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What am I listening to, it can't be Digital?

Just recently bought a Diana Krall, The Look Of Love, DVD-Audio Disc. Playing it on a Pioneer DV-58AV. The Content is listed as:

Advanced Resolution Surround Sound (96kHz/24-bit)DVD-Audio
Advanced Resolution Stereo (96kHz/24-bit)DVD-Audio
Dolby Digital Surround Sound DVD-Video
Artist Bio/Photo Gallery/Catalog DVD-Audio/Video

What I hear doesn't sound anything like Surround Sound Digital anything. It sounds almost exactly like an Analog Recording. The images are fleshed out in an extreme on an enlarged Soundstage. The ambience and Harmonic content seems to expand and go on forever. There is no Surround Sound Channel separation what so ever. I can't figure out if I am listening to Advanced Resolution Surround Sound, Advanced Resolution Stereo, or is the Pioneer giving me a 2-Channel downmix of both? If more Higher Resolution Disks sounded like this, there would be no way that DVD-Audio and SACD would be going out of business! The 2-Channel Stuff isn't that much of an improvement over CD, but damn it if some Recording Studio's aren't putting out some multi-channel Stuff that blows everything else away (except for maybe Records, but this Stuff is damn close)! That is, if what I am listening to is Multi-Channel or even a downmix. Can anyone out there tell me what's up with this particular DVD-Audio Disc? Can anyone tell me what I am listening to? Should I just shut-up because I am over-reacting?
pettyofficer
dave_b's avatar
dave_b
3,159 posts
 
Just shut up! Just kidding of course...what does your system consist of and are you multichannel?
pettyofficer OP
462 posts
 
Dear Dave_b,
I am strictly 2-Channel with a Pioneer Universal Player (DV-58AV) that claims to be able to take multi-channel SACD and DVD-Audio, and downmix them to 2-Channel Output. I just don't know if this DVD-Audio Disc provides for this. If I am picking up just two Channels off of this Disc, that can't be right. This sounds way better than any Stereo 96kHz/24-bit source has a right to. The only thing I can think of is if the Recording Studio Mastered the Original Recording to take advantage of the benefit that a Multi-Channel downmix to 2-Channel might provide. They also might have provided for the advantage in 4-Channel Surround Mode as well. I am just saying that it doesn't sound like 2-Main Channels mixed with 2-Surround Channels. The forward images are more fleshed out than I have heard from any Digital Source. The Soundstage is huge, the background Instruments have harmonic content that seems to stretch off into infinity. It sounds exactly like a Record, or pretty damn close.
I am currently using the AUDIO OUT (2ch) from the Pioneer to a Space Tech Lab A-102 Vacuum Tube Integrated/Headphone Amp. This is driving a pair of Grado RS-1 Headphones. I have a whole different set-up for CD Digital Co-axial Out from the Pioneer to a separate DAC.
dave_b's avatar
dave_b
3,159 posts
 
Ah yes, headphones...that would be part of the magic. Enjoy your fortunes:O)
raks
468 posts
 
I've only got two Music DVD's so I'm not real smart about this stuff but my James Taylor "One Man Band", and Cowboy Junkies "Trinity Revisited" DVD's have set up menus to change modes from 5.1 surround to 2 channel stereo. Is it possible that the "set up" menu on your DVD is set to 2 ch stereo verses 5.1 surround? By the way, the "Trinity Revisited" DVD IMHO is amazing.
jylee
306 posts
 
The effect you are hearing is the 24 bit high resolution content of DVD Audio. You are still hearing the stereo mix unless your headphone has separate five ear buds.
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