Harman-Kardon DPR 1001 Selecting a Digital Source, Digital Status Indicators, Night Mode

OPERATION

(Continued from p. 25)

An optional, external RF demodulator is required to use the DPR 1001 to listen to the Dolby Digital sound- tracks available on laser discs. Connect the RF output of the LD player to the demodulator and then connect the digital output of the demodulator to the Optical or Coaxial Inputs k31 ÔÒ of the DPR 1001. No demodulator is required for use with DVD players or DTS-encoded laser discs.

DTS

The DTS digital audio system also delivers 5.1 or 6.1 discrete or matrix sound field reproduction. Both DTS and Dolby Digital are digital, but they use different methods of encoding the signals, and thus they require different decoding circuits to convert the digital signals back to analog.

DTS-encoded soundtracks are available on select DVD and LD discs, as well as on special audio-only DTS discs and video games. You may use any DVD, LD or CD player equipped with a digital output to play DTS- encoded discs with the DPR 1001. All that is required is to connect the player’s output to either the Optical or Coaxial Input on the rear panel k31 or front panel ÔÒ.

In order to listen to DVDs encoded with DTS sound tracks, the DVD player must be compatible with the DTS signal as indicated by a DTS logo on the player’s front panel. Early DVD players may not be able to play DTS-encoded DVDs. This does not indicate a problem with the DPR 1001, as some players cannot pass the DTS signal through to the digital outputs. If you are in doubt as to the capability of your DVD player to handle DTS discs, consult the player’s owner’s manual.

PCM

PCM, which is the acronym for Pulse Code Modulation, is the type of digital bitstream used by standard CD audio discs. When a CD or DVD player is connected to the DPR 1001 and a CD is playing, the PCM Bitstream Indicator A will light. You will also see this indication if you are playing an LD disc with the standard digital soundtrack.

MP3

MP3 is the popularly used description for the digital audio format that is technically known as “MPEG-1/ Layer 3” audio. When a properly formatted MP3 signal from a compatible computer or sound card, or from an external digital format translator, is connected to the DPR 1001, the MP3 Bitstream Indicator A will light.

Selecting a Digital Source

To utilize a digital mode, you must have properly connected a digital source to the DPR 1001. Connect the digital outputs from DVD players, HDTV receivers, satellite systems or CD players to the Optical or Coaxial Inputs k31 ÔÒ, and configure the input source for use with a digital input as shown on page 18.

In order to provide a backup signal and a source for analog recording, the analog outputs on digital source equipment should also be connected to their appropri- ate inputs on the DPR 1001 rear panel (e.g., connect the analog stereo audio output from a DVD to the DVD Audio Inputs a on the rear panel).

When a digital source is playing, the DPR 1001 will automatically detect whether it is a multichannel Dolby Digital, DTS or MP3 source, or a conventional PCM signal, which is the standard output from CD players. A Bitstream Indicator A will light to confirm that the digital signal is Dolby Digital, DTS, PCM or MP3.

Digital Status Indicators

When a digital source is playing, the DPR 1001 senses the type of bitstream data that is present. Using this information, the correct surround mode will automatically be selected. For example, DTS bitstreams will cause the unit to switch to DTS decoding, and Dolby Digital bit- streams will enable Dolby Digital decoding. When the unit senses PCM data from CDs or LDs, it will allow the appropriate surround sources to be selected manually. Since the range of available surround modes is dep- endent on the type of digital data that is present, the DPR 1001 uses a variety of indicators to let you know what type of signal is present. This will help you to understand the choice of modes.

When a digital source is playing, a Bitstream Indicator

Awill light to show which type of signal is playing:

DOLBY D: When the DOLBY D indicator lights, a Dolby Digital bitstream is being received. Depending on the settings on the source player and specific surround information and number of channels on the disc, a number of surround modes are possible. For discs with full 5.1 audio, only the Dolby Digital and VMAx modes are available.

DTS: When the DTS indicator lights, a DTS bitstream is being received. When the unit senses this type of data, only the applicable DTS mode may be used.

PCM: When the PCM indicator lights, a standard Pulse Code Modulation signal is being received. This type of digital audio is used by compact disc and laser disc recordings. When a PCM bitstream is present, all modes except Dolby Digital and DTS are available.

MP3: When the MP3 indicator lights, a compatible MPEG 1/Layer 3 digital signal is being received. This is the popular audio format used by many computer pro- grams for recording compressed audio files. When an MP3 bitstream is present, the sound will automatically be played in the Stereo (Surround Off) mode. The sur- round modes are not available during MP3 playback.

Night Mode

A special feature of Dolby Digital is the Night mode, which enables specially encoded Dolby Digital input sources to be played back with full digital intelligibility while reducing the peak level by 1/4 to 1/3. This

prevents abruptly loud transitions from disturbing others, without reducing the impact of the digital source. The Night mode is available only when Dolby Digital signals with special data are being played.

The Night mode may be engaged when a Dolby Digital DVD is playing by pressing the Night Mode Button

on the remote. Next, press the ⁄/¤ Navigation Buttons n to select either the middle range or full compression versions of the Night mode. To turn the Night mode off, press the ⁄/¤ Navigation Buttons

nuntil the message in the lower third of the video display and the Main Infor-mation Display ^ reads

D-RANGE OFF.

The Night mode may also be selected to always be on at either level of compression using the options in the DOLBY SURR menu. See page 19 for informa- tion on using the menus to set this option.

IMPORTANT NOTES ON DIGITAL PLAYBACK:

•While almost all DVD discs contain a Dolby Digital soundtrack, the type of soundtrack (e.g., a full 5.1 presentation or only a stereo 2.0 soundtrack) avail- able may differ from disc to disc. While many discs instruct the player to default to the 5.1 output when available, many players do not. Also, while many discs now contain DTS soundtracks, in addition to the Dolby Digital presentation, your player may not auto- matically output the DTS signal. Please check the default settings in your DVD player so that it defaults to the 5.1 output or DTS, when available, depending on your listening preferences. Although the DPR 1001 is capable of decoding Dolby Digital 5.1, Surround EX, DTS and DTS-ES data streams, you may not be able to access them unless your DVD player is properly configured. Consult the owner’s manual for your DVD player for more information on the proper menu set- tings and disc-play commands so that the player sends the correct digital information to the DPR 1001.

•When the digital playback source is stopped, or in a pause, fast forward or chapter search mode, the digital audio data will momentarily stop. This is normal and does not indicate a problem with either the DPR 1001 or the source machine. The DPR 1001 will return to digital playback as soon as the data is available and when the machine is in a standard play mode.

•Although the DPR 1001 will decode virtually all DVD movies, CDs and HDTV sources, it is possible that some future digital sources may not be compatible with the DPR 1001.

•Note that not all digitally encoded programs contain full 5.1-channel audio. Consult the program guide that accompanies the DVD or laser disc to determine which type of audio has been recorded on the disc. The DPR 1001 will automatically sense the type of digital surround encoding used and adjust to accommodate it.

OPERATION 27