Pioneer VSX-AX5Ai-G, VSX-AX5Ai-S manual Additional information About THX

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12Additional information

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 the world-renowned film production company, Lucasfilm 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.

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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 Select

Before any home theatre component can be THX Select 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 Select logo, which is your guarantee that the Home Theatre products you purchase will give you superb performance for many years to come. THX Select 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.

THX is a trademark or registered trademark of THX Ltd. Surround EX is a jointly developed technology of THX and Dolby Laboratories and is a trademark of Dolby Laboratories. Used under authorization. All rights reserved.

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Contents VSX-AX5Ai-SVSX-AX5Ai-G Operating Environment Risk of Electric Shock Do not OpenVoltage selector Information to UserContents Controlling other equipment Advanced setup Using other functionsOther connections Additional informationFeatures Checking the supplied accessoriesBefore you start Before you start ChapterInstalling the receiver Using the remote controlBefore you start Opening the front panelOperating range of the remote control Remote control battery indicatorSetting up for Surround Sound Minute guideMinute guide Chapter Introduction to home theater02 5 minute guide Connect your speakersLarge Use the on-screen Auto Surround setup to set up your systemMinute guide Switch on the receiver and your TV ‘Surround Setup’ should be highlighted. PressEnter ‘SurrBack System’ should be highlighted. PressFollow the instructions on-screen ‘Auto Setting’ should be highlighted. PressMake sure ‘Normal System’ is selected, then select ‘Exit’ Checking the settings on your DVD or other player Other problems when using the Auto Surround SetupIf the receiver isn’t already on, switch on the power Playing a sourceRear panel Connecting your equipmentConnecting your equipment Chapter Connecting your equipment About the video converterWhen making cable connections About cable typesAnalog audio cables Digital audio cablesConnecting your equipment Connecting your TV Connecting your equipment Connecting a DVD player DVD playerConnecting the multichannel analog outputs VSX-AX5AiSTB Connecting your equipment Connecting a VCR or DVD recorder Connecting your equipment Connecting other video sources Connecting your equipment Using the component video jacks DVD playerConnecting your equipment Connecting digital audio sources Connecting your equipment Connecting analog audio sources Tape deck, etcPortable DVD player, etc Connecting your equipment Installing your speaker system Front left Center Front rightPlacing the speakers Connecting the speakersBare wire connections Connecting your equipment Connecting antennas FM wire antennaConnecting external antennas AM loop antennaAbout the AC outlet Outdoor antenna Indoor antenna Vinyl-coated wire MetersPlugging in the receiver Front panel Controls and displaysControls and displays Chapter Controls and displays Mcacc Setup MIC jack Tone ControlTone BASS/TREBLEControls and displays Display TunedControls and displays Remote control Remote Setup AudioTV Input Movie / MusicAuto playback Listening in surround sound Listening to your systemListening to your system Chapter Listening to your system Movie listening modesBasic modes Advanced effect modesPro Logic IIx Music See above Dolby Pro Logic IIx Music settingsMusic listening modes Listening with headphones Adjusting the advanced effect levelNeo6 Music settings Listening in stereoListening with Acoustic Calibration Listening to your system Selecting the input signal type Listening to your system Using the surround back channel NEO6Using the audio scaler for Hi-bit and Hi-sampling On the remote control, press RECEIVER, then press HI-BITUsing the tone control Switching the tone control on or offAdjusting the bass and treble TrebleListening to dual mono soundtracks Release the button when you see the setting you wantReducing noise during playback Using the tuner Using the tuner ChapterTuning directly to a station Finding a stationUsing the tuner MPX modeAbcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyz Listening to memorized station presetsNaming station presets Displaying RDS information Using the tuner An introduction to RDSPress Disp Mode to select the RDS information display Using EON Press EON Mode to select one of the possible modesAn introduction to EON Searching for RDS programsPress Enter Press and hold EON Mode for about two secondsClearing all stations from the RDS and EON searches Surround Setup menu Surround Setup menu ChapterMaking receiver settings from the Surround Setup menu Select the setting you want to adjustSurround Setup menu Surround back speaker settingNormal surround setting Speaker SettingSelect ‘Channel Level’ from the Normal setup menu Channel LevelSelect ‘Speaker Distance’ from the Normal setup menu Speaker DistanceUsing the remote control with other components Recalling preset codesControlling other equipment Controlling other equipment ChapterProgramming signals from other remote controls Controlling other equipmentControlling other equipment Controls for TVs MenuGuide DiscControlling other equipment Controls for other components SubtitleDisp ModeTOP ExitControlling other equipment Direct function Multi Operation and System OffProgramming a multi-operation or a shutdown sequence Repeat steps 2-4 for as many components as you wantPress Multi Operation Using multi operationsTo add or change a command select ‘Change’ and press Enter Operating other Pioneer components with this unit’s sensor Switching components on and off using the 12 volt triggerUsing System off Using other functions Using other functions ChapterAdjusting the delay of a soundtrack Making an audio or a video recordingEnhancing Sacd playback Dimming the displayUsing other functions Switching the speaker impedanceAdvanced remote control features Editing remote control display namesAdjusting the remote control backlight Clearing remote control settingsUsing other functions Resetting the system Second Zone speaker B setup Switching the speaker systemOther connections Other connections ChapterBi-wiring your speakers Other connections Bi-amping your front speakersFront left SpeakerBasic multi-room setup SurrBack System multi-room setupOther connections Multi-room listening Making multi-room connectionsUsing the multi-room controls Use the Master Volume dial to adjust the volumeOther connections Press ControlConnecting additional amplifiers Other connectionsOther connections Using the i.LINK interface Creating an i.LINK network Other connections About i.LINKAbout Pqls rate control Connect your computer’s USB terminal to Other connections Using the USB interfacePress Input on the remote control repeatedly to select USB Select ‘PC Output’ and press Enter Other connections Connecting a PC for Advanced Mcacc outputAdvanced Mcacc output using your PC Advanced setup Advanced setup ChapterSystem Setup menu Select the setting you want to adjust then pressAdvanced setup THX Cinema SetupInput Assign menu Assigning the digital inputsAssigning the component video inputs Assigning the i.LINK inputsComponent-1 OFF Component-2 OFF Select ‘Component-In Select’ from the Input Assign menuSelect the name of the input you want to rename Select ‘Function Rename’ from the System Setup menuFunction Rename Sacd Setup PHONO/LINE SetupMulti-Room and IR receiver setup Volt TriggerAdvanced setup Expert setup menu Select ‘Expert’ then press EnterSelect ‘Crossover Network’ from the Expert setup menu Select ‘Fine Channel Level’ from the Expert setup menuAdjust the level of the left channel Crossover NetworkAcoustic Calibration EQ Fine Channel DelaySetting the Acoustic Calibration EQ automatically Setting the Acoustic Calibration EQ manually Select CUSTOM1 Adjust or CUSTOM2 AdjustSelect the channels you want and adjust to your liking Front AlignCopying your Acoustic Calibration EQ settings Checking your Acoustic Calibration EQ settingsSelect ‘DATA COPY’ then press Enter Select ‘Exit’ to copy and confirmProfessional Acoustic Calibration How to use Professional Acoustic CalibrationHow to interpret the graphical output Using Professional Acoustic Calibration Select a setup optionSelect ‘Professional’ If you selected ‘Auto Pro.’, select ‘Start’ and pressSelect ‘Bass Peak Level’ from the Expert setup menu Bass Peak LevelDynamic Range Control Select ‘D-Range Control’ from the Expert setup menuChoose the setting that you want Troubleshooting PowerAdditional information Additional information ChapterAdditional information No soundOther audio problems Digital inputs onSymptom Cause VideoSettings DisplayRemote control PRO Logic II or Neo6Link interface Link messagesUSB interface Maintenance of external surfacesChanging the frequency step Additional information Surround sound formats DolbyAdditional information About THX Additional information Preset code brands DVDCD-R DVRAdditional information Specifications European model Additional information Specifications Multi-voltage model Continuous Power OutputPioneer Corporation

