AVR-S960H Does Not Show Second Subwoofer | Dual Sub Fix

Why Your Denon Avr-S960h Hides The Second Subwoofer

The Denon AVR-S960H is a 7.2 channel receiver, which means it can feed two subwoofers from the back panel. Both subwoofer outputs carry the same low frequency signal, so the receiver does not always treat them as fully separate speakers. Depending on how the system is set up, the menus may only show only one subwoofer while both jacks can send bass.

When the auto setup routine runs, the receiver sends test tones through each channel and listens through the calibration microphone. If the second sub plays too quietly, is wired out of phase, or is not powered on during the test, the system can fail to detect it. In that case, the interface may never show a second subwoofer icon or separate level readout, which makes owners think the port itself is dead.

This is why many reports of an avr-s960h does not show second subwoofer end up being configuration or level issues instead of failed hardware. Once the second sub is placed correctly, wired cleanly, and set to the right volume range, the next calibration run often brings it to life.

Can The Avr-S960h Run Two Subwoofers Independently

Two subwoofer jacks on the AVR-S960H mirror the same signal. You do not get fully separate crossover points or independent equalizer curves for each output. The receiver treats them as two physical devices that share one bass channel. That design still helps a lot, because two subs can smooth low frequency response around the room and reduce dead zones.

Some users expect the home screen or volume display to show two separate sub channels at all times. The interface is simpler than that. In many modes you only see a single subwoofer indicator even with both outputs active. What matters is whether each sub makes sound when content with bass plays, not whether the menu shows two icons each time.

To make this clearer, match what you see on screen with what the receiver can do. The table below sums up the most common patterns that confuse owners who say the avr-s960h does not show second subwoofer in daily use.

What You See	What It Usually Means	Next Step
Only one sub icon	Both ports mirror one bass channel	Play a bass heavy track and listen at each sub
Test tone only at Sub 1	Second sub was not detected or wired right	Repeat setup with volume raised on Sub 2
No bass from Sub 2 at all	Faulty cable, port, or power setting	Swap cables and jacks to isolate the fault

Basic Checks When The AVR-S960H Does Not Show Second Subwoofer

Before diving into deep menu work, confirm that both subs, both cables, and the receiver output are behaving as they should. These checks take only a few minutes and often reveal a small oversight that blocks the second channel.

• Confirm Power And Standby Settings — Make sure both subwoofers are plugged in, switched on, and not in auto standby while you run tests.
• Use A Known Good Cable — Swap the RCA lead on Sub 2 with the one that works on Sub 1 to rule out a bad interconnect.
• Test Each Port With One Sub — Plug the same subwoofer into the first and second sub output in turn to check whether both jacks send bass.
• Check Subwoofer Gain And Crossover — Set the gain knob to the middle of its range and set any crossover or low pass dial to its highest number so the receiver controls bass routing.
• Turn Off Phase Tricks For Now — If the sub has phase, polarity, or room correction switches, set them to their basic positions while you troubleshoot.

When the same physical sub plays on both jacks, you know the receiver ports are alive. If one output stays silent with a cable and sub that work on the first port, you may have a hardware defect that needs a service visit. If both ports behave the same, then level, distance, or setup choices inside the menus are usually to blame.

Menu Settings That Affect Subwoofer Detection

The AVR-S960H has several menu items that decide when a subwoofer channel is active. If one of these is set in a way that routes bass to large front speakers or disables the sub channel altogether, the receiver may refuse to show or drive a second sub, even though the jacks are fine.

Speaker Configuration Basics

Open the Speakers section in the setup menu and find the Speaker Config item. Set Subwoofer to Yes so the receiver knows at least one sub is present. If fronts are set to Large with no sub, bass can stay in those speakers instead of flowing to the low frequency outputs.

Next, set any small satellite speakers to Small in that same section. That choice sends their deep bass content down to the subwoofer channel. It also helps the auto setup routine see that the low frequency channel matters, which makes detection of the second sub more reliable.

Subwoofer Mode And Bass Management

Inside the Bass or Subwoofer Mode menu, choose between LFE and LFE+Main. LFE sends only dedicated low frequency effects and the bass from speakers set to Small. LFE+Main adds bass from speakers set to Large as well, which keeps the subs busy even when full range fronts are in use.

