I'm getting ready to try out some new speakers.

Dumb question.

I have CD's with music that I like (Pinnock's Vivaldi's 4 Seasons, Coltrane, Miles, etc). I like listening to music but I find all the options on modern receivers confusing.

I think much of this music is recorded in 2ch stereo. When I play the music, the receiver gives me all kinds of options: direct, stereo, various surround modes, THX Multichannel Music, etc.

Again, I usually just use stereo or direct (and I'm not even sure what differences exist between these two modes given I don't use tone controls).

Am I missing something by not using these new fangled options (like Orchestra or THX Music)? Or is it recommended to use the stereo (direct) mode when listening to music like this recorded in stereo? I have no clue how the receiver decides to send what sounds to each of the 5.1 speakers that I have for music in these multi-channel modes. The other playback modes sound weird to me but perhaps I'm just not used to it - it's better in some way so I should try to get used to it? Or it's best to stick to stereo?

Just curious - I will use stereo when trying out the new speakers - it's what is familiar to me. But wondering if it's better to compare with one of these modern modes.

Will be testing the new speaker but also deciding whether to use them in the 5.1 home theater (video but also listen to music here) set up (moving my floor standing Paradigms to the small room - just music here) or to use the new speakers in the small room.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: konata88,

Unless you have a multi channel setup, you really won't get any advantage on the surround modes. Direct is just what is says, an unprocessed signal to the speakers. Stereo adds in EQ. All the "Stadium" or "Concert Hall" setting are just bullshit that makes you music sound worse by adding extra reverb where none was present.

The surround sound settings like Dolby or DTS are useful if you're running surround setups because it will spilt the sound to all of the speakers instead of just playing only the left/right and subwoofer channels.

If you just have 2 speakers, stick with stereo.

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The surround sound settings like Dolby or DTS are useful if you're running surround setups because it will spilt the sound to all of the speakers instead of just playing only the left/right and subwoofer channels.

Thanks!

So, if I use the Chora in the larger room with 5.1 and listen to music (jazz (coltrane, monk), classical (vivaldi, mozart), acoustic (joe pass), vocals), then Neo6 or DD/DTS would be good (to date, I've just used stereo)? In the smaller room w/ just 2 speakers, continue to use stereo (that's what I today).

As a general rule use stereo for 2-ch audio (CD,LP,stream, etc) and a 5.1 (Dolby) or better for Movies/TV.
I have a receiver that will process in stereo and distribute to all the home theatre speakers as a setting,
Some music may be encoded with surround sound but it is rare or niche and those the processor can distribute the channels accordingly.

I never use anything other that true stereo. 99% of music is mixed and mastered for that configuration. Very few albums included a quadrophonic mix, Dark Side of the Moon comes to mind. And very few specifically for 5,1 Surround. My music listening systems are strictly stereo, just two speakers. And earlier recordings, jazz rock, classical were mixed for mono.

Some receivers also have a setting call "Multi Channel Stereo" where it plays through all speakers with the separate surrounds also getting left/right signal just like the fronts.

I checked and I don't think my receiver supports it. I have something called Multichannel but the input is expected to be multichannel.


This mode is for use with PCM multichannel sources.
The audio from the input source is output as-is, without surround sound processing.

Like oddball and others, I listen to music on dedicated stereo systems (speaker and headphone).

My 7+2 home theater is reserved for encoded sound that accompanies video programming and some special musical disks like those encoded with DTS 5.1 surround.

I wish I had a separate system and room for music. I have to make do w/ the system I have in my small office and the home theater in the living room. My office is far from ideal even though it's a 2 speaker system. It's cluttered, it's small, and I need to fit speakers, bookshelves, my desk and monitors and a surface for my receiver (using a small foyer piece). Perhaps someday.


In any case, I've had a chance to listen to the chora's ($600 including the factory stands).

First impressions: they sound nice and detailed. I just put them next to my Paradigms and started listening (Vivaldi 4 Seasons). While the sound was nice, the new Chora didn't really distinguish themselves from the old Paradigms. But at this point, I'm just glad that the speakers work and that they are at least as good as my existing set up (w/o any placement).

I'm going to set them up in my office and listen more (more types of music and longer and play w/ placement). And then eventually try to decide where to use the Paradigms and where to use the Focals. While the Energy Take have been doing the job in my office to date, I'm not even going to compare them to the Focals.

I’m a big 2 channel guy with my main system, but a couple of months ago I was just vegging with my 5.1 surround on YouTube. I was listening to a channel I’ve never been to before, and they had compilations of older music like #1 hits of various years.

The sound quality was very good, but I was amazed how the music was divvied up between all channels. I told my listening buddy about it, and he thought it was neato also.

One song coming to mind is Crimson and Clover. I will search for that channel again and try to recreate what we heard. If so, I will post it here. But even so, it isn’t enough to turn me away from 2 channel as my main medium.

***EDIT***. Here is a link to that site: https://www.youtube.com/@sonnysoldies5288/featured

After some additional listening and with varied types of music, I moved the Focal's to living room duty (AV and music), replacing the Paradigm floor standing. I'm going to give it a go there for now.

While I can't identify specifics, there is something appealing about the Focal's for jazz, acoustics and vocals. Not so much for classical yet. But at least the other three genre's. And it seems to work well w/ the Paradigm center for AV stuff.

Here's the long version Love that album too!

Thanks! I’ll check it out.

I’ve been adjusting placement and toe-in. The Focals keep sounding better and better w/ each adjustment. I got a step function improvement when I adjusted biased. I think either one speaker is more efficient than the other and/or my pre-amp/amp is sending out uneven signals and/or the sources are not right. In any case, after adding a +2.0 offset to the right speaker, I got a big improvement in soundstage. Vocals, jazz and acoustics are sounding pretty good now. AV is also pretty good.

I need to go back an retest classical / orchestra soundstage now. And I’m not sure but I think I’m hearing some weird distortion in the midrange. I’ll check that out more tomorrow. It’s like I’m overpowering the midrange. Maybe just needs some break-in?

Sounds like you're getting there dialing in the correct positioning and feed levels for your room. Some speakers are more challenging then others but regardless once "there" you're rewarded with great sound reproduction. ENJOY!

Wow, continuing to dial it in. The Focals sound great with jazz like Art Pepper. And I think it does better than the Paradigms for AV. Not sure why since I’m still using a Paradigm center. Not sure but seems like dialog is clearer.

Thanks guys - at $400 for the pair, $600 including the stands, this would have been a bad deal to pass up. Well worth the cost paid. Easily would have expected to pay $1000-2000 for this.

Curious where you acquired them for that sale price....

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Originally posted by konata88:
Wow, continuing to dial it in. The Focals sound great with jazz like Art Pepper. And I think it does better than the Paradigms for AV. Not sure why since I’m still using a Paradigm center. Not sure but seems like dialog is clearer.

Thanks guys - at $400 for the pair, $600 including the stands, this would have been a bad deal to pass up. Well worth the cost paid. Easily would have expected to pay $1000-2000 for this.

You're also experiencing break in as well, but clarity had always been a Focal strength, and within the last 10-15 years they've been able to do that while eliminating harshness and listening fatigue that Bowers & Wilkins can't figure out.

The other nice thing about bookshelf speakers is they're easier to sell when you want to upgrade.

I’m a customer of GRID HiFi in Houston, and if i ever was to purchase Focals, I’d do it from them. Unless they have changed their policy, they will give you a military discount. In one of their showrooms, they have various TV/film/pop culture stuff for your man cave. They have full size Boba Fett, an alien head, the skeletonized terminator, and a ton more items of interest to go along with your home theater or home audio system.