Velodyne Digital Drive Series subwoofer in stereo

My understanding is low frequency is basically non-directional so I'm wondering what the point is to use it in stereo? I know the sound stage created in my system has plenty of low end response and the low end seems to come from within the soundstage but certainly not from the corner of the room where the sub is actually located.

Wouldn't you have to run the speaker cables to the sub and then to the speakers, creating some long runs not to mention great expense for extra cabling? Although I wonder if you couldn't just use the r/l tape output (assuming they are not used already) letting the sub's crossover do its work on the signal.

Hi Sailfishben,

Well, I have never personaly experienced two subwoofers setup receiveing separate stereo signals. But I've heard from people who say it makes a big difference.

I figured I'd buy couple of subwoofers to try it out and A/B test it w/ a single subwoofer, and then sell the extra subwoofer if there is no significant difference.

As for actually hooking up cables, my McIntosh C45 preamp is perfect. For stereo inputs, it can simultaneously provide THREE (two XLR balanced, one unbalanced) outputs. I connect the preamp to my amp via XLR connection and will use the other L & R XLR outputs for the subwoofers.

Please repost after you do your experiment. I'm interested in the results. Thinking of changing my Adire Rava with either 2 Velodyne DD or the new REL Britannia. Speakers Dynaudio S1.4, amp Plinius 102, Preamp Supratek, TT REGa Denon/ DL103

I just found this on the Anthem website...

Q20: I have two subwoofers and want to use them in stereo. Can the surround preamp's subwoofer outputs run in stereo?

A: No, although the same job can be done by disabling the sub channel in the setup menu, then hooking up the subs through their own crossovers to the front left and front right channels. This is not recommended because a stereo subwoofer configuration has little value. Few recordings contain real stereo bass info, (e.g. large pipe organ using widely spaced microphones) and unless the subs are located outdoors and away from the ground, they can't reproduce it anyway. Inside a room, running them in mono instead is beneficial because they can be moved to wherever they create the least amount of resonance individually, and as a combination, make each other's response peaks and valleys less severe. As well, a "bass spaciousness" effect can be dialled in with the phase control if it's available on one of the subs (which is what happens when two widely spaced microphones pick up a low frequency source - same long wavelength, different phase between the two).

FYI...

Thanks Sailfishben,

I was going to buy a Velodyne DD10 for my bedroom and then add another one when I move to my new apartment, but I found a really good bargain for DD15 and ended up ordering that... I'll update my system as soon as the subwoofer arrives.