what mode for tv listening?

[zumbo]

So, if your display reads DTS Master Audio, and you select Straight, and now your display reads Straight, it's the same thing?

Seems pointless to me.

My Z7 does have Pure Direct, but my 1400 didn't.

Thanks for the replies guys.

 

[zildjian]

My experience is the same as Tim's. I bought a 600 series Yamaha receiver for my dad for Christmas a couple years ago, & I can't remember which specific model number, might have been the same as Tim's, but it worked correctly in straight mode. Sometimes it would detect the decoding mode it needed to be in and displayed it correctly, but sometimes it wouldn't. Hitting the straight mode was essentially manually telling the receiver to go into the mode that we would want it to go into anyhow if it did it properly automatically, which would be playing whatever the encoding is on the disc, the way it is on the disc whether it be stereo, DTS, DD, DTS-MA, etc... but straight mode didn't turn off any of the processing settings that I set up. The pure direct mode did though, so I told dad to avoid pure direct. Like I said before though, it's been a while, so I went to the manuals to refresh my memory, but the manuals (both for the RX-V667 or the fancier R7 that zumbo has for that matter) are consistent with this in that straight shouldn't turn off any adjustments like your bass management.
The RX-V667 manual page 44 says Pure Direct will turn off the following:
"The following features are disabled in Pure Direct mode. • sound program, tone control, YPAO PEQ, and Adaptive DRC • displaying and operating the OPTION menu and Setup menu"

That V667 manual does stink. When I read it last weekend, I didn't like it, and when I just looked at it again, still don't like it! If the AVR decodes the audio from the disc properly and does so automatically, great, but if it needs to be told to decode things the way they are on the disc, I used straight mode back in the day, which was a Tuesday... I might be wrong since I don't have a RX-V667 in front of me to try, but this is what worked on the only 600 series I ever messed with. Good luck.

 

[Entity]

I'm not sure on the newer models Zum, but on the 663, if I'm straight my DD and DTS lights still light up, based on the signal being received. Basically it shows both.

Straight just tells you it's not applying any effects such as the cinema DSP's or the enhancement modes. While keeping all of your EQ settings, bass management etc.

Likewise...when I switch to using any of the other DSP or enhancement the DD and DTS lights are still there as that signal is being decoded but it's throwing those modes of sound effects into it.

 

[zumbo]

I am 99.9% sure that if you have your mains set to Large, and you select Straight, the sub will not play.

This fact is why I always avoided Straight. But, it makes sense. Large doesn't employ bass management for the speakers set to Large.

My speakers not liking full-range, I always wanted my sub to be employed.

Once I discovered this information years ago, I made sure to go in the direction of my HT performing in the manner in which I chose it to be set. So I closed the door on Large and Straight.

For 2-channel, I used 2-channel. For surround, I let either receiver detect and display the mode being detected.

With all this revealed, I would still choose my unit to display what mode is being used or detected. I want to be sure.

Also, I still find it hard to believe the 667 will not display what it is detecting as the OP has stated..

 

[zumbo]

I just popped a blu-ray in my player.

I selected DTS Master on the player.

I can put my receiver in 2-channel, and it's 2-channel. It still has a little thing showing it's receiving DTSMA.

I can select Straight, and it displays Straight DTS Master.

I can push surround on the receiver remote, and it displays Sur Mode DTS Master.

It seems as though Straight and Sur Mode sound the same. I can select DSP modes during either, but it eliminates either.

In other words, I can't select a DSP mode while in DTS Master surround without that changing. Same goes for Straight. All three function separately, and neither allow a DSP mode to be employed.

 

[Entity]

I just double checked, and I certainly do get all appropriate channels driven with straight mode while the fronts are set to large, including the subs. (with LFE with either set to SWFR or both) With a blu ray in it's all channels and with a cd it's 2 or 2.1 depending on my LFE/Bass out settings.

I wouldn't tolerate Straight if it didn't allow the sub to play, as occasionally when I play CD's in the PS3 while bitstreaming, straight and pure direct are the only options on the receiver. The subwoofers do in fact play during these times. While the subwoofer light isn't lit up during 2 channel straight listening...the bass settings override that and direct bass frequencies to subwoofer if you have LFE/Bass out set to sub or both.

If in Pure Direct...no subwoofer output during 2 channel listening.

 

[zumbo]

For the record, Pure Direct sounds the same as well.

But, my system is killer.

 

[zumbo]

I just double checked, and I certainly do get all appropriate channels driven with straight mode while the fronts are set to large, including the subs. (with LFE with either set to SWFR or both) With a blu ray in it's all channels and with a cd it's 2 or 2.1 depending on my LFE/Bass out settings.

I wouldn't tolerate Straight if it didn't allow the sub to play, as occasionally when I play CD's in the PS3 while bitstreaming, straight and pure direct are the only options on the receiver. The subwoofers do in fact play during these times. While the subwoofer light isn't lit up during 2 channel straight listening...the bass settings override that and direct bass frequencies to subwoofer if you have LFE/Bass out set to sub or both.

