Harman-Kardon DVD 37 Digital Audio Connection, For Your Reference, Dolby Digital and DTS

DIGITAL AUDIO CONNECTION

Optical Digital Audio Connection Notes

Gently push the cable plug through the built-in shutter that covers the Optical Digital Audio Output 3, and connect the cable firmly so that the configurations of both the cable and the connector match.

Audio Output From the Unit’s Optical/ Coaxial Digital Audio Output Connector

Disc:	Sound recording	Optical/coaxial digital
	format:	audio output:
DVD	Dolby Digital	Dolby Digital bitstream
		(2-5.1ch) or PCM
		(2ch, 48kHz, 16-bit)†
	Linear PCM	Linear PCM (2ch)
	(48/96kHz,	(48/96kHz,
	16/20/24-bit)	16/20/24-bit)
	DTS	Bitstream or no
		output†
	MPEG (2.0)	MPEG
		bitstream (2ch)
		or linear PCM
		(2ch, 48kHz)
VCD	MPEG-1	Linear PCM†
	CD-DA
CD	Linear PCM	Linear PCM
		(44.1kHz sampling)
	MP3	Linear PCM
	(MPEG-1	(44.1– 48kHz,
	Audio	depending on
	Layer 3)	source, if digital
		output format
		selected as
		“Bitstream”).
		(48kHz if digital
		output format
		selected as
		“PCM”)
	WMA	Linear PCM
	(Windows	(32–48kHz)
	Media
	Audio)
DVD-		No digital audio
Audio		output available

†Digital format must be selected as “Bitstream” or “PCM” in Digital Output menu (see “Digital Output” section on page 21).

For Your Reference:

•Dolby Digital is a digital sound compression technique developed by the Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. Supporting 5.1- or 6.1- channel surround sound depending on the specific disc, as well as stereo (2-channel) sound, this tech- nique enables a large quantity of sound data to be efficiently recorded on a disc.

•DTS is another digital audio technology developed by Digital Theater Systems, Inc. It supports 5.1 and

6.1surround sound, depending on the specific disc, thanks to a sophisticated encoding system. Some receivers and processors also feature Dolby Pro Logic IIx and DTS Neo:6® matrix post- processing decoders that may be used with DTS

5.1discs to derive the surround back channel.

•Linear PCM is a signal-recording format used in CDs. While CDs are recorded in 44.1kHz/16-bit, DVDs are recorded in 48kHz/16-bit up to 96kHz/24-bit.

•If you have a Dolby Pro Logic Surround decoder connected to the DVD 37’s analog audio out con- nectors, thanks to the “Downmix” function of the DVD 37 you will obtain the full benefit of Pro Logic from the same DVD movies that provide full 5.1- channel Dolby Digital soundtracks, as well as from titles encoded with Dolby Surround.

•The DVD 37 is designed to digitally output 96kHz PCM audio with a 96kHz sampling rate. The 96kHz indicator will light in the display. However, some 96kHz DVDs may include copy protection codes that do not permit digital output. For full 96kHz fidelity from these discs, use the analog outputs of the DVD 37. If your surround processor converter does not support 96kHz PCM audio, you must use the DVD 37 analog outputs for full 96kHz fidelity with these discs.

•When connecting a receiver or surround processor with a digital input that does not contain a Dolby Digital or DTS decoder, be sure to select PCM as the initial setting in the Digital Output menu (see page 21). Otherwise, any attempt to play DVDs may cause such a high level of noise that it may be harmful to your ears and damage your speakers.

•CDs can be played as they would in a conventional CD player.

•Dolby Digital, DTS and PCM signals are passed through the HDMI Output 2. However, DVD-Audio signals are not carried via the HDMI connection. You must connect the 6-Channel Audio Outputs 9 to the corresponding input jacks on your receiver or processor in order to enjoy DVD-Audio materials.

Dolby Digital and DTS

Both Dolby Digital and DTS are audio formats used to record 5.1-channel audio signals onto the digital track of film. Both of these formats provide up to six sepa- rate channels: left, right, center, left surround, right surround and LFE (low-frequency effects).

Some discs may include the 6.1-channel formats, such as Dolby Digital EX and DTS-ES®Discrete or Matrix. These formats add an additional surround back channel behind the listener to create an even more realistic sense of envelopment.

Remember that Dolby Digital or DTS will only play

5.1-channel sound if you’ve connected the optical or coaxial output of the DVD 37 to a DTS or Dolby Digital receiver or decoder (see page 16) and if the disc was recorded in the Dolby Digital or DTS format.

NOTE: Some first-generation DTS decoders that do not support DVD-DTS interface may not work properly with the DVD/CD player.

DVD-Audio and SACD

The high-resolution output of DVD-Audio discs is only available as an analog signal. For that reason, it is nec- essary to make direct analog connections between the 6-Channel Audio Outputs 9 on the DVD 37 and the matching 6-channel inputs on your receiver or surround processor.

18 DIGITAL AUDIO CONNECTION