What is 'Pure Direct' Mode and Why You Should Use It

[@adamous00]

I only listened through processed audio for years until I got some decent speakers, in order to evaluate them I started listening in pure audio mode, now I exclusively listen in pure audio. If you're into precision and detailed sound this is the only way to listen. Soundstage becomes more realistic and imaging is far better than surround mode

[@seano218]

A key point worth mentioning is if you're going to use this mode for 2 channel listening, you have to make sure your speakers are positioned properly for 2 channel listening! Music and movies are vastly different. Make sure you get that center image locked in by towing them in and your speakers away from the walls, start with at least a foot. Speaker location is very important.

[@jaseamondo]

Pure direct may or may not sound better for you, it is very much room and speaker dependant. What it is though is undeniably the purest signal that your receiver / pre amp can provide, and has the potential to sound amazing in the correct setting. Trust your ears, if it sounds better to you use it, if not don't 😉

[@ehall8929]

I think Pure direct is in the ear of the beholder.. I use it occasionally on my Yamaha 3060. Like you said in the video it cuts out all extraneous circuitry, display, bass management, EQ, etc. It's a different sound for sure. I noticed, I do have to turn the volume up when I listen in Pure Direct. I think it's fine for some sources. I do enjoy listening to music in Dolby Surround too. It just sounds fuller to me and a sub woofer does add something to the music for sure. My speakers are the Ascend Acoustic Tower speakers which have been described as fairly neutral sounding speaker, so Pure Direct works some of the time but not all the time. when I don't want EQ, I use the "Through" mode on the Yamaha 3060 which gives you subwoofer output but bypasses EQ. Through mode sounds great!

[@stevehobday5571]

please read my comment steve hobday and pass this information on . the real truth about source direct . FACT

[@davidjudd951]

I just tried this on the new Marantz 6015, it's one month old. Been listening to everything processed, and playing around with the many available settings. I'll settle on a setting one day, but not like it the next. This setting is a setting I can enjoy from day to day. Thanks for the tip. The two channel sound on Pure Direct, took me back to the 70's when listening to the analog receiver. Sweet vintage sounds, that were easier on the ears with no fatigue. Thanks again.

[@mikek.4211]

Pure Direct whenever I use my headphones. All two channel music processed as “multi channel stereo” . I much prefer the “full” sound coming from all around instead of two front speakers. I did that in the 70’s. This is better!

[@vaughnhulsey1421]

Thanks, answered a lot of my questions. I am learning to train my ears to the PD Mode and I am enjoying what I am hearing much better.

[@Kpaceguy]

Glad I could help

[@jaseamondo]

Another tip , you can switch audessey to L/R bypass mode. This keeps the Eq engaged for the subwoofer but sends the direct sound to the front stereo speakers. Not ideal if your using full range speakers as your now getting two sources trying to produce the same bass frequencies, but works well for bookshelf speakers, just set your crossover point slightly above where your bookshelf speakers are effective (typically somewhere between 40-60hz) Not quite pure direct but a good compromise worth trying.

[@Kpaceguy]

Good info

[@ganesang5537]

Serendipitously discovered pure direct mode on my Pioneer vsx 534 and I'm hooked. Analog sources (Pioneer calls them analogdirect) are without bass management (subwoofer), so cassettes and vinyl play in 2.0, whereas digital sources like Chromecast, DVD/BD players are bass managed, so 2.0 plays in 2.1 and 5.1/7.1 plays with .1 and crossover steering. Overall, I'm finding PD mode more natural and textured than stereo or surround modes. Obviously mcacc room eq and bass treble controls are disabled though.

[@mattmoo46]

Thank you for a pure & understandable explanation of this mode👍🏼

[@garysvinyldungeon2764]

If you’re playing your music on a surround sound receiver than yea use pure direct because this bypasses the surround processor and gives you a better sound most of the time

[@lilricky734]

Always use it when I watch movies at home. Never knew the tech info behind it...just sounded better to me!! Thanks for the informative vid.

[@Kpaceguy]

My pleasure

[@yannisspyrakis6098]

Same think here. Once I set my Yamaha RXV480 after I saw your video, everything changed. I noticed that excess bass disappeared and highs got normal and flat that created good separation. Also no coloration.

[@scottl8132]

Never use it for movies only for music but it's your ears lol

[@yannisspyrakis6098]

Scott L I think you right LOL ...dah!

[@thegoat164]

There is no tv picture with pure direct.

