more seriously. How do you handle changing the surround mode on the remote? This is something that I change constantly from week to week. In the old days there was one command to toggle surround modes but now you have dolby surround, music surround, stereo surround and on and on, all with their own sub menus. So what do you do? I've been using mostly Marantz lately and the "auto" mode is interesting, but hardly ideal. I always hesitate to even get into the discussion of how many modes there are to the client, as they always want to know what the "best" mode is, as if there is such a thing.

Ted

I wouldn't give them a choice. I would assign the appropriate mode to the appropriate input, and leave it there.

Fred

I had a client who no matter how many times I told him not to, would always have his receiver in 5 channel stereo because it was the only mode that made sound come out of all of the speakers all of the time.

AMEN to that!

ditto...

Never give the option unless I think they are able to handle it. So 99.99999% of the time they don't get that option.

no option. period

Problem is that you program the system with the ideal settings for each input, yet there will always be that one doofus that just can't leave things alone.

And unfortunately the doofus can get to the equipment to do his damage even if you don't have the commands in the remote, so the system ends up out of whack.

So what about digital cable music channels or Dtv XM music channels? You don't give the customer an option for say...PLII Music?

Or do you guys give them a seperate device button for these that changes modes also?

Curious how you all handle this.

Yup. At my humble abode, satellite video is one mode, satellite music is another, macroed every time.

seperate macro.

I normally set to auto on most basic sources, the appropriate surround mode on DVD, 2 channel mode on fm, cd, etc. Then when I WANt to give the control, I do it like I do on my RTI remote at the store....

I have an "audio" button on all the relevant pages that looks like this..

That goes to this page ....

And then you just press the bacl arrow to return to the previous page

I have the macro set to the 'best choice' depending on the source, then I have a link (or use the FAV page on a MX-850) to jump to a page where the customer can choose a mode if they want.

BTW, on Marantz, CS-II for non-DD TV programs is awesome! Battlestar Galactica sounds incredible when watching on SciFi!!!

Fred

my state of the art white remote has a button with 5 speakers on it. It sounds better than the other two with less speakers on it. Why mess with perfection? (he he he)..

seriously, my nearly deaf customers get 5-7 channel stereo on nearly everything except for the DVD. That is the worn out rock stars button of choice. It sounds just like his car stereo with the 19 speakers.

With the MX-850, I'll throw several of the modes in the FAV area along with Zone 2 functions and lighting. The more technically challenged, the fewer the choices.

If discreets are available I always put the appropriate mode in the macro string. 5 or 7 ch stereo for cd, plIImusic for fav music video channels, etc. More work, but t&m baby! Customer loves it.

Depends on the customer. Sometimes I give them a page like that shown above. Sometimes I just set them and don't give them any options. Sometimes I include a discrete surround command to return the system to the preferred setup whenever they choose that source again.