Upmixing... where are we at now?

[dlaloum]

So, in the early days of surround, I had a Lexicon DC1 and then an MC1...

These used Logic7 which did a fantastic job of upmixing stereo Dolby Surround to 5.1 or 7.1 channels...

Then there was Dolby's own PLII - variable, but frequently OK ... varied dramatically with different implementations by different vendors

Now Dolby has deleted PLII, and released a new "Dolby Surround", meanwhile we have Harman with Logic16 replacing the old Lexicon Logic7, DTS with Neural surround upmixing, and there is a buzz around Auro 3D as an upmixer

So where are we at? What sounds good/best today?

What works best for Music (stereo)?

What works best for Movies (stereo to 5.1, or 7.2.4.... 5.1 to 7.2.4)?

 

[wus]

I tried all 3 upmixers in my Denon AVR-X4500H with Stereo music when it was new (about 3 years ago). In most cases - maybe 90% - the Auro-3D upmixer ("Auro-Matic") sounded best to me. In some instances, DTS Neural:X sounded somewhat better. In no case did I like the sound when using the Dolby mode on stereo sources. In some instances, I also liked the "Matrix" mode offered by the AVR, although it is not touted an "upmixer" by Denon). Unfortunately I didn't write down which songs sounded better with which upmixer. But I did try quite extensively, for a while.

At first I was enthusiastic about listening to my fave music upmixed to 11.1 3D, but over time I realized that in many instances, the plain - original - 2 channel stereo sounds the most direct and precise. Still, some music does benefit from an upmix.

The X4500H also offers all a Multi Channel Stereo mode which is still "original" stereo, but played back equally through all speaker pairs. I found this to be great for party dancing as it gives a fully immersive feeling for everybody within the sound field of the 3D speaker arrangement.

 

[VoidX]

For movies, almost everyone is choosing Auro-matic, it's the least intrusive, but it means it has the least false overhead sounds. It basically throws the Auro algorithm on non-auro content.

For music, there is nothing that comes even close to Deezer's Spleeter. It's an instrument separation AI, but you can mix them spatially with a little work, and it sounds like it was mixed for 5.1/7.1 all along.

 

[JStewart]

For music, there is nothing that comes even close to Deezer's Spleeter. It's an instrument separation AI,

Maybe get a taste of that someday. For now it’s Auromatic for music and either that or DSU for movies.

but over time I realized that in many instances, the plain - original - 2 channel stereo sounds the most direct and precise. Still, some music does benefit from an upmix.

Same here.
I also find I enjoy an upmixer more with recordings of live music vs studio. The atmosphere it creates usually sounds/feels more correct.

 

[Todd Anderson]

I'd have to agree on the Auro upmixer, it's my go to for mixing legacy content. Highly recommend!