Parasound P/DD-1500 owner manual Additional Signal Processing Features, Dialog Normalization

P/DD-1500 Owner's Manual 11

Notes on Automatic and Manual Operation of the P/DD-1500's Processing Modes:

¥The Dolby Digital mode is automatically engaged when the P/DD-1500 is first turned on or whenever a 5.1 Dolby Digital encoded source is playing.

¥You can only change processing modes when a source connected to your P/DD-1500 is playing.

¥You can only select the Pro Logic mode with a 2 channel PCM or Dolby Surround encoded source.

¥The 2 Channel mode is automatically selected whenever a non-5.1 encoded source is playing.

¥You can select the 2 Channel mode to downmix a 5.1 encoded source to stereo operation.

Additional Signal Processing Features

Your P/DD-1500 also includes additional features that allow you to tailor your home theater system to your specific needs. These additional features include Dialog Normalization, Dynamic Range Compression, and Lucasfilm Cinema Re-Equalization.

Dialog Normalization

During the recording and mastering process of music and films, sound engineers make different recordings at reference levels that may differ by as much as 12 dB. As a result, when you switch from one source to another, you will probably notice a substantial change in loudness. Dialog Normalization is automatically engaged and allows you to switch between sources with different recorded levels and still perceive the same apparent loudness. This feature makes it possible to accommodate a wide variety of production styles without having to constantly readjust the overall system level. You can disengage Dialog Normalization with either the remote control or on the front panel. However, this automatic function will work only if Dialog Normalization was already programmed into the source material.

L	C	R	%
LS	LFE	RS

75 % Dynamic Range Indication

Dynamic Range Control

Dynamic range is defined as the difference between the quietest sounds to the loudest peaks of program material. If you want to listen to your system at low levels, simply reducing volume would cause the quietest passages to become inaudible. The Dynamic Range control allows you to hear everything at low volume including the quietest passages. This feature is especially useful for late night listening or when you want to play material at moderate levels without missing any of the program's content. Three Dynamic Range control settings are displayed on the front panel when you press the dynamic range button with either the remote control or on the front panel. When the Dynamic Range LED is off, there is no numerical value in the display and there is no compression. When the display indicates 25%, 3 dB of the dynamic range is restricted. When the display indicates 50%, 6 dB of the available compression will be engaged. When the display indicates 75%, 12 dB of the available compression will be engaged. We did not provide 100% compression. When you first press the Dynamic Range button, The first indication is the level at which it is currently set. Subsequent presses of the control button implement the next settings.

Lucasfilm Cinema Re-Equalization

The proprietary Lucasfilm Re-Equalization circuitry corrects for the high frequency boost in most film soundtracks for playback in theaters via loudspeakers located behind a screen. As a result, when this material is played back on home speakers located much closer to the listening position, most soundtracks tends to sound unnaturally bright. The Lucasfilm Re-EQ circuit compensates for this boost by precisely attenuating, or "re-equalizing" high frequencies above 15 kHz. You can engage the Re-EQ circuitry with the remote control on the front panel. When engaged, RE -EQappears in the front panel display.