A Guide to Bass Management (Part I)

[Driver_King]

Originally Posted by neos_peace

But I Do learn stuff even though most of it comes in greek to me.

There are translators for that you know.

[mrpink134]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

You can refer to him as "His Royal Subwooferness".

His Royal Subwooferness

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by mrpink134

His Royal Subwooferness

I hereby appoint you as a Knight in my subwoofer kingdom.

[Travis]

I can't manage my bass. I can't figure how to add 10dB to bass.

Speakers are bookshelves, Marantz SR5200 (old fellow, almost 9years old) set spkr size to small, LFE LEVEL set to 00db (other 2 choices are off and -10dB).

The manual for AVR has a note that says, when front speakers are set to small, this setup is not effective when 7CH input is selected.

The AVR is before the Blu-ray era; was in the time of SACD, so I think note is relevant. Want to connect BD player to AVR via analogue. Thinking shouldn't be done, buy new AVR?

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by Travis

I can't manage my bass. I can't figure how to add 10dB to bass.

Speakers are bookshelves, Marantz SR5200 (old fellow, almost 9years old) set spkr size to small, LFE LEVEL set to 00db (other 2 choices are off and -10dB).

The manual for AVR has a note that says, when front speakers are set to small, this setup is not effective when 7CH input is selected.

The AVR is before the Blu-ray era; was in the time of SACD, so I think note is relevant. Want to connect BD player to AVR via analogue. Thinking shouldn't be done, buy new AVR?

If your receiver does not allow you to boost the subwoofer level, the only option is to increase the level on the back of the subwoofer. A few players may allow you to increase speaker levels.

[Travis]

Thanks,

I'm still on the fence; buy Marantz SR6003 (or 7003 when ever they arrive) or Pioneer Elite BDP-23. Leaning towards waiting for 7003, since I can't decide waiting is the easiest choice.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by Travis

Thanks,

I'm still on the fence; buy Marantz SR6003 (or 7003 when ever they arrive) or Pioneer Elite BDP-23. Leaning towards waiting for 7003, since I can't decide waiting is the easiest choice.

Buy a receiver first.

[t2rules]

My receiver does not have Large / small setting for my speakers

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by t2rules

My receiver does not have Large / small setting for my speakers

It doesn't matter. Full band means Large and you don't set the High Pass Crossover frequeny for them. When you set the crossovers (High Pass Filter), then it means Small.

[Big Daddy]

I added significant amount of information to Posts #1 and #2.

1. If you have questions about setting up your subwoofer & the crossovers in the receiver, read Post #1.
2. If you have questions about subwoofer cables and Y adapters, read Post #2.

[Fors*]

Another extremely impressive amount of info added BD, especially about the crossovers! I for one, really, really appreciate everything you do for all of us here! Thank you.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by forsberg21

Another extremely impressive amount of info added BD, especially about the crossovers! I for one, really, really appreciate everything you do for all of us here! Thank you.

Thank you.

Too many people ask exactly the same questions about their setups and crossovers. I figured that adding this new information will help them. In the future, if you or other members see a new question about this topic, please refer them to this thread.

[Fors*]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Thank you.

Too many people ask exactly the same questions about their setups and crossovers. I figured that adding this new information will help them. In the future, if you or other members see a new question about this topic, please refer them to this thread.

It is on my "favorites" list.

[Uncle Leo]

Thank you so much Mr. Daddy! I have just used your tutorial and its like I have a new system. All speakers set to small, my Klipsch F1's set to 60 hz crossover, centers and rears set at 80hz. My sub is a weak one Yamaha yst w215 set at 120. And my HT sounds totally different. I can not find the mic to set up the AVR Denon 788. Just wanted to say thanks.

[Uncle Leo]

One more thing...When I have my AVR on and have it set for watching tv like directv and the xm music station is on, my Sub wont come on. Why so?

Directv and my PS3 are hooked up with HDMI.

[sunnyny2000]

My Denon AVR-4306 has a 'subwoofer setup' option where you can select LFE or LFE+Main. I know that normally selecting LFE+Main, the receiver would treat your mains as Full range. I've set my speakers to small and set the crossover at 80Hz for all channels except the subwoofer, which I set to 120Hz.

