Yamaha 2500, bass managment in stereo

[millsjq]

I am slowly building a HT system. I so far have Paradigm S8s for the front, SA-30 for the surrounds and plan on the Paradigm C3 for the center. I am driving the S8s with two ADCOM amps 200,100 channel) biamped. I am now looking for a sub, HSU VTF-3 is on the top of the list. My question is will I get a signal to the sub (below the cutoff now set at 60HZ) when I am listening to two channel music? or wiill I only get a signal for 5.1 DVDs? I can not determine this from the manual. I want to ensure I can use the sub for stereo before I make a sub determination.

Jack

 

[zumbo]

Straight. Sub and mains on.
2-channel stereo. Sub and mains on.
Direct stereo. Sub off.

So, Yes.

 

[Duffinator]

Unlike the Yamaha's the Denon 3805/2805 has the option of the the sub on or off in Direct and Pure Direct mode. This is a difference that should be considered when purchasing one of these receivers.

 

[zumbo]

Yamaha calls it straight.

"Some folks call it a sling blade, I call it a kieser blade." mmmmhu

 

[MarkH]

"Direct" on the Yamaha is known as "Straight" and Pure Direct is simply left and right speakers, no sub. Otherwise, what's the point of Pure Direct?

 

[zumbo]

"Direct" on the Yamaha is known as "Straight" and Pure Direct is simply left and right speakers, no sub. Otherwise, what's the point of Pure Direct?

"Direct Stereo" on my Yamaha 1400 is simply left and right (no sub). "Straight" on my Yamaha 1400 is right and left (with sub).

 

[kta]

Unless I have my sub sent to "Both", I do not get any sub out of 2 channel stereo but I do under 7 channel stereo. Straight does not either unless I set the sub to "Both". Definitely no sub in puredirect unless supplied by multichannel source.
(Nad c542 to rx-v2500 to Kef Q7)

 

[zipper]

On my Yamaha 3300, which is obviously a bit older model, "pure direct" (or the equivilent) means it bypasses the tone controls. If I want 2-ch stereo with sub I just hit the "effect" button on the remote. It switches you from the DSP to 2-ch stereo. Of course the sub will be on or off depending on how it was set when in DSP mode.

 

[Krazykaj]

Here is some info on Pure Direct vs. Direct Stereo vs. Straight/2ch Stereo

(quotes from Yamaha)
Pure Direct is a special listening mode that provides the highest possible signal purity. It can be used for both analog and digital sources, with two-channel or multi-channel inputs. When it is selected, the signal follows the most direct path and power to the video circuit is shut down. Certain functions are not operational and even the display is turned off, lighting for only a few seconds when a function is used.

Direct Stereo causes the input stereo signal to bypass the DSP circuitry so the pure signal is output without any processing or data loss whatsoever.

Yamaha amplifiers / receivers also offer two other special operation modes for higher quality. Straight outputs the original analog or digital signal without any post-processing. 2-Channel Stereo processes the multichannel signal and outputs it via two channels, for use with a two-speaker system.

A picture attached to show things a bit clearer

 

[zumbo]

I ran YPAO. I have all speakers set to small & crossover set to 60 and LFE set to sub. I skipped speaker size on the set-up.

Direct Stereo. Sub off.
Straight. Sub on.
2-channel stereo. Sub on.

I guess different models work differently. I don't see why they would?

 

[rschleicher]

Zumbo is correct in his summary of when the sub is on and when it is off.

Not to belabor the obvious, but another prerequisite for getting any subwoofer output while in 2-channel stereo mode (including "straight", but not "pure direct"), is that the two front speakers must be set to small. If the fronts are set to large, a two channel source will only play on the fronts.

(The other requirement is that there actually be content at frequencies below the crossover setting of the receiver.)

 

[kta]

Now I see why I do not get any sub on Straight or 2 channel - my main speakers (Kef Q7s) are set to large so do not direct any base to the sub. Set them to small and the sub will work.
Thanks.