Keta,

In one of your posts, you said that you have the mains bi-amped, but shut off for the test.

In the following post, you said that the mains were on for the test.

What are you using for mains and what is their published response (+/-3dB)?

Also, what 'dedicated sub controller' are you using?

Jgubman,

The 950's analog BM is NOT flawed. It works exactly as it was designed. The design is for the switch to be in the 'on' position, in which case, it works as accurately as any active crossover I've ever owned...at any price.

If you insist on switching it 'off', make sure that you are using 5 identical, full range sats, perfectly equidistant from the LP (per ITU standard, which see).

Otherwise, lesser surround and center speakers WILL suffer damage at ref level with many hi-res discs.

If you don't have full range all around, but you still want the switch 'off', then bi-amp your mains and adjust the 950's SW trim until you have a flat response. You'll have to run sine wave sweeps and use a correction chart to draw a graph of your in-room response, but if you do, then you'll see that there is not only no flaw, you will have a better shot at a flat curve result with the analog BM as is.

You can also run the cable from your player's analog SW output directly to your subs instead of the 950's analog SW input.

This will send LFE only to your subs and full range without LFE (since there is now no LFE input into the 950, there will be none in the mains) to your sats.

This is a very simple work around that requires nothing more than redirection of the same cable. The tradeoff is that you'll have to adjust the LFE level manually. The plus side is that you'll be able to do that independent of the sats bass level, to taste, and you'll now know when there is LFE signal on any given source, where otherwise, you have no idea.

BUT...the phase alignment of these 4 subwoofers is crucial to proper playback of any MC source, regardless of the preamp's configuration menu.

When I say equidistant, I mean get out your ruler and place the subs equidistant with the mains to the LP. Measure from the center of the cone to the meter's mic.

This should be done before any testing or EQ is applied.

I'm not into DVD-A. I prefer SACD, so I would have to say, given my limited knowledge of DVD-A titles and their LFE content, that Steely Dan's 'Two Against Nature', Shame About Me or Cousin Dupree are good tracks to do a bass phase test.

Play the beginning of the track, with 1 sub shut off, the speakers placed properly and the SPL meter set up at the LP and note the reading. Reset the track and pause. Change the phase conrol to reverse and repeat. Use the setting that reads highest on the meter then repeat the procedure adjusting the phase control about 1/10th increments from 0 to 180 degrees each time.

Then, leaving that sub on, turn the other sub on and repeat the procedure.

You'll have to note the results and repeat the test for digital mode. If the results are different, you'll have to switch back and forth for each mode before you play.

Sounds like a PITA, but it really isn't when you know you're hearing your system at it's best for any source you play.