Direct or Pure Direct on Pioneer receivers?

[mywhitenoise]

From my VSX-52 manual

"DIRECT - Plays back sound from the source with the least modification next to PURE DIRECT. With DIRECT, the only modifications added to PURE DIRECT playback are calibration of the sound field by MCACC system and the Phase Control effect.

PURE DIRECT - Plays back unmodified sound from source with only minimal digital treatment. No sound is output from the Speaker B in this mode."

Am I reading this description right? Pure Direct shuts off all calibration settings made by MCACC? I don't remember past receivers doing this on Pure Direct (it just shut off the receivers display). I've been using Direct for my digital components for years, but I was listening to some vinyl records yesterday on Pure Direct and noticed the records sounded much warmer (even though it shut off my sub), but the highs weren't present. With Direct I could pick out guitars a lot better, but bass was minimal (even though the sub was on), and the highs seemed a little too high.

Should I go with Direct for digital components, and Pure Direct for the analog sources? Should I use Direct for both, or should I use Pure Direct for both?
My focus is on music over film, should I use Pure Direct for albums and Direct for movies?

[pentatonic]

Originally Posted by mywhitenoise

From my VSX-52 manual

"DIRECT - Plays back sound from the source with the least modification next to PURE DIRECT. With DIRECT, the only modifications added to PURE DIRECT playback are calibration of the sound field by MCACC system and the Phase Control effect.

PURE DIRECT - Plays back unmodified sound from source with only minimal digital treatment. No sound is output from the Speaker B in this mode."

Am I reading this description right? Pure Direct shuts off all calibration settings made by MCACC? I don't remember past receivers doing this on Pure Direct (it just shut off the receivers display). I've been using Direct for my digital components for years, but I was listening to some vinyl records yesterday on Pure Direct and noticed the records sounded much warmer (even though it shut off my sub), but the highs weren't present. With Direct I could pick out guitars a lot better, but bass was minimal (even though the sub was on), and the highs seemed a little too high.

Should I go with Direct for digital components, and Pure Direct for the analog sources? Should I use Direct for both, or should I use Pure Direct for both?
My focus is on music over film, should I use Pure Direct for albums and Direct for movies?

I know in my ancient Denon I can set a few different EQ settings. I do use Audyssey for 5.1 music but I also have a manual setting that I created somewhat based on the Audyssey curve but tweaked to my liking for 2 ch music. The only reason I did so is that going without EQ was just too different from Audyssey, but I believe we shouldn't really EQ 2.0 music, I don't think you'll see many 2 ch setups with EQs being used much, if at all.

But I don't think there's A right answer as we all have our preferences.

Try setting a manual curve if you can and get it to where you like it the most is my recommendation.

Edit: Darn fine setup you have there sir whitenoise, darn fine

[mywhitenoise]

Originally Posted by pentatonic

but I believe we shouldn't really EQ 2.0 music, I don't think you'll see many 2 ch setups with EQs being used much, if at all.

that's a good enough answer for now

I'll leave it on Pure Direct for a couple of weeks, and return to Direct to see if I've grown to prefer stereo without the EQ.

[raygendreau]

I have a VSX-53. MCACC room correction is important to me due to my HT environment. If you use AV Navigator, check the 3D graphs to see the difference with and without MCACC.

Pioneer AV receivers - AV Navigator 2012 - YouTube

I use auto surround for movies. I spend very little time listening to music.

[mywhitenoise]

Originally Posted by raygendreau

I have a VSX-53. MCACC room correction is important to me due to my HT environment. If you use AV Navigator, check the 3D graphs to see the difference with and without MCACC.

I use auto surround for movies. I spend very little time listening to music.

That's the difference between me and many forum members I watch maybe one movie a week, but spend the majority of my speakers use with music. For now Direct will still be the way I go with 5.1 soundtracks.

[bobbydrugar]

Actually for best listening of either 2ch or multi-ch sources you should use at the very least Room Correction (audyssey or MCACC) as these are designed to correct for in room sound reflection issues. Granted they are not necessarily perfect (they are just programed algorithems) but they can recognize room and listening area misconfigurations and do a pretty good job accounting for them.

As to the we won't see 2ch systems being EQ'd thats just crazy talk. A good 2ch setup would probably include a multi-band parametric EQ with 2ch support. You would never see a professional system being setup without an EQ to calibrate the system for correct listening levels. especially since all speakers (even two speakers with the same make and model number) are created slightly differently and can colorize the sound producing an incorrect listening experience.

now if what you like (personal preference) is the sound of the system in Pure Direct, which was really designed so that the signal path would go from your source device into a multi band EQ and then onto the receiver inputs that the receiver would bypass all of the digital processing components essentially turning your receiver into nothing more then a power amp and maybe a DAC depending on your EQ. Direct on the other hand is designed for bypassing all the digital processing except room correction and Crossover settings (on newer receivers) to leverage the sub.

Hope that helps
T

[McHugh]

I just bought a Pioneer VSX 1131 receiver. I use it only for movies. Going by the advice in a previous post I have it set to Direct rather than Pure Direct. I also have it set for Auto Surround. It also has F.S. Surround and Dolby Surround. Can anyone explain the differences between the 3 Surround options? Thanks.