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purest analog signal possible

#1
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4/23/09 at 1:28am
  • Joined: June 2006
  • Post Count: 33
I know our ears and our preferences will always be the best judge so please don't give me the whatever-sounds-great-to-you phrase because really, I always prefer and listen to my music (not with movies) with always the tone defeat off so there's always some sort of digital processing related to it.

Anyway, I always wanted to listen to pure analog signal from my DVD player to my receiver. My question is, which is the best way to go to get the purest possible signal (two channel stereo):

a) Via the receiver's inputs (e.g. dvd in, aux, cd) then engage "direct" mode on my receiver, or
b) 6 channel analog input

Denon DVD 1940CI
Denon AVR 1907

thanks.
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#2
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4/23/09 at 8:02am
  • Joined: August 2002
  • Location: Mass
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Re: purest analog signal possible

Quote:
Originally Posted by rick_da
I know our ears and our preferences will always be the best judge so please don't give me the whatever-sounds-great-to-you phrase because really, I always prefer and listen to my music (not with movies) with always the tone defeat off so there's always some sort of digital processing related to it.

Anyway, I always wanted to listen to pure analog signal from my DVD player to my receiver. My question is, which is the best way to go to get the purest possible signal (two channel stereo):

a) Via the receiver's inputs (e.g. dvd in, aux, cd) then engage "direct" mode on my receiver, or
b) 6 channel analog input

Denon DVD 1940CI
Denon AVR 1907

thanks.

The best way would be via optical or coax digital in. The absolute worst way would be downmixed to stereo and output as analog (Blech!!). Whether you prefer analog 2-channel stereo or not, 99% of the DVD's you watch are DD/DTS multi-channel digital sources. So using the digital ins on your receiver and allowing the receiver to decode is usually your best bet, because there are not many DVD players out there with superior DACs than even entry model receivers. The digital has to be converted to analog someplace, might as well let the receiver do it (and output it as surround, for Pete's sake! There's NOTHING "superior" about 2-channel stereo from a 5.1 mix).
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#3
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4/23/09 at 8:56am
  • Joined: June 2006
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Re: purest analog signal possible

Thanks Jeff..I am referring to 2 channel music only not movies.
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#4
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4/23/09 at 9:20am
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Re: purest analog signal possible

Quote:
Originally Posted by rick_da
Thanks Jeff..I am referring to 2 channel music only not movies.

Then why would you ask about the 6.1 analog outs? Anyway, same answer. The source is digital and it has to be converted to analog someplace. Might as well use the DACs in the receiver. There is nothing "purer" about an analog transport over digital, I really don't know where you are getting that idea.
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#5
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4/23/09 at 10:09am
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Re: purest analog signal possible

I'm asking about the 5.1 analog inputs because my dvd player is hooked up to my receiver this way for my SACDs/DVD-Audios (along with digital coax). When I'm playing two channel sources, I select the "Ext. In" and I get stereo + sub which I assume bypasses the digital circuitry of my receiver thus I got the idea that signal is purer as compared to Digital Coax/Optical. Please pardon my ignorance Jeff.
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#6
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4/23/09 at 11:45am
  • Joined: August 2002
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Re: purest analog signal possible

Quote:
Originally Posted by rick_da
I'm asking about the 5.1 analog inputs because my dvd player is hooked up to my receiver this way for my SACDs/DVD-Audios (along with digital coax). When I'm playing two channel sources, I select the "Ext. In" and I get stereo + sub which I assume bypasses the digital circuitry of my receiver thus I got the idea that signal is purer as compared to Digital Coax/Optical. Please pardon my ignorance Jeff.

Actually, it is not reaelly "clearer." Either one (depending on the receiver/DVD) is susceptible to coloring due to DAC, DSP's, bass management, etc., but since the receiver DACs are probably superior to the DVD player, as are the bass management capabilties, I would go digital into the receiver and then adjust the receiver to give the soundfield desired. As far as getting stereo+sub, you should get it from either analog or digital inputs. If you don't then the digital input is probably not configured correctly for 2.0 stereo. Check your manual.
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#7
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4/24/09 at 12:36am
  • Joined: October 2002
  • Location: Houston, TX
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Re: purest analog signal possible

Quote:
When I'm playing two channel sources, I select the "Ext. In" and I get stereo + sub which I assume bypasses the digital circuitry of my receiver
If the receiver is producing a signal for the sub output, there is a 99.9% chance that the analog signal from whatever stereo source is being digitized, processed, then converted back to analog. Same deal if the front left/right are receiving a signal minus the bass below whatever crossover frequency you chose. The only receiver I know of that uses an analog-based bass management system is Outlaw Audio's RR2150 stereo receiver.

If you can listen without your subwoofer, AFAIK choosing an analog input with the Denon's direct option activated should, *if* it operates like my own receiver's analog option, create a 100% analog path from the input, to the preamp (volume control) to the power amps, then to the speaker outputs. Bass & treble functions and DSP soundfields should not be accessible at this time (as far as soundfields, my Technics SA-DA8 flashes a message to that effect; its bass & treble functions are analog-based).
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#8
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4/24/09 at 5:26pm
  • Joined: June 2000
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Re: purest analog signal possible

The options you propose will produce minor differences, but I agree with Jeff that the best among them is to use a digital output to your receiver, then a direct mode. Whether or not you enable the sub is up to you and your system. If you use the digital out from the DVD player, you should not be increasing any noticeable processing by using the sub.

The purest sound from CDs is obtained by using a good CD (only) player with a variable analog output fed directly into a compatible power amp. No pre-amp or switching. I say "compatible" power amp, because when you remove the pre-amp there are impedance issues which can cause problems.

I used this setup years ago with a nice Nakamichi CD player which had a variable output that was remote controlled, fed into an Adcom GFA-555II. I also tried it with a (no longer available) Forté pure class A amp and the results were absolutely stunning. This was with Thiel CS 3.6 speakers. Later I traded the Adcom for an Aragon amp which was not an impedance match with the Nakamichi and scrapped the whole thing for a more convenient, if not as good sounding setup.


They flutter behind you, your possible pasts.
Some bright-eyed and crazy, some frightened and lost.
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