ADVANCED FUNCTIONS

incoming signal, only a limited number of surround modes are available. Although there is never a time when all of the AVR 354’s surround modes are available, there is usually a wide variety of modes available for a given input.

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 354 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 354 must be configured so that the Surround Back channels are enabled. See the Manual Setup section on page 48 of the Advanced Functions section 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 354 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”).

The first number indicates the number of front channels in the signal:

“1” represents a monophonic recording, usually an older program that has been digitally remastered or, more rarely, a modern program for which the director has chosen a special effect.

“2” indicates the presence of the left and right channels, but no center channel.

“3” indicates that all three front channels (left, right and center) are present.

The second number indicates whether any surround channels are present:

“0” indicates that no surround information is present.

“1” indicates that a matrixed surround signal is present.

“2” indicates discrete left and right surround channels.

“3” is used with DTS-ES bitstreams to represent the presence of the discrete surround back channel in addition to the side surround left and right channels.

“4” is used with 7.1-channel digital formats, including Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, DTS-HD and DTS-HD Master Audio, to indicate the presence of two discrete side surround channels and two discrete back surround channels.

The third number is used for the LFE channel:

“0” indicates no LFE channel.

“.1” indicates that an LFE channel is present.

The 6.1-channel signals – Dolby Digital EX and DTS-ES Matrix and Discrete – each include a flag meant to signal the receiver to decode the surround back channel.

For Dolby Digital EX materials, the incoming bitstream will be displayed as 3/2/.1 EX-ON.

For DTS-ES materials, the incoming bitstream will be displayed as 3/3/.1 ES-ON.

When a PCM signal is received, the PCM message, followed by the sampling rate of the signal (32kHz, 44.1kHz, 48kHz or 96kHz), will appear in the front-panel display.

In addition, the Speaker/Channel Input Indicators will indicate the number of channels discretely encoded in the signal by displaying a letter inside that channel’s speaker box. A line will connect the SBL and SBR boxes when a 6.1-channel signal is detected, indicating that the same signal is playing through both speakers. The letters flash when no signal is present, such as when a DVD is paused. See Figure 63.

 

L

 

C

 

R

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

LFE

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SL

 

 

 

SR

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Figure 63 – Speaker/Channel Input Indicators

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

SBL

 

SBR

 

When only two channels – left and right – are present, the analog surround modes may be used to decode the signal into the remaining channels.

If you would prefer a different surround format than the native signal’s digital encoding, press the Surround Modes Button to display the Surround Modes menu (see Figure 62).

The Auto Select option (the first line) uses the native signal’s digital encoding, e.g., Dolby Digital or DTS. For 2-channel materials, the AVR defaults to Logic 7 Movie mode. If you prefer a different surround processing mode, select the appropriate line from the menu: Virtual Surround, Stereo, Movie, Music or Video Game.

Each line is set to a default surround mode:

Virtual Surround: Dolby Virtual Speaker Reference

Stereo: 7-channel stereo

Movie: Logic 7 Movie

Music: Logic 7 Music

Video Game: Logic 7 Game

You may change each line’s setting to a different surround mode. The choice of new modes depends on the number of speakers in your system.

Virtual Surround: Dolby Virtual Speaker Reference or Wide

Stereo: 2-channel stereo, 5-channel stereo or 7-channel stereo

46

46

Page 46
Image 46
Harman-Kardon AVR 354 Or 96kHz, and 5.1 or 7.1 multichannel PCM, Indicates that no surround information is present