anyone else like DTS Neo 6 or PLII music for 2 channel music?
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I have a 5.1 setup and use PLII for 2-channel sources quite a bit. As a single example, I have a 3-CD set by Earth, Wind & Fire called "The Eternal Dance." It's over 10 years old now--and the recordings themselves are far older than that--but at a solid listening level (-10dB or so from reference), listening with PLII I have a hard time believing it wasn't mixed as multi-channel. To be fair, with other CDs I prefer to just listen in stereo.
I was skeptical of these "surround modes" coming from an old Yamaha receiver that had gimmicky ambience modes like "concert hall," "jazz club" and the like, but Neo 6 and PLII are clearly a different beast. If you like the way they sound, does anything else really matter?
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Enjoy!
I have a 5.1 setup and use PLII for 2-channel sources quite a bit. As a single example, I have a 3-CD set by Earth, Wind & Fire called "The Eternal Dance." It's over 10 years old now--and the recordings themselves are far older than that--but at a solid listening level (-10dB or so from reference), listening with PLII I have a hard time believing it wasn't mixed as multi-channel. To be fair, with other CDs I prefer to just listen in stereo.
I was skeptical of these "surround modes" coming from an old Yamaha receiver that had gimmicky ambience modes like "concert hall," "jazz club" and the like, but Neo 6 and PLII are clearly a different beast. If you like the way they sound, does anything else really matter?
Enjoy!
You're not alone. I've been using surround processing with 2-channel music since the early 1990s; first with Fosgate processors, then with Lexicon processors. PLII Music mode is especially good, what with its adjustable parameters that can tailor the processing to your individual taste.
I enjoy listening to my stereo tracks (All done on computers these days!) and applying PLII and NEO:6 to see which I prefer better.
90% of the time I prefer the one of the surround processing modes to the stereo recording.
I've noticed that with all channels active I can turn down the volume a few notches. It keeps conversation levels down and neighbors happier!
90% of the time I prefer the one of the surround processing modes to the stereo recording.
I've noticed that with all channels active I can turn down the volume a few notches. It keeps conversation levels down and neighbors happier!
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With my Denon, I use "6 Channel Stereo". I never use the ambient sounds like "Concert Hall" either. I've used PLII and Neo:6, and they sound fine, but keep going back to "6 Channel Stereo"
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for a two-channel source PLII music is outstanding...
as others have noted, the ability to tweak to personal taste is very cool
as others have noted, the ability to tweak to personal taste is very cool
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I use it once in a while for very low listening level but prefer 7 channel on my denon for a very full experence. Some how I still get surround effect with this setting and think it has to do with the accoustics of the room. If you have this setting try it out as it my preferred setting above DTS 6 or PLII or Stereo (direct or Pure)
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It's my understanding that N6 is mono in the rears, correct? (The left rear and the right rear are the same, right?)
It's my understanding that N6 is mono in the rears, correct? (The left rear and the right rear are the same, right?)
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That is my understanding 6.1 not 7.1
That is my understanding 6.1 not 7.1
No surround-back information is extracted, only surround-left and surround-right channels. If any sounds end up being common to both surround speakers, then those sounds will end up phantom imaging behind you (like how sounds phantom image at the centre of a stereo set-up). Not as stable as having speakers behind you, but you'll still get some of the directionality (if you're seated in the sweet spot).
No surround-back information is extracted, only surround-left and surround-right channels. If any sounds end up being common to both surround speakers, then those sounds will end up phantom imaging behind you (like how sounds phantom image at the centre of a stereo set-up). Not as stable as having speakers behind you, but you'll still get some of the directionality (if you're seated in the sweet spot).
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