[decker12]

I'm trying to understand Direct mode on my V565 and hoping for some advice.


First, my setup. I have a 5.1 system with all HDMI inputs. I primarily use my AVR for HD audio on Blu-Ray movies (TrueHD, DTS-HD MA, LPCM). My DirecTV box and X360 also are configured to output Dolby Digital.


I am not a huge pitch-perfect audiophile but I have a decently calibrated HDTV and probably $500 worth of fairly good speakers attached as part of my HT.


All of this equipment (Yamaha AVR, new speakers, new 1080p HDTV, BD, HD Audio) is only about 3 months old, having recently upgraded from an older component video / optical audio Kenwood DD 5.1 AVR and a rear projection 1080i TV.


Again, everything is plugged into my 565 via HDMI and I am successfully decoding all the correct formats. So far, I have been blown away by BDs with HD audio. However, I am now looking to take it to the "next" level, but I am unsure how to proceed.


From what I understand from reading these forums and the manual, Direct mode sends the audio to my speakers in a method completely untouched by any internal processing done by the V565.


If I want the "purest" audio from my sources, shouldn't I always be in Direct mode? Presumably, the multi-million dollar audio mastering a DTS-HD MA Blu Ray movie is done at the studio, so why would I use the audio processing in my $400 AVR to change how it sounds?


I've also read that my subwoofer will be bypassed in Direct mode, but the subwoofer is active in Straight mode. Finally, my AVR also has a "Standard" mode as part of the DSP packages.. confusing me even more..

I'd love to get some advice on how I should be choosing these modes on my AVR, for the following situations:


1) Watching a BD with HD audio using my 5.1 speakers

2) Watching a BD with HD audio using headphones

3) Watching a DVD with DD / 5.1 audio

4) Playing games on my X360 with DD / 5.1 audio

5) Watching DirecTV that has a combination of DD and stereo, depending on the show


I understand that my choice should ultimately be about what "sounds best to me", however I am looking for advice on where my starting point should be!


Much thanks in advance!

 

[rdgrimes]

In most cases, "direct" mode will bypass all internal DSP, including room EQ and distance settings. This is not always a good thing. It's really intended for analog inputs where you want to avoid A-D/D-A conversions (and DSP).

It's pretty unlikely that you will hear any difference except the loss of the room setup. If "direct" sounds better to you, then you should be looking at the room setup because it should sound better than direct. (You DID run YPAO --right?)


On digital inputs, you are only bypassing DSP and room corrections, not the decoders. So 5.1 will still be 5.1. What might get bypassed is bass management, so speakers set as "small" would be getting full range audio. All things considered, given your setup, direct mode should usually be avoided. The most common, and appropriate, use for direct mode would be on 2-ch analog input from a CD player or the like, 5.1 analog inputs, etc.

 

[decker12]

Thanks for the clarification.


Seeing as Direct mode ignores the small/large speaker setup, subwoofer, and speaker distance / YPAO / EQ settings.. would it make sense to use Direct mode when using headphones?


Reason I ask is that I simultaneously bought Watchmen on BD and new, $60 headphones a couple of days ago. While watching Watchmen with DTS-HD MA and the headphones, Direct mode seemed to sound better, creating a believable virtual 3D sound space in the headphones. I'm curious if that was just my imagination, the fact that I am using a new and unfamiliar pair of headphones, or if I found an appropriate use of Direct mode.


Finally, can you clarify the difference between Straight mode and "Standard" DSP mode?


Thanks again!!

 

[decker12]

After some messing around last night, I determined that:


You cannot change DSP parameters when listening to HD audio sources. HD audio sources effectively put the system in "Straight" mode.


"Standard" DSP mode, as per the manual, emulates a "perfect theater environment". Much like the other DSP modes that add echo to emulate a Hall in Vienna or bump down background music in Role Playing Games DSP, "Standard" applies subtle audio enhancements to emulate that "perfect theater environment".


Straight takes the original signal and transmits it to the speakers without applying DSP, therefore giving the listener the "pure" audio experience that is encoded on the disk. Of course, if you have an older DVD or audio source that wasn't mixed very well (very common in many of my pre-2002 DVDs), you will want to use the DSP modes to "fix the mix".


I haven't found a new use for Direct mode, especially because it turns off the subwoofer.


Also, in order to get HD audio from my PS3, it has to send the audio as PCM to the 565. Since the 565 doesn't see PCM audio as HD audio, I am pretty sure I can still apply DSP to it, which of course defeats the purpose of hearing the "true" HD audio that I want. Therefore it sounds like I have to manually put my 565 into Straight mode when watching PS3 BDs.


