"Pure Audio"?

[Pelican170]

After reading a thread about "Direct Mode", I began having some questions regarding "pure audio". Now, from my understanding this is almost the same as Direct Mode, but it shuts down other processes in the receiver to make for a better sound? Is this correct? Would you recommend using this for movies and games? I have tried this in the past and to me, it seems to be a better quality sound...

[SDon1969]

When I watch a blu-ray on my PS3, hooked up via HDMI, there are only two listening mode choices on my Onkyo 605, "Direct" or "Multich". I cannot choose Pure Audio or anything else on the 605 when watching blu-rays.

[Pelican170]

I know on mine, its a few years older but runs HDMI, when LPCM, its kind of strange. If i hit "Surround" on the remote, it appears to be stuck on Multichannel PCM because it wont switch to anything or I believe it may say "Not Available", but next to surround are two buttons that look like < and >. If i press those, i get different sound options including direct and pure along with others. Give it a try if you have that option...

[SDon1969]

Originally Posted by Pelican170

I know on mine, its a few years older but runs HDMI, when LPCM, its kind of strange. If i hit "Surround" on the remote, it appears to be stuck on Multichannel PCM because it wont switch to anything or I believe it may say "Not Available", but next to surround are two buttons that look like < and >. If i press those, i get different sound options including direct and pure along with others. Give it a try if you have that option...

I think the < and > are "Listening Mode Up" and "Listening Mode Down", I remember configuring my Logitech mote to use them. I'll double-check but I'm pretty sure, I experimented several times - maybe someone else can chime in.

[Pelican170]

Originally Posted by SDon1969

I think the < and > are "Listening Mode Up" and "Listening Mode Down", I remember configuring my Logitech mote to use them. I'll double-check but I'm pretty sure, I experimented several times - maybe someone else can chime in.

Well, I believe you are right because it has the other sound types (orchestra, theater...) but Pure Audio is there as well. anyways, the only ones i would think to use for movies is Direct and Pure, which is where my original question comes from...

[SDon1969]

Originally Posted by Pelican170

anyways, the only ones i would think to use for movies is Direct and Pure, which is where my original question comes from...

Yeah it's weird trying to get all this straight, I remember asking Crackinheadz a million questions when I joined. Anyway, as far as movies, I swear by "Multich" mode - it sounds the best on my system by far. So much richer & fuller (not simply louder) than Direct mode...

I can switch to Pure audio from some sources (like TV stations or Dolby DVDs), but not from a LPCM source.

[Pelican170]

Yea it is confusing, i know. I dont trust my own ears to tell me what is best, hahaha. sometimes i think one thing, then the next time i think the other... Anyone else have any info on the Pure Audio question?

[musicman1999]

Direct mode is meant for analog sources, to keep them away from digital conversion, pure analog all the way to your ears.


bill

[MacDaddyOJack]

As far as I can tell, Pure Audio is the same as direct but it shuts off all video processing circuitry which could cause minimal electrical interference. I'm not sure though, I have to go home and play with all of these modes to find out

[Pelican170]

Originally Posted by musicman1999

Direct mode is meant for analog sources, to keep them away from digital conversion, pure analog all the way to your ears.


bill

So would you recommend just leaving it as Multichannel PCM and no direct or pure mode?

[musicman1999]

Direct or pure mode means no digital post processing( room correction,bass management, speaker distance), i normally just use direct for my cd player, which needs to be analog straight through to sound its best.


bill

[Pelican170]

Originally Posted by musicman1999

Direct or pure mode means no digital post processing( room correction,bass management, speaker distance), i normally just use direct for my cd player, which needs to be analog straight through to sound its best.


bill

Ahh i see, so when its in pure mode, the distances and such are not included, good to know thanks. Looks like i will be leaving it on Multichannel PCM..

[un4gvn94538]

Originally Posted by SDon1969

Yeah it's weird trying to get all this straight, I remember asking Crackinheadz a million questions when I joined. Anyway, as far as movies, I swear by "Multich" mode - it sounds the best on my system by far. So much richer & fuller (not simply louder) than Direct mode...

I can switch to Pure audio from some sources (like TV stations or Dolby DVDs), but not from a LPCM source.

i know on my 705 you can indeed use pure audio with pcm. i used it for starship troopers which is 5.1 pcm. i dont always use it with movies because like stated before, its mainly for analog. you cant really tell a difference with blus but the difference is huge with music.

[kslee]

One more thing about 'Pure Audio' is that in this mode, it shuts off the display on the receiver to avoid noises produced by the panel display while in 'Direct mode', the display is kept lite on.

[Pelican170]

Well, maybe its me and bad ears buttt, i swear, when i switch to Pure Audio, it sounds much crisper and cleaner. Anyone else agree?

[kerplunk]

Originally Posted by Pelican170

Well, maybe its me and bad ears buttt, i swear, when i switch to Pure Audio, it sounds much crisper and cleaner. Anyone else agree?

I agree. I started using Pure Audio strictly for SACD. Now I keep my 705 on Pure Audio for everything - HDTV, Blu-ray, etc.. It just sounds better. I ran the Audyssey setup, but when using Pure Audio I honestly don't hear any difference in surround separation, speaker levels, etc. versus the other modes. I'm coming from a PS3 using HDMI and LPCM.

If someone can definitively tell me I'm missing out by doing this, please chime in because I definitely want to get the max out of my system.

[welwynnick]

I think Pure Audio can mean many different things depending on who the manufacturer is. Basically it means disabling or powering down some of the functions of the AVR, which can include:

Bass management
Audio decoding
Audio equalisation
Video switching
Video processing
Displays

All those things degrade "pure" audio quality to some extent, and you can trade functionality for quality, but it does depend on what the manufacturer chooses to offer.

Nick