Multichannel source modes

Digital multichannel source material is normally provided as ‘5.1 audio’. The ‘5.1 channels’ comprise of: left, centre and right front speakers, two surround speakers and a low frequency effects (LFE) channel. Since the LFE channel is not a full range channel, it is referred to as ‘.1’.

Surround systems decode and reproduce the 5.1 channels directly. Dolby Digital EX and DTS-ES matrix enhanced decoding systems create one extra rear channel from information buried in the two surround signals of the 5.1 source. These EX and ES enhanced systems are sometimes referred to as ‘6.1’ systems. This extra surround back channel is normally reproduced through two separate loudspeakers, creating a ‘7.1’ system.

DTS-ES discrete is a true ‘6.1’ source, with six discretely encoded channels, plus the ‘.1’ LFE channel.

Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby True-HD and DTS-HD are high-resolution surround formats found on Blu-ray and HD-DVD discs

Decoding modes

The modes given in the following table are available for multichannel digital sources.

Special modes such as DTS-ES 6.1 discrete, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Tru-HD and DTS-HD are only available from the correct source material.

High resolution audio sources

Dolby True-HD	Provides up to 7.1 full channel at 96kHz, 24bit resolution, with potentially no
	losses in the compression process. Data rates can be up to 18Mbps.
Dolby Digital Plus	Provides up to 7.1 discrete channels of audio with less compression than
	traditional Dolby Digital encoding. Data rates can be up to 6Mbps.
DTS-HD Master Audio	Provides up to 7.1 full channel at 96kHz, 24bit resolution, with potentially no
	losses in the compression process. Data rates can be up to 24.5Mbps.
For Dolby Digital sources
Dolby Digital 5.1	The most commonly used sound format for DVD video, and is also the
	standard for US television. Dolby Digital 5.1 sources deliver sound with five
	discrete full-range channels; left, centre, right, surround left, surround right,
	plus a low frequency effects (LFE) channel.
Dolby Digital 5.1 Stereo	Provides a stereo downmix of the source material for use with headphones.
Downmix
For DTS sources
DTS 5.1	Less common than the Dolby Digital format, but generally recognised within
	the audio industry as being of superior sound quality. DTS 5.1 delivers
	surround sound with five full range channels plus an LFE channel.
DTS 5.1 Stereo Downmix	Provides a stereo downmix of the source material for use with headphones.
DTS-ES 6.1 Matrix	This is a 6.1 channel format based on DTS 5.1. It has the sixth channel matrix
	encoded into the surround left and surround right channels. The sixth channel
	is a surround centre channel and is directed to the surround back left and
	surround back right speakers.
DTS-ES 6.1 Discrete	This is a true discrete 6.1 channel sound format (unlike DTS-ES Matrix).
	DTS-ES discrete mode operates only on sources with DTS-ES 6.1 discrete
	audio encoding.
DTS96/24	Provides up to 5.1 channels of audio at 96kHz, 24bit resolution for superior
	sound quality compared to standard DTS 5.1

Post-processing

Dolby Digital EX decoding can be applied to any source if one or two surround speakers are present. Pro Logic IIx decoding can be applied to any source if two surround back speakers are present.

Dolby Digital EX	This is an extension to Dolby Digital decoding that provides a 6-channel output
	from a 5-channel input. The extra channel is the centre-surround channel (for
	which the two surround back speakers are used), and is derived from the left
	and right surround channel information. This decode mode should be used
	only when the source material is ‘Surround EX’ encoded (which is normally
	indicated on the disc packaging and should be detected automatically by the
	AVR500/AVR600/AV888), but may be used at other times if desired.
Pro Logic IIx Movie	This mode is used to derive information for the individual surround back
	channels from the surround channels, using the Pro Logic IIx Movie decoder.
Pro Logic IIx Music	This mode is used to derive information for the individual surround back
	channels from the surround channels, using the Pro Logic IIx Music decoder.
	The controls for adjusting Pro Logic IIx Music in ‘General Setup’ can be used in
	this mode.

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AVR500 / AVR600 / AV888 specifications

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Arcam AVR500 / AVR600 / AV888 manual Multichannel source modes, Decoding modes

Models: AVR500 / AVR600 / AV888