That is not correct ADTG. What you neglected to mention is that (within the scope of the Harman research) those configurations are two of the best
when accompanied by a mirrored pair of subs at the back of the room. In other words, a symmetrical quad sub configuration with subs in all corners or at 1/4 width points. I'd hate to think you omitted this for the purposes of your recommendation.
The two configurations you advocate are actually amongst the
worst performing of the dual sub configurations and in fact, Todd Welti didn't bother to investigate them as reported in
his latest A/H article. (Refer to previous work below.)
The two best performing dual sub configurations in the Harman research are actually mid-wall front and back, followed by mid-wall each side. Which, to my earlier point, is nowhere near where most people place their main speakers.
Well, okay, I have to admit that I didn't study that paper for an exam or anything.
I only looked at them briefly. So it appears the best four 4 subwoofer placements are 1) 1 sub in front mid-wall, 1 sub in rear mid-wall, 2) 4 subs in 4 corners, 3) 4 subs in 4 mid-walls, 4) 4 subs in 1/4W corners.
But show me how many people place their 2 subwoofers in the front mid-wall (like anyone has room for both a subwoofer and a center speaker in the same spot) and the rear mid-wall (like anyone has room or wants to place a subwoofer behind their sofa).
It appears that placing subs in the 2 front corners or 2 front 1/4W corners is no better than placing all FIVE subwoofers all along the front wall.
Point is, even if you have 2 bookshelf speakers and 1 horizontal center speaker, your dual subwoofer placement anywhere along the front wall isn't going to be any better. It is a compromise, unless you place one sub in the front mid-wall and one sub in the rear mid-wall if you have dual subs.
The PRACTICAL realistic location of subwoofers means compromise. Most people will place their subwoofers somewhere along the front wall NEXT to their speakers. So having the subwoofer in the same location as the speaker isn't any worse than placing the subwoofer NEXT to their speakers, which is what MOST people do anyway.
Putting it bluntly, I think
any speaker with an integral subwoofer is an inherently poor idea, be it GoldenEar, Def Tech, Legacy or whatever. To me, it's
form over function and the lack of flexibilty is the issue.
My reasoning is: the most suitable spots in the room for speaker placement for stereo imaging and soundstage are very rarely among the most suitable spots for delivery of the low bass into the room. You might just strike it lucky, but with speakers with integral subs you have no option to deliver the low bass from somewhere else in the room.
Sorry if I come across as a party-pooper, I just thought you should be aware of the limitations. I mean no disrepect to current owners... if these speakers meet their needs, all power to them.
Again, you talk as if people are actually going to place 1 subwoofer right in the center of the front wall and 1 in the center of the rear wall.
Anyone has room in the middle of the front wall for a big TV, rack, stand, center speaker, and oh, a big subwoofer too?
Yeah, hey, let's place a 20" x 20" subwoofer in FRONT of your TV or behind your TV.
People who don't have room for large speakers and have to buy SMALL bookshelf speakers are going to place their subwoofer along the front wall beside their left or right bookshelf speaker. Why? because they don't have ROOM for FLEX or FUNCTION.
Bottom line, get a rectangular room and 4 RBH SX-8300 and place them about 1/4W corners for the best subwoofer and speaker placement because no one in his gods-loving-mind is going to be placing his big subwoofers in front or behind his big screen TV.
