Puff et al, this has gotten a bit tangled-up over the bass management settings. When the mains are set "large", they get the full-range, including all the bass that's in their channels. In the usually suggested subwoofer setting, which may be termed "SWFR", "LFE" or whatever, the sub gets none of the bass in the "large" main channels; it gets the low frequency effects(LFE)sometimes present in movies and also the low bass from speakers set "small". Receivers commonly have an optional subwoofer setting, generally not recommended in most cases, which may be termed "both". "double", "plus", etc. in which besides any LFE and bass from "small" speakers the sub also gets the low bass that the "large" mains also play.
