Pioneer VSX-91TXH THX Cinema processing, Re-Equalization, Timbre Matching, Adaptive Decorrelation

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Additional information

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•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 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 eight 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 the THX Surround EX playback mode, otherwise THX Select2 Cinema mode will apply ASA processing to provide optimum replay.

•THX MusicMode

For the replay of multi-channel music the THX MusicMode should be selected. In this mode THX ASA processing is applied to the surround channels of all 5.1 encoded music sources such as DTS, Dolby Digital and DVD-Audio to provide a wide stable rear soundstage.

•THX Games Mode

For the replay of stereo and multi-channel game audio the THX Games Mode should be selected. In this mode THX ASA processing is applied to the surround channels of all 5.1 and 2.0 encoded game sources such as analog, PCM, DTS and Dolby Digital. This accurately places all game audio surround information, providing a full 360 degree playback environment. THX Games Mode is unique as it gives you a smooth transition of audio in all points of the surround field.

THX and the THX logo are trademarks of THX Ltd. which may be registered in some jurisdictions. All rights reserved.

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Contents VSX-91TXH Model Number Federal Communications Commission Declaration of ConformityPhone Keep in a Secure AREA. this is for Your SecurityImportant Safety Instructions Contents Using other functions Other SettingsOther connections Controlling the rest of your systemFeatures Before you startBefore you start Chapter Before you start Installing the receiverChecking what’s in the box VentilationMinute guide Automatically setting up for surround sound Auto Mcacc02 5 minute guide Chapter Introduction to home theaterEnter Minute guideProblems when using the Auto Mcacc Setup Better sound using Phase Control02 5 minute guide Playing a sourceConnecting your equipment Connecting your equipment ChapterRear panel Connecting your equipment When making cable connectionsAbout the video converter Connecting a satellite/cable receiver or other set-top box Connecting your equipment Connecting your TV and DVD playerConnect using a standard video cable or an S-video cable 342Connecting a DVD/HDD recorder, VCR and other video sources Using the component video jacksDVR, VCR, etc Use a three-way component video cable Connecting digital audio sourcesConnecting a component to the front panel inputs Connecting analog audio sourcesAbout the WMA9 Pro decoder Tape deck, etcConnecting the speakers Connecting your equipment Installing your speaker systemPlacing the speakers Bare wire connectionsBanana plug connections 10 mm 3/8THX speaker system setup Connecting antennasPlug the power cord into a power outlet Connecting external antennasPlugging in the receiver AC outletControls and displays Controls and displays ChapterFront panel Controls and displays Operating range of remote control unitControls and displays Display RECEIVER Controls and displays Remote controlInput Select SelectMulti OPE StatusShift SOURCEListening to your system Chapter Listening to your systemAuto playback Listening in surround sound Standard surround soundUsing the Advanced surround effects Using the Home THX modesTHX Games Mode Listening to your systemUsing Stream Direct Using Front Stage Surround AdvanceListening in stereo Stereo See Listening in stereo above for more on thisChoosing the input signal Listening to your system Selecting Mcacc presetsUsing surround back channel processing While listening to a source, press McaccUsing the Virtual Surround Back mode Using the Sound Retriever Listening to your system Using Midnight and LoudnessUsing the tone controls Press Tone to select the frequency you want to adjustUsing the tuner Chapter Using the tunerSaving station presets Listening to the radioNaming station presets Using the tunerListening to station presets AbcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzSystem Setup menu Chapter System Setup menuMaking receiver settings from the System Setup menu Select the setting you want to adjustMcacc System Setup menuDefault setting Normal SB Surround back speaker settingFine Channel Level Manual Mcacc setupAdjust the level of the left channel Select ‘Fine SP Distance’ from the Manual Mcacc setup menuWhen