Well, only if you're out of phase to begin with!

Let's say you're out of phase for DVD-V's and CDs. The bass will sound as it sounds. You adjust your sub's level that way. You get used to it, so that sounds "normal". OK, now when you switch to the 6 ch bypass, you will now be *more* in phase, and hence the bass *should* sound louder, and potentially worse.

For 2 ch bypass, it's full range mains and no sub anyway, so no phase issue there. But, if you do have the speakers set as small, you will get double bass being *in phase" with the mains and sub, and that should sound bad too.

So...

- 6 ch bypass, in phase, boomy bass
- 2 ch bypass, small mains, double bass, in phase, boomy bass
- 2 ch bypass, large mains, phase n/a, good sound
- 2 ch digitally, out of phase, sounds good because that's how you have your sub's level set, and that's what you've become used to

Maybe? BoB?

One quick note concerning phase. I 1st tried to adjust the phase between my mains with the tests in Avia. I thought I got it right, and I was seemingly happy for a long time. Then I got a discrete test tone CD (Autosounds 2000 #101, or Stryke). I rapidly figured out that I had it wrong. When I *properly* adjusted the phase, my sub was then too loud. So it can happen very easily. The Chesky Ultimate DVD-V/DVD-A is a very useful disc for phase, and for a whole bunch of other stuff too. Avia is good for most things, but a waste for mains-to-sub phase IMO. The Chesky disc has phase tests that are a lot easier to judge if the phase is correct or not.

Avia and the Chesky disc make a nice combination.


[This message has been edited by Kevin C Brown (edited February 26, 2003).]