5.1 Music?

[gkeong]

Got a general question about how you listen to your music?

1. Only listen via your two fronts, or
2. Listen using Dolby 5.1 Surround?

I've always heard that #1 is better. However, playing with my receiver yesterday and found that it supports #2.

My equipment are:
Receiver: Marantz 8300
Fronts: Paradigm Studio 100 v3
Center: Paradigm Studio CC-570
Surrounds: Paradigm ADP-470

Thanks in advance,
Gary

 

[jaxvon]

Well, it depends on how your music is recorded. If you're listening to a CD (which is recorded in stereo only), then it's pointless to run the signal through extra processing to put in 5.1. In this situation, it would be best to enable a "Pure Direct Mode" if your reciever has it (That's just a Yamaha term, but it simply indicates a mode where the reciever doesn't do any processing to the signal from the player). However, if you're listening to an SACD or DVD-A that's encoded in 5.1, then it makes sense to enable this mode on your reciever. You can find many old stereo recordings that have been redone in 5.1, but some newer releases have been recorded specifically for 5.1 sound. A good example of this would be "Everything Must Go" by Steely Dan.

Hope this helps.

 

[zumbo]

Well, it depends on how your music is recorded. If you're listening to a CD (which is recorded in stereo only), then it's pointless to run the signal through extra processing to put in 5.1. In this situation, it would be best to enable a "Pure Direct Mode" if your reciever has it (That's just a Yamaha term, but it simply indicates a mode where the reciever doesn't do any processing to the signal from the player). However, if you're listening to an SACD or DVD-A that's encoded in 5.1, then it makes sense to enable this mode on your reciever. You can find many old stereo recordings that have been redone in 5.1, but some newer releases have been recorded specifically for 5.1 sound. A good example of this would be "Everything Must Go" by Steely Dan.

Hope this helps.

I agree! I use the format listed on the cd or dvd. I do use (PLII movie) for tv and sometimes (PLII music) for Music Choice.

 

[shokhead]

CD's in 5channel stereo

 

[Shinerman]

There is nothing wrong with listening to a CD in 5.1 or better. I frequently run CDs through the DTS Music mode. Sounds great. Just go with what you like. Simple as that.

It true that 2 channel CD's are intended for 2 channel playback but many sound very good and even better with some digitial processing. For example, Tool and Perfect Circle CD's seem to play really well though my DTS Music mode as well as many other albums.

Enjoy!

Shinerman

 

[shokhead]

I dont think i can play anything though my DTS mode unless its been recorded in DTS on my receiver.

 

[Starmax]

I agree with Shinerman. Some CD's do sound better in 5.1. I've noticed that all of Steely Dan's music (either CD's or DTS/DVD-Audio) sounds consistantly well produced. Same with Todd Rundgren, Lyle Lovett and others. Generally, I've found that the new releases recorded in high resolution formats to begin with sound like they are supposed to (even among these there are still major quality differences in channel mixing... deciding where to locate each instrument on the soundstage... depending on the skills and imagination of the mixer). The problems usually occur when a disc has been remastered from a previous recordings. Even on DVD-Audio or SACD, they just don't compare. For example, Marvin Gaye's "Greatest Hits" (DVD-Audio) sounds thin and lifeless on my system no matter what I do to juice it. However, this doesn't have to be the case as Pink Floyd's re-mastered SACD "Dark Side of the Moon" originally recorded in 1967 proves. Many still consider it the best recorded album of all time! That's why I now read music reviews before I buy. I don't read them for the reviewer's musical tastes, but for the recording quality ratings. That bit of info. alone can make the difference between wasting your money or not. No matter HOW much you like a particular piece of music, once you get used to hearing great sounding production it's hard to listen to anything less!

