Where to Place Subwoofer with Soundbar: Subwoofer Placement

If you have a soundbar and want to add a subwoofer to it, it’s necessary to know where to add it. A subwoofer plays an important role in a soundbar. It enhances low-pitched audio and produces a great bass. And it is very important for a great sound system. So, how are you going to place a subwoofer with a soundbar?

Well, it all depends on your subwoofer and your room. According to your subwoofer and your room, you need to place the subwoofer with your soundbar. Often, subwoofers are kept in front of the room or a front corner. But you need to test it out from where the sound comes better.

Many questions may arise in your mind. For example, if you have a big or small, what should you do? If your subwoofer is wireless or wired, how are you going to place it? If you want to clarify these questions, then stay tuned.

Where Should You Put Your Subwoofer for My Soundbar?

Different persons may have different choices. When it comes to finding out the best place for your subwoofer, you may have many ideas to place it with your soundbar. The placement you are looking for it may not be the same for the other person. So, you need always to prioritize your room and your subwoofer when it comes to placing your subwoofer with your soundbar. You can follow popular placements, which are a nice starting point.

Popular Subwoofer Placements for Soundbars

Place Subwoofer with Soundbar

Often, subwoofers are placed in the front of the room because the front of the room is an ideal location to place a subwoofer. If you don’t find any good place, you can start with the front of the room.

If you start with the front of the room, you can place the subwoofer next to your TV. Then test out which side of the TV the sounds come better, left or right.

Many households place the subwoofer at a corner in the front of the room, and it is a popular placement. You have to keep in mind that your seating is far away from the corner. The benefit of corner placement is it increases the subwoofer sound. If you like an enhanced sound, then it will be a better option for you. If you have a large subwoofer, then corner placement is a better option for you.

You have to always keep in mind that if you want to place your subwoofer at a corner or on a wall, your subwoofer needs at least six inches from the wall to sound properly.

Subwoofer Placement for Your Room

Room size plays an important role to place your subwoofer with your soundbar. If you have a big room, you have many options to place it, but you have to find the best place to fit it if you have a small room.

Your seating also plays a huge role in your subwoofer placement to the soundbar. If you have rows of seating, then the front of the room may not be the best placement for your subwoofer cause, in that case, only the front row will get the perfect sound. So, it would be better to change your room seating. You need to find the best spot for your seating so that everyone can enjoy the sound. It would be best if you found it out by sitting in different seats and listening to your subwoofer.

If your subwoofer is in the living room, you would like to maintain the style of the room. You would like to place your subwoofer in a different place. If it is a dedicated home theater room, then you can place the subwoofer. It will be supple.

Understanding the Subwoofer That Goes with Your Soundbar

Controlling Soundbars with Universal Remotes

Is your subwoofer wired or wireless? If your subwoofer is wired, you would like to cover your wiring. Besides, it won’t be able to go as far as a wireless subwoofer from the soundbar. On the contrary, a wireless subwoofer provides a wide range of different placements. You can place it on a shelf, on the floor, on the entertainment center, etc.

What kind of subwoofer you have? A compact one or a large one? You may be thinking of buying a large subwoofer for your large room to make sure that it fills out the room fully. But you need to always remember that not taking away from the viewing enjoyment; the placement needs to be strategic. On the other hand, you can place a compact subwoofer in different places. You need to test it out from where the sound comes better.

Suppose you have a large room; you may be thinking of buying two subwoofers. So, you can place them on both sides of the room or next to the TV or a short distance from it or in front of the TV on both sides.

How Far Can Subwoofer Be from Soundbar?

Where to Place Subwoofer with Soundbar

The answer to the question is simple. It depends on your subwoofer, whether it is wired or wireless. If you have a wired subwoofer, in that case, you can go as far away as the wire of the subwoofer allows. But in the case of having a wireless subwoofer, you can go as far away as you want. If you have 2.1 and 3.1 setups, you need to place them close together to achieve the best sound. Most subwoofers in the market have a range of about 30 feet or more than 30 feet.

Can I Put Subwoofer in Cabinet?

You already know that the best place for a subwoofer is in front of the room. You may be thinking of placing it inside a cabinet. But it is a bad idea to place it in a cabinet. If there is a breathable material in front of the subwoofer, you can place it in a cabinet.

Additionally, subwoofers won’t sound good if you place them in a cabinet. The sound will be stuck inside the cabinet or may create unnecessary vibrations which you won’t like.

You should always remember that you can’t place technologies in a small enclosed place. To make your technologies last long, you need to place them in spaces so that they can function properly and breathe. It is the same case for the subwoofers.

How to Choose the Right Subwoofer for your Soundbar?

Right Subwoofer

Which subwoofer would you choose? It depends on your soundbar, current additional speakers, personal preferences, and your room setup.

If you have a soundbar like the Bose SoundTouch 300, you will be limited to a certain number of options for subwoofers. The Bose SoundTouch 300 is compatible with an Acoustimass subwoofer. Some subwoofers are compatible with any subwoofer. You need always to remember that almost all soundbars only compatible with one subwoofer, which is included with the subwoofer.

