Have your say & ask the experts

I have put many a thread on here complaining about the stereo performance of the Onkyo 606, and wondering what I would have to upgrade to improve things dramatically.

Well, I've cracked it. Firstly, I have re calibrated the amp, as I never did so after changing the fronts from 1010i's to 1030i's (yes, I know, I deserve a slapped wrist for waiting so long!!), nor after replacing the front speakers cabling.

I started listening to music via 'Pure Audio' again, and it sounds so dull. The treble detail is just not there, nor is the bass impact I so desire from this system.

I popped over to a mate's house to listen to his KEF 2005.1 and Denon 2807 (i think), and thought 'wow, that sounds amazingly detailed' etc, but wondered why mine didn't.

Came back home, and decided to explore a bit with the settings.......anyway, to cut a long story short, I ended up listening to music via the 'CD Stereo' setting, and all of a sudden I was hearing a similar sound to my friends system, and a smile appeared on my face whilst tapping along with the music!! (Not done that since my old Marantz PM6010KI was being used!!)

Obviously, I realise that 'Pure Audio' cuts out the circuitry etc to improve the sound, but in my opinion using the 'stereo' setting, with the sub and Audessey settings operational, sounds SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much better!!!!

The treble detail is there, the vocals are open and clear, never mind the bass thump from the 1030i's and sub working together. I have set the cross overs to 60Hz on the floorstanders, and 80Hz on the sub, and they blend in superbly.

So, my question is simply this:

'Whats the point of 'Pure Audio' when it sounds so dull and lifeless on the Onkyo 606?'

Anyone?

I had exactly the same on my Onkyo 905 until I upgraded the power cable to a Copper-line Alpha - once I did this, Pure Audio was clearly superior. Of course I realise that this difference must all be in my head given power cables couldn't possibly change anything...

I'll see if I can find the thread I wrote on it for you.

EDIT - here it is!

Hi professor,

The sound is 'dull and lifeless' in 'Pure Audio', and I already have a copper alpha (£30 version) mains cable on the cd player AND 606!!!!!

Maybe it's my ears that are the problem then!!!

Ahh, fair enough. In that case maybe it's the 606...!

Stick with Stereo then, after all, it's always what sounds best to you that counts - just thought I'd let you know since I'd had similar thoughts with my 905.

U mean a fault with the 606, or it's just **** with 'Pure Audio'?

'Stereo' mode should always be best, in my view, as the equaliser settings (audessey has set up for the rooms acoustics) are operational, aren't they?

And obviously having a sub moving air to 20Hz is always better than the floorstanders limitations of around 30-50Hz, even though the sub's volume level is quite low.

Nice thread, by the way - very interesting reponses on it.....looks like a potential debate that no one will win!!!

Forgot to say that when I changed the mains cable to the copper alpha ones, the main noticeable difference was when it was connected to the cd player. More detailed, open sound, with a touch more thump behind it!!

When I connected a second to the Onkyo 606, the difference was not as obvious, but there was one! It was a little clearer.....

Would a more modern interconnection between the cd player and amp help the 'Pure Audio' problem? (As we were talking cables earlier)

I currently have a Cable Talk Monitor 3 between the two, from the 1990's (£50 - 5 Star product)

Would a newer version make a difference? (has the technology progressed enough?) Reason I ask is that i have just added the Chord Silverscreen cables to the fronts/centre (used QED Profile 4x4 before - 5 Star in 1990's), and was astonished at the difference it made to the sound!!

Any thoughts.......

 I think you have already answered your own question......

Pistol Pete1:

Obviously, I realise that 'Pure Audio' cuts out the circuitry etc to improve the sound, but in my opinion using the 'stereo' setting, with the sub and Audessey settings operational, sounds SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO much better!!!!

It could be due to the acoustics of your room effecting the sound on Pure Audio mode, if you see what I mean. In pure audio the audessey is switched off so your room layout and furniture may have an adverse effect on the sound quality in that mode. All those different surfaces in your room effecting the sound from unwanted reflections, not to mention what the size/layout of the room and what furnishings you have all effecting the sound. Where as CD Stereo mode sounds better as the Audessey has done it's magic and the sound you hear will be more like what was intended by the Onkyo engineers.

I know this isn't exactly the same but my Alpine car stereo has Audessey XT. When it was first installed the shop was having problems with their Audessey set up box of tricks so I had to wait about 2 weeks to get it calibrated. They set up 4 mics in the 4 seats at ear level then they can run the setup using a laptop connected to the box of tricks, once thats done they then do some fine tuning as all the settings can me adjusted manually via their laptop. The instaler had a quick play with the standard non Audessey settings to get it sounding half decent until they could calibrate it using the Audessey.

At first I was wondering why the hell I paid all that money for a decent head unit as the sound was not much better than the cheapy Alpine I had originally. But after it got properly set up I could see where my money had gone. The difference after being properly set up with Audessey was astonishing, I could not believe the difference it had made to the sound quality. Huge increase in quality in every department, just goes to show what effect room acoustics can have on the sound quality.

EDIT: There was only the Proff's 1st reply when I started writing my post.

Pistol Pete1:

U mean a fault with the 606, or it's just **** with 'Pure Audio'?

No, just meant that the 905 has higher quality audio components (as you'd expect), so this could be the difference between the two. As for upgrading the cables, this will no doubt result in a different sound but I don't have massive experience with different types of cable (including the one you're using) to say if it'd be an improvement or not. Do you have a friendly local dealer who can loan you some to try out?

Choose a setting that gives you the most enjoyment out of the listening experience, after all that is what it is all about.

For me on my Marantz, I select Source direct and pure direct but that is how I personally feel it sounds most detailed and gives me the best listening experience, I am also a recent convert to mains Filtering for me it gave an improvement.

When I first got my 606 I thought 'pure audio' must be the way go.
However I soon found when using pure audio on my 606 with a DD5.1 source my sub hardly did anything?
Strange I thought...
So I disabled the pure audio and just used the Dolby Digital 5.1 sound and he presto my sub was now in full glorious action.

So not sure if its the other audio settings on the amp that pure audio avoids that make the difference?
To me I much prefer the fuller sound and so now avoid 'pure audio'