Surround speakers while listening stereo recordings

[Andrein]

Hello.

Maybe stupid question, but how can i make my surround speakers sound while listening to normal cd? I have got Yamaha a860 avr and 5.2 speakers config. When i select Straight dsp mode surround speakers not working. In Standard they are very quiet. In 7.2 stereo all speakers working but sound like some freq are missing. Is there a way to make front and surround left speakers and right respectively play the same and still keep separate level configuration for all channels?

 

[lovinthehd]

What do you mean quiet? The surrounds are? That would be somewhat normal, they're for effect/ambiance for the most part. What sound mode are you using to upmix to 5.1? I'm not up on Yamaha terminology but seems straight is like direct so makes sense you're just in 2.0 at that point, standard would allow an upmixer? I assume it offers Dolby and DTS upmixers and maybe one of its own?

Is 7.2 stereo just the all channel stereo mode, no actual surround matrixing? Sends L/R to main & surround L/Rs and sums the info for the center? Often called a party mode and probably where you'll get the most output from surrounds. Not sure what you mean about the bit on keeping separate level configuration....

ps Have you reviewed your manual for what each sound mode does?

 

[Andrein]

Ideally i would like to get the best quality sound from all speakers while playing stereo. By sepate level i mean not just connecting front and surround via splitter to one channel. By quiet i mean tha i hardly can hear those speakers at all in Standard. I can prob set surrounds to +7-8db to hear them. But then if i insert dvd audio i would need to revert levels back. 7.2 stereo is more or less ok but i dont like quslity.

 

[lovinthehd]

Surround doesn't use equal volume in mains vs surrounds so not sure what you're going to find to match your expectations more than an all channel stereo mode or surround with raised surround speaker levels. Maybe there's some further tweaking with a sound mode or eq adjustment in the avr to make all channel stereo more suitable to you? I don't particularly care for listening in all channel stereo mode myself, maybe during a party but I found surround works better at the last one anyways.

 

[KEW]

The recording is in stereo, so that is the best way to play it, IMHO.

I imagine your receiver has some type of surround sound ambiance effects to emulate different venues. You can give them a listen. Sometimes they have sounded good immediately, but they never held my preference for listening any length of time.
I prefer simple stereo.

 

[Andrein]

Ok. You mean you listen to 2 speakers only in case of non surround sound source?

All channel stereo at least in my case sounds not so clear as Standard/Straight especially when piano plays. It is not just sending the same signal to front and rear speakers but looks like avr is doing something else.

 

[3db]

Hello.

Maybe stupid question, but how can i make my surround speakers sound while listening to normal cd? I have got Yamaha a860 avr and 5.2 speakers config. When i select Straight dsp mode surround speakers not working. In Standard they are very quiet. In 7.2 stereo all speakers working but sound like some freq are missing. Is there a way to make front and surround left speakers and right respectively play the same and still keep separate level configuration for all channels?

The "Straight" menu choice for Yamaha means it will decode what ever the receiver see's at its inputs. If its stereo, you get stereo, if its multichannel in then its multi channel out. What you want to do is use the 2/7 channel stereo without any additional DSP functions. Set to 2 channel stereo, it will mux multichannel inputs down into stereo. Set to 7channel miode, it will send stereo to all the channels for a 2 channel source. The DSP modes, even the one for music uses the surround speakers for the creation of ambience . This "ambience" will not be even close to what you would hear from your left right main channels. I would use 7 channel stereo without adding any additional DSP. This will get your levels on the surrounds that you desire along with the full audio spectrum minus the bass which goes to your sub ( if you chose your speaker selection for the surrounds are set to small ).

 

[Andrein]

7ch stereo is fine in ters of sound level but it looks like in this case some frequencies are cut. E.g. voice and some instruments are not so clear as in straight, standard, 2ch stereo. What can be the reason for that?

 

[TLS Guy]

7ch stereo is fine in ters of sound level but it looks like in this case some frequencies are cut. E.g. voice and some instruments are not so clear as in straight, standard, 2ch stereo. What can be the reason for that?

7 channel puts the signal to 7 speakers and is plain stupid. You are right the frequency balance is upset because you have a digs dinner of direct and reflected sounds and vastly increase the opportunity for frequency additions and cancellations.

I think you need to get the message which is: - "Just don't do it!"

 

[lovinthehd]

7ch stereo is fine in ters of sound level but it looks like in this case some frequencies are cut. E.g. voice and some instruments are not so clear as in straight, standard, 2ch stereo. What can be the reason for that?

Look up comb filtering for one....

 

[TLS Guy]

Look up comb filtering for one....

I resisted using that term, lest he visit his hairdresser.

 

[KenM10759]

The OP should invest in a couple of good BluRay music concert programs and play them in a properly calibrated full surround sound system to know what that should really sound like. I suggest Chris Botti Live In Boston as a good starter. THAT is what a normal stereo music CD will never sound like.

That said, my NAD T758 receiver has a unique-to-NAD mode they call "Enhanced Stereo." I use it rarely but when moving around the room it's very nice because it definitely sends more signal to the surrounds (I have a 5.1 system) than any of the other modes, and I have it set to send nothing to the center channel.

Maybe one of those receivers will give him what he's after.

 

[Andrein]

Thank you guys for advices. For now will use Standard with surrounds +6db. Sounds better than 7ch stereo on yamaha. Btw you d better use you instead of he. I am not a subject.

 

[ttarasu]

@kenM
Can you please guide me how to set nothing to center channel in 5.1.


TT

 

[KenM10759]

@kenM
Can you please guide me how to set nothing to center channel in 5.1.


TT

Sorry but no, I can't unless you have a later model NAD receiver.

There are ways with other popular receivers to set a "phantom center", though from my experience with my old Denon receiver it was done automatically with Audyssey and only when there is no center speaker connected at all during calibration.

 

[Dan Madden]

The OP should invest in a couple of good BluRay music concert programs and play them in a properly calibrated full surround sound system to know what that should really sound like. I suggest Chris Botti Live In Boston as a good starter. THAT is what a normal stereo music CD will never sound like.

That said, my NAD T758 receiver has a unique-to-NAD mode they call "Enhanced Stereo." I use it rarely but when moving around the room it's very nice because it definitely sends more signal to the surrounds (I have a 5.1 system) than any of the other modes, and I have it set to send nothing to the center channel.

Maybe one of those receivers will give him what he's after.

Good recommendation. That Botti concert on BD is my benchmark for multi channel audio !!

 

[3db]

Thank you guys for advices. For now will use Standard with surrounds +6db. Sounds better than 7ch stereo on yamaha. Btw you d better use you instead of he. I am not a subject.

7 Channel stereo was never meant for critical listening . It was meant more for background music. I use 7 channel for music as a background or if I'm in another room entirely. I never use it for critical listening.