Down Firing Vs Front Firing Subwoofer, Which Is Better?

One of our viewers asked: Which is better, a front firing subwoofer or a down firing sub? Chief Product Officer Andrew Welker hasn't covered this before, so it seemed like the perfect video topic. Like the answer to many a relationship status: it's complicated.

Bass information is the trickiest to reproduce accurately in a room. It is dependent on your room size, dimension ratio, damping, construction and more. As is often the case, there is no easy answer to "Which Is Better Down Firing Vs Front Firing Sub"? There are things that can be taken into account, understanding the way subwoofers work, and some likely scenarios.

What has been your experience with using forward firing or downward firing subs? As always, we look forward to hearing you share your thoughts and to answering your questions.

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[Xtian]

I have both, and you're correct about frontfiring being easier to blend with small speakers but a downfiring sub packs a bit more spectacle with real low frequency by actually making the floor move under you.

[citizengkar]

I found this video, researching a DIY home theatre subwoofer build project, to supplement my Klipsch R-8SW sub.
I have seen a few of your videos, previously. I have to say, I really like your presentation style: you are to the point, on topic, & with clear explanations. Thanks.
You deserve way more subs (excuse the pun), than you have.

[markwilson]

Absolutely brilliant, comprehensive and detailed overview of this very tricky topic/decision process. You've possibly addressed this in the most digestible way, even for a newcomer.

Tie this video to a crossover educational video and you'll have the makings of a very seriously lacking, educational aspect of these seemingly simple and nuanced topics. Great job as always and thank you for sharing your knowledge and experiences with us.

[ofcourseimfullofit]

I use dual bottom firing subs. One in the front left of my living room and one in the right rear. I set my 5 bookself size speakers to large in the settings. I love the crispness of the sound I get.

[fredmccarroll]

I have a Klipsch Synergy 7.1 Surround Sound speaker system. My sub is the Klipsch SW-450, which is downfiring. My flooring is a real hardwood floor. So for my sub I placed a towel under it and raised it off the floor with bricks under each leg of the sub. I also covered the bricks with cloth and hard foam. I also performed the subwoofer crawl. I consider my room size sort of small to medium (15 ft. wide by 21 feet length, ceiling height 7.5 ft.)

[bruceheiman]

Thanks, Andrew for answering this question. I would add that some people consider "Bookshelf" speakers distinct from "stand-mounted, " and sometimes (as an exception to the general rule) the latter might extend a fair bit lower than true bookshelf-sized speakers. For example, my stand-mounted speakers claim to reach down to 42Hz prior to any low freq. rolloff, placing them more into the category of floor standers (i.e., full range speakers). In this case I would be ore comfortable with a down-firing sub.

[franklynlindsay]

Great Video, yes that's a very tricky question & you're right there's no one answer & sometimes it just comes down to personal preference. I've a combination of both downfiring & forward firing subs in the main living area. I've a 7.2.4 home theater setup, I'm currently running the Denon 3800H Receiver with the Emotiva BasX A5 power amplifier & all Klipsch Speakers (4) rp-280f
(1) rp-404c (4) rp-500sa (2) rp250s (1) spl-120 (1) r-8sw, But in my bedroom I've a 5.1 set up with a down firing sub. I've always loved down firing subwoofers they just hit differently if you know what I mean

[proactivesaver]

Thanks for the very clear explanation.

[liammcgough]

I actually had a infinity 12'' down firing sub woofer that worked great with two Yamaha concert series book shelf speakers. I didn't have the center channel speaker connected. I used the Auvio wireless system to send the signal from my TV to the sub woofer, than hard wired the two book shelf speakers from the sub woofers output jacks.

[haroldbrooks]

Thanks, you've answered everything I needed to know

[keithrobertson]

Thank you sir for the tips, they are very helpful.

[davidoo]

Down firing subs are a must when the neighbors below your apartment are noisy jerks

[ayokay]

Couldn't agree more! For us high rise dwellers, downward firing subs are an anathema to our downstairs neighbors. :( On a different note, I wonder if over the years, the suspension of down firing drivers might cause sag compared to forward firing drivers.

