kcb: it just came to me in a flash.

1.) run the analog sub out of your dvd-a/sacd player into a preamp, then into sub #1 that has onboard x-over, phase, etc.

2.) run the lfe out from the 950 into sub #2 to process the summed lows from the speakers set to 'small'. it won't be added to the lfe info because there is no lfe info going into the 950. it is now going solely into sub #1.

bingo. no chance of unintentional 'double bass'. no loss of low freqs., regardless of format or high pass selection. this is truly 'bass management' and i believe this is the first place on earth, in history, to have published the solution.

a.) all digital surround modes: the player decodes the lfe, converts it to analog signal and sends it to sub #1.

b.) sacd/dvd-a: all such players decode the lfe signal, convert it to analog signal and send it to sub #1.

c.) stereo, digital out or analog out to bypass mode: the prepro sends the lows to the mains, which can be reproduced by the mains, or low passed through the lfe output into sub #2, where it is properly aligned to the mains high pass point. sub #1 is disabled in this mode (turn the sub #1 preamp off).

d.) a and b above: if in either, you select a high pass point for 'small' speakers, the freqs below that point are sent to sub #2 to be properly aligned to the satellites.

what is needed:
1.) 1 mono preamp and 2 rca plugs.
2.) 1 powered sub with crossover and phase control.
3.) 1 additional powered sub. (no x-over needed).