Denon AVR-3801 manual Additional Information, Types of multi-channel signals, Movie audio

16 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

Optimum surround sound for different sources

There are currently various types of multi-channel signals (signals or formats with more than two channels).

2Types of multi-channel signals

Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic, DTS, high definition 3-1 signals (Japan MUSE Hi-Vision audio), DVD-Audio, SACD (Super Audio CD), MPEG multi- channel audio, etc.

“Source” here does not refer to the type of signal (format) but the recorded content. Sources can be divided into two major categories.

2 Types of sources
• Movie audio	Signals created to be played in movie theaters. In general sound is recorded to be played in movie theaters equipped
	with multiple surround speakers, regardless of the format (Dolby Digital, DTS, etc.).

Movie theater sound field
FL	SW	C	FR	Listening room sound field
SL			SR	FL	SW	C	FR	In this case it is important to achieve the same sense of
				SL			SR	expansion as in a movie theater with the surround channels.
								To do so, in some cases the number of surround speakers is
								increased (to four or eight) or speakers with bipolar or dipolar
								properties are used.
						SB		SL: Surround L channel
								SR: Surround R channel
								SB: Surround back channel
		SB

Multiple surround speakers

(For 6.1-channel system)

• Other types of audio These signals are designed to recreate a 360° sound field using three to five speakers.

FL	SW	C	FR
SL			SR

In this case the speakers should surround the listener from all sides to create a uniform sound field from 360°. Ideally the surround speakers should function as “point” sound sources in the same way as the front speakers.

These two types of sources thus have different properties, and different speaker settings, particularly for the surround speakers, are required in order to achieve the ideal sound.

The AVR-3801’s surround speaker selection function makes it possible to change the settings according to the combination of surround speakers being used and the surrounding environment in order to achieve the ideal surround sound for all sources. This means that you can connect a pair of bipolar or dipolar surround speakers (mounted on either side of the prime listening position), as well as a separate pair of direct radiating (monopolar) speakers placed at the rear corners of the listening room.

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