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Does anyone else agree with me on this subject? I am not talking about recorded surround channels here btw, simply the number of subwoofer outputs that can be independently adjusted.
If you put 4 passive subwoofers and place them on single subwoofer output (such as a Y-splitter), aren't you assuming that all the subs are equidistant from the measurement position?
Take an extreme example: One sub is 8 feet from you and another is 30 feet from you... Does it make sense to EQ both of these as a single sub without the ability to setup delay for each of them separately? Or does it matter?
Subwoofer math and experiments show that quad subs is optimal (this is the subject of multiple white papers and threads from the folks at Harmon and others). There are several optimal placement options but none of those options put the listener at equidistance from all the subs.
The Marantz 8801 that I have has 2 subwoofer outputs which allows independent delay settings on each of these. I put my front two subs (which are equidistant from the MLP) on one output. I put my rear 2 subs (also equidistant from the MLP) on the other output. In my case, this seems to workout ok due to the particular location of my subs.
Each of these outputs goes to a pair of stereo amplifier channels. The PEQ can be adjusted for the front pair of subs and the rear pair of subs independently.
It's time for manufacturers to build to accommodate for the available science. The consumer will think... hmm I wonder why there are 4 subwoofer outputs on this thing... and there will be an "education screen" during the subwoofer setup that demonstrates common "best" placement options for subwoofers. It surprises me how manufacturers don't actually include more product literature and "self help" within the actual AVR. At the very least they could have a browser with a link to their own website that they keep constantly updated with help info. This way, they don't have to re-invent the wheel with every AVR that they put out.
The only reason that they don't place 4 subwoofer outputs is due to most customers not using them. Most customers conversely don't understand the benefits of 4 subs even if they could afford them. The cost difference in mass production is tiny yet these manufacturers skip these details while daring to call their pre-pro a "flagship"...
If you put 4 passive subwoofers and place them on single subwoofer output (such as a Y-splitter), aren't you assuming that all the subs are equidistant from the measurement position?
Take an extreme example: One sub is 8 feet from you and another is 30 feet from you... Does it make sense to EQ both of these as a single sub without the ability to setup delay for each of them separately? Or does it matter?
Subwoofer math and experiments show that quad subs is optimal (this is the subject of multiple white papers and threads from the folks at Harmon and others). There are several optimal placement options but none of those options put the listener at equidistance from all the subs.
The Marantz 8801 that I have has 2 subwoofer outputs which allows independent delay settings on each of these. I put my front two subs (which are equidistant from the MLP) on one output. I put my rear 2 subs (also equidistant from the MLP) on the other output. In my case, this seems to workout ok due to the particular location of my subs.
Each of these outputs goes to a pair of stereo amplifier channels. The PEQ can be adjusted for the front pair of subs and the rear pair of subs independently.
It's time for manufacturers to build to accommodate for the available science. The consumer will think... hmm I wonder why there are 4 subwoofer outputs on this thing... and there will be an "education screen" during the subwoofer setup that demonstrates common "best" placement options for subwoofers. It surprises me how manufacturers don't actually include more product literature and "self help" within the actual AVR. At the very least they could have a browser with a link to their own website that they keep constantly updated with help info. This way, they don't have to re-invent the wheel with every AVR that they put out.
The only reason that they don't place 4 subwoofer outputs is due to most customers not using them. Most customers conversely don't understand the benefits of 4 subs even if they could afford them. The cost difference in mass production is tiny yet these manufacturers skip these details while daring to call their pre-pro a "flagship"...