Bit of a bizarre question but what's the best way to reduce bass from a subwoofer?

[Brumboy]

Hi, I have the Samsung Q990C soundbar setup. It's great but (I know this will sound weird) the subwoofer is too powerful for my living situation (semi-detached house). I have literally turned every setting on the subwoofer to low and it's still powerful!

The subwoofer is next to the TV cabinet on a carpet. With a side wall a few inches away. I have bought a set of Acoustic Isolation Pads which I have just put beneath, on top, and on the side (so it's between the cabinet and sub) but it's really made no difference.

I was thinking to cut these pads and stick them inside the open end of the subwoofer. Would that be okay?

Thanks!

 

[Brumboy]

The problem isn't too much bass, the problem is boomy bass where it's peaky in the response. Do you have a method to measure and equalise the subwoofer? If the soundbar sub takes a regular RCA single input you could add a antimode

Although ALL bass will travel. The only way of not annoying the neighbours from bass is not to have a subwoofer at all. Or you buy a subwoofer that isn't a subwoofer, that the frequencies it plays is so high up it's more of a midrange speaker.

If you are plugging the ports on the sub that'll just effect sound and possibly damage the sub

It's all controlled via a Samsung application which does have quite a few bass related settings on there. But I have turned every single one of them down.

Yeah but I don't think I can connect another subwoofer to this setup as I have the soundbar (which has earc passthrough for the fire stick), 2 rear wireless speakers & the wireless subwoofer. It's a complete wireless set.

Ah right! May not block them then!

 

[Brumboy]

Two simple things
1. Move it out of any corner or recess into the open room as much as possible.
2. Open cell light foam plug in the port. Don't block the port with closed cell foam you may cause increased wear on the sub.

Placement is usually one of the biggest factors, the samsung sub should be wireless making moving it around a little easier.

Blocking the port with lightish open cell foam should be fine, My sub came with bungs of various weights as they are quite powerful and you can't always place them perfectly.

Amazon sell many loudspeaker port bungs, if you find rhe right size, give it a go.

1. Okay I wil try that
2. Sorry how do I actually insert this into the sub? Do I cut it into bits and place it so there are gaps between the foam?

Yeah I haven't tested the range but I have a few options for the placement so I will get testing.

Didn't know of these bungs, thanks for the information!

 

[Brumboy]

Ahh, just googling the Q990C I see the port is a weird shape, not just a 'round hole'..

Same principle applies, the port needs to have the foam effectively sealing it, so the air has to slow down going through the foam which effectively dampens it and stops that boominess..
So yeah, maybe cut carefully and taped/glued together, or maybe try some air filter foam pads which are rectangular so maybe easier to cut:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ramair-Filters-FOAMPADLRG-Universal-Large/dp/B078GPKK3Q

Thanks for the tips!

I've actually done this just with the pads I already bought, I used one, cut it up into circular shapes and stuck them around the port you see. I have moved the sub behind the sofa. Cranked everything down and it's made a massive difference. Enough where I can actually use it now (before I had it turned off..).

It sounds like I can even crank it up a few notches on the app so that's great!

To take it one step further, could I encase the sub in pads? like a makeshift foam case, I guess that would help more right

 

[Brumboy]

Cool I'll look into the above. It's definitely improved though with the steps already taken. Our living room is fairly large. The sub used to be next to the TV cabinet/projector screen. But now it's behind the sofa, so I think the sofa is playing a big part. We have thick carpet. I have put the spare pads under the sub as well. But behind the sub is the wall which is thin (leading to the kitchen). So I may need to put something between the sub and wall.

 

[Brumboy]

Does it have a "Night Mode"?

IME these really reduce the bass output and give you an easy option to get your bass back if the neighbour is on holiday, out for the evening etc.

It does but that basically reduces the bass to almost nothing I find? As in it's the same as turning the sub off. It also lowers the volume. Maybe there are a combo of settings I can try with night mode (treble/bass/volume of the rears etc)