[sjbenes]

Great video as always. I've had this same question for a long time. It seems that years ago when home theater was pretty new, down firing was the majority, now that seems to have flipped. I have a Hsu Research sub that I bought years ago. I absolutely love the thing. My theater/stereo system is in what I would call a "small, medium sized room" with a suspended wood frame floor with carpeting (over a basement), and wood framed walls with drywall. It pairs very well with my M80s. What you say about "bookshelf" speakers makes perfect sense. If you are depending on the subwoofer to deliver a portion of the total frequency range above the normal subwoofer level, I can totally see where you would want a front firing sub for that. If I was in the market for a sub, I would try to audition both styles, but I have no complaints with the Hsu.

I will also add that I have a home theater/stereo setup in the basement as well and it has a front firing JBL sub, with my Mirage FRX-7s. Nothing fancy about the sub, but I do notice clear well defined bass in the room and I always wondered if it was because the floor was carpeted over concrete, if the firing direction was responsible for that amount of bass in the room. No floor loading down there I'm sure.

[scottivlow]

Hi Andrew I'm really grateful at the time you made this video.
This video showed up in my homepage after watching the DTS disappearing video after 10:20 on 11/3.
I have 2 Vizio 6" down firing subwoofers that put out amazing bass sound on my carpeted 2nd floor wooden flooring. You want to know what is super cool ? When I'm watching movies with high volume when my subs go full active that sound doesn't resonate so low to bother my neighbors from across the hall or down stair neighbors with bass overload. Most of it stays in my room. I can hear it in the hallway but I don't keep the setting at high volume that in the hallway it isn't so loud that it is bothering anybody else. I never got a complaint with any low bass or vibrations.
I disagree on the issue with one versus other when it comes to subwoofers and bookshelf speakers.
Down firing subwoofers come with some Soundbars and some also have basic satellite speakers too.
On Soundbars you can adjust adjust bass and treble and you can adjust levels to the speakers.
I have 2 Insignia 2 way bookshelf speakers that are connected to sub. All of my speakers are in balance on every setting except for my height channels that I set to a higher level. My 2 small size bookshelf speakers connected to my Vizio 5.1 ( via the sub )sound bar connected by a fiber optical cable to the TV they are very compatible. My subs do the primary bass along with the subs on the 9 speaker sound bar and the bookshelf speakers only puts out other bass when it's being told to do it. Dolby True HD and DTS X works. If I don't hear bass from the loudspeakers then I know it's not the speakers fault. I believe my Vizio TV is only telling the subs what sounds to produce to the satellite speakers.
It's up to the user to make the subwoofer and bookshelf speakers work together and down firing can be adjusted for an excellent Dolby Atmos experience.
My next speaker purchase is 3 way bookshelf speakers that I want to upgrade to from my Aiwa 1 way speakers.
Listen, you're not wrong at all you're coming from a point of view from the amplifier hook up from a receiver and a calibrated front firing in phase subwoofer.
My point is the subwoofer to a sound bar, to a TV that is so easily gets all speakers to be in phase throughout the 5.1 system is testament to how well Vizio engineers designed the system to be compatible to work together.
I think what you're referring to is front firing subs need to be calibrated and sound bar sets with a 5.1 set up just need to be only adjusted to the listening pleasure of the owner that is best for them.
For people that buy a Complete sound bar set up with down firing sub this video doesn't help for the skimpy one way satellite speaker upgrade to a 2 way or 3 way bookshelf speaker set up with down firing sub included.
Maybe you were also on to something at the time. As great as my Insignia 2 way speakers are at unlocking more sound that I don't hear from my other satellites maybe from that myth down firing subwoofers and loudspeaker bass don't go together maybe that is why the soundbar manufactures cheap out by including 1 way speaker satellites because they want to speakers never to have much bass so beginner never has a clue that what they truely missing from loud speakers.

[jamesbenot]

Insightful. Informative. I liked this.

[AP-goks]

HSU Research's brand new TN1 subwoofer takes the best of both worlds - front facing subwoofer, but the ports are now down firing to get floor coupling

[glglmike]

My JBL bar 800 makes the floor shake and I love that when I'm watching movies

[northvr_gt]

I just built a Down-firing subwoofer kit and I am going to hook them up with Bookshelf speakers that I also made, am hoping it will sound good

[Samitocas]

Like always Andrew, fantastic presentation. You sure remember the OM 6 subwoofer was side-firing, and sometime after the Speakers replacement of the OM 6 was the OM 5 with a front-firing subwoofer, so my question is what is the main difference or advantage of designing a side-firing subwoofer compared to side-firing