[@davethestalker]

Direct and Pure Direct are two different modes, at least they are on my Denon X7200wa. I use “Stereo” and have the settings in Speakers/2 Channel Playback set differently than the global settings. Pure Direct ignores the tweaks I have made to create a pinpoint center image by adjusting distances. Pure Direct also ignores the crossover settings I use for 2 Channel Playback. I prefer to listen to my system the way I want to listen to my system in my house. Tool - Chocolate Chip Trip is one of my reference songs. It one of those songs that tricks your brain and sounds like it’s in surround sound. I love when an artist takes the time on production and mastering to use the full with of the soundstage. My X7200wa is driving a pair of Paradigm Monitor p90 v1. It’s amazing how much of a difference a 1/4 inch of toe and adjusting distances can make to narrow that center image to the size of a mouth.

[@2001cobra1]

Fantastic song recommendation Dave. I had forgotten about that song.

[@davethestalker]

@@2001cobra1 cheers EJ! They are finally releasing a somewhat affordable version of Fear Innoculum on vinyl! Hopefully, we will have an amazing Atmos version of it in the future! Cheers!

[@PoserGalore]

This feature sounds really good on monitor speakers. Used Polk audio monitor 60’s crisp and clean sounding 👌🏻

[@stevemann3078]

Pure direct mode is awesome. It does work with the subwoofer on Denon. Amplifiers

[@chriswelljack4910]

U have direct mode with sub it have other things like reference mode no sub just pure 2 channel emotiva have both no turning off of light though I think that's bs seing the music player via electric already no avoiding it only difference is there is little to no type of processing on direct mode n none one reference mode but that's what I know for emotiva

[@tomiettinen]

Pure Direct is 2.0 so no sub.

[@thegoat164]

Pure Direct you get volume control, that's it.

[@drainshydrojettingrooterdr5080]

Yea live sounds good but Studio recording sounds way better Thats why it has different settings for music that sound closer to Studio recorded music

[@Kpaceguy]

Studio music does not sound better. It's just louder and synthesis/mixed but a studio adds character to music that isn't there. And, unfortunately, people like that sound more than sitting in front of the live thing.

[@stevemann3078]

Yes on Denon receivers. It is the yellow button on the remote for Pure direct sound.

[@Jonky98]

My Onkyo TX-RZ800 has Pure Audio mode and when it is changed from stereo to Pure Audio it is amazingly clear and with much better sound stage compared to the stereo option Direct was nearly as good as pure audio I also found that it also works with surround sound modes as well I have had to connect my subwoofer to the main front pre outs as the sub output is one of the things disabled

[@Spook2312]

I use pure direct on my Marantz 7013 and I got my speakers bi-amped. Sounds great! Speakers are Q Acoustics 3050

[@1982field]

You are correct sir my listening experience was vastly changed by using pure direct mode also if you have the option set it to Pure Direct Auto this will help with your movie experience as well

[@thegoat164]

You won't get a tv picture with pure direct.

[@Fastfwd01]

Nice video on this. You’re right that it might take a concentrated effort to enjoy it. I recently found out my Audyssey resamples to 48khz PCM and I decided to give Pure Direct another shot with my SACD discs so the DSD wasn’t converted. Honestly, I still don’t know the signal path of that DSD in Pure Direct mode either. At any rate the SACD discs do sound really good in PD. Not as dull as I thought it used to sound. I’ve also recently added an amp that helps that too.

[@stevehobday5571]

hi there i thought i would pass on the info about source direct .. the facts its not for playback .. check out my comment . steve hobday . please pass on the info and spread the love ...

[@erichschader1079]

I run my subwoofer through the left/right back speakers and the rest through the front. Pure Direct mode. Golden.

[@ernestm8884]

I like pure mode with streaming music on the ROKU but just stereo mode with the sub on is nice as well for my music.

[@dednside5229]

The best thing to do is run 2 channel out of your marantz to an A/B amplifier . The chip power amp in marantz are the weak link ..... Keep any internal equalization and time alignment on . The pre section is pretty good , As is the bluetooth module

[@audiofella5066]

Hey man nice setup, just remember that the purpose of hifi home audio is to get what sounds best to that particular person, the only time "coloration" is inherently a bad thing is if you are a sound engineer working professionally.

[@Kpaceguy]

For sure

[@ericschulze5641]

So you want colored music the way these stereo engineers think it should sound, but not what the original music engineers recorded it

[@joaquinbarlow6308]

Love pure direct mode to, and absolutely love your taste in speakers I to have Polk audio’s RT/RTI line, but those LSIM’s are super nice... love your setup to...

[@Kpaceguy]

I greatly appreciate it!

[@joaquinbarlow6308]

Kpaceguy your very welcome!!!

