What are the differences between all the listening modes?

[guitarplyrstevo]

In the future I want to upgrade to the Onkyo TX-SR805 but for now, the Onkyo TX-SR574 that I got for $10 will do. I have noticed that there are many different listening modes in the receiver but I am not sure how they are all different. My receiver comes with the following:

Stereo (Self explanatory)
Mono (Self explanatory)

PLII Movie
PLII Music
PLII Game

Neo:6 Cin
Neo:6 Mus

Neural Surr

Mono Movie (I'm not too sure what this is used for and why)

Orchestra

Unplugged

Studio Mix

Tv Logic

All Ch St (I know this one but is the center mono?)

Full Mono (How is it different from just mono?)

Direct



Everything else I'm not too sure. I've tried looking these up but they all sound like the same thing. I know this is a stupid question but I have wondered about this for a long time. Thanks

 

[GlocksRock]

A lot of those are different DSP modes that will make music sound different, others are for moives/tv watching. The owners manual should describe each mode.

 

[markw]

Simply put, they all sound different.

They all kerfutz with the original sound in similar but different ways.

It's like having different toppings to choose from for your ice cream. Choose the ones you like and ignore the rest.

 

[guitarplyrstevo]

They all kerfutz with the original sound in similar but different ways.

It's like having different toppings to choose from for your ice cream. Choose the ones you like and ignore the rest.

Fair enough, but when I switch from a "PLII" listening mode to a "Neo:6" listening mode, some of the formats on the top change. That is the main reason why I asked this question. For example: When I have "PLIIx Music" activated, it shows the dolby sign with "PLIIx" next to it. When I have "Neo:6 Mus" activated, it shows "Neo:6" and the "dts" sign. From my understanding, dts is an uncompressed format correct? So I would assume that anything with dts would be better wouldn't it? Since it is uncompressed.

 

[MDS]

When I have "PLIIx Music" activated, it shows the dolby sign with "PLIIx" next to it. When I have "Neo:6 Mus" activated, it shows "Neo:6" and the "dts" sign. From my understanding, dts is an uncompressed format correct? So I would assume that anything with dts would be better wouldn't it? Since it is uncompressed.

PLIIx was created by Dolby and Neo:6 was created by DTS.

DTS is a lossy compression format and so is Dolby Digital.

 

[guitarplyrstevo]

PLIIx was created by Dolby and Neo:6 was created by DTS.

DTS is a lossy compression format and so is Dolby Digital.

So in short, they are practically the same, just made by two different companies? Both will give you uncompressed sound?

 

[MDS]

PLIIx and DTS Neo:6 are known as 'matrix decoders'. They take 2 channel analog or digital signals and DD/DTS 5.1 and convert it to 6.1 or 7.1. They do it by using cues in the audio, such as out of phase sound, and steering it to the surrounds or rear surrounds in the case of 7.1.

Decoding doesn't change whether the original recording was compressed or not. Lossy compression like DD/DTS/MP3/WMA/etc throws away information that its model says you wouldn't hear anyway (eg. a soft sound immediately following a loud sound would be masked, hence no reason to save it). Matrix decoders create new channels where none existed before but do not compress or otherwise alter any of the channels that were originally present.

 

[guitarplyrstevo]

PLIIx and DTS Neo:6 are known as 'matrix decoders'. They take 2 channel analog or digital signals and DD/DTS 5.1 and convert it to 6.1 or 7.1. They do it by using cues in the audio, such as out of phase sound, and steering it to the surrounds or rear surrounds in the case of 7.1.

Decoding doesn't change whether the original recording was compressed or not. Lossy compression like DD/DTS/MP3/WMA/etc throws away information that its model says you wouldn't hear anyway (eg. a soft sound immediately following a loud sound would be masked, hence no reason to save it). Matrix decoders create new channels where none existed before but do not compress or otherwise alter any of the channels that were originally present.

Oh I see. That makes more sense. Thank you