idea of having the subs on the same level should negate these problems. See 5:38 in the video. Very few speakers are design to be phase compatible out of the box, even when they are "at the same level" as you say. Best to verify this yourself or check with the manufacturer.

[@debydean]

Great video! How about the placement of Left and Right subs. They sometime seems to cancel each other in front of the stage. Is there anyway to overcome such issue?

[@AudioUniversity]

Great point! I’m interested to hear Nathan’s thoughts on this question. I’ve seen this problem addressed by using a subwoofer array across the front of the stage or a center cluster of subs rather than two distinct stacks.

[@milanof8841]

@@AudioUniversity :)

[@wwlittlejOfficial]

After reading the guide, I went outside and built a truck.

[@keplerkangroo8715]

Hi, I've watched some of your videos because there is a sound art installation I want to create and I am wondering if it is possible to create a setup with 26 channels of audio going out to 26 different speakers?

[@sommerTON]

Thank you for this video. At 6:05, what are the units of speed of sound and distance? (km/h and meter perhaps?)

[@AudioUniversity]

The speed of sound varies according to different environmental factors. In this example, 1130 fps (feet per second) is used. Just make sure to use the same units for your distance measurements. 343 m/sec is a rough estimation of metric speed of sound.

[@noreaction1]

I was unsubscribed to this KZbin channel and only remembered to watch when a video showed up in my recommended videos

[@AudioUniversity]

I hope I earned back your subscription, noreaction! Thanks for watching.

[@noreaction1]

@@AudioUniversity my point is that I never unsubscribed, and only realized I was unsubscribed when your videos showed up in my recommended videos

[@Swdp3132]

Can you share me something about the setting with crown 6002, JBL SRX815, STX818 with cross over234xs

[@TheGameCamer360]

Will you be adding rcf ttl33a and ttl36a?

[@jonepomuk]

I wish you’d laid out the basics a bit in that video as you usually do. It’s still interesting but it leaves me with quite a few questionmarks. Is this only for this specific arrangement of speakers? You only mention 100hz, what about other frequencies?

[@AudioUniversity]

That’s right. You will generally aim to phase align the speakers at the crossover frequency.

[@Swdp3132]

Great👍

[@nathanlively]

Hi Jonepomuk! > Is this only for this specific arrangement of speakers? No. The beauty of this method is that it will work with any arrangement. > You only mention 100hz, what about other frequencies? In the demo we look at a 1/3 octave region around 100Hz because that is the center of the frequency range where the main and sub hold joint custody. When you develop your own alignment presets I recommend that you look at the most critical ranges where magnitude relationships are within 10dB of each other.

[@jonepomuk]

Thanks!

[@adi.sax.ardelean]

Hello! my system consists of a dynacord xa column consisting of 2 horn bases and a long top trow placed on top of each other without a suspension system and on the left and right side of the column I use 2 fullrange satellites at a distance of 10 ft from each other in line. Do you think they need any delay adjustment to the bass if they are placed in the column? thanks

[@AudioUniversity]

The delay that is needed for each speaker will depend on the alignment position (where do you want it to sound best?) and the phase relationship between the speakers (is an initial alignment preset required even when the speakers are coplanar?).

[@adi.sax.ardelean]

Ok! Thank you! 👍

[@nathanlively]

Hey ADI, best to consult the manufacturer on this. And or, if you'd like to take some measurements and share them here, we can take a look.

[@MadnessMadness-zl4pu]

If I put 4 single 18" subwoofers in the center at a distance of 1.5 m or 2 m between them, will they connect?

[@alexanderhlebino]

is this about the placement of my krk rokits as well? i do have the feeling at sessions they sound very odd even though i have them for 2 weeks

[@AudioUniversity]

If you’re using a pair of identical speakers, aim to place them the same distance from the listening position. Using delay is helpful when phase aligning speakers with different phase response and/or when speakers can’t be equally spaced from the listening position. Check out this video for help setting up your monitors: kzbin.info/www/bejne/qmGVdp-fjcurgdE

[@alexanderhlebino]

@@AudioUniversity thank you mate

[@donaldbundy3499]

Interesting, I've heard the term relative absolute before and watch an engineer make processor adjustments prior to and during a show. One thing that always changes during a show is temp and humidity. Which will affect speed and propagation of sound. For instance has anyone ever experienced a show starting out great and gradually end up with some undesired anomality near the end of the show? Or perhaps start a show with good sound and later the sound magically gets even better. And beer consumption has nothing to do with. Unless you're working a large room with effective HVAC, it has to be difficult to do. I'll admit my approach is not perfect but I guesstimate (I don't do math) speaker placement and sub delay as best as i can and as the show progresses, I may tweak the sub time delay. But without actually knowing the numbers it's hit and miss. So this app may be an excellent way to compensate more accurately and predictably over the duration of a show. Thanks for sharing.

[@majahanson311]

If it's a live music show, I feel like that degradation as the show goes on is much more likely to be due to the musicians fighting for "more me" by doing things like turning up their amps.

[@bobstaurovsky3506]

The so called “CHURCH EXPERTS” need to not only watch this but to go to school and learn all the things they are doing wrong, I have tried to teach them but they all claim they are experts, LOL 😆 !!!

[@kuriakos36]

Buddy can i tell you the metres of my subs from myy listening position and tell me what time alignment put in my receiver please?? Actually what feet to put