Thus far this thread has been about using "stereo" subs for music only. I have been beyond happy with the improvement to the two channel experience.
Of course, one sub matched to each of the right and left main signals (via the magnificent Bryston 10B-Sub) meant that I had no sub at all receiving the LFE signal for Home Theater. Of course the Bryston would have allowed one sub to supplement both mains leaving the other for LFE duty, but I was too in love with the smooth frequency response of two subs for music to do that. So, I bought a third JL Audio F113 to use for the LFE signal.
The current lineup, then, is one F113 for the left, one F113 for the right, and one F113 for LFE only. Thus, it is stereo subs (i.e., only two) for music and three subs for HT (i.e., mains run as large, the other five speakers as small, with two subs helping the mains run as full range and the third as LFE).
Setup was much easier than expected. I ran the onboard ARO on the F113, placed it at the same distance from the listening position as the other two (but at 90 degrees to them), consequently left relative phase at zero, used the Oppo for movie bass management (crossed at 80 H), used the Emotiva for TV bass management (crossed at 80 H), disabled the LP filter on the F113 and I was good to go. I am not using the SMS-1 at all in the signal path, nor did I use it for this set up.
Today I watched all or part of J.J. Abrams' "Star Trek," "Transformers," "Master and Commander," "Open Range," and the Ohio State basketball game. I have been sitting here with a silly grin on my face because it sounds so awesome!!
