With most home theater receivers/processors there is a setting for assigning channels. If you don’t have a subwoofer the LFE channel will be routed to the L/R speakers unless the L/R speaker is set to small then the L/R will not receive low frequencies. If L/R is set to large or full range it will get the LFE. There is also settings that will split the LFE to the subs and L/R.
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So I was right… 
Well, having the LFE signals on the L/R Main, I could have some problems… 
@paul172 and I are basically saying the same thing.
I submit the “downmix” of the LFE to the mains will not be an issue; any more than over driving the mains with bass-heavy music would be.
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To solve this problem in my setup I had 2 choices.
Get two rel for left and right, and add a third beast for .1 in HT setup. I did not have the room for that. it would have been my preference.
Instead I got a JL Audio CR-1 (which cost as much as adding two nice RELs when you add in all the cables needed) and it makes separate xover for two channel and passes through the HT 2.1 to the left right sub channels untouched. You do need a pre that has passthrough though.
Again, 3 subs better solution…but I had space issues. I barely could get 1 sub in my skinny room. If you have the room, get 3 subs and use bypass on your Pre.
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This is partly a THX thing. Their specs on response and expected behavior, directivity are all pretty tight. I did a THX Ultra2 subwoofer project around 2008 with them and expect it hasn’t changed much.
I will say that the experience in working with and chatting with Laurie Fincham (VP of R&D there for many years) was a highlight of my career. He was good friends with a coworker of mine at the time (who was the former president of KEF), so we got to have a number of lunches and trade shows together and talk shop.
When you do THX certification, the products are tested with tracking an 80 Hz highpass filter and bass management in your receiver/processor.
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You are officially my myth! 
Imagine that when I was 18 I wanted to get a tattoo with the writing THX!
I still have a complete THX-certified system.
Everything is clear as always dear Chris, thanks again and good work. 
In an audio setup this is true. But he is interested in a multi channel setup and the signal to the Sub has zero to do with the mains. I am having trouble making this point. No Mains Signal is passed to the Subs in a multi channel setup. Only the sub content is passed to the sub.
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I understand and agree.
The OP’s concern is the flip side case, if I understand him correctly.
He is concerned about LFE abusing his main speakers if he sets them to Full Range and does not run subwoofers.
I just can’t understand how this could possibly be an issue. As I noted above, “the ‘downmix’ of the LFE to the mains will not be an issue; any more than over driving the mains with bass-heavy music would be.”
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He appears to be trying to learn here. Our volunteer tech supporters here seem to skip over important details when offering their support. Subs with audio work differently than subs for video.
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True but partially:
if I set, at least on my AV10, an L/R Large configuration (full-range) and a crossover (high-pass at 40hz) the frequencies below 40hz are sent to the SUB together with the LFE channel.
This is reported in my manual:
Exactly
As Al said if you don’t have subwoofers and you set the processor to none then no LFE signal is not going anywhere. When you get subs then set the processor up with two profiles, one for HT and one for music. Until you buy and integrate subs into the system this discussion is going nowhere except around in circles.
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No, wait, don’t make me sound crazy, please: 
Al said that none of the L/R frequencies could be routed to the SUBs, but this is not true if a crossover is set on the L/R.
You’re saying something different.
You’re right, but my concern wasn’t this but that I would have put too much stress on my speakers since I wasn’t sure that without SUB the LFE signal wouldn’t be routed to the L/R.
That’s all.
Anyway, thanks everyone for the interest.
You have now made over a 100 posts in this thread many of which are purely theoretical in nature. I am not really sure at this point what you are trying to achieve and I suspect I’m not the only one. You if I remember correctly already have a HT capable Paradigm sub but were looking at additional subs for audio only. Are we talking about integrating all three subs in one system with different purposes or two different systems. If you do have the Paradigm and are trying to use one system for two purposes then your LFE issue doesn’t exist. Use the PL 500 full range for music and in HT put the Paradigm in the chain. Set up two different profiles in your processor. When you finally decide on Music subs then you can address that issue.
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Two different systems.
Yes, exactly, but for now the Paradigm remains in the McIntosh system.
I was looking for a good sub for the AV system and in the meantime I had this doubt about the LFE.
That’s all… 
Man, why the need to “rage”?
All self-respecting audiophiles have a thousand doubts and indecisions, otherwise, the forums wouldn’t exist.
What would be the unclear part?
I have two systems and I’m looking for a subwoofer for the AV one.
I’m out.
(Can’t wait until he experiences a girl for the first time though)
Mha…
I was sure you would take it badly… 
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Buy or borrow your sub(s), follow your kits’ instructions and remember this ^.
'Nough said…
You’re good to go, IMO.
Good luck.
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Many thanks, Scott.
Today I felt bullied.
Audiophile bullying but still bullying is…
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