Wierd Observation
AsSiMiLaTeD
Posts: 11,728
I've got a wierd situation, hoping someone can explain this to me.
I have Pioneer 563A pulling CD, SACD< and DVD duty right now. I like the SACD performance, DVD video is okay, but the CD is kind of odd.
When I put in just a regular CD, I have two ways of hearing that CD through my receiver.
1 - I use the standard CD out jacks from the Pioneer to the receiver - Denon 3801 - and set the receiver to Direct mode.
2 - I use the 5.1 out jacks on the Pioneer to the 5.1 inputs on the receiver - obviously only the two channels would be passing a signal when listening to CD. With this setup, I set the receiver to ext-in, to use the 5.1 inputs.
I have it hooked up both ways and just switch to my preferred on the receiver.
I can do this with Hybrid SACDs also, and obviously I hear quite a difference when I go from Direct on the receiver (thereby using the CD in jacks) to Ext-In (using the 5.1 jacks). Obviously I get better better sound using the 5.1 jacks since that's where the Hi-Rez track is coming in.
Anyway, here's the odd thing. When I am playing a CD, I also hear a significant difference when switching the two. I can't figure out why??? Either way, the receiver shouldn't be doing anything except amplifying the signal, right? When in either Direct (CD) or Ext-In (5.1 input) mode, the receiver doesn't do anything to the sound except amplify it right?
So the question is - What is causing the discrepancy in sound? Is it something in the Pioneer working differently (like maybe the DACs in the 5.1 output path are different than those in the CD out path)??? I don't know, anyone got a clue?
By the way, the differences in sound: Through the CD out I get considerably more bass, through the 5.1 I 'think' the mids and highs are a bit better, not for sure there though...bass is the most noticaeble difference though.
I have Pioneer 563A pulling CD, SACD< and DVD duty right now. I like the SACD performance, DVD video is okay, but the CD is kind of odd.
When I put in just a regular CD, I have two ways of hearing that CD through my receiver.
1 - I use the standard CD out jacks from the Pioneer to the receiver - Denon 3801 - and set the receiver to Direct mode.
2 - I use the 5.1 out jacks on the Pioneer to the 5.1 inputs on the receiver - obviously only the two channels would be passing a signal when listening to CD. With this setup, I set the receiver to ext-in, to use the 5.1 inputs.
I have it hooked up both ways and just switch to my preferred on the receiver.
I can do this with Hybrid SACDs also, and obviously I hear quite a difference when I go from Direct on the receiver (thereby using the CD in jacks) to Ext-In (using the 5.1 jacks). Obviously I get better better sound using the 5.1 jacks since that's where the Hi-Rez track is coming in.
Anyway, here's the odd thing. When I am playing a CD, I also hear a significant difference when switching the two. I can't figure out why??? Either way, the receiver shouldn't be doing anything except amplifying the signal, right? When in either Direct (CD) or Ext-In (5.1 input) mode, the receiver doesn't do anything to the sound except amplify it right?
So the question is - What is causing the discrepancy in sound? Is it something in the Pioneer working differently (like maybe the DACs in the 5.1 output path are different than those in the CD out path)??? I don't know, anyone got a clue?
By the way, the differences in sound: Through the CD out I get considerably more bass, through the 5.1 I 'think' the mids and highs are a bit better, not for sure there though...bass is the most noticaeble difference though.
Post edited by AsSiMiLaTeD on
Comments
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PM,
My observations with my own universal player in regards to playing CD's is that the 5.1 or 7.1 outputs definitely produce better bass and possibly clearer highs and mids than either the 2 channel analog outputs or the digital outputs ... -
Me too but I have always attributed it to line level out of the dac(for cd) and the additional steps of bass management and line levels of the sacd/dvd-a section.
I fight with my 2900 all the time across different sacd's. For some strange reason my hearing tells me something is different and I'll add/reduce some gain until I'm happy.
HBomb***WAREMTAE*** -
So one way you are hearing the DAC in the CD player and the other way you are hearing the DAC in the receiver unless I misunderstand. One probably sounds better or at least different than the other. Which way sounds better?
madmaxVinyl, the final frontier...
Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want...
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Originally posted by madmax
So one way you are hearing the DAC in the CD player and the other way you are hearing the DAC in the receiver unless I misunderstand. One probably sounds better or at least different than the other. Which way sounds better?
madmax
Actually, I should be hearing DACs in the Pioneer either way...I think. With CD in the receiver is set on Direct, I'm using the DACs in the Pioneer...I know that for sure. I'm not sure about when using 5.1, but I assumed I was using the DACs in the Pioneer also, is that incorrect?
I still haven't decided which I like better... -
Originally posted by Polkmaniac
but I assumed I was using the DACs in the Pioneer also, is that incorrect?
I still haven't decided which I like better...
yes***WAREMTAE*** -
Hbombs Yes means you are incorrect unless I am incorrect.
If you use the L/R out of the CD player you are using the DAC in the CD player. If you are using the RF or the optical cable you are bypassing the CD player DAC and are using the one in the receiver. Some receivers may change the analog signal back to digital to do god knows what with it but that is another thread.
madmaxVinyl, the final frontier...
Avantgarde horns, 300b tubes, thats the kinda crap I want... -
I don't know what RF is, but I'm not using the digital out on the DVD player, I'm using the 5.1 multi-channel outputs for SACD playback...Originally posted by madmax
Hbombs Yes means you are incorrect unless I am incorrect.
If you use the L/R out of the CD player you are using the DAC in the CD player. If you are using the RF or the optical cable you are bypassing the CD player DAC and are using the one in the receiver. Some receivers may change the analog signal back to digital to do god knows what with it but that is another thread.
madmax
Well, I am using the coax digital out, but not for SACD playback, only for movies...
I was under the impression that when using the 5.1 multi-channel outs, any decoding was being done in the DVD player... -
Originally posted by madmax
If you use the L/R out of the CD player you are using the DAC in the CD player. If you are using the RF or the optical cable you are bypassing the CD player DAC and are using the one in the receiver. Some receivers may change the analog signal back to digital to do god knows what with it but that is another thread.
madmax
you read my mind max:p
twin;)***WAREMTAE***