Pick a crossover frequency that fits your speakers, such as 80 Hz for common bookshelf models. A well chosen crossover makes the subs carry the heavy lifting below that point and often exposes wiring or placement issues that hide a second unit. When the crossover is too low, Sub 2 may be active but barely audible.

Channel Levels And Test Tones

Use the manual Level or Test Tone screen to send noise to each speaker. Scroll through until you reach the subwoofer channel. With two subs connected, you should hear the noise on both units at once. If you only hear it at one box, swap the cables again and repeat the test to see whether the silence follows the cable, the port, or the sub.

Running Audyssey So Both Subs Are Counted

Audyssey automatic calibration is sensitive to volume, distance, and background noise. A second sub that sits too far from the microphone or plays at a much lower level than the first one can be ignored. That leads to setups where owners say the avr-s960h does not show second subwoofer because the routine never locked onto it.

• Match Subwoofer Volume Knobs — Set both subs to the same gain level on their rear panels before you begin, usually around the midday mark.
• Place The Mic At Ear Height — Mount the microphone at the main seat with a stand or a firm box so it stays at the same height as your ears.
• Keep The Room Quiet — Turn off loud fans, air conditioners, and other gear so the receiver hears only the test tones.
• Run All Measurement Points — Complete every mic position the guide asks for so Audyssey can map both subs across the seating area.
• Review The Results Screen — After the run, check that Subwoofer is listed as active and that distance and trim values look sensible.

If Audyssey still fails to recognize the second sub, move that unit closer to the main seat or nearer to the first sub. Raising its gain slightly for the setup run can also help the receiver pick it up. Once the calibration finishes, you can lower the gain again to match levels by ear.

Avr-S960h Dual Subwoofer Setup Checks

Owners who want a reliable dual sub arrangement on this receiver should treat the two units as partners that share one bass channel. The goal is even low frequency response across seats, not a flashy display that lists two separate subs. With that in mind, a short sequence of checks tends to solve most cases where the second sub seems to disappear.

• Pick Complementary Locations — Place the subs at different spots along the front wall or use a front corner and a side wall to help smooth peaks and nulls.
• Match Phase Between Subs — Use the phase or polarity switch on one unit in small steps while a bass sweep plays, and stop when the combined sound feels strongest at the main seat.
• Fine Tune Distances — In the manual distance menu, inch the subwoofer distance values up or down in small steps while listening to a familiar bass track.
• Check Real Content, Not Just Tones — Play movies and music you know well, since some test tones can mask real world balance issues.
• Save Settings Before Experiments — Write down crossover, distance, and level values that sound good so you can return to them after any new trials.

Keep expectations grounded. The AVR-S960H gives you mirrored outputs, which are ideal for simple dual sub layouts. It does not deliver fully separate sub channels as found on some higher tier models, though, so you will not see completely independent trim controls or distance entries for Sub 1 and Sub 2.

When To Suspect A Hardware Fault

Once you have cycled through wiring swaps, menu checks, and fresh Audyssey runs, only a few root causes remain. At that stage you want to narrow things down to either a bad cable, a failed subwoofer input, or a faulty sub output on the receiver. Careful swapping and listening makes that process straightforward.

• Test Each Sub On Another System — Connect Sub 2 to a different receiver or stereo amplifier with a sub output and confirm that it plays cleanly.
• Try Another Source Device — Feed bass heavy content from a game console, streaming box, or disc player to rule out odd behavior from one source.
• Bypass Splitters Or Adapters — If you use Y splitters, ground loop isolators, or long extenders, remove them and connect a single cable directly for testing.
• Document Your Tests — Write down each combination of port, cable, and sub that fails so a service technician can see the pattern quickly.

If Sub 2 never plays on any system while Sub 1 works everywhere, the second unit likely needs repair. If both subs work on other amplifiers but the second port on your receiver stays silent with every cable, contact Denon service or your dealer and describe each step you tried. Take photos of the rear panel and your wiring layout, since clear images help others spot simple connection mistakes. Keep your notes and pictures with the original receipt so any repair claim on the avr-s960h is easier to process later on.