Speaker configuration

[Superman]

Currently, I have a 2.1 speaker set up. The sound is decent, but the way I have them set up now makes them sound like shit.

This is my new desk. It's up against a wall.



These are the speakers I'm using.



I've noticed that I can't get a great sound with the speakers on this new desk, and I'm sure it's because of the boxed-in type design. Currently I have the two speakers on both sides of the monitor. The sub is on the floor under the desk, but the sound bounces around in the under part of the desk, and it sounds muffled.

Yes, I am about to get better speakers. Granted it's only a 2.1 set up, but would the sub be better up high somewhere? On the desk next to the other two speakers? Should the speakers be moved? I've played around with the set up, but I know someone here knows a lot more about this than I. Any tips would be appreciated.

[CorSec]

Sounds like you've accidentally created a resonance chamber for the sub. I would recommend trying to place it on either side of the desk but not directly on the floor. What I've done in the past is use a small plank of wood with long screws drilled through it to act as feet/supports. I would also suggest placing the two desktop speakers so that they form the base of an equal sided triangle (one with you at the apex). In other words, as far apart from each other as you are from them.

There may also be some volume and or equalization tricks that can be used but I can't help without being there.

[Brother-Captain Gaius]

Yes, I am about to get better speakers. Granted it's only a 2.1 set up, but would the sub be better up high somewhere? On the desk next to the other two speakers? Should the speakers be moved? I've played around with the set up, but I know someone here knows a lot more about this than I. Any tips would be appreciated.

In a totally ideal situation, you probably want the sub in front of you, in the open (i.e., on the other side of the desk), and slightly to the right (or left),. Of course, most rooms and setups don't have space for this.

[Darth Wong]

That is not a true subwoofer. With a true subwoofer, you can't tell where it is if you close your eyes. You can't tell for sure that it's making any noise at all even if you're looking right at it.

With a shitty half-ass bass unit that is laughably referred to as a subwoofer by dishonest manufacturers, it will rattle and produce all sorts of higher-order harmonics and resonances, so you can tell where it is. If you want it to sound good, turn it down.

I'm not joking; most kiddies crank the crappy bass unit because they think that makes everything sound better. It doesn't. It simply throws the entire frequency response totally out of whack and makes everything sound ridiculous. As for the little midrange/treble speakers, they're going to be rattly too, but frankly, you're never going to get good sound of that crap anyway.

Seriously, just turn it down and balance the volume of the little speakers and the big one, rather than cranking the bass like some kid with his first ghetto blaster. Speakers like that sound fine as long as they're quiet and the bass is turned down, so you don't notice their glaring deficiencies and you don't overdrive their pathetic limits. The problem comes when people think they're real speakers, so they crank them. You don't crank shitty computer speakers any more than you take a Yugo on the race track.