Nobody should feel silly about being confused and/or unsure about just what is going on with the LFE signal and its output using a subwoofer or not in their system. LFE(Low Frequency Effects) are contained in the .1 channel of multichannel tracks. But, that does not mean the other channels do not include low frequency signals. Dolby states that the Main channels of Dolby tracks contain low frequency signals that compliment, not replicate, the LFE signal in the LFE channel. This is for playback on Stereo rigs or those folks would get no low frequencies at all when a Dolby Signal is down mixed for output to a stereo setup.
The down mixing of signals is not as rare as some may think these days. There are two channel receivers popping up that support ARC. Unfortunately, they DO NOT support anything more than PCM 2.0. So, a Dolby Digital signal from a Smart TV will have to be converted to PCM for output and LFE will be lost. The Yamaha R-N1000A comes to mind. Signals output from its Sub Pre out will contain just the low frequencies from the Main/Front channels as the LFE will not come along for the ride. The ARC port can be connected ONLY to a TV supporting ARC/eARC. But, I digress.
The manual of my ol' tank, the Denon AVR-3803, was a good one and explained the output of the low frequency signal range from Large channels and the output of the low frequency signal range of LFE. Low frequencies from Large channels would be copied to the subwoofer for output along with the low frequency signals contained in the LFE channel using the LFE+Main Subwoofer Setting. LFE was NOT output from any Large speakers. The low frequency signals originating in those channels could be copied and output from the Subwoofer when set to LFE + Main but LFE could not be sent to the Large speakers. Like now, using Large speakers with NO subwoofer would result in LFE being routed to the Large speakers which were usually just the Front speakers. The new Denon/Marantz LFE Distribution feature will now allow LFE to be sent to the Large "Floor" speakers in a given configuration when using a subwoofer. Height speakers, even if set at Large, will NOT receive LFE signals when LFE Distribution is activated.
Oh, and a Dolby signal containing LFE will NOT be down mixed in an AVP/AVR that supports Dolby decoding just because one selects Stereo mode for output. The LFE will be intact and be output accordingly. Receivers that only support PCM 2.0 will need Dolby signals down mixed to PCM 2.0 at the source and will lose the LFE. Those concerned with LFE being sent to Mains when not using a sub can turn the LFE Level down. One can also turn the Front channel levels down and also fiddle with the manual EQ to lessen the load. Getting some subs will lessen the burden on the Fronts and the receiver amps. But, the multitude of settings for the subwoofer output in these new Denon/Marantz units will have some pulling their hair out for sure. Some will find, as I did after tinkering around with different signals and settings, that there are quite low frequencies in the Front channels and if one can turn LFE OFF they would find quite a bit of BASS output from the Subwoofer still using different settings to copy the low frequencies of the Fronts to the subwoofer but cut out LFE. I get why those with two channel setups with no subs seem generally happier than those chasing the bass dragon with systems featuring multiple speakers and subs. There is quite a bit to sort out when using subs with a given AVP/AVR. Settings are all over the place. Happy Listening All!
Denon AVR-3803:
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