In summary it sounds like Straight mode is the way to go for BDs.


Does anyone know if enabling Straight mode also turns off the EQ settings from YPAO, speaker distance, etc?

 

[jpco]



Quote:
Originally Posted by decker12 /forum/post/16908248



Does anyone know if enabling Straight mode also turns off the EQ settings from YPAO, speaker distance, etc?

On my 1800, all YPAO settings remain engaged in Straight mode. It's only Pure Direct that disables everything.

 

[MichaelJHuman]

If you want the best audio, Direct Mode is not your answer. Room treatments and excellent speakers are probably your answer

Pure Direct is most useful if your L/R speakers are excellent full range speakers, or you listen to music with little bass.

 

[rdgrimes]



Quote:
Originally Posted by decker12 /forum/post/16908248


After some messing around last night, I determined that:


You cannot change DSP parameters when listening to HD audio sources. HD audio sources effectively put the system in "Straight" mode.


"Standard" DSP mode, as per the manual, emulates a "perfect theater environment". Much like the other DSP modes that add echo to emulate a Hall in Vienna or bump down background music in Role Playing Games DSP, "Standard" applies subtle audio enhancements to emulate that "perfect theater environment".


Straight takes the original signal and transmits it to the speakers without applying DSP, therefore giving the listener the "pure" audio experience that is encoded on the disk. Of course, if you have an older DVD or audio source that wasn't mixed very well (very common in many of my pre-2002 DVDs), you will want to use the DSP modes to "fix the mix".


I haven't found a new use for Direct mode, especially because it turns off the subwoofer.


Also, in order to get HD audio from my PS3, it has to send the audio as PCM to the 565. Since the 565 doesn't see PCM audio as HD audio, I am pretty sure I can still apply DSP to it, which of course defeats the purpose of hearing the "true" HD audio that I want. Therefore it sounds like I have to manually put my 565 into Straight mode when watching PS3 BDs.


In summary it sounds like Straight mode is the way to go for BDs.


Does anyone know if enabling Straight mode also turns off the EQ settings from YPAO, speaker distance, etc?

You still aren't grasping "straight" mode. It does not bypass anything, it's simply an indicator that no added DSP modes have been applied and the audio is simply decoded. All setup, room correction and the like are still engaged. But the term "DSP" applies to all processing, including EQ and bass management. The term includes but is not limited to surround DSP modes.


Direct mode does not turn off the subwoofer. If the source has an LFE channel it still gets sent to the sub.

 

[MichaelJHuman]

Agreed. That seems to be a common misunderstanding about STRAIGHT. It's not really a mode as such. Think of it instead, as a button you can hit to select the most obvious mode.


The receiver shows STRAIGHT to indicate standard processing for the current incoming audio signal. It might be Dolby Digital, it might be DTS, it might be MPCM - all dependent on the audio signal.


Some audio signals require you to use a surround mode, in which case the receiver will not say STRAIGHT, because thet must be manually selected. For example, TV shows with a stereo Pro Logic track require you to manually select Pro Logic for surround sound.

 

[decker12]

Thanks for the clarification. It was the terminology that was confusing me. In summary it appears that:


"Standard" DSP-Movie setting enables EQ & YPAO, and adds additional effects to mimic a "perfect theater environment", as described in the manual.


Straight setting enables EQ & YPAO but does not add any additional effects.


Direct mode is less than useful for my HT setup. The only music I put through my system are DirecTV XM music for parties, and then I put my 565 on 7ch Stereo to output the sound from all my speakers. The rest of the time I am decoding some sort of surround sound source from my X360, PS3, BD, DVD, or DirecTV.


Note that much of this clarification involves the Wife Factor. I've programmed my Harmony to put the V565 in Movie / Standard mode for DirecTV, and Straight for PS3 BDs. While she has an appreciation for the HT system, she doesn't want to be screwing around with DSP settings when she just wants to watch a movie or some TV. That middle ground satisfies the majority of my expectations while keeping the system easy to use.


I've also never manually switched surround modes when using my DirecTV system. On DD sources, it displays DD. On other mostly non-HD sources, it automatically does DD PL2x.


Can I get an opinion on how other people setup their system for their various uses? Do you go Straight mode when watching BDs for instance? When you're watching a (non-HD) DVD of Indiana Jones, do you go through the process to determine that it's a "Movie DSP / Adventure" and trust the V565 to enhance the experience accordingly?


Thanks again for everyone's help with this. I like the V565 tremendously - the price was definitely right for the performance, but sometimes I can't help feel that I bought something with a few too many options, considering my actual needs.