Onkyo Listening Mode Presets

[Yog-Sothoth]

I've been using them for a while, but today is the first time I've had a practical use for three different modes for the same device. I set up my Xbox 360 as a Media Center Extender recently, and today I set my presets for the receiver to Neural THX for music, PLIIx + THX for DD 2.0 sources, and THX Surround EX for DD 5.1 sources (games, in this case). Now I have all of the bases covered for my 360, and it switches modes automatically.

I know there are "purists" who have a problem with matrixed surround modes; whatever works for them should be what they use. The "fake" back surround added by EX really adds to the gaming experience; I can hear people behind me in multiplayer. I compared THX Surround EX with PLIIx for DD 5.1, and I found that EX is more "pinpointed," which is what I want in games. I also really like how Neural THX sounds; I find it the best mode for two-channel music, and I know that some XM material is actually encoded that way, and that there is a game "Prototype" that is encoded in 7.1 Neural THX.