I got Sony's inexpensive DVP-NS755V DVD/SACD player a few weeks ago. Setting speaker levels for SACD is the most cumbersome thing I have ever seen. Anyway, someone on this forum said when using the 6 channel inputs it is best to not use the speaker distance settings on the SACD player. So today I changed all of the Sony settings to the minimum distance (4 ft), and I can tell you it does make a sonic difference (Mahler's 6th Symphony on Telarc). Everything seemed to snap into focus.

One thing that surprised me, though, that I had not known and not expected, is that the Theater Compensation is in effect with 6 channel direct. Now why is that? The manual says it is in effect for DSP modes. But 6 channel direct is not a DSP mode, in my book. Has anyone else noticed this?

What other things are going on in this mode I don't know about?

In a previous post somewhere. That theater comp circuit is in the analog domain. That's why it can be applied to digital and analog sources.