Do I have bad taste in sound?

Nightfall

Simple enough - "Pure Direct", bypassing an AVR's sound altering electronics, is touted by many to sound superior. I think that when I engage Pure Direct mode that the sound becomes lifeless, dull, passive, ...worse. Does this mean that I have "bad" taste in sound?

nooshinjohn

I don't see an Emo in your sig, so I would say you're good.

Hermitism

I feel the same way. My AVR has direct and pure direct. "Direct" shuts down some, but not all features. I hate music in pure direct, and pure direct shuts down the signal to my sub. I always use direct for CDs, it just sounds much better to me.

Polkie2009

nooshinjohn wrote: »

I don't see an Emo in your sig, so I would say you're good.

LOL! Yep, just about spit my coffee out all over the screen on that one John!

tonyb

Nightfall wrote: »

Simple enough - "Pure Direct", bypassing an AVR's sound altering electronics, is touted by many to sound superior. I think that when I engage Pure Direct mode that the sound becomes lifeless, dull, passive, ...worse. Does this mean that I have "bad" taste in sound?

No, it just means whatever source your feeding the receiver isn't as good SQ wise than the receiver itself.

cnh

If you're referring to that Yammaha 667, I can believe it would sound worse in DIRECT mode. Blanket beliefs about EQ-ing applied to all kinds of equipment leave no room for your ears to be the final word.

I'm guilty myself. I have some equalization on my NAD below because I just could not get a full enough sound with none no matter what I tried (sources, cables, different pres, etc. the speakers [B.A. A200s] just needed a PUSH).

Nothing is written in stone. You have to do what your ears tell you or else you're just lying to yourself in order not to violate an audio truism.

cnh

steveinaz

If you're use to equalized sound, pure direct or bypasing tone controls can take a bit of getting used to. At first it will sound veiled; but with time, you will notice far better tonal linearity across the spectrum. In laymens terms, no specific frequencies will sound like they are pushed ahead of other frequencies. This results in an overall smoother sound, especially at higher volumes.

Give it time. Years and years ago, to "wean" myself off the treble knob, I actually spent a week with the treble cut in the lowest setting; so when I went back to the 0db position, it acually sounded quite good. Never looked back.

Once you get used to the increased linearity of running tone defeated, you wonder why you ever used it.

Hermitism

steveinaz wrote: »

Years and years ago, to "wean" myself off the treble knob, I actually spent a week with the treble cut in the lowest setting; so when I went back to the 0db position, it acually sounded quite good. Never looked back.

I once dated an ugly chick, just to make average chicks look better. At least, that's what I tell myself!

cfrizz

So long as YOU like it no other opinion matters. Sit back and enjoy.

Nightfall

DSkip wrote: »

Mystery, how many high end rigs have you heard in a well setup room?

Wrong person.

tonyb

He's from Texas, cut old Skip a break. lol

zane77

I can't taste what you taste, so do whatever sounds best to you. Everybody has something that sounds better to them.

tonyb

zane77 wrote: »

I can't taste what you taste,

Ya know....I'm just gonna leave that one alone. LOL

Zeros

tonyb wrote: »

Ya know....I'm just gonna leave that one alone. LOL

Do you see what I see....

msg

steveinaz wrote: »

If you're use to equalized sound, pure direct or bypasing tone controls can take a bit of getting used to. At first it will sound veiled; but with time, you will notice far better tonal linearity across the spectrum. In laymens terms, no specific frequencies will sound like they are pushed ahead of other frequencies. This results in an overall smoother sound, especially at higher volumes.

Give it time. Years and years ago, to "wean" myself off the treble knob, I actually spent a week with the treble cut in the lowest setting; so when I went back to the 0db position, it actually sounded quite good. Never looked back.

Once you get used to the increased linearity of running tone defeated, you wonder why you ever used it.

