Important Note: When a digital surround source (Dolby Digital, DTS) is played, the letters SBL/SBR for the Surround Back channels will appear only when a DTS ES DISCRETE 6.1 source is played. Then this surround mode will be indicated in the front display and on-screen display. With all other recordings the icons for the surround back speakers may light (when those speakers have been configured) to indicate that a signal will be fed to them (Matrix decoded with NEO:6, LOGIC 7 or 7 CH Stereo), but no letters inside will light as the unit will not receive an input signal for the surround back channels.
The letters used by the Speaker/Channel Input Indicators Ú also flash to indicate when a bit- stream has been interrupted. This will happen when a digital input source is selected before the playback starts, or when a digital source such as a DVD is put into a Pause mode. The flashing indicators remind you that the playback has stopped due to the absence of a digital signal and not through any fault of the AVR. This is nor- mal, and the digital playback will resume once the playback is started again.
Night Mode
A special feature of Dolby Digital is the Night mode, which enables Dolby Digital input sources to be played back with full digital intelligibilty while reducing the maximum peak level and lift- ing the low levels by 1/4 to 1/3. This prevents abruptly loud transitions from disturbing others without reducing the impact of the digital source. The Night mode is available only when the Dolby Digital mode is selected.
The Night mode may be engaged when a Dolby Digital DVD is playing by pressing the Night Button Bon the remote. Next, press the ⁄/¤ buttons Eto select either the middle range or full compression versions of the Night mode. To turn the Night mode off, press the ⁄/¤ buttons
Euntil the message in the lower third of the video display and the Lower Display Line ˜ reads D-RANGE OFF.
The Night mode may also be selected to always be on as soon as the Dolby Digital mode is activated at either level of compression using the options in the Surround Select menu. See page 24 for information on using the menus to set this option.
IMPORTANT NOTES ON DIGITAL PLAYBACK:
•When the digital playback source is stopped, or in a pause, fast forward or chapter search mode, the digital audio data will momentarily stop, and the channel position letters inside the Speaker/ Channel Indicators Ú will flash. This is nor- mal and does not indicate a problem with either the AVR or the source machine. The AVR will return to digital playback as soon as the data is available and when the machine is in a standard play mode.
•Although the AVR will decode virtually all DVD movies, CDs and HDTV sources, it is possible that some future digital sources may not be compatible with the AVR.
•Note that not all digitally encoded programs and not all audio tracks on a DVD contain full 5.1 or 6.1 channel audio. Consult the program guide that accompanies the DVD or laser disc to determine which type of audio has been record- ed on the disc. The AVR will automatically sense the type of digital surround encoding used, indi- cate it in the Channel Input Indicators Ú and adjust to accommodate it.
•When a Dolby Digital or DTS source is playing, you normally may not be able to select some of the analog surround modes such as Dolby Pro Logic II, Dolby 3 Stereo, Hall, Theater, 5CH/7CH Stereo or Logic 7, except with specific Dolby Digital 2.0 recordings that can be played with the Pro Logic II modes too (see page 34).
•When a digital source is playing, it is possible to make an analog recording using the Tape
or Video 1 or Video 2 or record outputs, even if the source is connected to any digital input of the AVR only, as long as "Surround Off" mode is selected (possible with a PCM source only). But the analog two channel signal, even of a Dolby Digital (not DTS) source, the ”Downmix” to Stereo or Dolby Surround, can be recorded by connecting its analog audio outputs to the appropriate analog inputs (e.g. DVD) of the AVR. Additionally, the digital signals will be passed through to the Digital Audio Outputs .
Tape Recording
In normal operation, the audio or video source selected for listening through the AVR is sent to the record outputs. This means that any program you are watching or listening to may be recorded simply by placing machines connected to the out-
| | | |
puts for Tape Outputs | or Video 1 or | 2 |
Outputs | in the record mode. | |
When a digital audio recorder is connected to any of the Digital Audio Outputs , you are able to record the digital signal using a CD-R, MiniDisc or other digital recording system. Note that all digital signals will be passed through to both, coaxial and optical, digital outputs simultanously, no matter which kind of digital input was selected.
Output Level Adjustment
With Source Signals
Normal output level adjustment for the
AVR is established using the test tone, as out- lined on page 26. In some cases, however, it may be desirable to adjust the output levels using program material such as a test disc, or a selec- tion you are familiar with. Additionally, the out- put level for the subwoofer and those for the Stereo and VMAx modes can only be adjusted using this procedure. Note that all adjustments made with any input will be effective with all inputs selected, just as it is the case with the adjustment using the test tone.
To adjust the output levels using program materi- al, first select the surround mode for which you want to trim the speakers (see NOTE below), start your program material source and set the reference volume for the front left and front right
channels using the Volume Control | î. |
Once the reference level has been set, press the Channel Select button CÙ and note that FRONT L LEVEL will appear in the Lower Display Line ˜. To change the level, first press the Set button F@, and then use the Selector buttons 7$ or the ⁄/ ¤ buttons
Eto raise or lower the level. DO NOT use the volume control, as this will alter the reference setting.
Once the change has been made, press the Set button F@ and then press the Selector but- tons 7$ or the ⁄/¤ buttons Eto select the next output channel location that you wish to adjust. To adjust the subwoofer level, press the Selector buttons 7$ or the ⁄/¤ buttons
Euntil WOOFER LEVEL appears in the Main Information Display ˜ or on-screen display (only available if the subwoofer is turned on).
Press the Set button F@ when the name of the desired channel appears in the Main Information Display ˜ and on-screen display, and follow the instructions shown above to adjust the level.
Repeat the procedure as needed until all chan- nels requiring adjustment have been set. When all adjustments have been made and no further adjustments are made for five seconds, the AVR will return to normal operation.
If you are using a disc with noise test signals or an external signal generator as the source from which to trim the output levels, you may use the EzSet feature of the remote to guide you to the correct SPL level. To use the remote for this purpose, follow the instructions on page 26.
