Source Direct Button

[Groove Junkie]

On my Denon PMA520AE amp, I have tried using the source direct button but all it does is reduce volume, bass, treble and enjoyment. If that's "pure" sound what's the point? It appears to be a button that ruins the little bit of sound quality I have. I usually have the tone controls on full and it looks like they'll stay that way. Also the "loudness" button, I have just learned, is for use at low volume listening. It has very little discernible effect. The sound is no clearer nor is the bass any better at low volume with it on. My Wharfedale 10.3 speakers have recently burned in nicely improving in quality and are imho, the best part of my system.

[Roy S]

As I understand it the 'source direct' button defeats the tone controls so if you've got these all at full tilt that'll be why the volume goes down when you press it.

Try 'source direct' and turn the volume up a bit.

[istari_knight]

:popcorn:

[Roy S]

.....and beware the tone control police :sofa:

[Audio Al]

I think when you have the Source direct on it ignores the tone (bass and treble) controls of the amp.

[istari_knight]

As others have said "source direct" bypasses the tone controls for a purer or "unadulterated" sound. The bass control on your Denon amp boosts up to 10dB @ 100Hz & the treble control boosts up to 10dB @ 10kHz. The loudness button is for use at low volumes & is there due the the fact our ears work in a non-linear manner... Do a Google search for "Fletcher Munson curves."

Listening to your tunes with loudness turned on & bass/treble up full will give you a bright & bassy sound that would be quite good in a disco but not so great at home... Of course if you enjoy it then that's fine but you must accept what you're listening to isnt "high fidelty" AKA the accurate reproduction of a recording in the home.

[Groove Junkie]

I've got the loudness off and the source direct off and the tone controls up full. Source direct is like steak pie with gravy and very little steak. Next year I might get a phono pre-amp for my Pro-ject Carbon/Ortofon red M2 and maybe the source direct will have a purpose. If my thinking is on the right track, it'll allow the pre-amp to do it's job without getting in the way.

I tried a tweak on my TT.I thought that if I put double sided tape under the platter mat at N,S,E&W, it would stop slippage. It worked a treat!:carrot: Sound quality improved a good bit especially bass. Voices (Julie London) were clearer. I tried the tape to see if a clamp would work so Santa's dropping one off.

[YNWaN]

Having the tone controls turned up to full should sound utterly dire at any reasonable volume level - hugely exaggerated highs and bass! +10dB of boost is absolutely crazy - just press in the bypass button and turn up the volume a bit.

Similarly, every loudness button I have encountered has had an immediately obvious (bad) effect - though perhaps not if you are accustomed to listening to the tone controls on max.

[Macca]

I think there might be a risk of damaging the speakers with that level of boost. You really ought to re-consider. Either something is wrong somewhere or the Wharfedales are a bit too tame for your taste. Probably the latter.

[Groove Junkie]

I tried playing a record with source direct on and the sound is just bland to me so it's back off and I've compromised by turning the tone controls down to neither + nor - and so far Gerry Mulligan is sounding good. I will give it a week or two this way and see how it goes.

[Mr Kipling]

Groove Junkie - or is it Spinal Tap Man?

[The Barbarian]

Long live the Tone Control

:eyebrows:

[Marco]

Hehehe... I'm not biting! :eyebrows:

Marco.

[dantheman91]

Tone controls :lol:

[istari_knight]

Well, I've got bass, MID & treble controls so :booty:

[Mr Kipling]

I think this deserves some input from Jez (The Man) Arkless.
Can you have high quality tone controls?

Take it away, Jez.

[Macca]

Well, I've got bass, MID & treble controls so :booty:

I once new a bird who had bass, MID & treble controls , that was fun while it lasted...

[Mr Kipling]

Well, I've got bass, MID & treble controls so :booty:

You've got an Amstrad then!

[dantheman91]

You've got an Amstrad then!

:lol:

You Couldn't even pay me to own one:spew:

[Mr Kipling]

You've got an Amstrad then!

Me too James. Yours the EX 330?

[Rothchild]

Mmm high quality tone control....

http://vintageking.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/g/m/gml_9500_1.jpg

Tasty!

[archiesdad]

My wife says I lower the tone wherever I go.

[The Barbarian]

Did i mention Cello 'Palette' ?

:sofa:

[istari_knight]

Me too James. Yours the EX 330?

:lol: no no no... Marantz 1060 ;)

[Groove Junkie]

My wife says I lower the tone wherever I go.

The pooch seems happy :) Our cat loves Jazz especially Chet Baker. He's a regular little hepcat.

[Groove Junkie]

I've just tried the loudness button again and I discovered that the source direct cancels that out too so I recon I had them both on and that's why the loudness didn't work. The loudness button doesn't make a huge difference but it's not meant to probably. The tone controls are centred now as it was when I first got it and the loudness now works nicely. I just might get to like it this way after all.

[Marco]

Did i mention Cello 'Palette' ?

:sofa:

Fancy cycling along the length of its signal path? That should give you a nice workout before pub time... ;)

Marco.

[Mr Kipling]

:lol: no no no... Marantz 1060 ;)

Anything special about the Marantz James (mid control and all) ?

[synsei]

Ah, the old tone control debate, takes me right back to when man caves really were....caves... :wheniwasaboy: :D

[istari_knight]

Anything special about the Marantz James (mid control and all) ?

Nope, no mind control powers so no use to an evil genius...

Its a single rail / cap coupled design so out of the ark really but much like the Quad 303 its still pretty capable today when used with sympathetic speakers. It also has a very euphoric sound that just seems to make everything sound "nice" - Was apparently known as the Marantz "3 Martini sound" at the time of release :)

[Mr Kipling]

Nope, no mind control powers so no use to an evil genius...

Its a single rail / cap coupled design so out of the ark really but much like the Quad 303 its still pretty capable today when used with sympathetic speakers. It also has a very euphoric sound that just seems to make everything sound "nice" - Was apparently known as the Marantz "3 Martini sound" at the time of release :)

Thought it might sound like that - just from the look of it! There's a faulty one on eBay.

[istari_knight]

You know, I've just re-read your comment ! I thought you said "Anything special about the Marantz James (mind control and all) ?" :doh: :lol:

[istari_knight]

Thought it might sound like that - just from the look of it! There's a faulty one on eBay.

I saw that one too... Theres nothing unobtainable in them so shouldn't be too bad to fix up. They do look quite nice in a wooden sleeve:

http://farm7.staticflickr.com/6140/5938853884_9816faa42b_z.jpg

[Mr Kipling]

It's ok. I was wondering who that "Barbarian" blokie was. On my mobile I only see the left hand side of the page unless I scroll to the right. It was only reading "Beobloke's" comment that I discovered his identity.

[Mr Kipling]

I'm still not sure about the styling . . .

[istari_knight]

Weeell we cant all be blessed with fantastic taste :D

Nah, I'll admit its not for everyone !