Pioneer VSX-AX5i-G Home Theater The Basics, Your Home System, Source Material, Listening Modes

Page 9

EasyDi playsSetup& ControlsGuidePart 1

Home Theater: The Basics

Most consumers are used to using stereo equipment to listen to music but many people are not used to home theater systems that give you many more options when listening to soundtracks. In fact, home theater is not really complicated and this little guide should give you an understanding of the basics. Home theater refers to the use of multiple audio tracks combined with multiple speakers to create a surround sound effect.

There are three different factors involved in getting surround sound. Each contribute to what kind of sound you get. These factors are:

1)The equipment you are using for your home theater setup. Particularly important is the number of speakers you are using. We call this your speaker configuration.

2)The 'source' material you are using. This is the actual product (like a DVD) or broadcast (like cable TV) you are listening to/watching. We call this the source.

3)The last factor is the listening mode you choose on the VSX-AX5i receiver. These are explained below and in subsequent chapters but most likely the PRO LOGIC II MOVIE for moves and the PRO LOGIC II MUSIC for music will be fine.

Let's start with the home theater setup you have in your home.

1)Your Home System

The heart of your system is the VSX-AX5i receiver and it is very flexible in getting you theater-like surround sound. You can use this receiver with anywhere from two to seven speakers (front left, front right, center, surround left and right, and surround back left and right) and a subwoofer to get home theater surround sound. We recommend you use seven speakers and a subwoofer. If this is not possible follow the instructions in "Auto Surround Sound Setup" in the "Easy Setup Guide Part 2" and you will still be able to get good surround sound. Also, a DVD player is essential for home theater and you can also hook up satellite or cable TV tuner to this receiver and get a more home theater- like sound from these sources.

2) The Source Material

DVDs have become the basic source material for home theater because they are convenient to use and offer excellent sound and picture quality as well as allow users to enjoy home theater soundtracks with more than two channels of audio. For example, Dolby Pro Logic plays back four channels (front left, front right, center and a single channel for both surround speakers), Dolby Digital and DTS sources usually have six discrete channels (front left, front right, center, surround left and right and a channel that powers the subwoofer) of sound. Since the subwoofer channel is only for bass sounds it is expressed as .1 of a channel and this multichannel setup has been named 5.1 channel sound.

It is important you consult the manual that came with your DVD player as well to make sure the player is outputting a surround soundtrack and all the other settings are appropriate for your home theater setup.

3) The Listening Modes

This receiver has many different listening modes and they are designed to cover all the speaker configurations and types of sources you might be using. In general, the PRO LOGIC II MOVIE listening mode is the easiest way to get realistic surround sound for movies. For music the basic listening mode for music is PRO LOGIC II MUSIC.

To listen to music in stereo simply choose the STEREO listening mode. Other possibilities (like listening to a stereo CD with all seven speakers or taking a stereo source and getting multichannel home theater-like sound) are explained in listening modes (page 47).

Conclusion

These are the three basic factors that contribute to your home theater sound. The easiest thing is to hook up seven speakers and a subwoofer and simply play your DVDs with PRO LOGIC II MOVIE listening mode. This will give you realistic and enjoyable home theater sound. First hook up your equipment, like your DVD player, TV and speakers.

Then follow the Easy Setup Guide instructions to set up your system for surround sound. It is very important you do one of the surround sound setups to get optimal sound from your receiver.

For more details on any of the information presented here check the main section of the manual.

