I have a stereo version of a multichannel work by Xenakis (Persepolis). I was curious how PLIIx and the other algorithms would react to a collapsed version of a work that is meant to be played in a circular arena with 8 discrete channels all around. The piece is 60 minutes. I decided to try for 5...

In stereo, it is interesting, but the ear keeps telling you that there is more to it. With PLIIx, the soundstage becomes LARGE. Even beyond the walls. But the 8 channels becomes distinct and well spread, with even extremites more on the side than in the front. Then I tried Neo:6. Total collapse to the central channel with here and there something coming from the M80s (I prefer PLIIx, but this is the first time that Neo:6 is genuinly bad). Then, out of fairness, I casually switched the receiver to Neural THX 7.1. BANG! Four channels passed though me and went TO THE BACK! The whole soundstage was now at its proper place, with each of the surround speakers playing its own little channel. UNBELIEVABLE. I ended up listening to the whole thing. GREAT MOMENT.

I guess the algorithm used to mix the stereo was either the same or one that has natural compatibility with Neural THX 7.1.. Makes me wonder now about those CDs that are mixed using ProLogic II. They might be worth seeking.

Any of you had had experience with such stereo mixes from a algo supported by your receiver.

No, I haven't. But I've discovered that I don't like Neo at all.

I prefer Morpheus myself...

If you have Neo set on Cinema, it's all going to go to the center. It's much more balanced on Music.

I think I'm the only Neo partisan around here. I just find DPLII to be too recessed.

John, here's your chance to step in and tell me I'm wrong. :-P

EDIT: Hey, there's no sticky out tongue smilie! What gives?

I have Neo:6 Music set to music and Neo:6 Cinema set to cinema. Pretty hard to confuse as it is spelled out onscreen!

I prefer Neo:6 Music as well.

Hmm.. I don't get the collapse to center effect at all with it set to Music. Weird.

I don't get a "all to center" with regular music (although it is more center than PLII). I got it playing a complete surround recording that seemed to have confused Neo:6.

To all: the point of the post is not a comparison between PLII and Neo:6, but how, when the coding/decoding algo are working well together, you can get amazing results with stereo re-mix.

Aaaaaah... I get it.

Yes Eric, I use one of the surround processing modes(usually DPLII)on all 2-channel material. I also have the Neural Surround mode available on the receiver I use most often and occasionally it produces a more dramatic effect on some recordings. Don't know why and Neural Surround apparently hasn't been described in enough technical detail to hypothesize why it might suit some music better.

I tried it again with "La Légende d'Er" that I have in both 5.1 and stereo mixes (so I know what it is supposed to sound like in discrete surround) and got the same results (obviously not with the same 96/24 quality, but the positioning is right).

The funny thing is that, for normal 2-channel music, I don't like Neural THX all that much. Don't hate it, just don't care too much about the result.

So there really must be some natural (or intentional!) connection with some of the tools they use to downmix multi-channels and Neural THX listening mode.