Operation
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 environ- ments 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 sur- round information as long as the program is broadcast in stereo.Thus,movies with surround sound may be decoded via any of the analog sur- round 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 intentional 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 presen- tations 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 %S to enter the Surround Modes Menu. Then use the KL Buttons 5F 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 ^O 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 selectingdigital 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 355/AVR 255 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 355/AVR 255 must be configured so that the Surround Back channels are enabled. See the Manual Setup section on page 24 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 355/ AVR 255 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 older discs, the display may show EX-OFF,but you will still be able to select the Dolby Digital EX mode manually.
