I used to hate the 'Source Direct' button but now...

When I first got a stereo (not too long ago) I hated the source direct on the amp because I thought it killed the bass. Two days ago however, I watched a video where a guy installed acoustic panels and bass traps etc. and the difference it made brought to my attention, the boom in the bass of my system. I have the bungs that came with the speakers (Monitor Audio Bronze BX6s) and I have them in the rear ports. My speakers are positioned in an equilateral triangle formation with the rear ports 18" from the wall and the right one 11" from the sidewall, the left is about 5' from the side of the wall. I wouldn't say the speakers give out terrible boom it's just me getting fussier.
Last night, I tried switching the source Direct to 'on' and it seems to have tamed the bass a bit. I would love to get bass traps and panels but my system is in the living room and t'other 'alf would not like it. I was thinking of getting a subwoofer after I get round to getting a new Yamaha S A501 amp to replace my Denon pma520ae but I don't know if that would just introduce more boom.

The good thing about sub woofers is that placement is flexible. You are able to place a subwoofer where it produces the low bass you want while producing no/less "boom". Please note; this may take some work and experimentation on your part.

I've been noticing how much of a difference turning the speakers even very little amounts to the left or right makes. I've had them toed in a little and toed out and straight ahead.Diana Krall is on right now and the opening bars of "peel me a grape" are sounding really good and bass seems to be behaving itself. Quite tight in fact (if that's the correct term). It's just reminded me of how important the quality of a recording makes too. This is definitely the best sound I've had so far from my system .

That's called optimizing your sound. Everyone should do it. I use a tape measure and Laser pointer to help position my speakers.

1970's Fan said:

I've been noticing how much of a difference turning the speakers even very little amounts to the left or right makes.

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Almost like having different speakers...

My Klipschs when straight ahead opposed to toed-in looking right down the horn's throat are very dissimilar in perceived sound/music

I've had them toed in for a while and I read that toed in gives a warm sound and toed out, a more detailed sound. I have them straight ahead just now and they are giving a pleasing effect so far. Last night they were toed out but the warmth was gone. Straight ahead seems good so far. Source direct is still on. I am going to live with this for a while.

Toe-in has to do with stereo image. There will be an optimal toe-in relative to placement and distance to your listening chair. Room optimization includes speaker placement. Optimal set up can be something you have to get used to to appreciate.

BTW, 'Stepping Out' is a better recording yet

Not a big fan of toe in myself.

It depends on the speakers. Polk SDA's don't need any toe in. My Acoustats do.

I was not suggesting zero toe-in is not relevant

Source Direct is for grown ups, let the kids play with their old eq and tone controls...... You know who else uses tone controls? Terrorists.

13x24mancave said:

Source Direct is for grown ups, let the kids play with their old eq and tone controls...... You know who else uses tone controls? Terrorists.

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Tell me about it! That Jamaican with his neighborhood shaking bass is going to be the death of us over here.

It's really strange.I thought when I tried the source direct for the first time that it really killed any bass. Right now, with the source direct on, I'm listening to Gerry Mulligan and the bass is great! What I don't like is bass remaining too long and spilling into the following notes.I forget what that's called. It's at times like this when you try all your favourite albums to see how different they'll sound

Yes, toeing in and out your speakers can have positive (and negative) effects, but it is also dependent on what speakers you have, your room size and shape, ceiling height, whether you have hardwood or carpeting, as well as any other soft or hard reflecting surfaces in your listening room (hard cabinets and soft sofas for instance). Don't fret however, as every room is different, and it all boils down to adapting to your room's specific parameters and dimensions. You can also try things like tilting your speakers (front and back, start with very shallow angles), as well as actually raising your speakers beyond what most would widely consider to be an "optimal" height (generally most would say the tweeter should always be at ear level at your listening position). Just hear me out: I know this is a highly unorthodox approach, but I have heard speakers absolutely come alive by raising them above ear level to heights that most would consider "too high" or generally above their "optimal" listening height. By doing so it can also add more definition to the bottom-end, and lead to a more cohesive sound with more air around instruments, etc. Some may say, "Well, just try listening to your speakers at a lower seating position, and you will get the same effect", but they are overlooking the actual physics of what raising your speakers does. There is also a dynamic that exists of how certain frequencies bounce off the floor, and how it affects and colors the sound. After all, the floor makes up a part of your room's sound as well. You can sit lower, and it will change the sound, however the actual sound/floor dynamic is unchanged because the speaker is still at the same height in relation to the floor. The only way to change this dynamic is to raise the speakers up beyond their current height. This won't be beneficial in every scenario, but it can work more often than many people would ever give it credit for. Try anywhere in the 6-18 inch (15-45 cm) range. Try incremental heights to see what each height does for the sound. Try it out to see if it works for you, and if it doesn't, it won't cost you a thing to experiment. I know this is more difficult to do with a pair of floorstanders, and that raising floorstanding speakers to those heights would probably be seen as highly unorthodox for 99.9% of most people reading this, but there is also a height dynamic that exists in regards to your sound as well, and that dynamic can only be changed by raising your speakers. Bookshelf speakers aren't the only speakers that can benefit from adjusting height. Just try it out. Like I said, it won't cost you anything.

Also, if you are looking to buy a sub, I would also highly suggest buying an isolation platform similar to an Auralex SubDude HD sound isolation riser for it. Isolating and decoupling it from your floor does wonders for the bass performance of your sub and your system as a whole. It will also increase the soundstage, and it will give you a tighter and more controlled bass performance - regardless of any "faults" your room may have. It also goes without mention that speaker floor spikes help to prevent and decouple them from adding, and being affected by floor vibrations. However, the very least I can suggest is if you buy a sub and don't try anything else, buy an isolation platform for it. It will do wonders for your system's overall performance. But with that said, try raising those speakers! That's my two cents. Happy experimenting!

BTW, I also have a very quick way to optimize sub placement that works wonders for any room - regardless of its size or dimensions. It is a method that saves a ton of time, yet will help to fully optimize the sub's placement for your room in a very direct and meaningful way in relation to your preferred seating position - no matter where that position is within our room. Just let me know if you are interested to hear about it. Cheers.

I love the system pics with a eq in the rack, its mostly always shaped in a "v" pattern lol. Kick up those highs and lows kids!

I don't understand why switching Source Direct on or off would have any effect whatsoever on the sound unless you were using tone controls or EQ. In which case it's not the Source Direct that's making it sound different, it's the tone controls.

toxcrusadr said:

I don't understand why switching Source Direct on or off would have any effect whatsoever on the sound unless you were using tone controls or EQ. In which case it's not the Source Direct that's making it sound different, it's the tone controls.

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I agree with this as far as tone controls go. If they are set flat then switching to Source Direct should not alter frequency shaping.

But I am wondering if Source Direct might possibly bypass a pre-amplifier stage on some amps? Anybody know? If so, that could alter sound in a different way.

All mine does, as far as I know, is bypass the balance nob.

roger2 said:

I agree with this as far as tone controls go. If they are set flat then switching to Source Direct should not alter frequency shaping.

But I am wondering if Source Direct might possibly bypass a pre-amplifier stage on some amps? Anybody know? If so, that could alter sound in a different way.

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Yes some bypass tone and balance, the theory being avoiding signal corruption of unused items in the path. If it can be heard will be yet another tired debate nobody will win.

If I understand correctly using source direct does away with small speaker settings and runs them full range and pulls the sub out of the mix. Less of an impact if you have large speakers and more if you are running bookshelf speakers. Any internal processing done by your receiver is also removed. Sometimes I like listening this way and other times not. Guess it all depends on my mood.