What mode do you listen to CDs in?

**Nomo** · **12-09-06, 05:07 PM**

Quote:

Sonnie wrote:

Is direct mode generally analog? I was trying to listen to a CD the other day and when I selected the direct mode I could get no sound. I only have the digital audio out connected though.

I believe on most if not all of HT receivers, it is on my Yamaha anyway, that direct or "pure direct" is analogue only, bypassing the receiver's DACs and DSPs.

Most times I prefer PLIIX, but around 10% of the time I'll go with pure direct.

**Ayreonaut** · **12-11-06, 09:02 AM**

On my Denon AVR 1905, Direct mode is either straight analog, or digital bypassing all processing except the DACs.

**Darren** · **12-11-06, 10:53 AM**

Quote:

Adz wrote:

Very true. And if you put in your favorite CD and switch back and forth between stereo and direct modes on your receiver/processor, you will hear a difference. What sounds better to you?

It depends on what type of music I'm listening to. If I'm listening to Metal or hard rock then I usually go stereo because the quality of the recordings is usually lacking. The highs are harsh and the bass is thin. Stereo places more emphasis on bass. If I'm listening to something more refined that has been mastered well I'll go direct.

**cafyon** · **01-16-07, 10:29 AM**

Hi all,

I prefer to use a seperate stereo integrated amp for CDs. Output is analog (player's internal DAC) from player till I buy a DAC.

And sorry if this is off-the-scope but, is there anyone listened to 3-channel SACD layer on "RCA Living Stereo" disks?

**01-16-07, 09:23 PM**

If I'm sitting and really "listening" I go pure direct all the time. I don't like all the special effects messing with what the engineers did with the music originally.

My two cents ...
Peter

**John S** · **01-17-07, 11:29 PM**

Quote:

cafyon wrote:

And sorry if this is off-the-scope but, is there anyone listened to 3-channel SACD layer on "RCA Living Stereo" disks?

http://www.hometheatershack.com/foru....html#post9091

**01-18-07, 10:20 AM**

Well, if I'm listening to a redbook cd I generally keep in in stereo, which IMO is the way it was mean to be heard. If, however, I'm listening to DVD-A or a 5.1 Surround recording, I go to the full surround speakers, either DTS or Pro II

**cyberbri** · **01-18-07, 01:02 PM**

I listen to CDs in stereo. My Denon 2910 does the decoding (for CDs and DVDs), bass management, etc. and I use analog outputs into my HK receiver. If I'm sitting in the sweet spot on the couch, this gives the best imaging, center vocal image, soundstage, etc. The other sound modes don't even compare.

(I also have first reflection points treated, bass traps in the front corners, and a BFD for the sub)

**Eddie Horton** · **01-18-07, 05:16 PM**

That's how it's done, Bri. Treat the room acoustically, then finish off with EQ. Can't wait till my room is done!! I'm jealous.

**cyberbri** · **01-18-07, 05:29 PM**

I'm just lucky that we found a rental (house) with a nice big rectangular living room. And lucky that it's on one end of an L-shaped layout with the bedrooms at the other end of the house. And that my wife lets me keep acoustic panels in the room (she didn't really have a choice - I got them and said "hope you like them" - hehe - I compromised a little bit on them, so they aren't stacked to the ceiling in the front corners, and now they're just doubled up in the corners).

But with flat frequency response, you don't even have to run the sub that hot to get fantastic bass for both music and movies.

I was tweaking some more last night, switched my VTF-3 Mk2 back to Max Extension (I get strong output to mid-teens, but lose a little headroom up higher), and re-did my BFD filters (on a different channel). Now it's extremely flat, even more than before, to high 30s, with a big rise from high 20s to high teens, with it dropping to "flat" level of higher bass around 15Hz (I'll try to post a graph or two tonight). I did this while running REW through the receiver, so I could work on the response as it combines with my Ascends (I cut some more in the 70s and around 100Hz to get it flatter to around there). Probably too many filters, but it's very flat now and I'll go with this for a while unless I play a scene that makes the sub show signs of stress.

I tried a bit of The Haunting DTS again after this, and for the first time (haven't checked the scene in a while, since doing all the tweaks) I heard the actual bass and creaks and sounds, and not the booms echoing around the room after the bass. At -15 it was massively loud, but it seemed like I heard just the bass and not the room. (and no stress from the sub)

**RayJr** · **01-21-07, 10:29 AM**

I listen to music in PLIIx or L7....depends on the type of music.

