Video Asylum

Posted by bondmanp (A) on February 04, 2003 at 07:11:41

In Reply to: Onkyo A/V dilemma - to buy or not to buy posted by greggr on February 03, 2003 at 08:47:34:

I don't know about the Onkyo, but John C. is not totally correct. Although what you read would suggest that the subwoofer output is dropped in direct mode, meaning your sub would not receive a signal, my experience differs. My Pioneer Elite VSX-24TX (an older model) does continue to output to the subwoofer via the RCA subwoofer line out jack in "direct" mode in stereo. I lose the ability to make level adjustments to the subwoofer output in direct mode, but the overall volume control does keep the *relative* level of the sub and main speakers constant. IOW, if I raise or lower the main volume, the sub level with rise or fall by the same amount.

I am not certain the current Elite receivers operate this way. In fact, the owner's manual to my receiver would make one think that it cuts the sub out in "direct" analog mode. In fact, as long as the front L/R speakers are set to "small", the subwoofer output remains active. Perhaps this means the crossovers in the Elite are electronic, and not digital, or perhaps my "direct" analog mode isn't so direct. However, if a receiver has digital crossovers for the sub output, and the "direct" mode is truly pure anaolg, it will probably shut the subwoofer output off in the direct mode.

If you're set on the Onkyo, buy it where you can return it in case it does not provide a signal for the sub when in direct mode.