Classe Audio VSX-81TXV-S manual About THX

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12Additional information

WMA9 Pro can support up to 5.1/7.1 channel playback with sampling rates up to 24-bit/96 kHz. Using the unique WMA compression techniques, WMA9 Pro can deliver multichannel music and soundtracks over high-speed internet networks at low bit rates with minimal audio degradation. Playback may be enjoyed with the Windows

Media® Player 9 Series (or above) and other third-party media players on a personal computer, or with an AV amplifier with on-board WMA9 Pro decoding.

Windows Media® and the Windows logo are trademarks or registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries.

About THX

The THX technologies are explained below. See

www.thx.com for more detailed information.

THX Cinema processing

THX is an exclusive set of standards and technologies established by THX Ltd. THX grew from George Lucas' personal desire to make your experience of the film soundtrack, in both movie theatres and in your home theatre, as faithful as possible to what the director intended.

Movie soundtracks are mixed in special movie theatres called dubbing stages and are designed to be played back in movie theatres with similar equipment and conditions. This same soundtrack is then transferred directly onto Laserdisc, VHS tape, DVD, etc., and is not changed for playback in a small home theatre environment. THX engineers developed patented technologies to accurately translate the sound from the movie theatre environment into the home, correcting the tonal and spatial errors that occur. On this product, when the THX indicator is on, THX features are automatically added in Cinema modes (e.g. THX Cinema, THX Surround EX).

Re-Equalization

The tonal balance of a film soundtrack will be excessively bright and harsh when played back over audio equipment in the home because film soundtracks were designed to be played back in large movie theaters using very different professional equipment. Re-Equalization restores the correct tonal balance for watching a movie soundtrack in a small home environment.

Timbre Matching

The human ear changes our perception of a sound depending on the direction from which the sound is coming. In a movie theatre, there is an array of surround speakers so that the surround information is all around you. In a home theatre, you use only two speakers located to the side of your head. The Timbre Matching feature filters the information going to the surround speakers so that they more closely match the tonal characteristics of the sound coming from the front speakers. This ensures seamless panning between the front and surround speakers.

Adaptive Decorrelation

In a movie theatre, a large number of surround speakers help create an enveloping surround sound experience, but in a home theatre there are usually only two speakers. This can make the surround speakers sound like headphones that lack spaciousness and envelopment. The surround sounds will also collapse into the closest speaker as you move away from the middle seating position. Adaptive Decorrelation slightly changes one surround channel's time and

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phase relationship with respect to the other surround channel. This expands the listening position and creates—with only two speakers— the same spacious surround experience as in a movie theatre.

THX Select2

Before any home theatre component can be THX Select2 certified, it must incorporate all the features above and also pass a rigorous series of quality and performance tests. Only then can a product feature the THX Select2 logo, which is your guarantee that the Home Theatre products you purchase will give you superb performance for many years to come. THX Select2 requirements cover every aspect of the product including pre-amplifier and power amplifier performance and operation, and hundreds of other parameters in both the digital and analog domain.

THX Surround EX

THX Surround EX - Dolby Digital Surround EX is a joint development of Dolby Laboratories and the THX Ltd. In a movie theater, film soundtracks that have been encoded with Dolby Digital Surround EX technology are able to reproduce an extra channel which has been added during the mixing of the program. This channel, called Surround Back, places sounds behind the listener in addition to the currently available front left, front center, front right, surround right, surround left and subwoofer channels. This additional channel provides the opportunity for more detailed imaging behind the listener and brings more depth, spacious ambience and sound localization than ever before. Movies that were created using the Dolby Digital Surround EX technology, when released into the home consumer market may exhibit wording to that effect on the packaging. A list of movies created using this technology can be found on the Dolby web site at www.dolby.com.

Only receiver and controller products bearing the THX Surround EX logo, when in the THX Surround EX mode, faithfully reproduce this new technology in the home.

This product may also engage the “THX Surround EX” mode during the playback of 5.1 channel material that is not Dolby Digital Surround EX encoded. In such case the information delivered to the Surround Back channel will be program dependent and may or may not be very pleasing depending on the particular soundtrack and the tastes of the individual listener.

Advanced Speaker Array (ASA)

ASA is a proprietary THX technology which processes the sound fed to 2 side and 2 back surround speakers to provide the optimal surround sound experience. When you set up your home theater system using all eight speaker outputs (Left, Center, Right, Surround Right, Surround Back Right, Surround Back Left, Surround Left and Subwoofer) placing the two Surround Back speakers close together facing the front of the room as shown in the diagram will provide the largest sweet spot. If for practical reasons you have to place the Surround Back speakers apart, you will need to go to the THX Audio Set-up screen and choose the setting that most closely corresponds to the speaker spacing, which will re-optimize the surround sound- field.