You may choose a compact subwoofer additionally to your soundbar’s internal speakers if you have compact speakers. It will be perfect for a small room. If your soundbar is in the living room, it will maintain an aesthetic to the room.

In case of having a large room, you may want to buy a large subwoofer. Having a large subwoofer doesn’t mean it will fix in your large room. But many times, it does. But you need to ensure the power of the subwoofer according to your room size.

Will your subwoofer connect to your soundbar via wiring or wirelessly? It depends on your preferences and your soundbar’s capability. If your soundbar is capable of a wireless subwoofer, you are good to buy a wireless subwoofer.

Additional Components to Add After Subwoofer

If you are a sound lover, you may want to add better sound even after adding a subwoofer. If your soundbar is compatible, you should add rear speakers besides your front speakers and the subwoofers.

Rear speakers make your sound system to a 5.1 system from a 2.1 or 3.1 system. It will provide you a surround sound system. Rear speakers will help you to fill the room with sound, and you will find more enjoyable sound.

-our editorial board has reviewed this article and has been approved for publication according to our editorial policy.

Best Seller List of Soundbar with Subwoofer:

SaleBestseller No. 1
3,013 Reviews
VIZIO 2.1 Home Theater Sound Bar with DTS Virtual:X, Wireless Subwoofer, Bluetooth, Voice Assistant...
  • America's #1 Sound Bar* - VIZIO has been filling homes with truly immersive audio for over 10 years, and our sound bars just keep getting better. We are proud to provide our customers with top-tier audio products that bring movies, shows, podcasts, music, and more to life like never before. (*#1 Sound Bar Brand in 1H 2022 Source: The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service, U.S., based on units, Jan. - June 2022 combined.)
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VIZIO V-Series 5.1 Home Theater Sound Bar with Dolby Audio, Bluetooth, Wireless Subwoofer, Voice...
  • America's #1 Sound Bar* - VIZIO has been filling homes with truly immersive audio for over 10 years, and our sound bars just keep getting better. We are proud to provide our customers with top-tier audio products that bring movies, shows, podcasts, music, and more to life like never before. (*#1 Sound Bar Brand in 1H 2022 Source: The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service, U.S., based on units, Jan. - June 2022 combined.)
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  • DTS Virtual:X - Enhances any content with room-filling, floor-to-ceiling virtualized 3D sound.
  • 5” Wireless Subwoofer - Place the wireless subwoofer anywhere in the room to add deep booming bass.
SaleBestseller No. 3
Polk Audio Signa S2 Ultra-Slim TV Sound Bar | Works with 4K & HD TVs | Wireless Subwoofer | Includes...
  • A PREMIUM ULTRA-SLIM SOUND BAR WITH INCLUDED WIRELESS SUBWOOFER – 5 powerful full-range drivers deliver BEAUTFUL RICH SOUND WITH DEEP BASS. POLK’S EXCLUSIVE VOICE ADJUST TECHNOLOGY & Dolby Digital Decoding maximizes sound clarity & reduces voice delays.Mounting Type: Tv Sound Bar,Bar Mount
  • EXCELLENT SOUND AND VALUE on par with any mid- to high-range sound bars available in the market. At just over 2" tall, it fits most spaces — easily wall-mount it or place in front of your TV. It won’t block your TV’s bottom edge or IR remote sensor
  • UPGRADE YOUR HOME THEATER EXPERIENCE – Watch your favorite shows on your 4K HD Smart TV with exceptional picture quality & crystal clear sound. With numerous connection possibilities, plug in any audio source via HDMI ARC, optical input & AUX
  • WIRELESSLY STREAM MUSIC from your favorite streaming apps like Pandora, Spotify, TuneIn, and others directly from your smartphone, tablet or other compatible device through the built-in Bluetooth technology
  • SET UP YOUR SOUND BAR IN MINUTES — With the included subwoofer, HDMI and optical cables quickly connect your TV to the sound bar. Get set up and listening in minutes
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SAMSUNG HW-B550/ZA 2.1ch Soundbar w/Dolby Audio, DTS Virtual:X, Bass Boosted, Subwoofer Included,...
  • Dolby Audio / DTS Virtual:X: Enjoy your favorites in surround sound with Dolby Audio and DTS Virtual: X; Dolby technologies make subtle changes as you watch, adjusting volume and adding detail, while DTS Virtual: X expands your listening experience without extra speakers
  • BASS BOOST: Feel the rumble of distant thunder as your listening experience is taken to another level; Give your bass an instant boost with the push of a button
  • SUBWOOFER INCLUDED: Experience the intensity of action movies or the excitement of sports with the rich, powerful bass coming from the included subwoofer*
  • ADAPTIVE SOUND LITE: Enjoy sound that’s continuously optimized as you switch between content, including sports, games, movies and more
  • GAME MODE: Game Mode optimizes your gaming experience with synced, directional audio that moves with the onscreen action, and eliminates distractions**
SaleBestseller No. 5
Sony HT-S400 2.1ch Soundbar with Powerful Wireless subwoofer, S-Force PRO Front Surround Sound, and...
