Cambridge Audio 540R V3 Surround sound modes, Dolby Digital EX, DTS-ESMatrix, DTS-ESDiscrete

Surround sound modes

The 540R v3 has several music and home-cinema listening modes available. The output from the 540R v3 will depend both on the source signal present, the speaker setup selected and the decode mode selected on the 540R v3. Before we describe how to operate the 540R v3, below is a brief guide to the surround sound formats that the 540R

v3 is compatible with:

Dolby Digital

Known also as DD (3/2) or DD 5.1, provides (up to) 5.1 output from suitable encoded Dolby Digital material, with 5 main channels (Front Left, Front Right, Centre, Surround Left, Surround Right) and a Low Frequency Effects Channel for the subwoofer, all discretely encoded. Decoding Dolby Digital requires a Dolby Digital encoded DVD disc and a digital connection from the source equipment (Such as a DVD player) to the 540R v3.

Note: Dolby Digital and DTS formats can sometimes carry less channels than their maximum such as Dolby Digital (2/0) which means a Dolby Digital encoded signal which is actually only carrying a two channel stereo signal (other channels inactive).

DTS

Known also as DTS (3/2) or DTS 5.1, DTS provides (up to) 5.1 output from suitable encoded DTS material, with 5 main channels (Front Left, Front Right, Centre, Surround Left, Surround Right) and a Low Frequency Effects Channel for the subwoofer, all discretely encoded. Decoding DTS requires a suitably encoded DTS disc and a digital connection from the source equipment to the 540R v3.

Dolby Digital EX

Known also as DD (3/3) or DD 6.1, an enhanced form of Dolby Digital. On top of the discretely encoded 5.1 channels DD EX provides an extra 6th channel (Surround Back, giving 6.1) matrix encoded into the rear surrounds for greater image depth and more solid sound localisation behind the listener. DD EX requires a DD EX encoded disc. DD EX is backwards compatible with DD 5.1 decoding. If DD EX is decoded as normal DD the Surround Back signal will be present in both Left and Right Rear Surrounds (forming a phantom rear centre).

DTS-ES Matrix

Known also as DTS (3/3) Matrix, an enhanced form of DTS. On top of the discretely encoded 5.1 channels DTS ES also provides an extra 6th channel (Surround Back giving 6.1), matrix encoded into the rear surrounds for greater image depth and more solid sound localisation behind the listener. DTS ES requires a DTS ES encoded disc. DTS ES material is backwards compatible with DTS 5.1 decoding. If DTS ES is decoded as normal DTS the Surround Back signal will be present in both Left and Right Rear Surrounds (forming a phantom rear centre).

DTS-ES Discrete

Another enhanced form of DTS, also known as DTS (3/3) Discrete or DTS ES Discrete 6.1. DTS ES Discrete also provides an extra channel (Surround Back) for greater image depth and more solid sound localisation behind the listener, however in this case extra data is included in the bitstream so that all channels are discretely encoded. The Surround Back has greater separation from the other channels than is possible with matrix encoded technologies. DTS-ES Discrete requires a DTS-ES Discrete encoded disc.

DTS ES Discrete is backwards compatible with both DTS 5.1 and DTS ES Matrix 6.1 decoding. If DTS ES Discrete is decoded as normal DTS the Surround Back signal will be present in both Left and Right Rear Surrounds (forming a phantom rear centre). If DTS ES Discrete is decoded with DTS ES Matrix the Surround Back signal will be decoded separately (i.e. as 6.1) but by a matrix process, which will give the same channel separation as if the source disc were actually DTS ES Matrix (but not as good as DTS EX Discrete).

Pro Logic II

The replacement for original Pro Logic, Pro Logic II is a technology where 5 channels (Front Left, Front Right, Centre, Surround Left, Surround Right) are encoded into a Stereo mix by an analog matrix process. Dolby Pro Logic II material can be played back by normal Stereo equipment (as Stereo) or decoded into 5 channel surround-sound.

Dolby Pro Logic II is compatible with the earlier 4 channel (Left, Centre, Right and mono Surround) Dolby Pro Logic system (which was the decoding counterpart to Dolby Surround encoding) as used widely on Video tapes, TV broadcasts and earlier films.

Note: Pro Logic does not include a Low Frequency Effects channel for the Subwoofer, but the 540R v3 can create a Subwoofer output (for 5.1) via Bass management. Refer to the ‘Advanced bass management’ section in the ‘Operating instructions’ part of this manual.

DTS Neo:6

A DTS technology which is able to recreate 6 channel (Left Front, Right Front, Centre, Left Surround, Right Surround, Surround Back ) surround sound from suitable analog matrix encoded stereo source material. DTS Neo:6 material can be played back by normal Stereo equipment (as Stereo) or decoded into 6 channel surround-sound.

Note: Neo:6 does not include a Low Frequency Effects channel for the Subwoofer, but the 540R v3 can create a Subwoofer output via Bass management. Refer to the ‘Advanced bass management’ section in the ‘Operating instructions’ part of this manual.

DSP modes

These modes allow a realistic surround-sound experience from source material that has no encoding at all. The surround sound effect is achieved by Digital Signal Processing of the Analog or Digital stereo source used. Five modes are possible: Movie, Music, Room, Theatre and Hall.

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