Aww, well "what you experience, is how it's "supposed to be." I chased the HTC Dragon, up the chain! WIth Yamaha, I started with an AVC 50 back in the day ... 4 channel so those that don't know. Two front and two rear channels. Integrated amp 45 watts per channel but would drive two ohm loads!
It was/is a great piece, I bought it new way back in the day and uh it still works!
Most likely ... I should have stuck with and just changed "processors" as time went on?? But I did not, back then "apparently" things were changing fast?? And now 5.1 was they way it was??? I think I still have a DSP 100?? Hmm had to look that one up?? Ok, It's not my imagination ... I still have it!
But back then crap was changing fast and now ... 5.1 was where it was at??? And now 5.1 was where it was at and Yamaha, was right in front ... yeah what you have is great ... but this is better! And the DSP 2080, with Yamaha's endless array of DSP modes and two front effect channels (pre 7.1 yo) ?? Was now where it was , I bit it was a $2000 unit but at sale for half that and I got one!
It was a 5 channel amp and pre amp out for the extra effects channel. It was outstanding ... when it worked!??? Apparently there was an "issue" with the motorized volume control??? It worked fine for a year and then crap went sideways??? Issues with that volume control and the next year Yamaha went AC 5 Dolby Digital with the 3080???
WHT, I was bitter at that point! The 2080 ... was the last State of the Art ...HTC uh crap I spent real money on! As the saying goes ... they don't build them like they use to??? In retrospect, when it had issues, I don't think I sent it in repairs?? Most likely .. not a good call on my part?? But I was used to buying gear that uh "worked just fine without issue??"
And these days, HTR, Receivers that do everything but make coffee, are not uncommon?? $2000 to 4000, range for a freaking "HT Receiver??" Is not uncommon??? I say ... good luck with that crap?? A decade from now, we will know how much of that stuff still works?? I quit chasing the HT, Dragon at 5.1!
But and back on point ... my more "wealth friend did not!" So I get his hand me downs! These days you have to have to the HT, stuff! HTC is where it's at??
So I have "options" ... and yeah I'm a Dinosaur, it would seem?? It's been bugging me?? It would seem that somehow ... something changed in what I do???
I can't let of the past, if I want to listen to "music??" Two channel seems to be where the is?? What I seem to care most about ... is scoring speakers?? And for that ... all I need is a "Receiver" and something to power them with??
The stuff i don't use is a "SoundStage Aargon One," (5.1) and a very expensive unit at the time! If I was content with 5.1, setting that up with 5 matching (for the timber matching up thing) that would be the way to go! But sigh ... I have it but it just sets?? And again from my friend?? I have a "Nuforce Apt 16" ... this time I have 7.1!! Along with that ... setting unused is a Acurus 250 amp?? So yeah ... I can do "better" sonically then what I actually use ... day in and day out??
But ... I don't really seem to care?? What I care about ... is what I don't have?? And what I seem to care about most ... is "Speakers!" And all I need for that .. is something to power them!
And these days, in and out "HTR's" and remote control ... is a necessary evil?? So it would seem ... that all I really care about is "Speakers??" And all I to power them with??" So for "me" a POC. Pioneer HTR in a "Box Pioneer VSX 411" ... gets the call!!
Subwoofer out, is really alI, I seem to need??? It's powerd my little crappy LX 5's for years! That and my Technics AVX 920 that six channel or not could not drive my "vintage" Visonic Sub One (1973) ?? But "bi amped" which it could do ... no problem!
Aww well a lot of words?? But to answer the question, I seem to do music, when that is my goal ... in two channel mode?? And streaming these days??
And the streaming thing ... yeah that seems to have been another issue I stumbled onto?? I first used my "mach One's" with CD's?? And you know "crap or not" I luv them!! But when I try different speakers with uh pretty much everything different granted. It's not the same?? The Pioneer and streaming with my newly discovered Sansui Sp 1200's is not the same??
But hey I'm apparently too lazy to compare like for like?? So these days all I really care about is finding great speakers, for next to nothing!
My KG'4 and LX'5' I had to pay the going right rate for at the time. My Nova 8's and my Mach One's I pretty much stole! The only bad news is that with either of those ... timber matching 7 or more in a HTC set up in my house is not gonna have ... if I want to keep the wife also??
But whatever ... I have thought about it and new TV's and Dolby Atmos now??? All I really seem to care about is finding great speakers at next to nothing?? I'm looking for some A-Hole, getting rid of a pair of Klipsch La Bella's, for next to nothing, it happens???
But trying to cram a pair of those into our home, would be "epic!" And yep if I find them ... I'll most likely hook them up to my crappy little "Pioneer" HTC! Audio ... does not have to make sense?? If you enjoy your HTR in "DSP" mode ... more power to you! "
Losing one's mind with "audio" is only likely to result with a "knock on the day from cops" and a warning to "Dial it down!" If you do with crap with "car's??" Violate "common sense" ie yep this looks like a 170 plus road to me, NV. They will take your ass to jail ... felony speeding?? So I've heard.
But for those that enjoy there music in the various assorted, DSP ... modes ... no problem!! As the saying goes "Rock On!" As for me ... yeah the "Pioneer" is still hooked up! With my, newly discovered Pioneer Sp 1200's! I mean they still work and 15 bucks for the pair in great shape ... common on!!
But hey ... I will grant I have no idea what they sound like on their own?? They are crossed over to a sub! And after years of use ... I was having "withdrawals" from not having my LX' 5'S in use?? So plus to plus, minus to minus ... I have the LX's hooked up to the Pioneer and the Sansuis's!
So I guess the LX'5 are now "Super Tweeters??" The only complaint was from my better half, turn it down??? Now it down not seem that loud to me?? But "apparently" the LX's 5's and it's "linium tweeter" and basically with "zero" stress on it's tiny woofer ... can cut right thru wall's?? So you know ..."turn it down" it was??
Aww well a lot of "rambling I suppose??" But if you enjoy your music in "DSP" mode ... more power to you! No one can say "your wrong??" Well I guess they can, but you know whatever! "Rock On" as the saying goes!