Will any receivers do L/R/sub with no other processing?

[markbarsamian]

I would like the following setup:

stereo source played back through left/right speakers and subwoofer

high pass filter applied to the left/right speakers

low pass filter applied to the subwoofer output

No other signal processing, no other speakers.

When I look through the manuals for home theater receivers, it seems to me that they will all do amazing things, but they won't do this simple thing. Am I missing something? Does anybody know of a receiver that will do this?

(To be even more greedy: I would love to have a speaker-level subwoofer output, but it seems that all the A/V receivers are designed with powered subwoofers in mind. Does anybody know of an A/V receiver that has a speaker-level subwoofer output, or one that can be tricked into outputting sub-bass frequencies from its center channel speaker outputs?)

Thanks,
-Mark Barsamian

 

[zipper]

Yes..........simply turn off the surrounds when you have the receiver in 5-ch,6-ch,etc. stereo & you will have the mains & sub only. Any receiver should have that capability. Many also have an "effects defeat" option which gives you straight 2-ch stereo but I believe that eliminates the sub as well.

Do you have a passive(non-powered) sub? Is that why you want to drive the sub with the receiver? That will eat up a lot of the receivers output power,which is,in part, why having a powered sub is a good idea in the 1st place.

 

[BMXTRIX]

Mark - I think that you are looking for what is commonly referred to as 'STEREO'

With speakers set to small and a subwoofer present, I believe that the lower frequencies are still directed to the LFE output of the receiver for your sub to utilize and use no additional processing. This isn't covered in detail I would expect because all receivers (that I know of) handle this the same way.

As for having a powered sub output, you likely won't ever see that on a receiver due to the amplification demands that are so speaker dependent on each subwoofer on the market. You can purchase external amplifiers for some subwoofers, especially in-wall models, that allow you to go from the LFE output, to the amplifier, to the speaker.

But, putting an additional 200 watt+ amplifier, specifically into a receiver for sub amplification would add a fair amount of money to the price of the receiver and would likely not provide accurate power requirements for enough of the subwoofer designs that are on the market. Maybe it would be perfect for a 10" sub, but what about someone needing to drive a good 15 or 18 inch model? Those people still require an external sub amp and are stuck paying the higher price tag on the receiver.

Since most subs ship with internal amplifiers, it isn't of much advantage to offer this feature. The industry has a standard that most people are happy with.

 

[markbarsamian]

but is there no other DSP applied?

Zipper, thanks for your reply.

But in the mode you describe, with the surrounds simply not connected or turned off, is there any DSP applied to the signal (aside from the Hi/Low pass)? Whenever I look at the manuals, it seems that I have to choose between having either some synthesized room acoustic, or a "straight" setting in which case the L/R front speakers run full range and the subwoofer is disabled.

Yes, I have a passive subwoofer. Probably best to get a dedicated subwoofer amp for it, anyway. It is an enormous, transmission-line loaded design, and works best with an equalized signal. My impression is that some commercially-available subwoofer amps have an EQ that will probably fit the bill.

-Mark

 

[WoodieB]

Most of the Denon models have a "Pure Direct" mode that outputs L/R, subwoofer with no additional signal processing. I'm sure Yamaha, HK, etc. have similar modes. I do listen to some music in pure direct or stereo mode, but a lot of cd's sound really good in dolby pro logic ll 5 channel mode.

 

[nibhaz]

Newer onkyo units have STEREO wich is just the L/R and LFE no other processing other than having the LFE signal being taken out of the L/R signal. They also have Direct MODE which kicks in stereo with the just the L/R and no sub, and the they have PURE mode wich is the same as direct, except that everything not crucial to playing in stereo is shut down, to include all video circuits and even the front display....they claim for less internal noise....I use PURE all the time, but wouldn't say that I can hear a difference...or maybe just a little...but I do know it sounds good

 

[happy540i]

The Denon 5803 will do direct mode with sub.

 

[Azz123]

OK..
I can speak for the Yami RX-V1500 only...
"Pure Direct" is stereo only - per the manual, the whole DSP is bypassed.FL & FR only.
"Stereo\Straight" - not 2 or 7 channel gives you FL FR & Sub.

I love the clarity of the Pure Direct mode, though the compromise with Stereo Straight is gaining the output to the sub.

Hope that helps. - Oh, Im sure most of the Yamahas are the same.

Regards

 

[Xsound]

Pioneer's elite line gives you stereo which can include processing, and direct which is just Fronts and sub with not tone adjustments or dsp. I have a little mid-bass bloom, actually it's on the lower end, in my room/speaker placement. When I am listening at lower levels, like at night I go to direct mode and it is almost like a slight loudness button. When I turn the volume up to day levels, I go to stereo and the processing smooths out the response.