[@stevehobday5571]

the big truth about source direct ,,, its not for playback what so ever . you use it to record out of source direct into audio software for a neutral sound signiture . meaning flat eq . when the track has been put to disc or any other format you then use the eq settings at which you had previously i had been producing for 14 years and every track thats recorded has to be a neutral and flat sound signiture you simply add eq later ...

[@MrBali123456]

I almost always use Pure Direct mode when watching ac3/dts movie. This made me feel the AVR bells & whistles are useless since I almost never use the DSP such as Neo, Prologic II, Rock, Movie, Classical, Bass, Treble, etc. The time I use the DSP is when I watch movie late at night, put it in "Midnight Mode" in order my neighbour won't call the police to report me. With DSP "Midnight" mode, the sound is processed for "normalization". I can't do anything to the sound if I use the Pure Direct mode. If i insist to use the Pure Direct mode when watching movie similar like "Transformer" late at night, then many times I have to turn the volume up during the dialogue scenes, then turn the volume down during the action scenes 😄. Thank you for the video, Sir 🙏.

[@Turtleback8024]

Just ran a test, I still prefer "Pure Audio" (Onkyo TX-NR686) to "Stereo". In Stereo mode the top end is more lively but the separation isn't that great, and the bass is a bit thin. I've set my front mains to small. Will try and set them to large (full range) and see if it makes any difference.

[@Kpaceguy]

Let's us know the results!

[@Turtleback8024]

@@Kpaceguy Cool. Will do.

[@iamworthy1302]

Pure direct mode is the cleanest pleasure.

[@TahoeNevada]

On my receiver, (Yamaha RX-V583) it’s called Straight. So, it allows the “straight” signal from the original source. If I’m watching a Dolby Atmos movie via my Xbox, that’s the signal I get. If I’m listening to Spotify, I just get 2.1 audio. I love it!

[@junior-OG]

pure direct and straight is not the same

[@TahoeNevada]

Junior OG How so?

[@TahoeNevada]

Junior OG Never mind. Just Googled it.

[@yannisspyrakis6098]

Tahoe Nevada I have the Yamaha RXV480 and it has straight and direct. I chose direct. By the way, for what reason you don’t use Direct?

[@yannisspyrakis6098]

Junior OG which is better guys? Straight or direct?

[@simplymusicfactory3323]

Just love the umbrella in the corner exposing itself looks like an extra on a movie.

[@Kpaceguy]

Lol

[@simplymusicfactory3323]

@Ryland Luca do you need a VPN to watch it?

[@izzzzzz6]

I just fixed one of the many Yamaha home cinema amplifiers. The DAC was not working so sound was only coming through main speakers when in 2ch stereo mode and only if bass and treble were in the zero position. When pure direct was selected there was no sound, suggesting it is converted to digital and then back to analogue as it was not passing the DAC chip. It seems that 2ch stereo is actually direct mode with the Yamaha amps. Once i changed the tiny 28 pin DAC chip PCM 1681 it was back to fully working.

[@stephenwebb1977]

What are you talking about?? Pure Direct also bypasses all bass management so no subs are used! Pure Direct mode is NOT the best mode! You should listen in Stereo mode to keep Subs and bass management.

[@Sup3riorr]

Thats true but it all depends on if u want to color the sound or not, or add to it to be more exact. If u have small monitors offcourse u cant do with oiut a sub. But pure direct is made for speakers that can maintain some level of bass. Having a sub is not exactly accurate when it comes to music tbh

[@thegoat164]

Depends on your speakers, I have SVS Ultra bookshelf which have good bass, so I don't use a sub for music.

[@russellleahy]

It depends how your sub is wired

[@ge3466]

You youngsters....so much to learn

[@michaelkay8996]

just hooked up my system, marantz nr1200 reciever, marantz Cd 6007 Cd player, pro-ject evo turntable all going through monitor audio bronze 100 speakers. Newbie to it all and I love the pure direct sound.

[@MusicMovies67]

I use Stereo Direct on my Receiver and it sounds great. You have to use quality RCA cables for Stereo Direct

[@CristianGonzalez-hm7jw]

Hi when I enable sdirect on I cannot listening the sound ... any idea ?

[@Test-Pilot1194]

Pure direct turns ALL dsp off. Room calibration and everything goes to shit in pure direct. I may use it occasionally for 2ch from my old SL-PD9. But not very often at all. Stereo with all dsp sounds better for me. 👍🏻👍🏻

[@nachowifi2181]

Duane Bennett I’m a purist. I run Pure Direct on my Marantz to my Rotel amps to my Bowers speakers when listening to music.. Sounds exactly like the artist intended. No “coloring”

[@Test-Pilot1194]

Abel Thermidor by no colouring you mean no dsp. Each to their own anyway. I don’t like it.

