My title may be misleading but I didn't know how else to word it.

We know that the lowest note (open E) on a bass violin is roughly 41 hz, same as on a bass guitar. I've listened to music on several speakers that roll off at 60 hz or even higher. It's obvious that the bass weight is minimal, yet a 41 hz tone can be heard. The presentation is lightweight but the bass notes are easily discernible, if not terribly powerful.

I've read that low bass notes disappear when the speakers can't handle them. So how is it that the bass can be heard on these speakers (or cheap car speakers or 3 inch radio speakers, etc) when they are not designed to do so? Bass is bass, is it not? Frequency is frequency, correct? Doesn't air have to move to create bass? So how are these bass notes even audible? I cannot hear below 25 hz on my main speakers and have listened to music that contains some known bass notes below that. They are totally inaudible.

Does my question make any sense? Thanks for any thoughts!