Hi everybody,
My system is 5.0 : AV2 + NAP 145 + NAP 200 + NAP 200. Every speaker, even the central speaker as it is 3 speaker system (2 sats + a passiv Sub), goes as low as 30hz ... well, it mumbles (tested with Digital Video Essentials HD Basic Blu Ray).
I have no activ Sub.
I finally bought a Blu Ray player with 7.1 analog outputs : Panasonic BDT500.
Fantastic image + very detailled sound on its analog output (4 Burr-Brown 192/32 DACs), very slightly better than the AV2.
... BUT with some very very low sounds the AV2 decoding goes much lower than the analog input, sound is really not the same. Every speaker is obviously declared as "Large" on both units.
Exemple :
- low bass night club environnement fills the room in and makes you feel like "oppressed with dense air and subjective pressure" with the analog input it has good bass but it is much lighter.
- On big explosions you can hear the very low sound of the blow that comes just after the blast with the AV2 decoding but with the analog input you only heart the blast.
Here is the frequency response of the player :
So my question is :
- is it the AV2 analog input that has limitations and doesn't accept very low bass ?
- is it the player (I tested several parameters with or without sub, etc) that can't output very low bass on it analog outputs ?
- Is it the Chord Chrysalis' between the AV2 and player ?
Can someone with Oppo or Cambridge Blu Ray players do some comparaison in 5.0 or 7.0 configuration between analog and digital, please ?
If it is the player I am ready to change it for a more expensive Oppo based Cambridge BD751 with Wolfson DACs.
Posted on: 09 August 2012 by karyboue
Originally Posted by Occean:
I assume you have told your bluray player that there is no Sub? So it re-routes bass to the fronts as the AV2 wont do thsi for you - it just passes though.
Yes, I have tried both : SUB off and SUB on ... and in fact, it sounds exactly the same !
Posted on: 09 August 2012 by karyboue
Originally Posted by Occean:
Have you tried a 5.1 audio test dvd/bluray - I am curious if you get sound on the 0.1 test tone through your main speakers.
I have not but I will tonight.
What I have tried is comparing analog and digital bass amp by amp.
Posted on: 09 August 2012 by karyboue
0.1 is impossible, it can only be 2.0 or 2.1 at minimum.
So, with Sub turned on in The panasonic settings, I plugged the sub channel into the center channel and lts level is very low compared to the other channel. Meaning that it needs to be amplified ?
Tonight, to test again as I own no Blu Ray I rented a blasting film : Ghost Rider II.
With the AV2 decoding, at the beginning of the film when the motorbike lands it is very strong + it blows/projects the density of the air. On analog it just lands very loudly, almost the same noise and level as the AV2 decoding but that's all. It is so obvious that it lacks that extra stuff of bass ...
Would it be the same with an Oppo or Cambridge in 5.0 ?
Posted on: 09 August 2012 by Occean
OK this is doing exactly what my OPPO does in 5.1 mode.
Basically and I still don't know why many bluray players apply a 10db reduction on the 0.1 channel when set to large and 15 db when set to small!
I wrote a guide how to setup the oppo https://forums.naimaudio.com/di...ent/1566878606303214 which basically adding gain to the 0.1 and reducing the levels of the other five - basically balancing it out and it works a treat.
Why players do this, I have no idea
Posted on: 10 August 2012 by karyboue
Thanks Occean.
I've red your guide that is very clear.
I suppose that using no Sub, there is no way I can correct this bass problem on my player ?
Do you know if the Oppo 93 and Cambridge BD751 have the same -10db setting on the Sub.
Posted on: 10 August 2012 by karyboue
Originally Posted by Occean:
I believe they do.
I am racking my brain to work out how you would solve it on your setup. Can you boost the 0.1 gain and set 0.1 to off? (if that makes sense!)
Clearly you need an active sub!
I already did that and tested, that's why I asked about other players. 
I set the speakers to -6db that is the minimum on the pany, left the sub at 0db and set it to off but it didn't change a thing.
Posted on: 10 August 2012 by karyboue
An activ sub in my appartment is impossible. I sometimes already have problems without with my neighbors ...
The other solution is a decoder ?
I had already tested that way this winter with a Yamaha RXV-667 plugged it the multi input of the AV2.
Sound was almost the same as the AV2 decoding : Yamaha was very slightly more detailed on high frequencies and more detailed on the surround but that was not worth the keep to my ears ...
How about a Cambridge 551R ?
Posted on: 12 August 2012 by karyboue
I have found way around ...
Today I have been in touch with Cambridge Customer Care (they work on sundays in august 
.
The small amp Cambridge 551R doesn't have the LFE problem on its pre-out, moreover the guy told me that its decoding was better than the 751BD player ...