ASA is used in three new modes; THX Select2 Cinema, THX MusicMode and THX Games Mode.

THX Select2 Cinema mode

THX Select2 Cinema mode plays 5.1 movies using all 8 speakers giving you the best possible movie watching experience. In this mode, ASA processing blends the side surround speakers and back surround speakers providing the optimal mix of ambient and directional surround sounds.

DTS-ES (Matrix and 6.1 Discrete) and Dolby Digital Surround EX encoded soundtracks will be automatically detected in Select2 Cinema mode if the appropriate flag has been encoded.

Some Dolby Digital Surround EX soundtracks are missing the digital flag that allows automatic switching. If you know that the movie that you are watching is encoded in Surround EX, you can manually select

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Contents VSX-81TXVVSX-81TXV-S Responsible Party Name Federal Communications Declaration of ConformityModel Number Keep in a Secure AREA. this is for Your SecurityImportant Safety Instructions Contents Other connections Other SettingsUsing other functions Additional informationBefore you start Chapter FeaturesBefore you start Checking what’s in the boxInstalling the receiver Before you start VentilationLoading the batteries 02 5 minute guide Chapter Automatically setting up for surround sound McaccMinute guide Introduction to home theaterSpeaker configuration in the OSD Minute guideWait for the test tones to finish then confirm 02 5 minute guide Better sound using Phase ControlProblems when using the Auto Mcacc Setup Playing a sourceConnecting your equipment Connecting your equipment ChapterRear panel Connecting your equipment When making cable connectionsAbout the video converter 342 Connecting your equipment Connecting your TV and DVD playerConnecting a satellite/cable receiver or other set-top box DVD playerUse an optical cable for the connection Connecting a DVD/HDD recorder, VCR and other video sourcesUsing the component video jacks DVR, VCR, etcConnecting digital audio sources Use a three-way component video cableAbout the WMA9 Pro decoder Connecting analog audio sourcesConnecting a component to the front panel inputs Tape deck, etcConnecting your equipment Installing your speaker system Connecting the speakersBare wire connections Placing the speakersBanana plug connections Connecting antennas THX speaker system setupPlugging in the receiver Connecting external antennasPlug the power cord into a power outlet AC outletControls and displays Controls and displays ChapterFront panel Operating range of remote control unit Controls and displaysControls and displays Display Controls and displays Remote control ReceiverInput Select Multi OPE 6TUNE/ST /ENTERStatus ShiftAuto playback Listening in surround sound Listening to your systemListening to your system Chapter Standard surround soundTHX Games Mode Using the Home THX modesUsing the Advanced surround effects Listening to your systemListening in stereo Using Stream DirectSelecting Mcacc presets While listening to a source, press McaccListening to your system Choosing the input signal Using the Virtual Surround Back modeUsing the tone controls Using Midnight and LoudnessUsing the Sound Retriever Press Tone to select the frequency you want to adjustSaving station presets Using the tunerUsing the tuner Chapter Listening to the radioListening to station presets Using the tunerNaming station presets AbcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzMaking receiver settings from the System Setup menu System Setup menuSystem Setup menu Chapter Automatic Mcacc ExpertSystem Setup menu MemorySurround back speaker setting If necessary, confirm the speaker configuration in the OSD.1Manual Mcacc setup Fine Channel LevelFine Speaker Distance Adjust the level of the left channelWhen youre finished, press Return Standing WaveSelect the channels you want and adjust to your liking Select ‘Standing Wave’ from the Manual Mcacc setup menuSelect ‘EQ Adjust’ from the Manual Mcacc setup menu Acoustic Calibration EQHow to use Professional Acoustic Calibration EQ How to interpret the graphical outputSelect an option and press Enter Using Professional Acoustic Calibration EQSelect ‘EQ Professional’ then press Enter EQ OFFChecking Mcacc preset data Copying Mcacc preset dataData Management Renaming Mcacc presets Manual speaker setupSpeaker Setting Clearing Mcacc presetsSelect a setup option Select ‘Speaker Setting’ from the Manual SP Setup menuSelect ‘Channel Level’ from the Manual SP Setup menu Confirm your selected setup optionSpeaker Distance Bass Peak LevelTHX Audio Setting CurveOther connections Connecting an iPodConnecting your iPod to the receiver Other connections ChapterOther connections Using XM RadioConnecting your XM Radio receiver Basic playback controlsSaving channel presets Using XM HD SurroundListening to XM Radio Other connections Connecting using Hdmi About HdmiSelecting the multichannel analog inputs Connecting the multichannel analog inputsSecond Zone speaker B setup Use standard RCA/phono jack cables for the connectionsBi-amping your front speakers Switching the speaker system2nd Zone setting only.1 Connect your speakers as shown belowOther connections Bi-wiring your speakers Connecting additional amplifiersLarge Surround Back System multi-room setup Using the multi-room controlsBasic multi-room setup Other connections Multi-room listeningUse the Master Volume dial to adjust the volume Connecting an IR receiverMulti-room remote controls Press ControlUsing this receiver with a Pioneer plasma display Pioneer plasma displayDisplay Using the SR+ mode with a Pioneer plasma displayPioneer plasma DVD player Satellite receiver, etcOther connections Connecting a PC for Advanced Mcacc output Advanced Mcacc output using your PCInput Setup menu Other SettingsOther Settings Chapter Input function default and possible settingsMulti-Room and IR receiver setup Other SettingsOther Setup menu SR+ Setup for Pioneer plasma displaysSelect the ‘PDP Volume Control’ setting you want OSD AdjustmentSelect ‘SR+ Setup’ from the Other Setup menu Select ‘OSD Adjustment’ from the Other Setup menuSetting the AV options Using other functionsUsing other functions Chapter Setting What it does OptionsUsing the sleep timer Using other functions Making an audio or a video recordingReducing the level of an analog signal Watching video and audio sources independentlyResetting the system Using other functionsSwitching the speaker impedance Checking your system settingsDefault system settings Setting DefaultProgramming signals from other remote controls Setting the remote to control other componentsSelecting preset codes directly Controlling the rest of your systemConfirming preset codes Erasing one of the remote control button settingsResetting the remote control presets Controlling the rest of your systemRenaming input source names Direct function Multi Operation and System OffProgramming a multi-operation or a shutdown sequence Select the button for the command you want to input Using multi operationsUsing System off From the menu and press EnterButtons Function Components Controlling the rest of your system Controls for TVsControls for other components Function ComponentsOperating other Pioneer components with this unit’s sensor Decide which component you want to use the remote sensorAdditional information TroubleshootingPower Additional information ChapterOther audio problems Additional informationSettings VideoDisplay Professional Calibration EQ graphical outputRemote control Range of remote control unit onSymptom Cause Action IPod messagesXM radio messages Additional information Surround sound formats DolbyWindows Media Audio 9 Professional About THX Input signal format Standard Listening modes with different input signal formatsStereo 2 channel signal formats Auto SurroundMultichannel signal formats AutoSurround Back speakers Additional information Specifications Cleaning the unitTo establish a safe level Once you have established a comfortable sound levelDecibel Level Example Pioneer Corporation