[@notagunfreak8146]

@@Test-Pilot1194 The pure mode sounds better, when you are in a great room, when you have a slightly less acoustical room, dsp is better and since almost nobody has a fantastic room, dsp is better 95% of the time.

[@waymonfrench2077]

I agree D B I don't care for pure direct I like Auto

[@Turtleback8024]

I always switch to Pure Direct when I'm listening to 2ch audio. Sounds awesome!!! The bottom end is tight and punchy! The midrange nice and crisp! And the top end very clean and sparkly without being aggressive. On songs like Narrow Daylight by Diana Krall; Justice's Groove by Stanley Clarke; My Heart Is For You by Peter Sandberg; Misty by Tsuyoshi Yamamoto; and artists like Inger Marie Gunderson, Pure Direct brings out all the flavours, and textures. Pure Direct for me any day!!!👌😎

[@LA_Peres]

Direct and pure direct on my Pioneer works well, it's better on stereo setup.

[@shaunrichards744]

It will also send full range frequencies to the main two speakers . You can sill have subwoofer running in direct mode in settings.

[@kennethober9070]

For all you saying Pure Direct is only stereo with no sub, you’re only seeing part of the picture. Pure Direct will only play what ever sound channels there are. If it’s 2.0, it will be stereo with no subwoofer. If it’s x.1 channels, the subwoofer will only work independently instead of enhancing your speakers bass. Your speakers will get full range Pure Direct but if you like subwoofers with your music, the music or whatever source you’re listening to will need to have a subwoofer channel or you’ll have no sub.

[@alanaldrich8069]

I used the Pure Direct mode when playing records, I find it the best sound too.

[@saikatbose8370]

@John Smith I do so as my marantz reciever has that analog

[@saikatbose8370]

@John Smith I have different setups for rooms. I have a particular setup which is completely analog As the turntable, intregated amplifiers and the speakers belong to my grandfather s time. Setting up a receiver just by switching on analog assign mode is not at all enough. It took me sometime before I got the analog flavour while playing records and cd s but definitely not a easy process as I have not found a single tutorial viedo on this as av receivers are for watching films and that s the idea everyone has. But have any one ever thought why phono input s are given to av receiver specially marantz. Av receiver a like marantz make excellent music amplifiers too where you get that analog pleasure and playing records with svs subwoofer s is another experience if you work hard on those settings something which you will never get from the big towers with large drivers as they can never ever form the base like a expensive subwoofer does. Now on paper this may not be analog as every av receiver has a software too

[@saikatbose8370]

@John Smith Maybe you have not heard with real lows . So for me speakers, turntable s and amplifiers from the past. But definitely av receivers and subwoofers from the present. Your personal experience is not cor all.

[@saikatbose8370]

@John Smith it seems you still have long long way to go specially with sound. Am sure you will learn if you concentrate and some madness required too

[@saikatbose8370]

@John Smith and last but no⁰ the least it also depends on your equipments which varies from person to person. So even if the equipments or even the settings are incorrect then too base will never sound the same way. Now these are very long topics so not at all easy to just type . But your question was completely different about av receivers being real analog amplifiers or not and you moved to subwoofer s . Have answered your first question and now the second part. Actually the problem is people forget to keep their personal opinions personal and remember little knowledge is very dangerous like zero knowledge.

[@raulgarcia1718]

I use straight on my Yamaha for casual listening but always pure direct whenever I want to focus my listening and viewing. Pure direct cuts out the sub but I use the high pass connections on my sub in addition to the LFE connection. The lfe channel stays active in pure direct on my avr but the fronts are treated like full range speakers so I don’t lose bass in 2 channel listening.

[@everettspain2739]

So are you saying if my normal setup where I'm sending the LFE signal to the subs, when I activate Pure Direct (Marantz SR6015) it will not allow my towers (Martin Logan ESL 13A) to play as a full range speaker?

