Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Receiver choice

Hey....C'MON!

THAT was funny!!!

Actually DSP's do make a difference. The ability to handle more than one tasks is what can set them apart. I'm 100% in agreement that 99.9999% of the people would not be able to tell one amplifier to another. I also maintain that any decent speaker would not be distinguishable in an A/B test.

But Marantz's DSP for example, cannot handle TrueHD, DTS-MA *and* apply Audyssey room correction. Denon's DSPs can. Some AVRs do an improper job of boosting LFE by 10dB do to FW bugs. So when you take an AVR (not just the amplifier portion) as a package, one can (and do) sound different. It may have to do with FW bugs, DSPs that lack horsepower etc, but to an end user it will "sound" different.

(By AVR Package, I mean all the features that come with it)

Is this mistyped?

I certainly hope so.

If not, time for another 100 posts on the subject

Paul and Hansang, no the pre-amplifier doesn't create any sonic signature in competently designed units; its 12-15dB of gain is an even simpler technological task than that of the amplifier. As to the processor section, of course any feature such as tone controls, ambience processing, room equalization, etc., whose purpose is to change the sound will do so when turned on. But that almost never is what those who claim to hear sonic colorations in different receivers are talking about. The claim, without factual support, is that there's some mysterious inherent audible characteristic which usually would have to involve a substantial frequency inaccuracy(e.g., the "bright" Yamaha and the "warm" Marantz), independent of any processing feature chosen by the user. Unless there're substantial measurable differences there can't be audible ones, and there aren't.

John, is it a possibility that on some older receivers like my Scott 335,circa 1985 or so, that there might be any difference in sound because there is no audio direct buttons and that perhaps things such as the treble and bass may not be totally taken out of the picture. Also, there is a subsonic button on the unit which seems to really make a difference when hooked up to my M80's as opposed to my M3's. Not looking for an argument on the issue, just curious. My old Scott at 35 watts per channel sure made my M80's sound good, and took them to uncomfortable levels without any distortion that my untrained ears could hear. Only listening at 10 feet from the speakers. Although it did sound great at about 30 feet away while listening in the kitchen. Just not as loud.

Ed, sure something like tone controls which don't actually give a flat frequency response at their center position would change the sound. But again, that would be a measurable difference which doesn't exist in well-designed units.

Thought so John. Thanks for the clarification. All my newer receivers seem to have what I consider the same sound. Just different levels on their dials to get to that point. Thankfully there are SPL meters to let us test the levels and make the comparisons.

Good points, Hansang, and I agree. I'll just add that the quality and type of the power supply, circuits, op-amps, chips, boards,wiring, analog connectors, caps all affect sound quality, which can often be audible especially in receivers or pre-amps. How well each amp, pre-amp or receiver has been designed to handle and dissipitate heat will also impact sound. Electro-mechanical characteristics of audio components are greatly affected by heat.

One other thing. Linear frequency response and low distortion are very important however those two parameters alone do not ensure optimum sound reproduction. Ask any designer and he will tell you there are many considerations in designing a great receiver, pre-amp or amp. And each designer has a unique vision for the component and sense for what compromises are necessary in order to achieve that vision. Accordingly, not all components including receivers are created equally or sound the same. The old advice of listening to a component in your home if you can and trusting your ears still applies.