Pioneer VSA-AX10Ai manual About THX, Windows Media Audio 9 Professional, PCM Pulse Code Modulation

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Additional information

DTS 96/24

DTS 96/24 is an extension of the original DTS Digital Surround which offers high quality 96 kHz / 24-bit audio using a DTS 96/24 decoder. This format is also fully backward compatible with all existing decoders. This means that DVD players can play this software using a conventional DTS 5.1 channel decoder.

“DTS”, “DTS-ES”, “DTS 96/24” and “Neo:6” are trademarks of Digital Theater Systems, Inc.

Windows Media® Audio 9 Professional

Windows Media® Audio 9 Professional (WMA9 Pro) is a discrete surround format developed by Microsoft Corporation.

WMA9 Pro can support up to 5.1/7.1 channel playback with sampling rates up to 24-bit/96kHz. 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 other third-party media player) 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.

PCM (Pulse Code Modulation)

PCM (also known as Linear PCM) is a digital audio coding system that does not use compression to reduce the amount of data needed to represent the analog audio. PCM audio can be found on CDs and some DVDs.

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THX Cinema™ processing

THX engineers developed patented technologies to accurately translate the sound from the movie theater environment into the home, correcting the tonal and spatial errors that occur. When the THX indicator shows in the display, THX features are automatically added in Cinema modes (see Using the Home THX modes on page 41).

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™

This feature filters the sound going to the surround speakers so that it more closely matches the sound coming from the front speakers. This ensures seamless panning between the front and surround speakers.

Adaptive Decorrelation™

By slightly changing one surround channel's time and phase relationship with respect to the other surround channel, Adaptive Decorrelation expands the listening position and creates the same spacious surround experience as in a movie theater using only two speakers.

THX Ultra2™

Before any home theater component can be THX Ultra2™ certified, it must incorporate all the features described here and also pass a rigorous series of quality and performance tests. THX Ultra2™ requirements cover every aspect of the product including pre-amplifier performance and operation, and hundreds of other parameters in both the digital and analog domain.

About THX®

THX is an exclusive set of standards and technologies established by the world-renowned film production company, Lucasfilm Ltd. These were designed to make film soundtracks, in both movie theaters and in your home theater, as faithful as possible to what the director intended.

The THX technologies are explained below. See www.thx.com for more detailed information.

THX Surround EX™

THX Surround EX-Dolby Digital Surround EX is a joint development of THX Ltd. and Dolby Laboratories. This technology reproduces an additional surround back channel, bringing greater depth, spacious ambience, sound localization and detailed imaging behind the listener.

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 may have unpredictable results.

