LFE Clarification

[ajpoe]

I have read that the purpose of a .1 sub is to provide that dymanic bass in a home listening environment where a setup of 5 full range speakers isn't practical, or can't handle a full range signal in all channels. Now, in a system where you have that ability to run all channels full range, how does the bass management setting work in our Rotel equipment... I have the 1068.

My assumption is the LFE channel is it's own channel for ultra low effects. However, when you cut low freqs from the other channels, it is coupled with the LFE channel as well. Does that also work vice versa? Here's the reason I ask... I run all my speakers as large with powered subs on each. I put a TST on the LFE channel to handle the ultra low effects. If I removed the TST and turned the LFE off in the 1068, is that .1 channel going to be filtered out into the rest of my channels or just not used? I would assume it's not used because the sole purpose of that channel isn't necessary in this type of setup. But, I guess that's what I'm trying to figure out.

AJ

[eelco74]

This is a confusing matter for most people.

I run all my speakers as large and I do have a subwoofer. I have no bass copy from the main channels. So it only works when there is actual info on the .1 output.

Then there is the matter of mixing. Sometimese the .1 channel contains effects not found in the main channels. So you would miss out on that if you have no sub connected. Howers if you set "no sub" in the setup menu, I think it is copied to the main channel. I have to check the manual.

Hower to my suprise sometines dvd's or even games get mixed in the assumpion that you have main speakers as "small" and copy the bass to the sub. In Halo 2 on the Xbox the .1 channels is empty, in the assumption that you have small speakers and otherwise would get double bass. Go figure....

[Kevin P]

It may vary from one processor to the next, but bass management normally has two sources of low frequency material to deal with: (1) low-frequency materials in the discrete speaker channels, and (2) the dedicated LFE channel, in x.1 formats.

Speakers set to Large have their channels' low-frequency material sent directly to them. Speakers set to Small have their low-frequency material redirected elsewhere. The elsewhere is typically the subwoofer output, though it may also or instead be sent to the mains, if they're set to Large.

The LFE channel normally goes directly to the subwoofer. The exception is if there is no subwoofer. Then the LFE is sent to the mains (if set to large). Some receivers (such as Yamaha) have a LFE=Both setting that sends the LFE to both the mains and the sub.