During sound reinforcement of small venues the low bass frequencies are one of the hardest things to control. Due to the limitations of sightlines, space and time consumption to optimize and integrate subwoofer arrays, alternative configurations might be desirable for a specific type of event. Five configurations are tested, one conventional stereo configuration and four non-conventional subwoofer configurations. An experiment with measurements was performed. The four nonconventional configurations are compared to the stereo reference, to see if they have any advantages over a more conventional approach that can be utilized in sound reinforcement of small venues. It is concluded that the each non-conventional configuration has its advantages and disadvantages to the stereo reference that can be desirable for some scenarios.

Low frequencies in small rooms are a problem that can affect the sound quality and therefore give an impaired listening experience if not treated. Even the slightest change of the subwoofer position can make a difference. Measurements have been made for two different subwoofer positions in a small control room, called the original and the alternative position. The original position represents the position that is normally used for the chosen control room. The alternative position was selected by measuring the position that had the flattest frequency response. The positions were tested with listening tests by 20 audio engineering students to see what differences existed between the two. The result shows that the original position was perceived to have more bass, which could be connected to the measurements. The subjects also showed that they could agree on the meaning of three of the given attributes used for the listening tests. If a flatter frequency response is wanted for the chosen control room, the alternative position is an option.