Sony 2400ES - night mode/Dynamic Range Compression

[b33k34]

I really like my Sony but the manual is dreadful. Does anyone know how the Dynamic Range Compression and Night mode works on this amp?

My last, NAD, AV amp had a really simple way of switching DRC on and
off and pre-configureable to a % setting (that's from memory - it may
have worked slightly differently).

On the Sony there is a 'night mode' button on the remote but the manual
just says "use for listening at low volumes at night". Deep in the set
up menus in the GUI is a setting for DRC which has the options Off,
Standard or Maximum. I think manual explains that these work on Dolby
Digital soundtracks and intelligently compress the sound based on the
sound engineer's settings. It also recommends using the 'max' setting.
However, it doesn't make clear whether this is linked to 'night mode' and whether it should be left on all the time.

Sometimes I'd like to limit the range (i sometimes find the range of Blu Ray
soundtracks a bit too wide) but I'd not want it on all the time and
it's sufficiently hidden in the GUI that there's no way I'd want to
interupt a film to switch it on.

Can anyone clarify:

- what these settings do

- what setting is recommeded

- what audio formats they affect

- whether it's linked to 'night mode'

 

[b33k34]

anyone?

 

[Anonymous]

Hi

Iïm not really a specialist here, still trying to get around things with my STR-DA3400ES which I bought some months ago. Itïs got pretty much the same features as 2400ES and from reading my manual this is my answer:

NIGHT MODE can be used in any sound field except Dolby TrueHD signals higher than 96 KHz, PCM signals higher than 96 KHZ, and doesnït work with MultiChannel Input.
NIGHT MODE will automatically emphasise the dialogue when watching movies.

D. Range Compression only works with Dolby Digital signals (Dolby TrueHD) and when SONY recommend the 'MAX' setting itïs because the effect should be dramatically (their own word). The levels are predetermined and the result should be a much more natural compression. 'STD' setting only enacts a light compression.

It seems that if you want to use D. Range Comp itïs got to be set manually from the start and doesnït cooperate with NIGHT MODE.

I canït tell the difference from experience yet, but of course it seems easier to use NIGHT MODE. I have a feeling that you allready knew this. I plan to experiment with these features next week and could make a "report" if you are interested?

 

[b33k34]

So does "Dolby Digital" refer to all Dolby soundtracks - ie uncompressed TrueHD and the older, compressed, 5.1?

Also, what sample rate to most soundtracks use? Are soundtracks "higher than 96 KHZ" common? Most of my BluRay viewing is via LoveFilm so i don't see the packaging.

Interestingly the Dolby site on TrueHD states that one of the features of TrueHD thus - "Dynamic range control (Night mode) enables you to customize audio
playback to reduce peak volume levels (no loud surprises) while
experiencing all the details in the soundtrack, enabling late-night
viewing of high-energy surround sound without disturbing others"