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Contributor I
March 26, 2016
Answered

Multiple Subs

Any advantage in having multiple Subs in the same room?
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jgatie
jgatieAnswer
February 4, 2020

I suggest you do some research before you write all that nonesence. Multiple subwoofers, actually correct the very same wavelengths issues that one sub causes in a residential environment, specially for multiple seating positions. 

Extensive research has been done on the subject. 

 

Only if you have them optimally tuned.  And yes, that post is 3 years old.

22 replies

Avid Contributor I
December 1, 2017
Generally, placed correctly, two subs reduces the nulls and peaks.
accutip
Lyricist II
December 6, 2017
Sounds awesome I’ve just bought sound bar sub and to play fives for surrounds plus I’ve got 4 play ones and 2 play fives mk 1s and to play fives mk2 I love them all brilliant bits of kit
Contributor II
December 24, 2017
No. Actually, there are disadvantages due to the large wavelengths interacting and causing null areas or "standing waves".

Wrong. Multiple subs smooths bass and reduce peaks and nulls.
Contributor II
December 24, 2017
Sounds awesome I’ve just bought sound bar sub and to play fives for surrounds plus I’ve got 4 play ones and 2 play fives mk 1s and to play fives mk2 I love them all brilliant bits of kit

Why would you use play 5s as rears? Seems like a giant waste of money. I don’t think you would notice a difference between play ones/Sonos ones over 5s as a rear channel. Volume is minimal and most bass is channeled through the sub. I wish Sonos would allow for a second sub to be used and tuned in the same zone.
Lyricist III
January 1, 2018
I love having my Play 5s as rears for my Playbar, most specifically when I use them to play music. I have it set for "Full" for music playback and I get an amazing stereo pair that fills my room. I also have a second "room" off to the side with another subwoofer and a pair of Play 1s. When I'm playing the whole house during parties, I actually bring on three subs, 4 Play Ones, along with a Play 3 for coverage. There's not a dead area in the house and when somebody wants to turn it up, there's plenty of bass to go around no matter where we're at.

That being said, I would have like to be able to simply add multiple subs into one "room" without faking a three room "group" and simply turning off the "extra" Play Ones. It's flexible but not perfect. I haven't had a single complaint at any of our house parties.
May 31, 2019
Someone mistakingly posted above that multiple subs causes standng waves. Uh, no. Multiple subs can acutally help with standing waves and creates more uniform room coverage. The more subs the merrier.

That being said, was hoping to add a Sonos SUB to an existing Sonos theater system (PLAYBAR + SUB + PLAY:1 x2), but sounds like it is not possible? Think I understand the workaround posted of combining two Sonos zones with subs into one room but don't technically see how that would work in a Sonos theater setting. Would want Trueplay to tune both subs together as well.
Airgetlam
May 31, 2019
No, it's not possible with Sonos software, nor would it be effective with two rooms grouped, as the room with the second sub would be at least 70ms behind the TV room.

You could certainly use the "two room" work around with music streaming, but not with a TV (digital) input.
Bruce
Stanley_4
Grand Maestro
May 31, 2019
If (and you can't) you could add two subs to one room wouldn't TruePlay just dial the volume down on both of them to keep the sound levels flat?

I've seen that volume reduction with two non-Sonos subs and active equalization.
Lyricist I
February 4, 2020

No. Actually, there are disadvantages due to the large wavelengths interacting and causing null areas or "standing waves".

I suggest you do some research before you write all that nonesence. Multiple subwoofers, actually correct the very same wavelengths issues that one sub causes in a residential environment, specially for multiple seating positions. 

Extensive research has been done on the subject. 

melvimbe
February 4, 2020

The post you’re responding to is 3 years old.

Danny