[@raulgarcia1718]

@@everettspain2739 pure direct is channel in channel out and eliminates all processing including crossover settings, sending full range signals to your towers. I use bookshelf speakers so the speaker level connections to the sub sends the the low frequencies beyond the range of my book shelf speakers to the sub. Pure direct will only send LFE material to the sub if the source sends out a discrete LFE signal. For 2 channel music only the front LR will receive any signals and they will be full range

[@rmccallum1966]

@@raulgarcia1718 I have noticed that if I set my front mains to small (klipsch rp 8000) I can utilize the SVS sub using pure direct. Sounds excellent 👍

[@raulgarcia1718]

@@rmccallum1966 I think pure direct is implemented differently by manufacturers. My Yamaha is a channel through situation and eliminates all the processing other than channels and amp distribution including the display. However, if I remember correctly, on my old pioneer avr pure direct only disabled the room correction processing but left the crossovers and display on. It certainly pays of to compare the straight/direct setting against the pure direct in one’s setup. It’s good to be able to use processing when needed but pure direct will show the full capability of the speakers with a specific avr.

[@rmccallum1966]

@@raulgarcia1718 agreed

[@hifisymphony]

I personally prefer the sound on M-Dax way better than Pure Direct. I have a Marantz SR5013

[@Crazytownmetal6]

I have a Sony mini hi-fi that is 400 Watts and only two channel from the late 90s and it has pure direct, I love that little system it will knock your socks off. Never underestimate Sony. Sony rocks

[@stargate6951]

Great video...thanks for the explanation...it ALL depends on the music source....vinyl, digital, streaming....yada yada yada....

[@tapemaster8252]

yep, I use pure direct mode when streaming music and the equalizer from apple music to shape the sound to my liking, it's incredible!

[@LAOBASS]

I always use pure direct on my yamaha RX-A800 loved it so much that I sold all my surround speakers and just kept the towers. the house is also cleaner and saves more space this way.

[@kennethober9070]

Pyre direct works in surround sound too.

[@LAOBASS]

@@kennethober9070 I have the RX-A800 an older model. I don't know how to setup pure direct in surround speakers.

[@kennethober9070]

@@LAOBASS Easy, pure direct uses whatever channels the music or movie has in it. If the source is 2.0 then no subwoofer. If it’s 2.1 then it’s stereo with a subwoofer track. If the source is 5.1, it’s 5 speakers plus the subwoofer. All speakers work independently rather than mixing stereo into surround or the bass being enhanced by the subwoofer.

[@LAOBASS]

@@kennethober9070 the yamaha RX-A800 is a 7.2 but in PURE DIRECT it is only in 2.0

[@kennethober9070]

@@LAOBASS I have a Yamaha RX4A and it plays surround sound when the movie or source is encoded with it. Most music is on a CD, tape, Vinyl or MP3 which is 2.0 stereo. So unless you have a multi channel (surround) track, you’re going to only have 2.0 at best.

[@drewsmith6066]

Good info chap thanks, nice set up as well 👍....in direct the AV pushes less power, so turn it up more

[@SpikeoutBattleStreet]

My entry level stereo amp Onkyo A9030 has that button which gives the cleanest sound but I don't use it. Still better through the internal equalizer.

[@Turtleback8024]

I always use it. It's simply awesome!!!

[@thegoat164]

Pure Direct ALWAYS for 2 channel listening.

[@greatray6262]

What you're hearing is a sample of the source as it was recorded. You're only going to hear it as it actually sounded live if you did the recording and chose not to add any enhancements to it. If the recording is flawed than that's what you're going to hear. Flaws and all.

[@Sup3riorr]

Pure direct is the closest uncolored sound u can use when listening in stereo mode

[@BoopSnoot]

bit rayciss against colored sound IMO

[@mayankpatel6943]

I have Marantz SR 6013 with Q Acoustic Concept 40 it sounds great on pure direct mode but you have to get used to it from surround sound I tried it only recently 👍

[@Kpaceguy]

You should consider submitting your system to my subscriber showcase series!

[@MrWill4812]

PR director is nice to listen to with Music I use it all the time

[@nellyt2807]

You have some very nice gear along with a nice home hope one appreciates all you have .one really does have nice equipment and one appears to enjoy talking g about music and equipment and describes it very well .

[@Kpaceguy]

I appreciate it

[@Bobklijn]

I agree about using direct/pure direct, especially pure direct. I even noticed using pure direct mode when I'm playing CD's or records, it significantly "cools down" my AVR, because it is additionally disabling all HDMI processing (which cause heat at the back of my HDMI board). Not using any video processing when not needed, may be a good way to expand the life-time of one's AVR. My thinking...

[@stevehobday5571]

hi there . please check out my comment steve hobday . its not for playback . you are robing your self of audio quality . i explain the real truth . take it from me . i produced for 14 years ... please pass on this info . its funny how so many people get source direct wrong . i like to pass on my experience to help other people ..

