Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Stereo Processing and Overprocessing.

Hello,

I am new to this forum and to world of mid / hi-fi and would like to get the opinions of you more seasoned members. I recently purchased an Onkyo TX-SR703 7.1 receiver and use it with a Cambridge Audio Azur 640C cdp. I use the stereo outputs of the cdp connected to the Onkyo as it uses Wolfson 192 kHz/24-Bit DACs; I can't find any info on the Onkyo's DACs, only that they are 192 kHz/24-Bit (if anyone has more details on Onkyo's DACs, it would be appreciated).

My question is, if I use Stereo mode (as opposed to Pure or Direct), is the signal being converted back to digital in order to use the crossover settings for the sub, and then coverted again to analogue by the Onkyo's DACs? (I'd prefer to use the sub). My old H/K 130 AVR had a Stereo mode and allowed the sub to be used if set accordingly, but it had no Pure or Direct mode.

Thanks, and my apologies if this has been asked and answered already.

Fair question. As far as I know, any receiver which lets you set crossover frequencies for the sub is going to be converting to digital and back. I didn't think even the HK130 let you run the sub without digitizing the signal...

Thanks bridgman, that's what I was thinking, but I just wasn't sure.

I haven't done any extensive comparisons, but there doesn't seem to be a dramatic quality loss with all this conversion (analogue to digiatl and then back again) although my hearing may not be as keen as some others.

Maybe I'll just connect the cdp up via an SPDIF cable. If anything, at least there will be one less cable in the web...

Welcome Eggchen, and that Bridgman, he does know what he is talking about, contrary to what the others might say...

Egg, welcome. Ditto to John B. as to the necessity for an AD conversion of an analog input if a sub crossover setting is to be used. Don't worry about the additional conversions as these days converters are mature technology and don't audibly degrade sound quality. The same point also applies to trying to compare the DACs in the player and receiver; either one does an audibly flawless job(although slight measurable differences still exist)and this should no longer be looked at as a factor in what to buy or use. If you want to have fewer conversions use the digital output of your player and bypass its DAC.