VSX-AX5Ai-S, VSX-AX5Ai-G specifications

The Pioneer VSX-AX5Ai-S and VSX-AX5Ai-G are standout home theater receivers known for their robust performance and advanced features that cater to audio enthusiasts and casual listeners alike. Designed with a focus on versatility and high-fidelity audio reproduction, these receivers deliver exceptional sound quality for both music and movies.

One of the most significant features of the VSX-AX5Ai series is its powerful amplification system. With a capacity to drive multiple channels, these receivers provide dynamic sound and enough power to fill even large spaces. The Class D3 amplification technology used in these models ensures efficient performance, producing clean and distortion-free audio. This technology contributes to higher energy efficiency while providing rich bass and clear highs.

These receivers are equipped with advanced audio codecs, including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X, which create an immersive surround sound experience. The ability to decode high-definition audio formats enhances the listening experience, bringing movie soundtracks and music to life with precision and depth. The multi-channel setup allows for easy integration into existing home theater systems, delivering a cinematic atmosphere at home.

Another notable feature is the MCACC (Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System). This automatic calibration system optimizes speaker settings based on the room's acoustics, ensuring that users achieve the best possible sound from their speaker setup. It analyzes the acoustics and adjusts the receiver's settings to provide a balanced and harmonious sound profile.

Connectivity is a highlight of the VSX-AX5Ai-S and VSX-AX5Ai-G. They come equipped with multiple HDMI inputs and outputs, allowing users to connect various devices, such as Blu-ray players, gaming consoles, and streaming devices. The presence of digital and analog audio inputs ensures compatibility with a wide range of audio sources. Furthermore, these models support video upscaling, enhancing lower-resolution content for improved playback quality.

The user-friendly interface and remote control make it easy to navigate settings and configurations, providing a seamless user experience. Additionally, both models support streaming services, allowing users to access their favorite music directly from apps over Wi-Fi.

In summary, the Pioneer VSX-AX5Ai-S and VSX-AX5Ai-G are exceptional receivers that combine powerful amplification, advanced audio processing, and user-friendly features. With technologies designed to optimize sound quality and provide versatile connectivity, these models are an excellent choice for anyone looking to enhance their home audio experience. Whether for movies, music, or gaming, they deliver a premium listening experience that stands out in the competitive home theater market.