Surround Mode for Multichannel PCM?

[enonimos]

I just purchased the onkyo 705 and am currently outputting all my audio via HDMI and hence as multichannel PCM (from HD DVD player and Cable Box).

My question is what surround modes do people prefer applying to the multichannel PCM that originates from decoded DD+ or TrueHD? Should I just set the receiver to Pure Audio/Direct mode regardless of original codec...DD, DTS, DD+, TrueHD?

 

[avaserfi]

I just purchased the onkyo 705 and am currently outputting all my audio via HDMI and hence as multichannel PCM (from HD DVD player and Cable Box).

My question is what surround modes do people prefer applying to the multichannel PCM that originates from decoded DD+ or TrueHD? Should I just set the receiver to Pure Audio/Direct mode regardless of original codec...DD, DTS, DD+, TrueHD?

In general using Pure Audio/Direct mode turns off bass management which would intern turn your subwoofer off. I would recommend leaving your receiver on its "standard" mode so it just receivers the MPCM signal and simply sends it straight to the speakers. Although, if you do have a 7 channel system you could turn on Dolby Prologic IIx and it will matrix the surround sound to the rear speakers as well otherwise I would avoid using different DSPs and processing modes.

 

[Seth=L]

Dolby TrueHD translates into Lossless 7.1 LPCM as does DTS-HD MA (DTS-HD MA isn't compatible with any players yet). Select Dolby TrueHD if it is any option and let the player decode the bitstream and convert the signal to 7.1 LPCM to be sent out via HDMI. The receiver should then take the LPCM and convert it to analog and output.

 

[jcPanny]

Surround sound modes

I don't find much use for the extra DSP modes on my receiver.
IMHO, taking a losless source like Dolby True HD and applying additional DSP modes or processing defeats the purpose. If applicable, using Dolby PLIIx processing to add the surround back channels to a 5.1 source might be beneficial.

 

[enonimos]

yea my toshiba HD-A2 is performing the decoding and sending the multichannel LPCM to my receiver. I felt the same about using DSP with the lossless signals, so I have been testing out the "Multichannel" mode in my Onkyo SR705. Doesn't really describe exactly what this is in the manual, but I figure it just preserves the individual LPCM streams coming from the HD DVD player. I will compare that to the PLIIx mode as suggested. Thanks for the the suggestions!