You’ve probably got it dialed. Rear-ported speakers, carefully placed. They’re expressive, balanced, even moving. But positioning’s always been the dance. Too close to the wall, and the bass seems swollen—clouding the mids, pushing forward. Pull them out, and something’s missing. Impact softens. Drive relaxes. You may have even tried every inch along the back wall—but not the simplest change of all.
There’s a good chance the fix is already in your drawer.
What to Do
If your speakers came with port plugs—foam or rubber cylinders—they’re worth revisiting. Insert them fully into the rear ports and listen again. Not all brands supply them, but you can improvise: a pair of tightly rolled wool socks, a cylinder of dense foam, or a plug kit like those from Auralex or SVS. Once installed, take your time. Let the music settle. Then experiment—cutting a center hole, trimming depth, trying one side plugged and the other partial. After each change, recheck toe-in and imaging focus.
Here’s Why That Works
Ports are tuned to reinforce low bass—but when walls are close, that boost stacks with room gain. The result isn’t always more bass. Sometimes it’s less control. Less cohesion. Plugging the port shifts the speaker toward a sealed alignment. The bass won’t go as deep, but it often tightens, shortens, and lets the midrange breathe. You may hear the image stabilize. Vocals step forward. The bloom fades—and the notes behind it appear.
You’re not losing bass. You’re revealing it. The plug doesn’t mute the speaker. It lets it speak more clearly.
