What is the disconnect here exactly? Can some not understand the difference between LFE Distribution and LFE Level? Can some not understand the difference between a down mix of multichannel signals and simply playing multichannel signals in Stereo Sound Mode. Here it is, AGAIN, from Dolby.
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When NO subwoofer is present, in this case specifically, the information in the LFE channel of multichannel signals is AUTOMATICALLY output from the Large speakers. There is NO reason AT ALL to be concerned with LFE Distribution when No subwoofer is in use because the LFE information from the LFE channel is already being sent to the Large Fronts. This is why the LFE Level, NOT LFE DISTRIBUTION, can still be adjusted in settings so that folks can back it off a bit because it is AUTOMATICALLY included in the signal being sent to the LARGE Front speakers when there is NO subwoofer in use. This is why Fronts are AUTOMATICALLY set to Large when NO subwoofer is assigned for use.
When AVP/AVRs support Dolby decoding, multichannel signals are NOT down mixed at the receiving end. Playing back a Dolby multichannel signal in Stereo sound mode DOES NOT result in a down mix of the signal to PCM 2.0. Dolby signal processing can expand two channel signals into MORE channels for output and can also contract multichannel signals into FEWER channels for output. The LFE of multichannel signals will be output from the subwoofer even when switching from a straight decode of Dolby 5.1/7.1 signals to the Stereo sound mode. LFE is NOT lost in this case. If NO subwoofer is used, the LFE will be sent to the Large Front speakers.
Now, if Denon/Marantz has changed things up and NO LFE signal is output to Large Fronts when NO subwoofer is in use, like has always been the case with older units, and one must now assign a subwoofer and then use LFE Distribution to get LFE to Large Fronts even when NOT using a subwoofer, then that is just f#%ked up. I don't believe that is the case but the manuals aren't exactly spelling that out for those that cannot wrap their heads around it all.