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Question about sound below an amps frequency specs

if an amps frequency response are spec'd out to be between 20hz to 20khz, will it pass information above and below those numbers?For instance will it pass a 15hz tone or will any information below 20 hz be cut off by some internal filters. If an A/v receiver has the same frequency specs in their manual, will it also cut off info above or below its stated specs? Could info going through its LFE be cut off below 20hz as well. The reason I ask is when I was playing a Realtraps bass test CD I downloaded, my speakers had no info below 20hz, though the disc starts with 10hz tones. Just for fun I played the same disc using my tube amp and had significant bass through my mains well below 20hz. Which made me wonder.
shiva

Showing 1 response by plato

plato
1,543 posts
 
Most amps roll off gradually below 20Hz and above 20kHz, so unless the amp employs steep filters to purposely roll off the response then you should still have some output at 10Hz.

That said, I don't believe many humans can actually hear bass tones below 20Hz. Such low notes are felt more than heard. If the output from the speakers is high enough, objects in your room will start shaking, and walls, doors, and windows may vibrate loudly.

Most speakers will not produce significant output below 20Hz, and any bass you actually heard was probably an upper harmonic distortion (and not the fundamental test tone) -- especially if you heard bass while playing a 10Hz test tone and the room was not shaking...
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