[@tosman-]

@@stevehobday5571 where is the comment

[@stckyjoey1]

Damn that's a sweet set up.👍🍿🍻

[@Kpaceguy]

I appreciate it man

[@LinksCreativeMedia-pf5xh]

Thanks for the review. Just a question that I still get confused. When U use pure direct mode. Do you also use the preamp of the receiver? My setup is a tablet connected to an external DAC via USB C to USB C otg, and the external DAC is connected to either 4.4mm jack to rca to receiver or 3.5mm jack to rca to receiver. Tha ks for the feedback and this video is very informative.

[@Kpaceguy]

Yes

[@DavidSanchez-bf6sz]

I'm going into work tomorrow smarter. Thanks!

[@Kpaceguy]

My pleasure!

[@shijoejoseph2011]

Classical Music all the way, nothing else matters! 😭❤️ This CD player should be designated for classical alone...maybe Joni Mitchell and John Denver, as an exception! Nothing else! 😇🔥

[@scottl8132]

Direct or Pure Direct is only supposed to be used for music. I never use it for movies. I only use DD or DD+ or Atmos. No bullshit extra processing DSP' s lol

[@bassbrother101]

Imma try it one day whenever i get a home system

[@gregrichard9192]

Great explanation Keep up the good work See you got the monolith amp. Would you recommend the outlaw model 5000/7000 ?

[@Kpaceguy]

Yes those are great amps made similar by the same hands. Can't go wrong

[@gregrichard9192]

@@Kpaceguy thanks

[@thorcules]

On the Marantz, Pure Auto is the way to go. You keep you room correction and the subs but the rest of the music remains unaltered.

[@jnagarya519]

It turns off all PROCESSING.

[@tomiettinen]

Pure Direct is 2.0 so no sub and no room correction.

[@thegoat164]

Pure Direct you get volume control, that's it. I use SVS Ultra Bookshelf and pure direct gives me amazing sound!

[@nihilityjoey]

Pure direct is ment for stereo music listening, with full range capable speakers. If your speakers are not full range, stereo is the way to go using a sub that is set to music listening. The same applies to movies. Using atmos, digital etc is the way too go. This is why some people down in the comments are saying stereo sounds better to them listening to music. The majority of front speakers in peoples systems are not full range, using pure direct forces the bass to them when they have no dedicated woofer or crossover to distribute the bass, whereas in stereo with a sub you have your fronts dealing with the highs, mids and low mids, and the sub handling the bass. The crossovers will give a better sound stage and depth. Dont use pure direct for movies at all, or for listening to stereo without having full range capable speakers. I've just edited this again because I'm seeing some strange findings by people. Pure direct is a 2 channel mode. Its sends all of the frequencies to the front speakers only. If you use pure direct on say a movie. All other speakers cut off, and your sub will shut off soon after. This happens because all data is being processed to go to the fronts. Pure direct doesn't mean you are getting the "pure" sound content spread out among all speakers. If you have say a bluray player and a receiver. You want your bluray player to output its audio through hdmi BITSTREAM. This means that the player sends the raw unprocessed data files to the reciever to decode. So when you play a film, the reciever will automatically output your different codecs like atmos. Listening to stereo is different. Stereo recorded music doesn't have separate surround channels or dedicated low end channels like cinema audio (unless digitally recorded in say 5.1). So when you listen to music your front speakers are being utilised across the board, and this means your speakers have to be able to cross over bass at a point were it blends. Non full range speakers dont have this. So the next best thing (or best thing) is too set your reciever to 2 channel stereo, with the ability to use a sub and its crossover to take control of the low end. And because the base isn't set like in movies you have to turn the crossover switch to about halfway to not muddy your sound. Pure direct is 2 channel music listening mode, for people who have expensive full range speakers. For everyone else, use the stereo setting for music, if you have a sub, and leave your audio for films to be decoded by your reciever by being bittstreamed out by your player. This is not to say you cant use pure direct through normal front speakers, it's just the sound will be less defined than it would in stereo with a sub, and you could damage your speakers drivers and crossovers. I hope this explains things a bit better.

[@Datenschutz_Datenschutz]

Lyngdorf MP 50, 2x IOTAVX AVXP1, ELAC Vela FS 409 (front), FS, 407 (rear), CC401 (center), BS403 (back surroundl) 2x Sub 2070 and 4x SW1645 in a 7.1.4 setup - would be the calibration never switch off. Not even in stereo.

[@bobstein0523]

You addressed direct mode well for music. How does it affect TV sound or Blue-ray surround sound?

[@Kpaceguy]

Don't use it

[@scottl8132]

Also DTS is a better format then DD. It's ashame it can't be used for streaming. I know I will get shit for saying that lol

[@blitzkriegfreddy5717]

Your right, I have to say though Dolby Atoms is way better than dts-x

[@simplymusicfactory3323]

Dolby atoms? might be Atmos, and I agree w/ that.

