Setting Dynamic Range Compression option in receivers/DVD players/Bluray players?

Question

Hi,

DRC is used to limit the range of sound that comes from a sound track (Dolby Digital) in order to avoid large variations in perceived sound. I would like to know if it is better to set the Dynamic Range Compression (DRC) settings to on, in the AV Receiver or DVD Player or on both together. What is the effect of this if both were to have it set to on. Would it have a negative impact on the sound quality? Or is the processing going to happen only once?

Thanks

Answer 1

Good question ... and I don't really know the answer as to whether there would be a negative effect or not, but since no-one else has responded here's my view.

It's rarely a good idea to set two systems to cascade their effects. At best it won't matter, but more than likely it will give somewhat confused results (and it certainly makes activating and disactivating it -- after all you don't want it all the time -- more complicated).

So ... I see no advantages and several possible disadvantages.

I suggest that if you have the option on the receiver set it there since it will then work for all inputs (and you know where to go to turn it off when you DON'T want it active).

I'd use the setting on a DVD/Blu-ray player only if connected direct to a TV (i.e. no receiver).

My 2 cents worth.

Answer 2

The quality of recordings and audio equipment is judge by, among other things, DYNAMIC RANGE.  By compressing dynamic range, you diminish one of the key qualities of the recordings.

Radio stations (non-classical) to this regularly to comply with power requirements - this is why most of them sound like cr&@p.

So unless you have too (late night, etc) - do not use DRC at all.

Answer 3

If you use the digital output on your dvd player You can only use the receivers DRC. Using the DVD player's DRC will have no effect because the signal is sent directly to your receiver thus bypassing the DVD players DAC(digital to analog converter).

If you use the 5.1-7.1 outputs then you have to experiment.

Some players may handle it better than some receivers the only way to know for sure is to experiment.

Actually, come to think of it. I believe the DRC "flags" are embedded into the digital bit stream. if you use the DVD players analog outputs then you can only use the DVD players DRC. Whichever component does the digital to analog conversion takes care of this.

The main reason for DRC is to allow night time listening. Basically if your movie is real quiet with some really loud parts in it. It reduces the level of the loud parts so when you are watching late at night and a cannon goes off you don't end up waking up your neighbors.