So many confusing terms and uses.
Stereo recordings may not have special attention to the bass, so yes, it could be recorded in stereo. Especially with purist, 2 or 3 microphone recordings, re-mixing the bass so that both L and R speakers had equal bass output is not something every mastering engineer thinks about. HT is very different.
The reproduction of the lowest octaves is omnidirectional due to the ratio of the wavelength to the driver. You could make a directional bass driver, but it would be 10' or more in diameter.
The human ear / brain mechanism cannot place 80Hz and lower frequencies in a stereo sound field if the following conditions are met:
1. Lack of room rattles or other noises which can clue the brain in.
2. Equivalent room mode excitation/reinforcement.
3. Steep enough low pass filter to prevent higher frequencies from playing through.
4. The listener is placed reasonably central to the stereo speakers.
As a result a single subwoofer, properly integrated into a system (which is very rare) is not audible as a subwoofer nor can it's output be placed while listening from a fixed location.
The only clue in my listening room if my 1 subwoofer, placed stage left, is on or off is the bass extension. If you don't have that experience it's not because you have magic ears. It's your room or the subwoofer integration.
Lastly, your main speakers will sound much better if you high pass them at 80 than at 40 Hz.
Thanks for coming to my TED talk.
Erik
