What Happens When You Stack External Filters on BASSBOSS Subs
All BASSBOSS subs have built-in 24dB/octave high-pass and low-pass filters. Adding another 24dB/octave low-pass filter does two things:
First, it lowers the signal level at 90Hz arriving at the sub by 6dB, with progressively decreasing reductions below 90Hz and progressively increasing reductions above.
Second — and more significantly — it adds additional phase shift. If your tops have one 24dB/octave filter and your subs have two, they will very likely be severely misaligned, leaving you with a loss of energy in the transition range.
Why BASSBOSS Is Different
All BASSBOSS cabinets include processing that makes adjacent boxes phase coherent with each other regardless of model and throughout all relevant presets. We can't provide this alignment between our products and other brands, so it's up to the operator to verify the resulting alignments.
The Bottom Line: Send a Full-Range Signal
Always send a full-range signal to BASSBOSS subs. The only changes necessary should be changes in relative level to match the lows/highs balance to the tastes of the operator.
If you find it necessary to apply EQ, the EQ should be applied equally to the subs and tops — otherwise the phase-shift introduced will disturb the alignment between them.
How to Test and Measure Your Speaker System
Place sub and top next to each other, equidistant from a measurement mic. Start by measuring the sub's output response and phase and save that measurement. Then mute the sub and measure the top. Use the top's on-board processing to align its phase response to the sub's recorded phase response.
Once the phase traces are aligned, turn the sub back on and measure in combination. You should see summation in the overlap region. The most familiar tools for these tests start with Smaart, but REW (Room EQ Wizard), Systune, and Fuzzmeasure are free or low-cost options.
