Which is better for a DBA (Swarm); powered subs or unpowered?

@heaudio123 I could imagine that may be true if the wavefront timing is dealt with, but I don’t see how an amp that adjusts all 4 subs as a single group could get the wavefront timing right if the subs weren’t  equidistant from the listener. I can see how the array would work if each sub has its own time delay setting. Am I missing something here? Thanks again!

Hello cheeg,

     I just read this entire thread and I feel bad for you. The reason is because you’ve been given a lot of bad advice and false information. The majority of this bad advice and false info was delivered by ieales, clearthink and audiorusty. I’m assuming this bad info was due to a lack of knowledge and not intentional but I can’t be certain. You did an admirable job of trying to make sense of it but I think it’s best just to disregard their posts entirely, hit reset and start anew.
It seems like you were already aware of the 4-sub Distributed bass array (DBA) concept. You somehow had learned about how it provides near state of the art bass performance in virtually any room and integrates seamlessly with any pair of main speakers. This is has all been scientifically proven and can be relied upon as valid.      I’ve been thoroughly enjoying an Audio Kinesis Debra 4-sub DBA system in my room for over 5 years now for both music and HT in my 21’x14’ room. The bass is fast, smooth, detailed, as powerful and dynamic as the source material calls for down to 20 Hz and this high quality bass integrates seamlessly with my fast, smooth and detailed main speakers.
    The truth is that a 4-sub DBA system will definitely provide this near state of the art bass reproduction in your room and seamlessly integrate with your main speakers. This will remain true whether you decide to use 4 passive subs powered and controlled by the Dayton SA1000 or 4 self-amplified subs.
      Having the capacity to adjust volume, crossover frequency and phase on each sub individually obviously gives more bass system control. In practice, however, you’ll rarely, if ever, need this level of control and it makes initial setup much more difficult.
     Lastly, I wanted to provide you with some easily verifiable facts that should allow you to more easily recognize the bad information you’ve been given already on this thread as well as any that may be given to you in the future. But I have a meeting I need to attend right now, so I’ll give this info to you later on another post as soon as I can.

Tim