By the way, does anyone think that 7.1 is an improvement over 5.1 for music? I've tried 'em both and I prefer 5.1 (except for movies). It's probably due to the shape of my room, but adding the two side speakers to make 7.1 only muddies the music. In 5.1 my surround side channels feed the two speakers behind me and I'm close to having equal distance from all 5 speakers at the listening position. Because of my room dimensions (15x20 rectangular) there is simply no way to place the sides far enough away to match the ofthers, without tightening up everything to a distance that is absurd. Even my receiver's (Denon 3805) speaker distance compensation doesn't make it any better, and SACDs override it anyway, at least on my Denon 220. Anyone have a success story about 7.1 sounding better then 5.1 for music?

 

[shokhead]

I must be screwed up because the only way i get 5.1 music is from a cd recorded in DTS or a DVD music disc and better with DTS. If i have a cd playing and push DTS on my reciever,i get nothing. Only if it has been recorded with DTS does it work. In fact,if i have a DVD movie in and its not DTS and i push the DTS on my reciever,i get nothing. What are you guys doing?

 

[Starmax]

Dts

Yeah, Shokhead, your receiver must have DTS decoding ability or you won't hear nuttin'! You should be able to hear a DTS disc, however. My receiver has an "Auto" mode where it detects whatever kind of format the disc is in a plays accordingly. You still should be able to listen to it in whatever version of Dolby, PLI, etc. surround modes your receiver has.

 

[Shinerman]

Shokhead,

Do some reading in your manual. Your receiver should be able to play a CD in DPL II, DTS Neo 6 or whatever DSP you choose. My Yamaha 1400 will play a CD in any of it's 30 plus DSP modes. Some sound horrible but they will play a CD. I can even play a CD through DTS Cinema.

I'm betting there is something set wrong on your receiver or you are just not hitting the correct button. I would be suprised if your receiver would not play a CD throuhg DTS or DPL II.

Shinerman

 

[shokhead]

But how do you listen to a cd in 5.1 if its not DTS?

 

[Starmax]

5.1

DTS is only one of many surround formats. It's your RECEIVER that can processes the music depending on what you tell it. The more primitive your source material (i.e. mono cds) the more artificial it will sound after your receiver finishes its cosmetic surgery on it.

 

[MDS]

But how do you listen to a cd in 5.1 if its not DTS?

I believe what Shinerman was saying is that he likes to use DTS Neo:6 to listen to CDs in 5.1. He left off the 'Neo:6' part which led to the confusion.

DTS Neo:6 is a matrix decoder, like PLII, and can turn 2 channel audio into 5.1. To use DTS, naturally the cd/dvd has to be encoded in DTS.

 

[shokhead]

Well that i know,thats different. I've used that and still thought 5 channel stereo sounded better.

 

[Shinerman]

I believe what Shinerman was saying is that he likes to use DTS Neo:6 to listen to CDs in 5.1. He left off the 'Neo:6' part which led to the confusion.

DTS Neo:6 is a matrix decoder, like PLII, and can turn 2 channel audio into 5.1. To use DTS, naturally the cd/dvd has to be encoded in DTS.

You are correct Sir! Forgot the Neo 6 designation.

Do you guys read the signature below my Screen Name?

 

[Shinerman]

Well that i know,thats different. I've used that and still thought 5 channel stereo sounded better.

Sorry about that. What I described and what Anonymous more accurately desribed is the only way to get any kind of DTS processing from a CD. I thought DTS (NEO 6) , is what you were speaking of for music playback.

Shinerman. Going with Margaaaaaaaa Ritaaaas tonight!

 

[shokhead]

Listen to a cd thats recorded with dts,way better then that neo6 stuff

 

[Shinerman]

Listen to a cd thats recorded with dts,way better then that neo6 stuff

I have several now and they are pretty impressive but, DVD-A still sounds the best to me. The DVD-A's I have are incredible. Queensryche's Empire is one of my favorites. Listening to it right now.

Shinerman

 

[shokhead]

Yep. I'm listening to the SACD-Hybrid Police Classics,very good.

 

[stiletto pat]

Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon

Starmax,

I don't mean to be a pain, but DSOTM was recorded in 1972, after the Meddle album, and released in 1973. It was not recorded in 1967 as you stated in your prior posting.

Pat