Video Asylum

Posted by Damon on March 08, 2000 at 08:43:37:

In Reply to: large/small - where's the bass going in this situation? posted by RichardH on March 06, 2000 at 11:45:44:

Short answer: all processors are different. In most cases if the sub is on it will receive a signal; typically from 80-100 hz depending on the processor's xover point. Many will also let you run the mains full range AND a sub. Is the sub getting a signal from the preamp in this setting? Most processors, yes. What freq is the sub playing at? Depends on where you have the sub's internal xover set. My system is setup thusly: the mains can play down to about 60 hz, and I think the system sounds better with the sub playing only the really low bass so I have the mains set to "large" to feed them a full range signal. My sub is also enabled and is output a lowpass signal from the processor at 80 hz, but I have the sub's xover set lower; at about 65 hz so that it kicks in where the mains roll off. In my system this sounds much better than setting the mains to "small" and rolling everything below the processor's xover point into the sub.

I have seen some processors that if a sub is selected you are not allowed to run the mains full range at all. To prove once and for all what your processor does; assuming you can't get it from the instructions, use a test disc. Set your mains to "large" and play a tone at the processor's sub xover point. Now you can check to see if you get output from the mains and the sub, or just the sub.