Multiple rooms with Multiple Subwoofers

[Jeff]

Is it possible to have multiple powered sub-woofers in different rooms running off of 1 amp/receiver?

Here's the set up so far...
Denon AVR 3805, which is capable of 7 channel stereo
3 pairs of speakers in different rooms.
Each pair has a volume control in there respective rooms.
I would like to put a sub in each room to fill low tones.

Ultimately I would like to be able to control each room's speaker/ Sub-woofer combo volume as a group. Is this possible?

Thanks

[lane912]

if each sub is a powered sub and takes it's signal from the stereo pair in each room then yes-

[flipper35]

There are some switches out there that will maintain the proper impedance to the amp for what you want to do other than maybe running all speakers at once.

[Gogar]

Are you talking about in the wall/ in the ceiling speakers with a volume knob in the wall?

Or sets of speakers freestanding somewhere?

It's all possible, but depending on your idea could make for a lot of messy wiring issues.

If you have in ceiling speakers with volume knob on the wall, consider throwing an in ceiling sub right next to one of the speakers.

[Jeff]

Lane, The subs will be powered. They would get their signal from the sub out port.
Could I then run the loud speakers from the sub using the left right ports on the sub?

Flipper, I believe the volume controls have Impedance control, but will research further.

Gogar, I have A mix. In one room I have in wall speakers & in the other 2 I have floor standing. All three rooms are going through a remodel so hiding the wiring shouldn't be an issue. I'm trying to steer away from in- wall subs as I've found I can find better sounding speakers in a freestanding model $=$.

Would this work?...

For each pair of speakers, L/R wire would leave the receiver, go to an Impedance / Volume control, continue to the sub and then out to the loudspeakers.
Being able to control the volume of the sub & the speakers simultaneously.

[Gogar]

Originally Posted by Jeff

For each pair of speakers, L/R wire would leave the receiver, go to an Impedance / Volume control, continue to the sub and then out to the loudspeakers.
Being able to control the volume of the sub & the speakers simultaneously.

Yes that would work just fine, assuming the sub has a speaker pass-thru kind of input. It would actually be nice because you wouldn't have to mess with any RCA stuff.


The impedance compensating volume knob is only really necessary if you are running multiple sets of speakers from a single set of outputs on the receiver.

[Jeff]

Thanks Gogar, Just what I needed.

[Cajundaddy]

Yes, you can do this but you may not like the result for a couple of reasons:

- Mixing speaker-out level and active sub-in line level may result in hum or other issues.
- Everything below 150hz is omnidirectional so if multiple rooms with multiple subs are active, you may get acoustic phase cancellation (no bass at all in some rooms).

If it were my house and I wanted awesome full-range bass response I would use high quality powered subs floor-coupled in my main listening room and add full-range 60hz-20khz speakers to each room with separate volume controls at the preamp for balance. With a little test and tweak, the phat bottom from your main powered subs will carry easily throughout the house and even maybe outdoors.

L-pad volume controls in each room between amp and speakers interfere with the amp doing it's job. They do work but there are better solutions for hi quality sound.

More than one way to skin a cat but this would be my solution of choice.

[Gogar]

Originally Posted by Cajundaddy

Yes, you can do this but you may not like the result for a couple of reasons:

- Mixing speaker-out level and active sub-in line level may result in hum or other issues.
- Everything below 150hz is omnidirectional so if multiple rooms with multiple subs are active, you may get acoustic phase cancellation (no bass at all in some rooms).

He will be using subs that get their input from a speaker pass-thru, so he won't be needing to do any line-level stuff. Which will save a bit of wiring, too!

Most modern active subs have a phase reverse switch, so careful placement and use of the switch will almost always be enough to reduce the phase problems. Time alignment problems, maybe not. But it's a house, not a recording studio. He'll be fine.

My $.02

[scottmandue]

Just my two cents...
I think the whole subwoofer thing is over hyped, if you have a good set of full range speakers they will go low enough to cover most music.
Mind you I have a sub woofer in my living room but only because it is part of a home theater and it covers the explosions and super low rumble of movie sound tracks.
As an experiment you might disconnect your main speakers and play some of your favorite music and listen to how much (or I should say how little) comes out of the sub.

Edit to add, I am old school and back in the day speaker cabinets were HUGE! (As they should be!) so subwoofers were not required. I am probably being overly critical but I find a HIFI system with a sub usually sounds out of balance (not always but usually). I also prewired my house for speakers but the living room is the only space with a sub.