[@stevemann3078]

Thank you for your videos. On the Denon amplifier pure direct mode What setting is that? Cuz I don't have the button for it. I think it's on the menu list. When you turn on the TV and everything? Thank you.

[@Kpaceguy]

Depending the model you may not have it

[@stevemann3078]

@@Kpaceguy It is at the bottom of the remote. Sound mode the yellow button for Pure direct mode pure direct mode

[@BrianD1961]

Love the Marantz A/V Pre/Pro's. So, I had been drooling over the McIntosh MX122 A/V Processor for some time. Then I found out that the McIntosh and Marantz AV8805 are virtually identical in their digital sections. The difference, the analog section in the McIntosh is all McIntosh. $7,000.- vs. $4,500.- . Now I want the Marantz. I just wish you didn't have to keep the compartment door flipped down in order to see the read out.

[@suasponte6230]

Well done.

[@wilburdesouza]

When I switch to Pure Direct on my Pioneer receiver, the music sounds way too muffled. I guess it sounds different from manufacturer to manufacturer

[@Kpaceguy]

Its different speaker to speaker

[@blazermdx]

Loved the video my man. Thanks for the upload!

[@Kpaceguy]

Thanks for watching!

[@blazermdx]

Kpaceguy Your passion appears to deep like mine. I’m definitely subscribing:)

[@Kpaceguy]

@@blazermdx I went to school to make a living for music and wouldn't be alive without it. Welcome to the crew!

[@rohdod1763]

whats your opinion on Anthem MCA 525? would you recommend it over Monolith 5 channnel?

[@Kpaceguy]

The anthem is a better amp. Better power, better signal to noise ratio, better low distortion. But it's not 1000+ dollars better. Unless you have quality speakers and components that would really shine with something like the anthem

[@rohdod1763]

Kpaceguy thank you... that’s what I thought

[@Cookingwithsteveg]

Thanks for pointing this out for me.

[@justplainlawr]

Audyssey XT (not 32) isn't very good and even if I have the EQ Audyssey applied, it will be with the freq filter range set to 250 or 300 Hz. For my room and my speakers (B&W 603s and previous B&Ws), setting to Direct mode gives me more bass, sometimes "boomier" because the crossovers are also bypassed in Direct mode (for D&M receivers), so L & R are passed the full range signal. my bass settings are set to "LFE + Main" so I'm getting "double bass" from my subwoofer as well.

[@ogunrotimifemi6388]

Can a standalone DAC (Chord Qutest or Hugo TT2) be connected to an AVR-X 4700H? Aiming at bypassing build in DAC in the AVR(Pure Direct Mode). Streaming music through Qobuz on my laptop, for better sound production through my front tower speakers. Thanks.

[@Kpaceguy]

I'm not too sure that pure direct bypasses the DAC in Marantz/denon products

[@AUDIO.and.SCOTCH]

Awesome video, thanks 🙏

[@Kpaceguy]

Thanks for watching!

[@darrylland5659]

Amazing content very helpfull

[@Kpaceguy]

I appreciate it!

[@rinkrat06]

I Have pure direct on my pioneer AVR 2010 . When I turned on my Blu-Ray player to spin a sacd it automatically went back into ext. stereo.

[@motorcopT2]

Haha if I was a young single cat my pad would look like that. I have the same receiver. I’m going to give it a try

[@bustercolin7507]

Great video! I love hitting buttons and I just hit that one! Can't here any interference whatsoever. I got a question that I hope u can help me. When I go to manual setup for my 2 floor standers it's got the db level, from -10db/0db/+10db and everything in between. What should I be setting this too?

[@Test-Pilot1194]

buster colin if you didn’t use pure direct, the auto correction would set them correct. 👍🏻

[@Kpaceguy]

And even if you used auto correct it could still be wrong. You typically don't want to go above 0db or 'reference'. Anything over 0 is a gain that could introduce distortion or clipping which prematurely destroys speakers.

[@Test-Pilot1194]

Kpaceguy distances and gain levels etc can be checked with sb metres and tape measures after to make sure it right ...

[@bustercolin7507]

@@Kpaceguy ok thanks

[@gamecockspalmetto]

Check out the Polk Vr3 modification. I put the Fortress mod in my RTiA9s and it took the dynamics to a new level.

[@patiorio1538]

Thanks for the review on pure Direct Mode.You saved me 3 hours on hold calling Yamaha because they really suck I had to say that . so I have a question I have Polk audio RTI A1 Im thinking about upgrade to Polk audio RTI A3 is that jump in sound quality.