EASY SETUP GUIDE PREPARATION

9

En

Page 8 Page 10
Image 9
Page 8 Page 10
Contents Page Installing the Receiver Operating Environment Table of Contents Easy Setup Guide Preparation Surround Setup Basic Expert Multichannel Acoustic Calibration EQ System Mcacc Link Digital InterfaceUSB Audio Hook up Audio Scaler HI BIT/HI SamplingPreparing the Remote Control Checking the Supplied AccessoriesRemote Control Battery Indicator Loading the batteriesSwitching video system between PAL and Ntsc Operating range of remote control unitOpening the Front Panel Your Home System Home Theater The BasicsSource Material Listening ModesDigital Connections Hooking Up Your DVD Player and TV Speaker terminals Speaker ConnectionsAssigning the Digital Inputs Setting up the Main UnitAuto Surround Sound Setup Switch on the receiver and your TVPlace the microphone at your Normal listening position Check the speaker settings on the OSD Playing a DVD with Surround Sound Select OK and press EnterReturn to normal use Component Video Input Default Settings Connecting your TVVideo Component videoConnecting a DVD player Connecting Video ComponentsConnecting a Video Component to the Front Panel Connecting VCRs or DVRsConnecting Satellite TV SAT Components  Audio cords Connecting Analog Audio ComponentsComponents equipped with 7.1 channel analog output jacks Connecting Digital Audio Components  Coaxial cords/Optical cables Digital Input Default SettingsConnecting the Radio Antennas Using outdoor antennas AM loop antenna Connecting Speakers Speaker impedance Power Connections AC Outlets European model only Power Connections ACSpeaker placement Placing Your SpeakersConnecting i.LINK-equipped Components What is i.LINK?Creating an i.LINK Network Front Panel 10 i.LINK indicator Display see Mcacc indicator see pages 13EON Mode button see pages Master Volume dialRemote Control System Setup button Signal SEL button seeCommand button for other components see Listening mode buttons seeRemote Setup button Volume +/- buttonsTOP MENU/GUIDE button Return buttonDisplay Back Panel Component Video Monitor OUT ter- minals AC Outlet European model only switched, 100 W maxSpeakers terminals see USB Audio terminalAuto Setting SettingDisplays & ControlsUp for SoundSurrback System NormalSurround Back System Enter buttonExit should be selected. Press the Enter button Speaker Setting Normal SetupChannel Level Speaker DistanceFront default setting is Small Speaker SettingCenter default setting is Small Surround default setting is SmallIt. Press the Enter button If it isn’t use the  buttons to selectWith the  buttons choose Speakers that you want to set. PressManual manual test tone mode Auto automatic test tone modeChannel Level Speaker Distance If you want to change a setting before proceedingIndicator Choose a Listening Mode one of two waysStereo and Multichannel Playback Di plays & ControlsSelecting the Input Signal Stereo modes Listening ModesTHX Cinema 2PL II Movie 2PRO Logic II Movie Movie modes Surround mode2PL II Music 2PRO Logic II Music Music modes Surround modeAdding/Adjusting the Effect in Dolby Pro Logic II Music Mode Adjusting the Effect of a Listening ModeListening with Acoustic CAL EQ Press Receiver Press the DNR button on the remote controlDigital Noise Reduction Digital NR Function Press the Acoustic EQ buttonListening in Midnight Mode Listening in Loudness ModePress the Midnight button on the remote control Listening with Sound Delay Adjusting Bass and TrebleMulti Channel In Playback Listening in Audio Scaler modePress the SB CH Mode button on the remote control Surround Back Channel ModeVirtual Surround Back Mode Surround Back Channel ModesDual Mono setting and playback Using HeadphonesPhones jack Video Select Adjusting the Brightness of the Display DimmerAutomatic and Manual Tuning Direct Access Tuning Channel Step Setting multi-voltage model onlyTo cancel before inputting the frequency To Change Channel StepsMemorizing Frequently Used Stations Tune in the station you wantChoice Naming Memorized Stations Press Enter when you have gotEnter the station name you want Characters you want to enterSelect a class number Recalling Memorized StationsChannel you want To step through each channel in orderAn introduction to RDS European model only Using the RDS displayTune into an FM station Searching for RDS programs European model onlyUse the Band button to select the FM band Press the CHARACTER/SEARCH buttonMode you want Using EON European model onlyPress the Band button to select FM bandPress and hold EON Mode front panel for about two seconds Setting Up the Remote Control to Control Other Components Recalling Settings Stored in the Remote ControlPress the Remote Setup button for three seconds Press ENTER. The preset code has been entered Use the  buttons to select Learning and press Enter Programming Signals from Other Remote Controls Learning Mode10Use  to select Exit and press When youre done use the  buttons to select ExitCD/MD/CD-R/VCR/DVD/LD/DVD Recorder/Cassette Deck operations Using Remote Control with Other ComponentsRETURN/EXIT Cable TV/Satellite TV/TV operationsUse the  buttons to select Dirctfnc and press Enter Setting up the Direct FunctionRecording from Audio/Video Components Select Front BI-AMP in the Surrback System setup see Speakers B SetupStereo playback in another room Second Zone Bi-amping the front speakers Front BI-AMPFront panel to switch speakers on Speakers ButtonOff or cycle through the different Setting up and Using the USB Audio Connection Connecting Additional Amplifiers Pioneer SR System Operating other Pioneer components To setup a command select Change and press Enter Press the Remote Setup button for more than three secondsMulti Operations Use the  buttons to select Multi OPE and press Enter10Select Exit and press Enter again When done select Exit and pressPerforming Multi Operations Press the Multi Operation buttonSystem Off Editing Remote Control Display Names Press the Remote Setup for more than three secondsUse the  buttons to select Funcname and press Enter Editing Button Names KEY Label Use the  buttons to select KEY Label and press EnterPress the buttons whose name you want to change Adjusting the Light on the Remote Control Clearing Remote Control Settings You Have Input Use the  buttons to select Clear and press EnterPress the button you want to clear Resetting the Main Unit Use the  buttons to select Exit and press ENTER, again THX Cinema SetupFine Tuning Your System Assigning the Component Video Inputs Assigning i.LINK Inputs Source you want. Press the Enter If you want to change the ports for additional i.LINKComponents Function Rename Sacd Setup PHONO/LINE Setup Expert Setup Crossover Network Fine Channel Level Adjust the level of the channel using the  buttonsAdjust the distance of each channel Fine Channel DelayUsing the  buttons Subsequent channel. Press EnterAcoustic Calibration EQ 100101 102 Use the  buttons to select the freThis explanation is for Custom 1 or Custom Use the  buttons to adjust the Trim and press Enter To use the Data Check feature follow the steps hereEQ setting by using the  buttons and pressing Enter Start or Setting CANCEL. Press 104Bass Peak Level Dynamic Range Control 105106 DolbyDolby Digital Dolby Pro Logic107 DTS Neo6DTS 96/24 108 Link Related MessagesNection, if you change the settings for TroubleshootingPower Power does not turn on 109110 Setup Setup screen doesnt appearOverheat blinks in the display and no sound is output Thdct NG blinks111 112 Other audio problemsNo sound output from one set of speakers Considerable noise in radio broadcastsWhen a search is performed Even when there is no soundNoise or hum can be heard Being input114 Up when using the SignalInput/display Display is dark Select buttonRemote control Maintenance of External Surfaces115 Other components cant be operated with the system remote116 Preset Code BrandsBrand Tape Brand117 Specifications European model118 Specifications multi-voltage model119 TNMWF/03E00001 Printed
Top Page Image Contents