Dialogue Normalization
Dialogue Normalization (DialogNorm) is a feature of Dolby Digital, which is used to keep the programs at the same average listening level so the user does not have to change the volume control between Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby TrueHD programs. When playing back software which has been encoded in Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital Plus and Dolby TrueHD, sometimes you may see a brief message in the front panel display which will read “DialogNorm: X dB” (X being a numeric value). The display is showing how the program level relates with THX calibration level. If you want to play the program at calibrated theatrical levels, you may wish to adjust the volume. For example, if you see the following message: “DialogNorm: + 4 dB” in the front panel display, to keep the overall output level at THX calibrated loudness, just turn down the volume control by 4 dB. However, unlike a movie theater where the playback loudness is preset, you can choose your preferred volume setting for best enjoyment.
THX Cinema Processing
THX is an exclusive set of standards and technologies established by the
Movie soundtracks are mixed in special environments called dubbing stages and are designed to be played back in movie theaters with similar equipment and conditions. Most of those soundtracks are remixed using flat response loudspeakers similar to those used in the small home theater environment before being transferred onto
THX engineers developed patented technologies to accurately translate the sound from the movie theater environment into the home, correcting the tonal and
spatial errors that occur. On this product, when the THX indicator is on, THX features are automatically added in Cinema modes (e.g. THX Cinema, THX Surround EX).
Timbre Matching
The human ear changes our perception of a sound depending on the direction from which the sound is coming. In a movie theater, there is an array of surround speakers so that the surround information is all around you. In a home theater, you may only have two speakers located to the side of your head. In this case, the Timbre Matching feature filters the information going to the surround speakers so that they more closely match the tonal characteristics of the sound coming from the front speakers. This ensures seamless panning between the front and surround speakers.
Adaptive Decorrelation
In a movie theater, a large number of surround speakers help create an enveloping surround sound experience. If a home theater only has two sidewall surround speakers, the surround speakers may sound similar to headphones lacking spaciousness and envelopment. Surround sounds will also collapse toward the closet speaker as you move away from the middle seating position. Adaptive Decorrelation slightly changes one surround channel’s time and phase relationship with respect to the other surround experience as in a movie theater using only two speakers.
ASA (Advanced Speaker Array)
ASA is a proprietary THX technology which processes the audio on the two side and two back surround speakers for the optional surround sound experience. When you set up your home theater system using eight speaker outputs (Left, Center, Right, Surround Right, Surround Back Right, Surround Back Left, Surround Left, and Subwoofer),
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Playback
be sure to go to the THX Audio Setup screen and choose the setting that closely corresponds to the back speaker spacing (➔ page 61). This will re- optimize the surround sound field.
ASA is used in four modes: THX Select2 Cinema, THX Select2 Music, THX Select2 Games and Dolby Pro Logic II + THX Select2 Games.
The listening mode may not be selected depending on the input signal. The signal input from the external AV components can be displayed by the function on the next page.
