Sony setup Niggles.

[oxocube]

[size=3>[face=Calibri>I have a Sony setup with the BDP-S5000ES player, STR-DA5400ES amp and the VPL-HW10 projector all connected via HDMI.

[size=3>[face=Calibri>I am enjoying watching movies in my cinema room but have a few ‘niggling’ questions mainly with settings on the amp.

[size=3>[face=Calibri>Firstly “What is, and why have the Full Flat, Engineer, Front Reference and Off options in the auto calibration setup?”

[size=3>[face=Calibri>Secondly “When, if ever, would I need to select a different A.F.D mode than Auto? “ “And why then would I use a multi-channel surround effect like PLIIx or Neural-THX (I have a 7.1 setup) when always setting the film to play back its ‘highest, audio format, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 for example?”

[size=3>[face=Calibri>Thirdly “When should I need to set the ‘Sound Field’ for Movie effects or Sony’s DCS, does this have any effect on the sound when playing back in DTS-HD Master 5.1 for example?”

[size=3>[face=Calibri>Finally “Do I need to tell the Blu-Ray player ANY speaker settings when it is set as Direct in the audio settings or is it all taken care of by the amp?”

[size=3>[face=Calibri>Thanks for your help all basic questions I know but they do Niggle.

[size=3>[face=Calibri>I am enjoying watching movies in my cinema room but have a few ‘niggling’ questions mainly with settings on the amp.[/size=3>Firstly “What is, and why have the Full Flat, Engineer, Front Reference and Off options in the auto calibration setup?”[/face=Calibri>Firstly “What is, and why have the Full Flat, Engineer, Front Reference and Off options in the auto calibration setup?”[/size=3>Secondly “When, if ever, would I need to select a different A.F.D mode than Auto? “ “And why then would I use a multi-channel surround effect like PLIIx or Neural-THX (I have a 7.1 setup) when always setting the film to play back its ‘highest, audio format, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 for example?”[/face=Calibri>Secondly “When, if ever, would I need to select a different A.F.D mode than Auto? “ “And why then would I use a multi-channel surround effect like PLIIx or Neural-THX (I have a 7.1 setup) when always setting the film to play back its ‘highest, audio format, DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 for example?”[/size=3>Thirdly “When should I need to set the ‘Sound Field’ for Movie effects or Sony’s DCS, does this have any effect on the sound when playing back in DTS-HD Master 5.1 for example?”[/face=Calibri>Thirdly “When should I need to set the ‘Sound Field’ for Movie effects or Sony’s DCS, does this have any effect on the sound when playing back in DTS-HD Master 5.1 for example?”[/size=3>Finally “Do I need to tell the Blu-Ray player ANY speaker settings when it is set as Direct in the audio settings or is it all taken care of by the amp?”[/face=Calibri>Finally “Do I need to tell the Blu-Ray player ANY speaker settings when it is set as Direct in the audio settings or is it all taken care of by the amp?”[/size=3>Thanks for your help all basic questions I know but they do Niggle.[/face=Calibri>Thanks for your help all basic questions I know but they do Niggle.[/size=3>

 

[Anonymous]

Hi Oxo, I asked some of the same questions about the calibration modes albeit with my Sony 5300ES, check out this thread. http://community.whathifi.com/forums/t/327941.aspx When watching tv I usually, use Neural-THX as I think it sounds better, voices are clearer and good all round sound. I think the main reasons you would change from Auto A.F.D is because you may not want to listen to some channels in stereo, if you choose PLIIx (which mine hasnt got :-( ) or Neural-THX then processes the stereo signal and sends it in a better format for surround sound systems, i.e voices from centre speaker and some surround effects. Not sure about the Blu-ray, but I would assume if its sending in "direct" mode that is the best we as the amp will then do the decoding.

 

[oxocube]

EvertonMonkey:
Hi Oxo,

I asked some of the same questions about the calibration modes albeit with my Sony 5300ES, check out this thread.

http://community.whathifi.com/forums/t/327941.aspx

When watching tv I usually, use Neural-THX as I think it sounds better, voices are clearer and good all round sound. I think the main reasons you would change from Auto A.F.D is because you may not want to listen to some channels in stereo, if you choose PLIIx (which mine hasnt got :-( ) or Neural-THX then processes the stereo signal and sends it in a better format for surround sound systems, i.e voices from centre speaker and some surround effects.

Not sure about the Blu-ray, but I would assume if its sending in "direct" mode that is the best we as the amp will then do the decoding.

Thanks EM, I have read that thread before but I feel the help given to you was a little vauge IMO.

I only watch Blu-ray disks so have no 'stereo' content so I guess its AUTO for me.

Have you tried any of the Sony DCS settings?

 

[Anonymous]

So you dont watch normal tv or sky ? As a lot of those channels come through in stereo.

I have tried some of the DCS, but I guess it is all a matter or taste (well hearing taste lol). If you use A.F.D I am pretty sure that it outputs as on the source (i.e blu-ray etc) if you use other modes, then some processing is done on audio and the DCS ones are soundsfields that have been designed to sound like some sony testing rooms.

I think you best off just having a play around and find one which you think sounds best, I dont think you are doing anything particularly wrong, you just need to find some settings that sound good to you !

 

[oxocube]

EvertonMonkey:

So you dont watch normal tv or sky ? As a lot of those channels come through in stereo.

I have tried some of the DCS, but I guess it is all a matter or taste (well hearing taste lol). If you use A.F.D I am pretty sure that it outputs as on the source (i.e blu-ray etc) if you use other modes, then some processing is done on audio and the DCS ones are soundsfields that have been designed to sound like some sony testing rooms.

I think you best off just having a play around and find one which you think sounds best, I dont think you are doing anything particularly wrong, you just need to find some settings that sound good to you !

Its a dedicated cinema room where I only use Blu-ray disks as the source.

I will play around with DCS modes, but didn't want to waste my time with settings that will have no effect.

Thanks again