I don't think having 4 subwoofers is a lot to cause that issue where the sound is not clear. I think the issue might come from using different brands of subwoofers instead of picking one and getting everything from there. This is why I always go with JL Audio subwoofers, and they have always delivered tight, musical bass without making one feel uncomfortable.
Another thing that might be the issue is the way the setup is done. You can ask your friend to reposition the subs or better still get identical subs, which I would say is the best move.