Later
RayJr

**cellexjohn** · **02-05-07, 03:32 PM**

This is an interesting thread. I'll give it a bump.

I personally listen to cd's in analog 2ch through my dedicated cd player. I let it do the processing. I run the preamp in direct mode with no base management for the mains. In this mode I walk up and turn off the sub as direct mode still sends full range to the fronts and still 80 and below to the sub. I spend a fair amount of time listening to jazz. I do listen to rock and some alternative also. None of which the mains have any problems with the base.

When tinkering about the house I listen to Sirius. Normally in 5ch stereo as it sounds fuller while moving around.

John

**cyberbri** · **02-05-07, 06:17 PM**

Quote:

Ayreonaut wrote:

From a Stereophile interview of Jim Fosgate

Quote:

Guttenberg: PLII can work its magic on LPs and CDs?
Fosgate: Yes. Please understand that PLII doesn't affect the stereo soundstage, other than to display the in-phase part of the program over the three front channels—the out-of-phase or randomly phased signals are sent to the rear. When switching between stereo and PLII, you'll see that the stereo soundstage stays intact but has greater depth and width. Sometimes you're not even aware of the extra speakers, until you turn them off and the soundstage collapses back to stereo.

Guttenberg: PLII comes in two flavors, Music and Movie. What's the difference?
Fosgate: In the digital implementation, the logic is the same for both modes, but the movie mode adds some time delay to the rear channels for a more frontal presentation. Of course, you can listen to movies in Music mode, which is the way I listen to DVDs. I recommend trying it both ways to see which one sounds better to you.

Guttenberg: Can PLII break on through to the two-channel faithful?
Fosgate: In real life, we're used to hearing in a 360º sphere from all around us. Stereo is unnatural in that it is coming only from the front speakers. With my triamped, all-tube system, stereo sounds very, very good—it's what great stereo is all about—but when I switch from stereo to multichannel, there's no comparison. It's not that one is so aware of the back channels, but PLII makes the front soundstage wider and deeper. Some of my guests aren't aware of the rear speakers' contributions until I turn them off.

I find this strange. At least with music sources, I find there is a difference in how the sound is mapped across the front 3 speakers when switching between DPLII Music and Movie. Movie puts a lot more sound in the center speaker, and Music keeps the soundstage a little wider across the front with more sound going to the sides.

At least this is how it works on my HK AVR240.

**robk_11** · **02-15-07, 04:20 PM**

I prefer music in stereo. I am usually streaming off my Roku Soundbridge though. I haven't broke out a CD in a loooong time...

**goatfarm** · **03-31-07, 08:56 PM**

2-channel stereo for everything except pipe organ. Then I add the sub.

**spin** · **04-01-07, 02:44 AM**

Mostly in Stereo mode for me.

However, I also occasionally switch to Pro Logic II Music mode, but with the surrounds turned off.

**Scott S** · **04-13-07, 07:33 PM**

I usually listen in Stereo. Stereo with bass management to be exact. I don't want my left and right to perform <80hz even though they can. My subwoofer is better than them in those frequencies and that is how I like it.

Occasionally, I will play with PL2 Music/Movie, DTS NEO Music/Movie, and L7 Cinema/Music....some songs sound better with another format and such....but I usually just listen in stereo.

**04-14-07, 08:10 AM**

CD's stereo only, unless I have a friend over wants to experience the other soundfields that DSP's provide.

**Jusbegood** · **07-29-07, 11:07 AM**

I listen to CD's in Multi-Channel Stereo through my Sony STR-DA3000ES. You get all the sweet spots anywhere that you sit.

**SierraMikeBravo** · **08-01-07, 01:36 AM**

I usally listen to Dobly PL for music. At times, I'll listen to direct stereo, but I find I prefer the surround aspect of Dolby.

**ACGREEN** · **08-01-07, 05:39 PM**

I know that purists listen in only stereo, but I love the "all-channels" stereo that Yamaha has. IT really highlights when you have a week speaker and is the reason I upgraded to a large center channel. I can't wait to listen to it in 7.1.

**mazersteven** · **08-01-07, 09:50 PM**

DTS Neo 6

**enrique** · **08-02-07, 03:28 PM**

i listen to redbook via analog thru my cd player,usually 2ch in either stereo or bypass/direct.Smetimes it's 5ch depending on the mood i'm in.But it's all analog.DVDA/SACD is another story all together which i still enjoy.

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