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Contents VSA-AX10Ai Risk of Electric Shock Do not Open Operating EnvironmentPage Contents Advanced setup Using other functionsOther connections Additional informationOur philosophy FeaturesUsing the remote control Checking the supplied accessoriesBefore you start Before you start ChapterCalibrating the remote control screen Setting up the remote controlBefore you start Press CalibrateSetting the time-out setting Setting the clockSetting the button alert volume Locking the remote control Resetting the remote controlRestarting the remote control Press Reset to DefaultReplacing the lithium-ion batteries Rear panel Connecting your equipmentConnecting your equipment Chapter When making cable connections Connecting your equipmentConnecting your equipment Connecting your TV DVD player Connecting your equipment Connecting a DVD playerConnecting the multichannel analog outputs STB VSA-AX10Ai Connecting your equipment Connecting a VCR or DVD recorderConnecting your equipment Connecting other video sources About the video converter Connecting your equipment Using the component video jacksConnecting your equipment Connecting digital audio sources Connecting your equipment Connecting analog audio sources Portable DVD player, etc Connecting the speakers Connecting your equipment Installing your speaker systemPlacing the speakers Bare wire connectionsAbout the AC outlet Connecting your equipment Plugging in the amplifierDisplay Controls and displaysControls and displays Chapter Controls and displays Tone Home menu screens Controls and displays Remote controlBasic remote control displays Digital NR SetupAmplifier menu screens TV control menu screens Remote control displays for other componentsOperating menus for additional components Audio Search ModeSubtitle TOP MenuSwitch on the amplifier and your TV Automatically setting up for surround soundGetting started Getting started ChapterEnter Getting startedPlaying a source Checking the settings on your DVD or other playerOther problems when using the Auto Surround Setup Change the amplifier input to the source you want to play Listening to your system Chapter Listening to your systemAbout the listening modes Listening in surround soundListening to your system Dolby Pro Logic IIx Music settingsNeo6 Music settings Using the Home THX modes Using the Advanced surround effectsAdjusting the Advanced Surround effect level Use the Option +/- buttons to adjust the effect levelListening in stereo Listening with headphonesPro Logic IIx Movie PRO Logic NEO6 CinemaPress Multi CH Input on the remote control Home menu screen Using the Stream Direct modeAnalog Selecting the input signal typeChannel Listening to high-sampling formatsSelecting USB and multichannel analog input channels Press SB CH Mode repeatedly to cycle through Listening to your system Using the surround back channelAuto Surround back channel optionsVSB Auto VSB on VSB OFF Use the Option +/- buttons to change the settingCreating a center speaker effect Using Midnight and Loudness listening Listening to your system Using Hi-bit and Hi-samplingUsing the tone control Switching the tone control on or offTreble Adjusting the bass and trebleReducing noise during playback Listening to your system Listening to dual mono soundtracks Surround Setup menu Chapter Surround Setup menuMaking amplifier settings from the Surround Setup menu Select ‘Surround Setup’ then press EnterSpeaker Systems Surround Setup menuLarge Select ‘Channel Level’ then press Enter Channel LevelSetting the Acoustic Calibration EQ manually Setting the Acoustic Calibration EQ automaticallySpeaker Distance Acoustic Calibration EQSelect ‘Manual’ then press Enter Copying your Acoustic Calibration EQ settingsSelect CUSTOM1 or CUSTOM2 then press Enter Select ‘Data Copy’ then press EnterProfessional Acoustic Calibration EQ How to use Professional Acoustic Calibration EQHow to interpret the graphical output Select a manual setup option and press Enter Using Professional Acoustic Calibration EQSelect ‘Professional’ then press Enter If you selected ‘Auto Pro.’, select ‘Start’ and pressCurve Switch the X-Curve on or OFFUse Cursor left/right buttons to select Select ‘X-Curve’ then press EnterCycle through the settings screen by screen Checking your surround settingsSelect ‘Check’ from the Surround Setup menu and press Enter Recalling preset codes Using the remote control with other componentsControlling other equipment Controlling other equipment ChapterControlling other equipment Select a setting typePioneer-1 DVR-7000 Programming signals from other remote controlsPress Learning on the remote setup menu Press Direct Function on the remote setup menu Editing remote control button namesPress OK to confirm the settings Press KEY Label on the remote setup menuChoose how you want to change the look of the button Press OK when you’ve finishedSelect the button you want to rename Programming a multi operation or a shutdown sequence Controlling other equipment Multi Operation and System OffPress OK when you’re finished Using multi operationsFrom the remote control Home menu press Multi OperationUsing the 12 volt trigger Switching components on and offUsing System off System OFFUsing other functions Chapter Using other functionsMaking an audio or a video recording Monitoring your recordingWatching video and audio sources independently Adjusting the delay of a soundtrackUse the Option +/- buttons to adjust the amount of delay Enhancing Sacd playback Using other functionsSwitch the SD1 Normal Stream Direct mode Switching the speaker impedance Using other functions Dimming the displayDefault amplifier settings Using other functions Checking your system settingsResetting the system Bypass Switching the speaker system Using speaker system BUsing speaker system B in another room Other connectionsOther connections Select the ‘ITU-R’ setting from the Speaker Systems menuBi-amping your front speakers SP B ITU-R is selectedConnecting additional amplifiers Bi-wiring your speakersUsing the pre-outs Connecting an external stereo pre-amplifier Using the i.LINK interfaceCreating an i.LINK network About i.LINKAbout Pqls rate control Press ‘USB’ on the remote control Home menu Screen Using the USB interfaceConnecting a PC for Advanced Mcacc output Select ‘PC Output’ and press Enter Advanced Mcacc output using your PCAdvanced setup Chapter Advanced setupInput Assign menu Assigning the digital inputsAssigning the i.LINK inputs Advanced setupAssigning the component video inputs Select ‘Expert Setup’ then press Enter Expert Setup menuAssigning the video inputs Multi in OFF USB OFFBass Peak Level OSD AdjustmentFunction Rename Dynamic Range ControlOSD Overlay Edit the name as necessary and press EnterVolt Trigger THX Audio SetupSelect ‘THX Audio Setup’ then press Enter Surround Back Speaker Position THX Ultra2 Subwoofer SetupBasic surround setup Optimizing your speaker setupAdditional information Additional information ChapterAdditional information THX speaker system setupNo sound Additional information TroubleshootingPower Listening in surround sound on Cause Remedy Other audio problemsAudio sources on VideoRemote control SettingsThis unit’s sensor on DisplayLink messages Link interfaceMiscellaneous USB interfaceDolby Additional information Surround sound formatsPCM Pulse Code Modulation About THXWindows Media Audio 9 Professional THX Ultra2 Cinema mode Maintenance of external surfacesAdvanced Speaker Array ASA THX MusicModeAdditional information Specifications 04B00001 ARB7291-A

VSA-AX10Ai specifications

The Pioneer VSA-AX10Ai is a high-end, multi-channel home theater receiver that stands out for its robust performance and cutting-edge technologies. Launched as a flagship model, it combines advanced audio processing capabilities with a formidable power output, catering to both audiophiles and home theater enthusiasts.

One of the standout features of the VSA-AX10Ai is its Direct Energy HD Amplification technology, which incorporates a Class D amplifier design. This technology not only ensures high power efficiency but also minimizes distortion, delivering pristine sound quality at high volumes. The receiver boasts a substantial output of 200 watts per channel over eight channels, making it an ideal choice for driving large, demanding speaker systems.

In terms of audio decoding, the VSA-AX10Ai supports a multitude of formats, including Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. This feature allows the receiver to provide a cinematic surround sound experience, ensuring that every detail of the soundtrack is delivered with accuracy and clarity. The device is also equipped with a high-quality 24-bit/192 kHz DAC, assuring top-notch sound reproduction from a variety of sources.

The VSA-AX10Ai features Pioneer’s sophisticated MCACC (Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System), which automatically calibrates the audio output to match the room's acoustics. By measuring sound from each speaker and adjusting levels, delays, and equalization, it ensures a balanced sound field, regardless of room shape or speaker placement.

Connectivity is extensive, with multiple HDMI inputs offering 4K pass-through and upscaling capabilities. This makes the receiver well-suited for modern home theater setups that require integration with 4K Ultra HD displays. It also includes legacy inputs, ensuring compatibility with older audio and video equipment.

Another noteworthy characteristic is the receiver’s build quality. The VSA-AX10Ai features a rigid chassis designed to minimize vibration as well as a premium-grade power supply, which contributes to its overall reliability and performance.

Overall, the Pioneer VSA-AX10Ai encapsulates the essence of high-fidelity home audio and video. With its extensive feature set, exceptional sound quality, and robust performance capabilities, it remains a top choice for those seeking a comprehensive and immersive home theater experience. Whether for music playback or movie watching, this receiver delivers an unparalleled audio experience that stands the test of time.