Subsonic Filter vs High Pass Crossover

[Sarthos 10+ year member]

What is the real difference between the two, if any? My amp has a subsonic filter variable up to like 40 Hz, but I'm just wondering what the difference would be if I used a bandpass crossover to tune a sub rather than the subsonic filter and low pass crossover built into my amp. Kinda a basic question probably but I couldn't find it on here unless I didn't know where to look. Sorry if this is the wrong section.

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[bass_lover1 10+ year member]

Well, the proper term should be Infrasonic filter, but yes it is just another name for a high pass crossover.

 

[jdawg 5,000+ posts]

subsonic filter set at 40hz? Why even have a subwoofer then? Just get some bangin *** mid bass in the door

 

[Sarthos 10+ year member]

So they are basically the same thing? I could have sworn I read somewhere on here someone say that a subsonic filter reverses the signal of the low notes and sends them to the back of the box so they're not heard or something weird that made no sense. In that case, are sub (infra) sonic filters generally like 24 dB/octave or is that amp dependent? Because if it's amp dependent or if it's generally less, might it be beneficial to have a 24 dB/octave high pass crossover to prevent the subs from playing the most extremely low and potentially damaging notes while being able to hit deep notes well? I've got a sealed box so I can already get pretty low, but I'm just wondering if it'd help the subs to have a stronger crossover mostly.

 

[bass_lover1 10+ year member]

Crossover slope will be dependent on the amp. If you're running a sealed box, you could probably set it at around 25-30hz, since in normal music there isn't much information below that. Also depending on what speaker you're using, I doubt you'll even need to use one.

 

[Sarthos 10+ year member]

I listen to country music so there's not really anything too horribly bassy, but the subs are old and I'd hate to blow them. I'd also never set my filter at 40 Hz, that'd cut off like a whole octave of potential music (although I have some music which only hits below 50 Hz for maybe a few seconds in an entire song). I'd set it about 30 Hz if I have a low slope, 25 if I have a steep one, I need to find my manual, it might be in there. Otherwise it's an RXD-2400, but I'll look in the manual. I have a feeling it's 18 dB but it might be 24. I doubt it's 12.