What are the proper subwoofer/LFE settings?
This is a complicated topic. For full details see LFE, subwoofers and interconnects explained. The root cause of the problem is that LFE content is deliberately recorded 10dB low (Exception: some SACDs!) to provide extra headroom for explosions and such. Thus LFE has to be boosted 10db prior to output to the subwoofer to be in proper balance with the other channels. This is complicated by the fact that most people have their systems set to “steer” other bass content to the subwoofer as well — bass content from the other speaker channels. The boost of the LFE must happen before the other such “steered” bass is mixed in or the LFE and the steered bass will be out of balance with each other in the mix. Note that stereo tracks (e.g., CDs) have no LFE channel and thus this is all a non-issue. The only bass going to the subwoofer would be “steered” bass. For multi-channel tracks, these days the odds are excellent that the factory default settings in any newer receiver will handle the LFE bo