VSX-81TXV-S, VSX-81TXV specifications

The Classe Audio VSX-81TXV and VSX-81TXV-S are flagship home theater receivers that embody the brand’s commitment to delivering high-fidelity audio and immersive cinematic experiences. These models are tailored for audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts seeking uncompromising performance and versatility.

One of the standout features of the VSX-81TXV is its powerful amplification capabilities. With a robust multichannel amplifier, it offers high power output across all channels, ensuring clean and dynamic sound reproduction regardless of the volume level. This makes it ideal for powering a wide range of speakers, from efficient bookshelf models to demanding floor-standing designs.

Both models are equipped with advanced digital signal processing technology, delivering precise audio processing for various surround sound formats, including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. This allows users to experience three-dimensional sound that wraps around them, creating a more engaging and lifelike audio environment. The ability to decode these formats highlights the receivers’ forward-thinking design and compatibility with modern home theater setups.

Connectivity is another highlight, with multiple HDMI inputs enabling seamless integration with various sources, including Blu-ray players, streaming devices, and gaming consoles. The HDMI 2.0 support ensures 4K video transmission for high-definition visuals, while HDCP 2.2 compliance future-proofs the system against upcoming content standards.

Another notable characteristic is the user-friendly setup and calibration features. The built-in room correction technology automatically adjusts the audio output based on the specific acoustics of the room, ensuring an optimized listening experience tailored to the user’s environment. This eliminates the guesswork typically involved in manual adjustments.

Aesthetically, both models showcase a sleek design with an emphasis on high-quality materials. The minimalist interface and intuitive controls provide ease of use, appealing to both seasoned audiophiles and casual listeners alike.

In conclusion, the Classe Audio VSX-81TXV and VSX-81TXV-S represent a blend of power, technology, and aesthetics, designed to elevate the home entertainment experience. Their robust amplification, advanced audio processing, extensive connectivity options, and user-friendly features make them formidable choices in the realm of high-performance home theater receivers. Whether for casual viewing or critical listening, these models promise to deliver exceptional quality and performance for a diverse audience.