I never thought I'd be one to subscribe to this, but it's happening. slowly. I found myself the other night feeling put off by uncomfortable highs at volume, brought on with even just a minor bump in treble. I agree with the "linearity" bit, and smoothness at higher volumes. and also agreed, it does take time. if you asked me this three months ago, I'd have said no way. for me it also depends on the system and space, I'm finding. for instance, I'm probably not ready to go "direct" in my vehicles

DSkip wrote: »

My point? Your 'taste' changes over time. You figure out what sounds good and what doesn't, and where your happy medium is. You've listened to enough speakers that you probably know what your tonal preference is. Now you need to get out and see what a true stereo system can do with quality components throughout the chain. I'm not trashing your system - I merely think your expectations might be higher than what it can provide, causing you to second guess yourself.

yes, taste does change - I've noticed it even in just 6 months of listening more closely than I used to.

Sea

It only matters what sounds good to you!

Erik Tracy

The purpose of Pure Direct in the realm of AVRs is not for digitally connected source components - it is intended for preserving the analog 'chain' thru the AVR for analog connected devices(such as turntables, or analog out from CD/SACD or external DACs).

If that isn't important, move on.

erniejade

I am going to say it depends also on your room acoustics. If they are bad, the dsp helps a lot!

westmassguy

Hermitism wrote: »

I once dated an ugly chick, just to make average chicks look better. At least, that's what I tell myself!

LOL, you just ruined my afternoon tea. It's on my keyboard now

westmassguy

Nightfall wrote: »

Simple enough - "Pure Direct", bypassing an AVR's sound altering electronics, is touted by many to sound superior. I think that when I engage Pure Direct mode that the sound becomes lifeless, dull, passive, ...worse. Does this mean that I have "bad" taste in sound?

I use Pure Direct For 2 channel only, and my 2As dig deep enough and are smooth as silk. Anything HT related gets the full equalized treatment. As others have said, could be room related, or you're more accustomed to the equalized sound. My Pioneer has Direct also, which leaves the subs in but nothing else.

EndersShadow

I also dont like the "Direct" setting on my Integra, choosing instead to use "Stereo" which keeps the Audyssey processing and crossovers and adds in my sub.

I even wear skinny jeans and run around knocking over Projectors and my center channel that I put on a upside down laundry basket thats sitting on the floor...

leftwinger57

NightFall I also have the pure direct feature w/ my Yamaha RX-V665. To say I was grossly disappointed would be a understatement. The avr does a lot but power was not one of those features that impressed me. The Pure Direct front 2 for stereo also a very lack luster performer. Not even knowing at the time I was lucky to have pre/outs and got the Adcom to make up for most of the inadequacies. I moved away from H/T to go w/ 2 chl. for the most part.

westmassguy

Erik Tracy wrote: »

The purpose of Pure Direct in the realm of AVRs is not for digitally connected source components - it is intended for preserving the analog 'chain' thru the AVR for analog connected devices(such as turntables, or analog out from CD/SACD or external DACs).

If that isn't important, move on.

That may be true for some AVRs, but not my Pioneer. According to the manual, when set to pure direct, all sources, whether digital or analog, are passed directly from the inputs to the gain stage and out to the pre-amp out jacks, or internal amp. The digital sources pass through the DACs first obviously, but that's it. No other processing occurs.

Nightfall

westmassguy wrote: »

That may be true for some AVRs, but not my Pioneer. According to the manual, when set to pure direct, all sources, whether digital or analog, are passed directly from the inputs to the gain stage and out to the pre-amp out jacks, or internal amp. The digital sources pass through the DACs first obviously, but that's it. No other processing occurs.

Same with Yamaha.

Thorton

EndersShadow wrote: »

I also dont like the "Direct" setting on my Integra, choosing instead to use "Stereo" which keeps the Audyssey processing and crossovers and adds in my sub.

I even wear skinny jeans and run around knocking over Projectors and my center channel that I put on a upside down laundry basket thats sitting on the floor...

On my old Denon, it was Pure Direct all the time. On my new Marantz, I listen to Audyssey XT32 and Sub EQ 100% of the time and it sounds great. Everybody prefers something different but I can't go back to Pure Direct and I have a well treated room.