My question is since the LFE+Main option is in the 'subwoofer setup' menu and not on the mains, does it mean choosing this option will pass the .1 LFE signal + all the low frequency signal below 80Hz from other channels to the sub? In other words, if I choose just 'LFE' only option, would I just get the .1 LFE and not the other lower frequencies from other channel (below 80Hz)?

My friend's Onkyo receiver doesn't let you set your mains "small" and select "LFE+Main" (double bass) at the same time, which seems normal. But my Denon does , which makes me wonder...

My Denon has the following menu:
Subwoofer setup--->Subwoofer mode--->LFE or LFE+Main

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by Uncle Leo

One more thing...When I have my AVR on and have it set for watching tv like directv and the xm music station is on, my Sub wont come on. Why so?

Directv and my PS3 are hooked up with HDMI.

Go to the setup menu of the DirecTV's receiver. Choose Setup and Audio. You will see a choice for Dolby Digital, make sure it is set to On.

Many radio stations only broadcast music in stereo. Receivers have a tendency to play that in stereo mode from the two front speakers. If your receiver offers Bass Management for Stereo (mine has that option), go there and change the front speakers to Small and the subwoofer to ON. Alternatively, you can choose Dolby Pro Logic IIx in your receiver. Dolby PLIIx matrixes two-channel music to 5.1.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by sunnyny2000

My Denon AVR-4306 has a 'subwoofer setup' option where you can select LFE or LFE+Main. I know that normally selecting LFE+Main, the receiver would treat your mains as Full range. I've set my speakers to small and set the crossover at 80Hz for all channels except the subwoofer, which I set to 120Hz.

My question is since the LFE+Main option is in the 'subwoofer setup' menu and not on the mains, does it mean choosing this option will pass the .1 LFE signal + all the low frequency signal below 80Hz from other channels to the sub? In other words, if I choose just 'LFE' only option, would I just get the .1 LFE and not the other lower frequencies from other channel (below 80Hz)?

My friend's Onkyo receiver doesn't let you set your mains "small" and select "LFE+Main" (double bass) at the same time, which seems normal. But my Denon does , which makes me wonder...

My Denon receiver has a separate option for stereo where you pick LFE+Main. That only affects two-channel music and not movies. Two-channel music does not have (.1). I assume your receiver works the same. When you pick LFE+Main, you must set your front speakers to LARGE.

LFE+main is a bad option. It is much better to set the front speakers to SMALL, set the subwoofer to LFE only, and let the subwoofer handle the low frequency.

As long as you have a subwoofer, you will always get the LFE (.1) channel. The crossover for the speakers only redirects the bass from the smaller speakers.

[sunnyny2000]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

My Denon receiver has a separate option for stereo where you pick LFE+Main. That only affects two-channel music and not movies. Two-channel music does not have (.1). I assume your receiver works the same. When you pick LFE+Main, you must set your front speakers to LARGE.

LFE+main is a bad option. It is much better to set the front speakers to SMALL, set the subwoofer to LFE only, and let the subwoofer handle the low frequency.

As long as you have a subwoofer, you will always get the LFE (.1) channel. The crossover for the speakers only redirects the bass from the smaller speakers.

Thanks Big Daddy. I guess its the menu system that had me confused. It should not let me select both LFE+Main and set the mains small. Anyway, I just selected LFE only.

[4TA23]

I posted this same thing in one of your other threads will here too just to make sure it is seen...lol. I need help, but you do a great job at explaining all this to someone who can understand but at this point has no clue...

Ok here is a monkey wrench, I have an Onkyo 805 and I let Audessy do the settings, how does all this play since you really can not see what it set the speakers to, all one can see is under speaker config:

Fronts: Full
Center: 70Hz
Surrounds: 70 Hz
Sur backs: 60 Hz
Surr back Ch: 2ch
LPF of LFE: 100 Hz
Double base: On

Explain this to me, does one trust Audessy fully? See my sig for all equipment. Should I be looking at other areas of the set up on my reciever to get more tweaks or adjustments? Help me understand all this.

Also there is no where I can find to set my speakers to small or large is that what the Full setting is? My fronts can handle like down to 38 Hz and my center to 75 Hz aree the settings above realistic?