Operation
To listen to a program in traditional two-channel stereo, using the front left and front right speakers only (plus the subwoofer, if installed and configured), press the Stereo Button 5
until SURR OFF appears in the Main Information Display ˜.
Digital Audio Playback
Digital audio is a major advancement over older analog surround processing systems such as Dolby Pro Logic. It delivers five or six discrete channels: left front, center, right front, left surround and right surround and with DTS ES (see below) even surround back (with identical signals for left and right). Each channel repro- duces full frequency range (20Hz to 20kHz) and offers dramatically improved dynamic range and significant improvements to signal-to-noise ratios. In addition, digital systems have the capability to deliver an additional channel that is specifically devoted to low-frequency infor- mation. This is the “.1” channel referred to when you see these systems described as “5.1,” “6.1” or “7.1”. The bass channel is separate from the other channels, but since it is intentionally bandwidth-limited, sound designers have given it that unique designation.
Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital (originally known as AC-3®) is a standard part of DVD, and is available on specially encoded LD discs and satellite broadcasts and it is a part of the new high- definition television (HDTV) system.
Note that an optional, external RF demodulator is required to use the AVR to listen to the Dolby Digital sound tracks available on laser discs.
Connect the RF output of the LD player to the demodulator and then connect the digital output of the demodulator to the Optical or Coaxial inputs *Óof the AVR.
No demodulator is required for use with DVD players or DTS-encoded laser discs.
DTS
DTS is another digital audio system that is capa- ble of delivering 5.1, 6.1 or 7.1 audio. Although both DTS and Dolby Digital are digital, they use different methods of encoding the signals, and thus they require different decoding circuits to convert the digital signals back to analog.
DTS-encoded sound tracks are available on select DVD and LD discs, as well as on special audio- only DTS CDs. You may use any LD, DVD or CD player equipped with a digital output to play DTS-encoded special audio-only CDs with the AVR, but DTS-LDs can be played on LD players and DTS-DVDs on DVD players only. All that is required is to connect the player’s digital output to either the Optical or Coaxial input on the
rear panel | or front panel *Ó. |
In order to listen to DVDs encoded with DTS sound tracks, the DVD player must be compatible with the DTS signal as indicated by a DTS logo on the player’s front panel. Note that early DVD players may not be able to play DTS- encoded DVDs. This does not indicate a problem with the AVR, as some players cannot pass the DTS signal through to the digital outputs. If you are in doubt as to the capability of your DVD player to handle DTS DVDs, consult the player’s owner’s manual.
Please note that some DVD players are shipped with their output set for Dolby Digital only. To insure that DTS data is being sent to the AVR, please check the setup menu system on your DVD player to make certain that DTS data output is enabled.
PCM Audio Playback
PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) is the non- com- pressed digital audio system used for compact discs, Non-Dolby Digital/DTS Laserdiscs and some special PCM encoded DVDs. The digital circuits in the AVR are capable of high quality digital-to- analog decoding, and they may be connected directly to the digital audio output of your CD/DVD or LD player (LD only for PCM or DTS programs, for Dolby Digital laser discs an RF adapter is needed, see ”Dolby Digital” above).
Connections may be made to either the Optical
or Coaxial inputs on the rear panel or the front panel Digital Inputs *Ó.
To listen to a PCM digital source, first select the input for the desired source (e.g., CD) to feed its video signal (if any) to the TV monitor and to provide its analog audio signal for recording. Next press the Digital Select button ÛG and then use the ⁄/ ¤ buttons Don the remote, or the Selector buttons 7on the front panel, until the desired choice appears in the Main Information Display ˜, then press the Set button @Fto confirm the choice.
During PCM playback the unit automatically will turn to the default surround mode or to the LOGIC 7 mode but you also may select any surround mode except Dolby Digital or DTS.
Selecting a Digital Source
To utilize either digital mode you must have properly connected a digital source to the AVR. Connect the digital outputs from DVD play- ers, HDTV receivers, satellite systems or CD play- ers to the Optical or Coaxial inputs on the rear or front panel *Ó. In order to provide a backup signal and a source for analog stereo recording, the analog outputs provided on digital source equipment should also be connected to their appropriate inputs on the AVR rear panel (e.g., connect the analog stereo audio output from a DVD to the DVD Audio inputs on the rear panel when you connect the source’s digital outputs).
To select a digital source such as DVD, first select its input using the remote or front panel Input Selector 4%as outlined in this manual in order to feed its video signal (if any) to the TV monitor and to provide its analog audio signal for recording. When the digital input associated with the input selected (e.g. “DVD”) is not selected automatically (due to the input settings made earlier during the system configuration, see page 18), select the digital source by pressing the Digital Input Selector button GÛand then using the ⁄/¤ buttons Don the remote or the Selector buttons 7on the front panel to choose any of the OPTICAL or COAXIAL inputs, as they appear in the Main Information Display ˜or on-screen display.
When the digital source is playing, the AVR will automatically detect whether it is a multichannel Dolby Digital or DTS source or a conventional PCM signal, which is the standard output from CD players.
Note that a digital input (e.g. coaxial) remains associated with any analog input (e.g. DVD) as soon as it is selected, thus the digital input need not be re-selected each time the appropriate input choice (e.g. DVD) is made.
Digital Bitstream Indicators
When a digital source is playing, the AVR senses the type of bitstream data that is present. Using this information, the correct surround mode will automatically be selected. For example, DTS bit- streams will cause the unit to switch to DTS decoding, and Dolby Digital bitstreams will enable Dolby Digital decoding. When the unit senses PCM data, from CDs and LDs and some music DVDs or certain tracks on normal DVDs, it will allow the appropriate surround mode to be selected manually. Since the range of available surround modes depends on the type of digital data that is present, the AVR uses a variety of indicators to let you know what type of signal is present. This will help you to understand the choice of modes and the input channels recorded on the disc.
When a digital source is playing, the AVR will display a variety of messages to indicate the type of bitstream received. These messages will appear shortly after an input or surround mode is changed, and will remain in the Main Information Display ˜for about five seconds before the display returns to the normal surround mode indication.
