Harman-Kardon AVR 8500 owner manual Surround Mode Selection, Digital Audio Playback, Operation

Operation

Surround Mode Selection

One of the most important features of the

AVR 8500 is its ability to reproduce a full multi- channel surround sound field from digital sources, analog matrix surround encoded pro- grams and standard stereo or even mono pro- grams.

Selection of a surround mode is based on personal taste, as well as the type of program source mate- rial 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 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 chan- nel surround signal from surround encoded pro- grams, with a stereophonic left and right rear sig- nal, just as it was recorded (e.g. sound being recorded from left rear side will be heard from that side only, for more details see chart on page 30). In addition the THX Mode may be used with both analog and digital soundtracks to provide optimal reproduction.

When no rear speakers are in use, the Dolby 3 Stereo mode should be selected with all surround recordings.

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 (see also ”Dolby Digital” on page 35).

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 dra- matic 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 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 grow- ing 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 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 pres- ent in all stereo recordings.

However, for stereo programs without any sur- round information the Theater, Hall and 5/7CH Stereo modes should be tried (effective particularly with old ”extreme” stereo recordings) and for mono programs, we suggest that you try the Theater or Hall modes. And when you use only two front channel speakers you should select Harman’s patented VMAx mode, delivering a virtu- ally three dimensional sound space with two speakers only.

Surround modes are selected using either the front panel controls or the remote. First deter- mine which of the surround mode categories you wish to choose from and press the button corre- sponding to that category: Dolby modes 5M or DTS Surround ÚNfrom digital sources, DTS Neo:6 & from analog sources, Logic

7 7y, DSP 9Amodes or Stereo $ . As you press any of the Mode Select Buttons

AMNy 579$&Ú the surround mode name will appear in the Main Information Display ˆ. and in the on-screen display.

The THX modes involve specialized postprocess- ing techniques that optimize the audio signals after they have been decoded. Thus, when select- ing a THX mode, the AVR will automatically examine the signal to see whether it is analog or digital and apply Dolby Digital or DTS decoding if needed. The special THX circuits will then be acti- vated. To select a THX mode, press the Home THX button 6 on the front or remote and the proper THX mode for the active input will be activated. For further information on THX pro- cessing see surround mode table on page 30.

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 to the volume control without any further digital processing.

As the surround modes change, one or two green LEDs will light next to the current mode in the Surround Mode Indicators ¯list on the front panel.

Note that the Dolby Digital or DTS modes (except DTS Neo:6) 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 pre- viously selected. For more information on selecting digital sources, see the following section of this manual.

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), press the Stereo Button $

until SURR OFF appears in the Main Information Display ˆ.

Depending on the number of speakers selected for your system configuration, you may also select a ”five channel stereo” or ”seven channel stereo” mode which places the two-channel stereo signal in all speakers, rather than just those at the front of the room. To select this mode, simply press the Stereo Button $ until the desired mode name appears in the Main Information Display ˆ and in the semi-OSD display.

Note that no surround mode is available when an HDCD or MP3 source is being decoded.

Digital Audio Playback

Digital audio is a major advancement over older analog surround processing systems such as Dolby Pro Logic. It delivers five or six discrete channels: left front, center, right front, left surround and right surround and with DTS ES (see below) even sur- round back (with identical signals for left and right). Each channel reproduces full frequency range (20Hz to 20kHz) and offers dramatically improved dynamic range and significant improve- ments to signal-to-noise ratios. In addition, digital systems have the capability to deliver an additional channel that is specifically devoted to low-frequen- cy information. This is the “.1” channel referred to when you see these systems described as “5.1”, “6.1” or “7.1”. The bass channel is separate from the other channels, but since it is intentionally bandwidth-limited, sound designers have given it that unique designation.

OPERATION 33