Thanks for the info! Ya I call Yamaha and they can never tell me anything! Ok I'm listening to WASP track from LA Woman album. Direct mode def has less punch. And my sub is unplugged! Just when I was happy with direct!! Haha def sounds more dynamic and bass with direct off.

What is interesting tho is when it is in direct mode the panel is in dim mode saying direct but when I turn off direct mode the panel of my receiver lights up and shows the title if the song. Weird eh?

interesting, well i think i have a decent ear and it sounds fantastic to me. like i say I'm listening to hi res files on a USB stick plugged into my yamaha. but for the intended sound, it should just be coming from the left and right i suppose eh? btw as an aside, i turned off my sub so its not...

No I have a dedicated sub. I guess the center is just putting out the vocals along with the fronts giving it a more fuller sound.

interesting! yes i have all matching speakers. i have Def Technology 5.1 sat pro series about 10 yrs old! still kicks butt! just can't decide what i like. lol both sound amazing, just love my center channel! adds a bit of something i can't put my finger on! but yes my speakers are all make and...

I've decided i enjoy the 3 speaker output but just thought id get some insight of what is going on between the two, as far as what I'm hearing. makes for fun discussion at least. there is a difference and I'm just trying to figure out what the difference is between direct and the other mode that...

Hey guys, I'm trying to reach audio nirvana with my hi res files but not sure what sound processing i should employ. i know its silly but want advice of what is proper sound even tho it may or may not sound good to me. the RX-V479 employs a direct mode for music listening that i believe only...

oh well, just shot an email to acoustic sounds maybe ill hear something. like i say i was gonna stick with my sony hi res audio player software but then it wouldn't play my dsd files so went looking for something else. vox seems to be cool but hate to have all these different apps when 1 is...

ok thanks for the info. i notice on top of the hi res audio player app it lists all the different files. off wav alas flac dsf but no dsd... but isn't dsf the same as the dsd file?    btw i just bought 2 new albums from acoustic sounds Let it bleed and elvis is back. already to enjoy whether...

i have it, but i noticed it wouldn't play my files. it only plays my iTunes files and hdtracks. it won't play acoustic sounds tracks i bought. so i downloaded vox! sigh god i hate computers. btw i have sennheiser 800s and pretty good ears i think.    i just checked my dsd file morrison hotel...

so im not listening to the full capability of the dsd file? 

I'm listening to Morrison Hotel DSD bought from acoustic sounds and using vox as my playback app. Its a dsd file but the dsd light won't light up on my pha-3. can anyone explain to me why the dsd light won't show? 

well i don't care at this point about subtleties and nuances of sound that the audiophiles discuss, i just want the cut outs and interference to quit! i can't believe its the crappy usb cable sony supplies u with but i guess so. lol

Belkin - MIXIT 4' Metallic Micro-USB to USB Cable - Black Model: F2CU021BT04-BLK SKU: 4859667    4.7 (104) 4 Questions, 10 Answers Click or tap to enlarge Images Interactive Features Demo. Opens a new window   This black MIXIT metallic...

i just don't understand the interference and breaking up! i never had any problems with my pono player connected to my sennheiser 800. 

el capitan as in cables?

yep its good now, the gain wasn't set to high. but yes to balanced headphones.. i am experiencing breakup a bit when listening.. crackling, cut out... I'm not moving it.. must be the usb cables??

ok I'm finally somewhat happy with my PHA-3!!! altho it stinks it won't work balanced mode with my pono player, but I've got it working with my iMac and the sony download high res software... i know all about burn in and all that but I'm puzzled by how u have to crank the thing to 3:00 position...

How do u connect the micro usb to the back of my iMac? there's no port on there that fits!

ya thats what i keep hearing, u have to break it in.. cant believe i bought such a thing!! i couldnt just be happy with the great sound i was getting from the senns balanced with my pono!! but i thought it could use some more power and dynamics... 1000 dollar lesson... pathetic 

i connected the sony PHA-3 to my iphone and it sounded like garbage.. had to turn the vol up to 12:00 position just to get any sound..using my sennheiser 800 balanced surf cables.. any ideas?? 

the pono just doesnt work with anything apparently.. sigh 

Well since the pono won't work, my only other option is to hook it up to my imac.. can i connect the PHA-3 to my home audio reciever? 

Ya i guess im coming to that realization that the pono just wont work with this despite people telling me it will and surf cables saying it works. sigh pitiful. 

so i bought me a 1000.00 coaster! thats about par for me!