bass boost feature, use it or not?

[RandyJ 10+ year member]

If you care about SQ, don't use it. I only use it every now and then.

And most statements like that are myths, just like 15's and 18's are too big to have sq.

 

[`pr0digy 10+ year member]

OK, I was not sure if that is how it worked or not. The spec sheet was not very clear, I thougt that the dial on the amp was a 0-18db boost @30-60hz and the remote knob was an overall signal control or attenuator. But you are saying that the knob and the dial are one and the same. I do know that with the remote knob that it does not boost anything above the already set gain control. In other words if I have the gain all the way up and then plug in the remote it does not raise the signal any more, it just gives you the option of lowering it 18db's.

Ah, I think your right with that... I always kept the boost on the amp at 1/2, and never really turned the remote up at all (except to mess around).

 

[`pr0digy 10+ year member]

And most statements like that are myths, just like 15's and 18's are too big to have sq.

I don't know, when I had my hifonics amp and turned bass boost on, it made the most obvious, ugly bump in frequency response there could be. Only time I could see it NOT hurting SQ is if your center freq that the bass boost is on is less than the rest of the freq's, but I doubt that would be the case. Even if it was, when you EQ you normally LOWER things, not raise them //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

 

[RandyJ 10+ year member]

I don't know, when I had my hifonics amp and turned bass boost on, it made the most obvious, ugly bump in frequency response there could be. Only time I could see it NOT hurting SQ is if your center freq that the bass boost is on is less than the rest of the freq's, but I doubt that would be the case. Even if it was, when you EQ you normally LOWER things, not raise them //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/wink.gif.608e3ea05f1a9f98611af0861652f8fb.gif

Well, im sure with some amps or in some applications it would be obvious, but with my current set up, and the way the bass boost on my equipment works, the difference in sq is not evident until you start gettin up past half way on the knob and even then it is not dramatic.

I guess it really depends on the equipment and the install.

 

[phrozen5100 10+ year member]

And most statements like that are myths, just like 15's and 18's are too big to have sq.

Huh? A myth? I'm not the type of person to believe in myths nor spread them... Bass boost just makes your amp try to create more power somewhere in the 40-50 hz range normally. The result is a significant increase in "peakiness" around that range. And as the others said, it oftentimes results in running your amp into clipping.

 

[RandyJ 10+ year member]

Huh? A myth? I'm not the type of person to believe in myths nor spread them... Bass boost just makes your amp try to create more power somewhere in the 40-50 hz range normally. The result is a significant increase in "peakiness" around that range. And as the others said, it oftentimes results in running your amp into clipping.

It's subjective to your own ears, most of the time though, a mild increase on the knob will not resort in ruined sq from a driver, you would see that I admitted it does create some distortion at some levels, but at small to mild levels, it, in most cases, does not result in distortion.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

And most statements like that are myths, just like 15's and 18's are too big to have sq.

How is that a myth //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/confused.gif.e820e0216602db4765798ac39d28caa9.gif It introduces distortion, exaggerates the bass and creates a big nasty peak; and that's if it's used correctly. Used wrong and you'll also get a nice dose of clipping.

Would you tell people it's OK to boost 5khz if it wasn't truly needed acoustically?

 

[Apoc 10+ year member]

Im with squeak you can get a lot better sound without it and then you dont even have to worry about clipping or distortion

 

[RandyJ 10+ year member]

How is that a myth //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/confused.gif.e820e0216602db4765798ac39d28caa9.gif It introduces distortion, exaggerates the bass and creates a big nasty peak; and that's if it's used correctly. Used wrong and you'll also get a nice dose of clipping.
Would you tell people it's OK to boost 5khz if it wasn't truly needed acoustically?

I know you know that there are other factors that create a big nasty peak, so dont blame the boost for all the peakiness. Enclosure plays a major role.

The feature is not implicated to give you a peak, it is to flatten out the response at certain levels. Some people use it just for that.

For those people who lack in the upper frequencies, this is for them, not for those who have a relatively flat response all around. So, if your using it and it's giving you a big nasty peak that you dont want, then you apperantly are STILL using it wrong because you are using it when it is not needed.

And also, if the 5Khz area was lacking in my ride and I had some type of equalization material that could possibly make it sound better, then yes I would increase it, but not if it wasnt needed.

 

[DFW40 10+ year member]

Many of the bass boosts that are on the amps (the rotary dials) and remote knobs that go up on your dash are very different from company to company. Some are attenuators and others are a boost @ a fixed freq. and some are a boost at whatever frequency and freq width you select. Some can create nasty peaks and clipping but others are nothing more than a way to decrease your sub signal. It all depends on what amp you have and how it works. Some do effect the SQ and others do not.

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

because you are using it when it is not needed.
but not if it wasnt needed.

And there-in lies the problem young Jedi; people don't use them to "equalize" the bass, they use it to bump the output as much as possible, which is not how they should be used and is why it is dangerous to tell people it's okay to use.....because chances are good that they won't use it right.

And seriously, there is absolutely no reason anyone would ever need 18db of boost, or even 12db boost; they should cap the stupid thing at 3db.

 

[RandyJ 10+ year member]

And there-in lies the problem young Jedi; people don't use them to "equalize" the bass, they use it to bump the output as much as possible, which is not how they should be used and is why it is dangerous to tell people it's okay to use.....because chances are good that they won't use it right.
And seriously, there is absolutely no reason anyone would ever need 18db of boost, or even 12db boost; they should cap the stupid thing at 3db.

Well, very true indeed, I was just going from my point of view and making the foolish assumption that others use thiers like I use mine, which is properly.

 

[Apoc 10+ year member]

I say we settle this in a fist fight

 

[squeak9798 5,000+ posts]

I'll have to call in supa to take care of my light work //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/ready2go.gif.6557fa3d88b9eaca9c7b8efb9cbd02ed.gif

 

[RandyJ 10+ year member]

I'll have to call in supa to take care of my light work //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/ready2go.gif.6557fa3d88b9eaca9c7b8efb9cbd02ed.gif

Harhar, bring it on partna //content.invisioncic.com/y282845/emoticons/moon.gif.9d317aec3339ffe7fde0638df52c628a.gif