Harman-Kardon AVR 260 Surround Mode Selection, Digital Audio Signals

OPERATION

Surround Mode Selection

One of the most important features of the AVR 260 is its ability to reproduce

a full multichannel surround sound field from digital sources, analog matrix

surround encoded programs and standard stereo or even mono programs.

Selection of a surround mode is based on personal taste, as well as the type of

program source material being used. For example, CDs, motion pictures or TV

programs bearing the logo of one of the major surround-encoding processes,

such as Dolby Surround should be played in either the Dolby Pro Logic II or

IIx Movie (with movies) or Music (with music) surround mode, with any DTS

NEO:6 mode or with Harman Kardon’s exclusive Logic 7 Movie Mode, to create

a full range 5.1 channel or (with Logic 7 and DTS NEO:6) even 7.1 channel

surround signal from surround encoded programs, with a stereophonic left

and right rear signal, just as it was recorded

Note that when Dolby Digital 2.0 signals (e.g. "D.D. 2.0" tracks from DVD),

that are encoded with Dolby Pro Logic information, are received via any

digital input, the Dolby Pro Logic II Movie mode will be selected automatically

(in addition to the Dolby Digital mode) and will decode a full range 5.1

channel surround sound even from those recordings.

To create wide, enveloping sound field environments and defined pans and

flyovers with all analog stereo recordings select the Dolby Pro Logic II Music

or Emulation mode or Harman Kardon’s exclusive Logic 7 Music mode for

a dramatic improvement in comparison to the Dolby Pro Logic (I) mode of

former times.

NOTE

: Once a program has been encoded with matrix surround information,

it retains the surround information as long as the program is broadcast in

stereo. Thus, movies with surround sound may be decoded via any of the

analog surround modes such as Pro Logic II or IIx Cinema, Logic 7 Cinema or

DTS Neo:6 Cinema, when they are broadcast via conventional TV stations,

cable, pay-TV and satellite transmission. In addition, a growing number

of made-for-television programs, sports broadcasts, radio dramas and

music CDs are also recorded in surround sound. You may view a list of these

programs at the Dolby Laboratories Web site at www.dolby.com

Even when a program is not listed as carrying inten tional surround

information, you may find that the Dolby Pro Logic II or IIx Music, DTS NEO:6

Music or Logic 7 Music or Enhanced modes often deliver enveloping surround

presentations through the use of the natural surround information present in

all stereo recordings.

However, for stereo programs without any surround information the 5/7CH

Stereo modes should be tried (effective particularly with old ”extreme” stereo

recordings). And when you use only two front channel speakers you should

select any of the Dolby Virtual Speaker surround modes, delivering a virtually

three dimensional sound space with two speakers only.

Surround modes are selected using either the front panel controls or the

remote. To select a new surround mode from the front panel, first press the

Surround Mode Button

to enter the Surround Modes Menu. Then use

the

Buttons

to select the signal type that you want to modify

and confirm with the OK Button to open the list of available Surround Modes

for this signal type. Again select the desired Surround Mode and confirm with

the OK Button. Press the Back/Exit Button

to exit the menu.

Note that the Dolby Digital or DTS modes may only be selected when a

digital input is in use. In addition, when a digital source is present, the AVR

will automatically select and switch to the correct mode (Dolby Digital or

DTS), regardless of the mode that has been previously selected. For more

information on selecting digital sources, see the following section of this

manual.

When the 6-Channel/8-Channel direct inputs are in use there is no surround

processing, as these inputs take the analog output signals from an optional,

external DVD-Audio or SACD player, or another source device and carry them

straight through to the volume control.

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), select 2 CH Stereo in the Surround Modes Menu.

Digital Audio Signals

Digital audio signals offer the benefit of greater capacity, which allows

recording artists to encode center and surround channel information

directly into the signal. The result is improved sound quality and startling

directionality, since each of these channels is reproduced discretely.

Alternatively, the artist may encode only two channels, but the digital signal

allows for a higher sampling rate that delivers greater detail. High-resolution

recordings usually sound extraordinarily distortion-free at all frequencies, but

especially at high frequencies.

Multichannel digital recordings usually are found in the 5.1-, 6.1- or

7.1-channel formats. The channels included in a 5.1-channel recording are

front left, front right, center, surround left, surround right and LFE. The LFE

channel is denoted as “.1” to represent the fact that it is not full-range, being

limited to the low frequencies.

6.1-Channel recordings add a single surround back channel, and 7.1-channel

recordings add surround back left and surround back right channels to

the 5.1-channel configuration. New formats, such as Dolby TrueHD, Dolby

Digital Plus, DTS-HD and DTS-HD Master Audio, are available in 7.1-channel

configurations. The AVR 260 is able to play the new audio formats, delivering

a more exciting home theater experience.

Note

: To use the 6.1- and 7.1-channel surround modes, the AVR 260 must be

configured so that the Surround Back channels are enabled. See the Manual

Setup section on page 22 for more information.

Digital formats include Dolby Digital 2.0 (two channels only), Dolby Digital

5.1, Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD, DTS-HD, DTS-HD

Master Audio, DTS 5.1, DTS-ES (6.1 Matrix and Discrete), DTS 96/24, 2-channel

PCM modes in 32kHz, 44.1kHz, 48kHz or 96kHz, and 5.1 or 7.1 multichannel

PCM.

When a digital signal is received, the AVR 260 detects the encoding method

and the number of channels. The number of channels encoded will appear

briefly in the front-panel display as three numbers, separated by slashes (e.g.,

“3/2/.1”).