NATURAL is louder than STEREO mode?

Has anyone noticed this?

Well, more speakers are active.

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Matthew J. Hill
matt@idsi.net

Have you calibrated your speaker levels yet?

I've noticed this myself. The DSP modes are louder than the Surround mode with all 5 speakers running. I also find though that Surround mode is at the same volume as Stereo mode on 2 channel sources.

I never use the DSP modes, I think they all sound terrible.

I agree with zacster.

Isn't DPL a DSP mode?

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Matthew J. Hill
matt@idsi.net

If I just want to fill the room with music as I wander around the house I use the DSP stuff, but otherwise, not.

I really like the DVD-A 5.1 stuff I've got - I wish DirecTV would start transmitting a few of their continuous music feeds in DD 5.1

Charlie

I dont know if they consider DPL a DSP mode or not. I thought DPL just decoded and was not ment to change the over all sound. But that could have just been in my own mind.

Of course I calibrated my speakers. And yes I considered the fact that more speakers were involved. 'NATURAL' is louder than 'STEREO' mode by 4dB (using a SPL meter) even when I disconnected my surrounds. Is this the intention of OUTLAW? Have they learned this from DTS which is ussually louder than DOLBY DIGITAL by about 4dB?


[This message has been edited by nonzero (edited April 11, 2002).]

[This message has been edited by nonzero (edited April 11, 2002).]

I too find the Natural mode louder. But then the AM/FM selection is very loud. I have to turn the volume down to about 20 +/- for average listening. In the DD reference listening I have the volume turned to about 55. For DTS for the equivalent volume about 50. Ah such is life!
I once read on the forum something to the effect that "instead of enjoying the sound, the audiophile is constantly critquing the technical attributes of the sound....". Enjoy the music!!! Forget About It! What kind of cables do you use? What are your room acoustics? Are your speakers timbre matched? Where do you have your sub? Where is that darned sweet spot (G-Spot?)?

MCH,
I got your point and I do enjoy my music in 2-channels most of the time (aren't we suppose to listen to most CDs in 2-channel because the artists intended it to be that way?). But it bothered me while I was listening 2-channel mode and switched for the first time in 'NATURAL' mode. I had to lower the master volume to a level I wanted at that moment.

I'm not sure it's intentional on Outlaw's part. Did they even design the "natural" DSP mode? My guess would be that it's an off-the-shelf processing algorithm.

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Matthew J. Hill
matt@idsi.net

MatthewHill,
You are right. CIRRUS LOGIC provides the DSP for OUTLAW (and LEXICON for that matter).