Does setting "full-range speakers" duplicate the lower frequencies?

Question

(Setup: 2.1, Klipsch B-2 bookshelf speakers, BIC PL-200 subwoofer, Yamaha RX-v667 receiver, fed over HDMI)

In Windows 7, in the sound devices configuration setup, there's an option to set "full-range speakers".

If I enable this option, will Windows route these lower frequencies -solely- to my two front speakers, or will it duplicate these frequencies, sending them to these speakers, but also to the subwoofer? What is Windows actually "doing" with this full-range option (I.e., what's it setting the crossover at)?

What about when this same setting is set in the actual receiver itself? (like Yamaha RX-v667)

NOTES:

I've read that one shouldn't select full-range speakers with bookshelf speakers, as it's better to have those lower frequencies go to the sub, which is much better at handling them.

I set the "small speaker" option for my two fronts in my receiver, but I set the crossover at 80hz, as the B2 specs show that it has some "bass'ier" range than other bookshelfs, and I thought it'd sound a little better/more "full" by having the front speakers handle a bit of the bass. Not sure if this is sound thinking, though.

Answer 1

What is Windows actually "doing" with this full-range option?

Nothing.

If you set Windows to the full range option, it is not doing anything to the signal at the output. You're sending the full frequency range to the speakers. That's not to say the speakers themselves may not act on the signal though.

There are crossovers in the speakers themselves to send the proper frequencies to the tweeters and bass drivers (and mid drivers in a three way, etc).

Your B2s, are capable of handling frequencies down to 62Hz per the spec sheet. In practice, it will likely not perform stellar down at their limit. Having said that, most music doesn't spend much time at those frequencies either (though you haven't said what you're listening to on these speakers).

Another way to approach this question is, if you are going to employ a crossover to limit the LF going to the B2s, which device do you want to do the work? Do you want Windows's software crossover or the Yamaha's crossover (not sure if theirs is software or hardware)?

Personally, I'd go for the piece of audio gear rather than an operating system. Having said that, however, as a practical matter, unless you notice distortion, I'd send the full range to the bookshelves. Per spec, they're capable of handling most of the spectrum, and you can set the sub's crossover to fill in below. A little bit of duplication/reinforcement at those lower frequencies is not necessarily a bad thing.

Answer 2

Usually with 2.1 systems, the stereo signal goes to the sub and is then distributed to the relevant speaker. The sub will also process the entire stereo signal and play the low range frequencies itself.

So in effect a 2.1 system should be considered full size for Windows' purposes. You could reduce the amount and depth of the bass sent to the speaker system by setting it to small, say for night time use or if it disturbs your neighbours, but you will lose some of the low end.

Generally the setting is for small 2.0 computer speakers that can't handle the full range and will distort the sound, especially at louder levels So by cutting the low end sounds it can't really handle, you are freeing the diaphragm up to make better use of the frequencies that it can.

Answer 3

The Full-range speaker option is only for speakers that are full range. Most do not cope well, which is why you have subs, mids and tweeters etc.

At higher volumes, sending full range signals to ordinary speakers can destroy them.

Generally, go with what the spec sheet for the speakers says for ranges, crossovers etc., although often there will be low or high pass filters built in to them.