Best "Mode" for Audio?

Now that you have "broken in" your systems, what is everyone using for optimum audio listening? I usually use 7.1 direct, which should mean my two mains and subwoofer play the pure output from the dvd player.

I see others use "stereo" or "upsampling" and I would like to hear why.

Bruce

I use upsample with the digital input from my Yamaha because I prefer the 990's DAC to the Yamaha's DAC (especially with the upsampling tossed into the mix). I've also experimented a bit with stereo analog set to bypass, which provides a pure analog signal path, which is how I determined my preference for the digital signal path. As for using the 7.1 Direct input, remember that the 990 converts the 7.1 analog input to digital and applies bass management if speakers are set to "small", so the pure output from your Pioneer is not necessarily as pure as you're thinking - if you like the 79AVi's DAC's, you might try running stereo analog outputs to the CD input and setting that input up as bypass mode.

For most of the music I enjoy listening to, the clarity and separation of sound in upsample mode can't be beat. The PLIIx will provide some variation and for the most part, is tolerable. Regarding 7.1, after reading some of the members discussion of it, and out of curosity, I retrieved an old Pioneer SP700D sound processing unit from retirement, with its remote that can tweak just about everything, and surprisingly, I have found a couple of environments that sound pretty good running through the 990. It took some tweaking to get it right (mainly lowering the levels as the 990 and 7700 really brought out the processing). The 990 seems to clean it up a bit and makes good use of the bass management as gonk mentioned. So, I have been very pleased with all the options I now have, but the upsample remains the first choice. The 990 is a great unit, and the 7700 brings it all together.

I tend to use Upsample for the digital CD and DVD inputs (mostly DVD, as I use it as my main transport and only use the CD player when I need to load multiple CDs). My wife likes 5-channel stereo, and I will admit for some recordings I also prefer it. Have not done the firmware upgrade yet to hear the changes to the DPL-II Music; the original implementation did not impress me. Overall, I still feel Upsample give me the cleanest sound for what I listen too (mostly jazz).

I, too, (like RCF051) listen to a lot of jazz. But also classical. I found that 5ch or 7 ch stereo is really nice, not to belittle the upsampling mode.

7.1 Direct is used either for SACD or for 4 channel inline, playing back material in four discrete channels (as recorded on 4 channel Crowns years ago). I have played with and compared setting speakers to small so that it is digitally encoded and sends info to sub...and setting to large. Both sound great.

Actually I think this equipment is so teriffic, that it's hard to beat it in any mode!!!!!! And for that system (of the two I have) I haven't yet done the firmware upgrade. (I know...wife says I am the chief procrastinator).

On a positive note: I removed the Alesis EQ. Now sounds better. Happy days are here again.

I enjoy the 2-channel upsample mode (with digital input from my universal player) when I sit down to listen to music. However, I like 5-channel stereo when I'm going to moving around or when I listen to certain recordings of live performances. The 5-channel stereo seems to reproduce how I heard some live shows in particular with the volume up.

Hey AvFan I was wondering with the Pioneer DV-45a do you actualy get a better sound using bypass instead of upsample. I thought the DACs on the Pioneer were superior to the 990.

Star113,

Originally I preferred using the 45A in bypass mode but I have settled in on using the digital output with the 990 doing the DAC. With bypass it seemed to me there was a lack of midrange. Who knows, in the future I may switch back and use the 45A to do the DAC and run in bypass. Its great to have the options presented by the 990.