Bob_Collins
May 21st, 2003, 18:41
Referring to the article "Mismanaged Bass" in the "Tech Talk" column of the May 2003 issue, I was happy to discover that you have begun to expand the bass management testing and will be reporting the results for those items which offer (or should offer) those capabilities, (DVD players, receivers, processors, etc.). I applaud your efforts, and look forward to reading the reports that will be forthcoming.<BR><BR>Mr. Ranada stated "the purpose of bass management is 1) to strip out the bass from those main channels that are feeding small speakers, and 2) to combine that bass with any recorded LFE (low-frequency-effects) signal to form the signal directed to the subwoofer." While I agree with that statement, I do not think it goes far enough. Proper bass management should do one more thing. It should direct the bass present in the LFE channel, to those main channels (or at least to the front L and front R), that are set to large.<BR><BR>Case in point, my main front L and front R speakers are capable of playing down to 20 Hz. or below, and I do not have a subwoofer. In listening to the "Alamo" scene from the Saving Private Ryan DVD and The Haunting DVD, all of the bass content appears to be there, although not quite as dramatic and punchy as it would be if I had a good, true subwoofer.<BR><BR>I would like to be certain that this aspect of bass management is tested also, or that you explain to me why my thinking and logic is incorrect.<BR><BR>I am not saying that subwoofers are unnecessary, or that I do not plan to have one in my setup, I would simply like to be able to maximize what I have, today! I plan to purchase a subwoofer and integrate it into my system, but I refuse to buy one that will be used temporarily and then discarded later, simply because I cannot afford to spend the money on a good, true subwoofer today. Those boomy, thumping, muddy sounding boxes are worse then not having one, in my opinion. I''m not looking for quantity as much as I am for quality, and ability to play deep (20 Hz. minimum, preferably down to 15 Hz.) cleanly, thus I don''t think there is anything under $1000 that will meet the need, so I wait until I save up a bit more reserve funds.<BR>