Compact wireless speakers are great, but most of them are limited to mono sound. And for immersive sound, home theatre systems are available but they are cumbersome to install, set up, and configure.
This is where a subwoofer and soundbar combo comes into the picture. A subwoofer with a soundbar is compact enough to fit into any entertainment space in the house and powerful enough to ensure an immersive audio experience.
But where to place a subwoofer with a soundbar so that you find the sweet spot between a clutter-free look and immersive audio? For a hassle-free setup, we recommend placing the soundbar in front of the TV and the subwoofer on the side. (Please refer to the image below)
Image credit: Sony
There’s more you can do with subwoofer and soundbar placement
Of course, there is no denying the fact that you can go with the configuration of placing the soundbar in the front and the subwoofer at the side. In fact, this is the configuration that many audio companies, such as Samsung, recommend.
Source: Samsung
However, there is no such rule that you have to stick with this configuration. You definitely can get creative and experiment with different placements in order to achieve an immersive listening experience of your preference.
Where to place subwoofer with soundbar: 4 placement ideas
Check out the four easy placement ideas we have compiled in order to help you get the most out of a subwoofer and soundbar combo configuration:
1. Soundbar on the center and subwoofer on the free side
If you want to balance the mid-range audio of the soundbar and the bass of the subwoofer, you can go for this configuration.
Step 1: Place the soundbar on the front and center of the TV.
Image credit: Bose
Step 2: Place the subwoofer on the free side of the TV where there’s no wall or furniture that may restrict the even distribution of the bass frequencies of the subwoofer.
Image credit: Bose
2. Soundbar on the center and subwoofer on the side and front
If you want the bass frequencies of the subwoofer to take charge over the mid-range frequencies of the soundbar for bass-rich audio performance, place your subwoofer and soundbar combo in this configuration:
Step 1: Place the soundbar on the front and center of the TV.
Image credit: Bose
Step 2: Place the subwoofer on the front of the original side placement. This diagonal placement of the subwoofer will help you experience more bass frequencies which will make the overall audio experience more bass-rich.
Image credit: Bose
3. Soundbar on the center and subwoofer on the corner wall side
If you prefer overpowering bass for dynamic and power-packed entertainment, you cannot go wrong with this subwoofer and soundbar placement:
Step 1: Place the soundbar on the front and center of the TV.
Image credit: Bose
Step 2: Unlike in the first two configurations, place the subwoofer on the corner wall where there’s a convergence of the side and back wall.
The restrictions from the side and back walls allow the bass frequencies to ricochet to the front (presumably on the seating area).
Image credit: Bose
4. Soundbar on the center and subwoofer on front of the corner wall
If you prefer a powerful bass performance but do not want all of the bass frequencies to be overpowering enough to overlap the mid-range frequencies, we recommend trying out this configuration:
Step 1: Place the soundbar on the front and center of the TV.
Image credit: Bose
Step 2: Place the subwoofer on the corner wall. But this time around, position the subwoofer in front of the TV or the overall TV cabinet.
Bringing the subwoofer to the front lowers the intensity of the base frequency ricochet which, in turn, lowers the overall punch of the bass.
Image credit: Bose
Pairing soundbar with subwoofer and additional surround sound speakers
Pairing a soundbar with a dynamic subwoofer is great for good overall audio performance and uncompromised compactness. However, many people prefer to add extra stereo speakers in order to experience a truly immersive surround sound.
Image credit: Dolby
If you are planning to join this bandwagon, it’s important that you get the configuration right. Most stereo speakers these days are equipped with Dolby Atmos surround sound features.
We recommend checking out this definitive guide from Dolby that explains in detail how to set up a soundbar paired with a subwoofer and additional speakers for Dolby Atmos at home.
General factors to consider
There is no denying the fact that we all are familiar with soundbars, subwoofers, stereo speakers, and home theatre systems in general.
However, in many cases, we often tend to overlook minor factors that can make or break the audio experience we are looking forward to achieving.
We recommend considering some of these general factors in order to get your subwoofer and soundbar placement right:
- Place the soundbar on the same height as the seat
It’s important to make sure that you place the soundbar on the same height as the sofa where you and other people will be seated.
Taking the step will help you avoid the loss of mid-range frequencies that are crucial to articulate audio performance.
Image credit: Dolby
- Avoid placing soundbar with up-firing speakers under the TV
If your soundbar has a pair of up-firing speakers, it’s important to make sure that you do not place the soundbar under the TV or inside the TV cabinet.
Doing this will restrict the mid-range frequencies from traveling in a vertical direction that is intended for vertical surround sound.
Image credit: Sony
- Avoid keeping the soundbar in dusty areas
Almost all soundbars have many small-sized mesh grilles for transmitting sound from the speakers.
As such, it is important to avoid keeping the soundbar in dusty areas to prevent dust from clogging the mesh grilles.
Image credit: Linus Tech Tips
- Get the connections at the TV right
In many cases, people often chalk it up to incorrect connections at the soundbar, subwoofer, or additional speakers when they don’t hear audio.
However, the one area that is overlooked is connections at the TV. Make sure that all the connections of the sound system are correct at the end of the TV, including HDMI connections.
Image credit: All About Home Electronics
How far should my subwoofer be from my soundbar?
Depending on the length of the audio cable, it is recommended to place the subwoofer at least 10 feet away from the soundbar.
However, if you have a Bluetooth/wireless subwoofer, then you can experiment with the distance in order to achieve a good balance between bass and midrange frequencies.
What is the best location for a subwoofer?
For many people, the configuration of the subwoofer on the side of the TV and the soundbar on the front of the TV definitely works.
However, you can get creative and experiment with different configurations in order to achieve the audio performance of your preference.
Should a subwoofer be on the floor?
There is no rule that you should place the subwoofer on the floor. At the same time, it’s not necessary to place the subwoofer on the TV cabinet or any other elevated surface if you do not prefer overpowering bass.
Can you place a subwoofer behind you?
Absolutely. If you prefer thumping bass from behind you, you can definitely place the subwoofer behind your sofa or chair while placing the soundbar in front of the TV.
