[Shizdan]

Should I use with my Denon D2000's?

 

[fenixdown110]

What do you want to accomplish? This setup seems to please many people. Enjoy.

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f46/5-...-setup-447089/

 

[Shizdan]

I'm just looking for Headphone components that pretty much make the quality outstanding and how the artist intended it to be heard.

 

[Lavcat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenixdown110 /img/forum/go_quote.gif What do you want to accomplish? This setup seems to please many people. Enjoy. http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f46/5-...-setup-447089/

Wow. I don't know how I missed seeing that thread. Actually I think I may have seen it and paid no attention because I was not yet using foobar. I set the channel mixer plugin up tonight. Too new for any firm conclusions, but so far very positive. Thanks, fenixdown, for the link!

 

[fenixdown110]

It makes a world of difference. When you turn the setup off, the music seems dull and lifeless. Very linear. Once it's back on, you get immersed in the music. I can't live without it anymore. haha

 

[HyperDuel]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fenixdown110 /img/forum/go_quote.gif It makes a world of difference. When you turn the setup off, the music seems dull and lifeless. Very linear. Once it's back on, you get immersed in the music. I can't live without it anymore. haha

I tired it and it didn't work at all.

Then again I wouldn't mess around with a stereo source.

 

[fenixdown110]

The Active DSP's should have these starting from the top: DTS decoder, channel mixer, Dolby Headphone. And only in that order. Everything else is just following the instructions. LFE should be unchecked.

 

[MrKazador]

DTS decoder is not needed unless you plan to playback dts files.

 

[Redo]

I would avoid everything except "convert mono to stereo"

Don't let DSP's take over your life, let the master speak for itself.

 

[fenixdown110]

Alright. Well channel and dolby in that order.

 

[Lavcat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redo /img/forum/go_quote.gif I would avoid everything except "convert mono to stereo" Don't let DSP's take over your life, let the master speak for itself.

I suspect most CD's are not mastered for headphones. What playback methods sound best depend upon the recording in my opinion. So far the channel mixer method is working very well for me on a variety of music.

However after comparing the two I prefer using CMSS-3D Headphone as the follow on step after channel mixer, rather than using Dolby Headphone. Dolby Headphone is not bad though.

 

[Redo]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lavcat /img/forum/go_quote.gif I suspect most CD's are not mastered for headphones. What playback methods sound best depend upon the recording in my opinion. So far the channel mixer method is working very well for me on a variety of music. However after comparing the two I prefer using CMSS-3D Headphone as the follow on step after channel mixer, rather than using Dolby Headphone. Dolby Headphone is not bad though.

Good masters are mastered for maximum quality, and are not meant to be rung through a Dolby/CMSS-3D DSP ringer. Headphones or not, a good master is a good master. Digital processing will hack up the finale and create an alternative version of the final product.

Listen to the music and how it was originally intended to be listened to, not to the DSP's that overwhelm the original intentions.

 

[Lavcat]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Redo /img/forum/go_quote.gif Good masters are mastered for maximum quality, and are not meant to be rung through a Dolby/CMSS-3D DSP ringer. Headphones or not, a good master is a good master. Digital processing will hack up the finale and create an alternative version of the final product. Listen to the music and how it was originally intended to be listened to, not to the DSP's that overwhelm the original intentions.

We may have to disagree. At the moment I am listening to the 1993 Jorge Mester/Pasedena Symphony binaural recording of Also Sprach Zarathustra. Played with channel mixer this CD sounds a bit strange. Played as bit perfectly as I can reproduce it with foobar and my hardware, it sounds something close to a live performance. Thrillingly close.

In contrast, most recordings of whatever genre do not sound like this on headphones. (Nor on speakers either.) By using channel mixer and CMSS-3D/Dolby Headphone, where warranted, I am trying to reproduce something of my experience of live music. Was this the artist's intention? Maybe or maybe not. However if I paid my $15 for the CD I can do what I like with it.

 

[krmathis]

Something like:
* ALAC decoder
* ASIO support / Kernel Streaming support / WASAPI output support

 

[fenixdown110]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lavcat /img/forum/go_quote.gif We may have to disagree. At the moment I am listening to the 1993 Jorge Mester/Pasedena Symphony binaural recording of Also Sprach Zarathustra. Played with channel mixer this CD sounds a bit strange. Played as bit perfectly as I can reproduce it with foobar and my hardware, it sounds something close to a live performance. Thrillingly close. In contrast, most recordings of whatever genre do not sound like this on headphones. (Nor on speakers either.) By using channel mixer and CMSS-3D/Dolby Headphone, where warranted, I am trying to reproduce something of my experience of live music. Was this the artist's intention? Maybe or maybe not. However if I paid my $15 for the CD I can do what I like with it.

I agree. I have my foobar setup as close to a live performance as well. It's breathtaking. If you close your eyes and listen, it's like your there with the musicians and they're playing right around you. I also using the foobar 5.1 headphone setup under the Dolby Live Room setting though ASIO.

Quote:

Originally Posted by krmathis /img/forum/go_quote.gif Something like: * ALAC decoder * ASIO support / Kernel Streaming support / WASAPI output support

Absolutely. Lossless and bit-exact output are both musts.