[@Kpaceguy]

Not a huge jump but yes

[@patiorio1538]

@@Kpaceguy ok cool thanks for replying back to .

[@Pittsburgh-412]

I prefer amps on everything. Fuck the receivers power that sucks. Make it louder than a concert. That's what sounds great imo

[@jw191]

Is it normal for the total output to drop significantly? I normally ran my SR6010 at volume 30-35 with Audyssey enable, however have to run the receiver at 55-60 to get the same output in Direct?

[@Kpaceguy]

Yes

[@stanae7ut199]

Thanks for your insights

[@clashingwithvance965]

Do you happen to have a video on how to hook up an amplifier. Maybe just explaining how all the inputs and buttons work? That would be awesome

[@Kpaceguy]

Yes I do in my "how to" playlist

[@MrRyadav3]

Great Video. Managed to get my device hooked up and played music in Pure Direct mode and it works well. Question: the volume level I set is perfect for home theatre or normal TV watching but in Pure Direct, I need to crank the volume up by a lot. Is that normal or is it a settings thing?

[@Kpaceguy]

It's normal. Because there is none of the processing turned on that adds extra volume to the sound. It's just your speakers and the amps untouched power

[@tehMonarch]

any way to just do pure direct plus sub? I love the direct mode, but it would be nice to have a little bass fill for certain things :P I have an onkyo, thanks!

[@Kpaceguy]

I think there is somewhere in the settings for 2ch

[@vincethehun364]

Very nice and useful explanation. Thank you! You have on your monolith amplifier some kind of ventilation unit. Can you tell the make and model and is it silent? Do you recommend this?

[@Kpaceguy]

yes. aircom infinity T8

[@jerrysander]

Thank you for this video; I'm curious, though, about how it works (Pure Direct) when the SOURCE is lossless streaming (through a Bluesound Node 2i, or Roon Nucleus) (TIDAL or Qobuz) going through a Yamaha receiver with Pure Direct mode on/off. Does it leave the internal DAC in the Bluesound alone? i.e., "Pure" sound is still processed by the Node's DAC? Or it "refuses" the DAC processed sound? Still undecided if it actually sounds better or not in my room....All comments welcome.

[@Kpaceguy]

I believe it leaves the dac alone and turns off any equalizers you may have set with calibration and any other tone controls

[@godgoodtheknight3060]

Thank you for your explanation.

[@stevenoconnor5693]

What is being referenced in this video is strongly based on the environment. Also you aren’t hearing exactly what the instruments natively sound like. The speaker will always have a level of difference than an actual source of the presentation. Then you’re dealing with your room sound signature. Some people train to listen in an “Audiophile” way and not the preference that you as the listener enjoys the most. Sound is subjective and there is no wrong way to listen or enjoy your music. I’d say experiment with your equipment. Don’t be afraid or have a one track mind to trying something different.

[@georgestephens4054]

It also gets rid of all surround sound processing

[@gazmanator77]

Thanks a lot. Well explained! When I have it OFF Marantz (PM5005) then only one speaker is off. Which componeng wojld be broken in this case? Any ideas?

[@Kpaceguy]

I'm not so sure

[@matthewjsparks]

I didn't hear it, explicitly, but is Pure Direct only to be used with stereo content? Or does it do the same for other content...DD+, Atmos, etc?

[@Kpaceguy]

Only use it for stereo music

[@Boorock70]

Hey Kpaceguy which receiver is better for stereo Music? Yamaha Aventage vs Marantz? You used both, what's your opinion & why? Thanks.

[@Kpaceguy]

Marantz. There's a video called Yamaha vs marantz on my channel that explains it all

[@blitzkriegfreddy5717]

It all depends on speaker configuration, when I use pure direct it plays dobly digital(5.1) when pure direct is off it plays Dolby Surround(5.1.2)

[@povertime6381]

Dolby surround upmixes stereo into surround (into as many speakers as you have in your surround setup). Dolby digital is playing a dolby digital signal as is in 5.1.

[@bradyblankenship8397]

Time to remove the stickers off the marantz.

[@Kpaceguy]

You might be right

[@godfather1116]

I forgot, mine are still on

[@franzc.8562]

@@Kpaceguy No, don't take them off! You sell or give away your gear.

[@Kpaceguy]

@@franzc.8562 I won't lol I never take them off. Helps the next person feel like I took care of it lol

[@BigDavos]

Thanks for breaking this down

[@Kpaceguy]

Absolutely