Also better choice of subs in the under $500 range? Music primarily. 22' x 14' room with some big openings, mostly hard surfaces. Planning to get Aperion speakers. Husband wants big sub, I want flower pot.

In order to give an accurate answer to your question, you'll also have to let us know what kind of flowers you plan to grow.

Ouch.

If I understand your wording, you are the "wife factor," correct? Your husband wants the nice big sub, and you want a forty-pound flower pot in approximately the same space. Have you considered asking him to build a shell to go around the sub? If he primarily encloses the rear two-thirds and leaves ~four inches clear on the sides and top it shouldn't have any undesirable effect on the audio, and if well done the acoustic chamber might even produce an attractive coloration. Taper the shell itself (smaller toward the rear and larger toward the front opening) and find a veneer to match the S-10's grain and it won't noticeably detract from the beauty of the S-10, either.

Advantages: You'll have a safe place for the flower pot, he'll have the convenience of being able to adjust his components without having to disturb the flora, and you'll both sleep better knowing the geraniums haven't piddled on a $500 subwoofer.

Disadvantages: Some work involved, and he will have to adjust his conception of the room. Rather than seeing his beautiful sub from all angles, he'll have to be content with a front view and an additional bit of furniture.

Is this an ideal situation? No.

Is it a compromise I could live with, as a husband, a music lover and a competent woodworker? Absolutely.

- M.

Well since we all know that in situations like this the wife is always right, I don't see a problem.

Right! Unless it's a dry arrangement, I'd mostly be worried about water damage. I assume you wouldn't put anything with water in it on top of a TV. Water could damage the cabinet or speaker cone (mechanical damage), it could short-out the electronics (electronic damage), and it could damage the finish.

Other than that, setting something on top of the speaker shouldn’t affect the sound at all unless the pot/saucer rattles. (Heck, it might even improve the sound by "holding down" the speaker and minimizing cabinet vibrations... But, that would be a very subtle effect and I really doubt you'll hear any difference.)

I prefer roses because they have a warm, transparent lucid, very-analog sound.

Hi caudillo, thanks for your interest. If you have to, yes--it should be okay, provided the sub isn't constanly cranked up; this could cause your flower pot to shake and may loosen some of the soil, possibly causing it to spill. A better option would be along the lines of what M mentioned--i.e. a stand or something to enclose/go over the sub that you can set the flower pot on to. Of course, I think our subs are great, but if you have to look at other ones circa $500, check out Hsu and SVS; while maybe not as nice a finish as ours, they sure sound just as good. Hope this helps!

Thanks,
Oliver

There won't be any significant effect on the sound, unless the the flower pot tends to rattle. As mentioned above there could a small positive impact in that the mass of the 40lbs of plant and dirt could absorb some of the rouge sound energy and decrease cabinet resonance.

I would be more concerned about water damage to the finish on the cabinet. If you can address that I don't think there is a problem.

There is not normally any cabinet resonance in the frequency range of the typical subwoofer. Panel resonances tend to develop in average size cabinets of average MDF construction with some cross bracing >100Hz. Assuming this subwoofer is crossed over with a 4th order rate at 60-80Hz, it's a non-issue.

-Chris

What about the plant? Won't the loud bass hurt the plant?