front firing vs side firing woofers

I believe the answer is yes, side firing woofers can slam as well as front firing woofers. It's just a matter of speaker design. Since I've heard good/bad subwoofers with front firing, side firing, rear firing, down firing woofers, I'd have to think the design, specifically in the crossover and driver selection, has more to do with the sound than the direction the woofer is firing.

John

Well, the direction the woofer is firing has significance only in relation to room boundaries and their proximity. A side-firing woofer within a foot or two of a side wall (or a large cabinet) will be affected by that boundary. Otherwise, no.

Kal

I think slam is more of an mid-upper bass thing (80hz-120hz) or maybe even higher sometimes. Below 80hz is mostly shudder and room lock type of bass.

The 1/4 wavelength for these freq's (80-120hz) are shorter than the lower bass wavelengths so are fairly close to the walls. 1/4...3/4...5/4..ect are null points so cancel bass.

Try moving your speaker (or your chair) farther away from the walls...one or both may be placed at a null point.

For instance, the 1/4 wavelength point (null) for 100hz is at 2'10" from the wall.

Pick up a SPL meter

Dave

It's the speaker and room acustics. Side fireing given the same woofer and quality tend to feel a bit slower and sharp than front fireing but if you are loosing sound in a frequency range it probably has more to do with position and the room. If your speaker has a crossover try adjusting that.