2. speakers
  3. 131823-79517

Physics of downward firing woofers

Ok ... this question will show my complete lack of knowledge about physics ... but here goes anyway:

Every now and then I come across a speaker with a downward firing woofer. I wonder: why don't the sound waves bounce off the floor back towards the speaker, rattling the bejeezez out of it and / or messing up the woofer itself?

~Jim
128x128jimspov
hifiman5's avatar
hifiman5
1,611 posts
 
+1 @wolf_garcia  I liked the groupie vomit reference😲
wolf_garcia
4,650 posts
 
Trust me…you don't wanna know the details.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
7,068 posts
 
Downfiring is probably not a very good idea if you have carpeted floor. Unless I am terribly wrong.
I've never seen it make a difference. The Classic Audio Loudspeakers models T-1 and T-3 have down firing woofers. Somehow the bass sorts out how to get to your ears whether there is a carpet or not.

I think there is something to the height of the speaker off the floor, but my Fulton Premieres had down firing woofers and it was a lot closer to the floor than my CARs are. Overall the Fulton was less efficient, but I don't think that had anything to do with the woofers in particular.


soundsrealaudio's avatar
soundsrealaudio
642 posts
 
inna 

I just make a joke. I learned long ago at a motivational seminar that "there are no dumb questions" 

Not sure what motivations they were using. The only thing that motivates me know is a good night sleep. 
inna
5,245 posts
 
Ralph, did you remove the carpet to compare or move everything to identical room ?
More to discover