youre finished, press Return Fine Speaker DistanceStanding Wave Acoustic Calibration EQProfessional Acoustic Calibration EQ How to interpret the graphical output How to use Professional Acoustic Calibration EQUsing Professional Acoustic Calibration EQ Select ‘EQ Professional’ then press EnterSelect an option and press Enter Copying Mcacc preset data Checking Mcacc preset dataSelect ‘Data Management’ from the System Setup menu Select the setting you want to checkSpeaker Setting Manual speaker setupRenaming Mcacc presets Clearing Mcacc presetsSelect ‘Channel Level’ from the Manual SP Setup menu Select ‘Speaker Setting’ from the Manual SP Setup menuSelect a setup option Confirm your selected setup optionTHX Audio Setting Speaker DistanceCurve SBL-SBR Connecting an iPod Other connectionsOther connections Chapter Connecting your XM Radio receiver Using XM RadioWatching photos and video content Other connectionsSaving channel presets Using XM HD SurroundListening to XM Radio Selecting channels and browsing by genreUsing the XM Menu Using Sirius RadioConnecting your Sirius Connect Tuner Listening to channel presetsPress Sirius SHIFT+TV to switch to the Sirius input Using the Sirius MenuSirius Menu provides additional Sirius Radio features Listening to Sirius RadioConnecting using Hdmi Password Set Set the parental lock passwordAbout Hdmi Speaker B setup Connecting the multichannel analog inputsSwitching the speaker system Selecting the multichannel analog inputsConnecting additional amplifiers Bi-wiring your speakersBi-amping your front speakers Connect your speakers as shown belowSurround Back System MULTI-ZONE setup Basic MULTI-ZONE setupMULTI-ZONE listening Making MULTI-ZONE connectionsConnecting an IR receiver Using the MULTI-ZONE controlsMULTI-ZONE remote controls Switching components on and off using the 12 volt trigger Using this receiver with a Pioneer plasma displayPioneer plasma display Connecting a PC for Advanced Mcacc output Using the SR+ mode with a Pioneer plasma displayPioneer plasma DisplayAdvanced Mcacc output using your PC Other Settings Chapter Other SettingsInput Setup menu Input function default and possible settingsOther Setup menu Other SettingsMulti Zone Setup SR+ Setup for Pioneer plasma displaysOSD Adjustment Select ‘OSD Adjustment’ from the Other Setup menuYou will return to the Other Setup menu Using other functions Chapter Using other functionsSetting the AV options Setting What it does OptionsMaking an audio or a video recording Using other functionsSelect the source you want to record Prepare the recorderSwitching the speaker impedance Using the sleep timerChecking your system settings Press Status to check the system settingsDefault system settings Using other functions Resetting the systemPress System Setup to confirm Setting DefaultSelecting preset codes directly Setting the remote to control other componentsProgramming signals from other remote controls Controlling the rest of your systemResetting the remote control presets Erasing one of the remote control button settingsConfirming preset codes Controlling the rest of your systemDirect function Multi Operation and System Off Renaming input source namesProgramming a multi-operation or a shutdown sequence Use / to select Direct F then press EnterUsing System off Using multi operationsSelect the button for the command you want to input Press Multi OPEControlling the rest of your system Controls for TVs Controls for other componentsButtons Function Components Decide which component you want to use the remote sensor Operating other Pioneer components with this unit’s sensorPower TroubleshootingAdditional information Additional information ChapterOther audio problems SymptomRemedyAdditional information Video SettingsDisplay Professional Calibration EQ graphical outputOperating range of remote control unit on Remote controlIPod messages Symptom Cause ActionXM radio messages Sirius radio messagesDolby Additional information Surround sound formatsWindows MediaTM Audio 9 Professional About THXTHX Games Mode THX Select2 Cinema modeTHX Cinema processing Re-EqualizationStereo 2 channel signal formats Input signal format StandardAuto Surround PCM Multichannel signal formatsAuto Direct Pure Direct Surround Back speakers Input signal formatCleaning the unit Additional information SpecificationsTo establish a safe level Once you have established a comfortable sound levelDecibel Level Example Pioneer Corporation
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