Try it with the source a 2-channel cd and the speakers set to Large, and the SW set to sub.

 

[zumbo]

I am sure glad I don't use a PS3. All this is a PITA.

 

[zumbo]

Gotta be off to bed. Wife is giving me the eye. Thanks again for you guys chiming in.

 

[zumbo]

Realized I better come back and make a public apology to Zildjian.

Sorry about that buddy.

But, I will still not be using Straight.

 

[Entity]

Straight and surround decoder sound the same to me as well, personally I could never find a difference on movies.

Wow, you're right about the 2 channel straight...while front large and bass only set to sub I don't get subwoofer output. I had never run it that way with 2 channel apparently lol. However, when set to both the subs kick on immediately. When I used to run the fronts as large in a smaller room (left the sub off turned off half the time) I generally had it set for both. It's strange that both would override straight 2.0 settings but SWFR wouldn't.

Thanks for helping me find a setting combo I haven't tried in the 2 years I've had this thing I just use Straight 95% of the time since it saves me from having to fuss with changing it every time I play something different

 

[woofersus]

I just popped a blu-ray in my player.

I selected DTS Master on the player.

I can put my receiver in 2-channel, and it's 2-channel. It still has a little thing showing it's receiving DTSMA.

I can select Straight, and it displays Straight DTS Master.

I can push surround on the receiver remote, and it displays Sur Mode DTS Master.

It seems as though Straight and Sur Mode sound the same. I can select DSP modes during either, but it eliminates either.

In other words, I can't select a DSP mode while in DTS Master surround without that changing. Same goes for Straight. All three function separately, and neither allow a DSP mode to be employed.

Right, if Straight just passes whatever is put in, then Sur Mode will be the same as Straight when the source material is surround material. Same goes with 2 channel. The importance of Straight mode is that you don't have to select the correct thing unless you are trying to apply a DSP Mode, so when I select the scene I use for DVD watching, it works fine whether it's a BD, a DVD, an SACD, or a CD and automatically passes the signal to the correct channels unchanged. On my TV Scene I use a surround mode because I don't want it to play 2-channel even when I watch SD broadcasts. Technically Yamaha calls it "Straight Effect," which is a clear as mud way of saying "applies no effects" I think. So you're right, straight is when what is sent is what you get, (and the appropriate format is displayed) but only in terms of no DSP being applied and only the channels being sent are played. For me, the EQ and crossover are definitely still applied.

One thing that may explain the difference between our experiences with Straight mode is that I have my front speakers set to small because I want to use a subwoofer all of the time. With that setting, the subwoofer plays and the eq is applied with all source material whether I select Straight, 2-Channel, Sur Mode, or anything else. If I select Pure Direct it sounds much different as the Front speakers play full range and the subwoofer doesn't play, and the EQ is disabled. It's possible that if you set your front speakers to large then Straight Mode would bypass bass management, but unless you want your front speakers to play full range in non-pure direct situations I don't see any reason to do that. I guess that's kind of a weird setting decision on Yamaha's part - I would think setting the front speakers to large should just send frquencies below the crossover to them and leave everything else unchanged.

There must be a more intuitive way they could set all this up...

 

[MDS]

Wow, you're right about the 2 channel straight...while front large and bass only set to sub I don't get subwoofer output. I had never run it that way with 2 channel apparently lol. However, when set to both the subs kick on immediately. When I used to run the fronts as large in a smaller room (left the sub off turned off half the time) I generally had it set for both. It's strange that both would override straight 2.0 settings but SWFR wouldn't.

Not strange at all.

The SWFR setting means the sub is present and should receive all bass below the xover from any channels set to Small. The sub will always get the .1 channel if one is present.

When the source is two channel, it would play through the front speakers only. If those front channels are set to Large then they get the full frequency range. So the only two channels that exist are going full range to the front speakers and there is nothing to send to the sub.

If you set the subb out to Both then the sub also gets the bass from the front channels and you have 'double bass' (Onkyo's term for this feature) - because both the front speakers AND the sub are playing the bass from the two channels.

 

[zumbo]

I dig it.

Thanks to all.

Glad this is Straightened-out.

 

[zildjian]

Realized I better come back and make a public apology to Zildjian.

Sorry about that buddy.

But, I will still not be using Straight.

Thanks Zumbo. If I ever visit your HT set up, I'm going to put your receiver in straight mode when you aren't looking. I'm invited right! This Saturday isn't it? HEY EVERYBODY, PARTY AT ZUMBO'S! HE'S BUYING THE FOOD AND DRINKS, HEY EVERYBODY!!!!
We'll need some place to crash too....

 

[zumbo]

Thanks Zumbo. If I ever visit your HT set up, I'm going to put your receiver in straight mode when you aren't looking. I'm invited right! This Saturday isn't it? HEY EVERYBODY, PARTY AT ZUMBO'S! HE'S BUYING THE FOOD AND DRINKS, HEY EVERYBODY!!!!
We'll need some place to crash too....

I have to admit, I gave in. It's Staright. Great thread!

Working on my 2-channel rig. You guys wouldn't believe it if you heard it for yourself.