Mike, your story sounds very familiar until I acquired my first Digital Drive-18 subwoofer with remote control gain and six preset EQd adjustment settings from flat, reversed polarity to however you want your low end to sound at the push of a single button.
The issue is usually the content of the recording. There are many albums were the polarity changes from track to track. Having independent on the fly control of the frequencies below 200 Hz kills the set it and forget it way of subwoofer ownership. Unlike the separate preamplifier idea your making these adjustment from the listening position that you optimized the system in the first place.
I sold the 18 and now have two DD Plus 12s. The flexibility and the room lock is a wonder.
The issue is usually the content of the recording. There are many albums were the polarity changes from track to track. Having independent on the fly control of the frequencies below 200 Hz kills the set it and forget it way of subwoofer ownership. Unlike the separate preamplifier idea your making these adjustment from the listening position that you optimized the system in the first place.
I sold the 18 and now have two DD Plus 12s. The flexibility and the room lock is a wonder.