  • S-Force PRO Front Surround and Dolby Digital create cinematic style surround sound
  • 2.1ch front surround sound with X-Balanced speaker delivers clear, rich dialogue
  • Wireless subwoofer delivers deeper, richer bass sound
  • Powerful 330W of total output brings your content to life
  • Simple and easy operation with compact remote and convenient OLED display window
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2,600 Reviews
JBL Bar 5.1 - Soundbar with Built-in Virtual Surround, 4K and 10" Wireless Subwoofer...
  • An impressive 550w of total system power
  • 10"" wireless subwoofer delivers deep, thrilling sound
  • Built-in chromecast, airplay2 and bluetooth
  • Jbl surround sound brings an immersive virtual 5.1 sound experience for your tv without any extra wires or speakers
  • 4k pass-through with hdr 10 and dolby vision provides the best resolution
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Klipsch Cinema 600 Sound Bar 3.1 Home Theater System with HDMI-ARC for Easy Set-Up, Black
  • 45 inches 3.1 Soundbar With 10 inches Wireless Subwoofer
  • Best-In-Class 600W Peak Power
  • HDMI-ARC: Single Cable, Single Remote Control
  • 5.1 Decoding for Virtualized Surround Sound
  • Powerful audio performance with deep, theater-like sub-bass and crisp high-end definition
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VIZIO M-Series Elevate 5.1.2 Immersive Sound Bar with 13 High-Performance Speakers, Dolby Atmos,...
  • America's #1 Sound Bar* - VIZIO has been filling homes with truly immersive audio for over 10 years, and our sound bars just keep getting better. We are proud to provide our customers with top-tier audio products that bring movies, shows, podcasts, music, and more to life like never before. (*#1 Sound Bar Brand in 1H 2022 Source: The NPD Group/Retail Tracking Service, U.S., based on units, Jan. - June 2022 combined.)
  • Evolved to revolve - Adaptive Height Speakers integrated into the sound bar automatically rotate up or forward to optimize the performance of the system. When rotated up, Dolby Atmos and DTS:X soundtracks are strikingly immersive. When rotated forward, the height speakers are repurposed to deliver music with breathtaking power and dynamics.
  • Immersive sound, brought to you by people who love sound - Dolby Atmos and DTS:X audio technologies captivate your senses with realistic sounds above and behind you for performance that completely immerses you in the world of your entertainment.
  • Your favorites, the way they were meant to be heard - Lean in and get lost in your favorite content with 103dB of premium audio powered by 13 high-performance speakers. With a newly designed wireless subwoofer and integrated tweeters and woofers, this sound bar delivers clarity, spaciousness, and impact down to an impressive 45Hz.
  • Multi-dimensional masterpiece - Experience the thrill of sound that moves throughout your room with 5.1.2 channels of immersive audio. Each channel plays a pivotal role in the creation of a soundscape that places you in the middle of your entertainment.
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PHEANOO 2.1 Compact Sound Bars for TV with Subwoofer, HDMI ARC/Bluetooth 5.0/Optical/AUX/RCA...
  • Small Design, Big Sound: Only the size of a keyboard, the PHEANOO P15 sound bar offers louder, more powerful TV sounds with up to 107 dB of total SPL output and 140W maximum audio output. Significantly improve dialogue clarity and broaden your TV’s soundstage a lot. It can easily make an impactful change to your TV sound and film-watching experience.
  • Deep Bass with Dedicated Subwoofer: A dedicated subwoofer delivers punchy, rich bass to get a more engaging and immersive listening experience in movies, music, and games. Undoubtedly, the dedicated subwoofer cavity space is big enough to reproduce deeper, richer bass than most systems with a built-in subwoofer. We also developed a subwoofer extension cable (sold separately), which you can use to make the subwoofer placement more flexible.
  • Set Up with Multiple Options: The HDMI ARC connection allows you to control the volume on the soundbar with the TV remote control, and the Optical and RCA connections ensure compatibility with all the older TV models. There’s also a 3.5 mm AUX input for connecting external devices.
  • Professionally Tuned EQ Modes: To suit different audio needs, the PHEANOO P15 features a variety of preset EQ modes including Dialogue, Movie, and Music creating suitable individual sound curves matched to the content type to boost the sound quality and enhance your viewing experience.
  • Wireless Streaming with Bluetooth: Easily stream all your favorite music, podcasts, or audiobooks from your smartphone, tablet, or any smart device via Bluetooth 5.0 connectivity to the TV soundbar.
SaleBestseller No. 10
1,122 Reviews
JBL Bar 9.1 - Channel Soundbar System with Surround Speakers and Dolby Atmos
  • 820W Output power
  • Built-in Dolby Atmos and DTS: X decoding
  • With detachable, battery powered surround speakers you can enjoy real surround sound without the wires
  • Experience deep bass with a 300W, 10" powered subwoofer
  • Ultra HD 4K Pass-through with Dolby Vision

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Last update on 2022-11-17

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