12Additional information

About THX

The THX technologies are explained below. See

www.thx.com for more detailed information.

THX Cinema processing

THX is an exclusive set of standards and technologies established by THX Ltd. THX grew from George Lucas’ personal desire to make your experience of the film soundtrack, in both movie theatres and in your home theatre, as faithful as possible to what the director intended.

Movie soundtracks are mixed in special movie theatres called dubbing stages and are designed to be played back in movie theatres with similar equipment and conditions. This same soundtrack is then transferred directly onto Laserdisc, VHS tape, DVD, etc., and is not changed for playback in a small home theatre environment. THX engineers developed patented technologies to accurately translate the sound from the movie theatre 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).

Re-Equalization

The tonal balance of a film soundtrack will be excessively bright and harsh when played back over audio equipment in the home because film soundtracks were designed to be played back in large movie theaters using very different professional equipment. Re-Equalization restores the correct tonal balance for watching a movie soundtrack in

asmall home environment.

Timbre Matching

The human ear changes our perception of a sound depending on the direction from which the sound is coming. In a movie theatre, there is an array of surround speakers so that the surround information is all around you. In a home theatre, you use only two speakers located to the side of your head. 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 theatre, a large number of surround speakers help create an enveloping surround sound experience, but in a home theatre there are usually only two speakers. This can make the surround speakers sound like headphones that lack spaciousness and envelopment. The surround sounds will also collapse into the closest 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 channel. This expands the listening position and creates—with only two speakers— the same spacious surround experience as in a movie theatre.

THX Select2 Plus

Before any home theatre component can be THX Select2 Plus

certified, it must incorporate all the features above and also pass a rigorous series of quality and performance tests. Only then can a product feature the THX Select2 Plus logo, which is your guarantee that the Home Theatre products you purchase will give you superb performance for many years to come. THX Select2 Plus requirements cover every aspect of the product including pre-amplifier and power amplifier performance and operation, and hundreds of other parameters in both the digital and analog domain.

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THX Surround EX

THX Surround EX - Dolby Digital Surround EX is a joint development of Dolby Laboratories and the THX Ltd. In a movie theater, film soundtracks that have been encoded with Dolby Digital Surround EX technology are able to reproduce an extra channel which has been added during the mixing of the program. This channel, called Surround Back, places sounds behind the listener in addition to the currently available front left, front center, front right, surround right, surround left and subwoofer channels. This additional channel provides the opportunity for more detailed imaging behind the listener and brings more depth, spacious ambience and sound localization than ever before. Movies that were created using the Dolby Digital Surround EX technology, when released into the home consumer market may exhibit wording to that effect on the packaging. A list of movies created using this technology can be found on the Dolby web site at www.dolby.com.

Only amplifier and controller products bearing the THX Surround EX logo, when in the THX Surround EX mode, faithfully reproduce this new technology in the home.

This product may also engage the “THX Surround EX” mode during the playback of 5.1 channel material that is not Dolby Digital Surround EX encoded. In such case the information delivered to the Surround Back channel will be program dependent and may or may not be very pleasing depending on the particular soundtrack and the tastes of the individual listener.

Advanced Speaker Array (ASA)

ASA is a proprietary THX technology which processes the sound fed to 2 side and 2 back surround speakers to provide the optimal surround sound experience. When you set up your home theater system using all eight speaker outputs (Left, Center, Right, Surround Right, Surround Back Right, Surround Back Left, Surround Left and Subwoofer) placing the two Surround Back speakers close together facing the front of the room as shown in the diagram will provide the largest sweet spot. If for practical reasons you have to place the Surround Back speakers apart, you will need to go THX Audio Set-up screen and choose the setting that most closely corresponds to the speaker spacing, which will re-optimize the surround sound-field. ASA is used in three new modes; THX Select2 CINEMA, THX Select2 MUSIC and THX Select2 GAMES.

Boundary Gain Compensation™

Depending on the listener’s and the subwoofer’s position, the listener may experience an excessive bass effect. This feature compensates for excessive bass resulting from a boundary gain effect. This feature is designed to operate when used with a subwoofer certified to THX Select2™ specifications.

THX Music

For the replay of multi-channel music the THX MusicMode should be selected. In this mode THX ASA processing is applied to the surround channels of all 5.1 encoded music sources such as DTS, Dolby Digital and DVD-Audio to provide a wide stable rear soundstage.

THX Games

For the replay of stereo and multi-channel game audio the THX Games Mode should be selected. In this mode THX ASA processing is applied to the surround channels of all 5.1 and 2.0 encoded game sources such as analog, PCM, DTS and Dolby Digital. This accurately places all game audio surround information, providing a full 360 degree playback environment. THX Games Mode is unique as it gives you a smooth transition of audio in all points of the surround field.

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Pioneer VSX-LX52 manual Additional information About THX

VSX-LX52 specifications

The Pioneer VSX-LX52 is a high-performance AV receiver designed to enhance your home theater experience, offering an array of advanced technologies and features to meet the demands of audiophiles and casual listeners alike. This receiver supports a 9.1 channel configuration, allowing for dynamic and immersive surround sound that can bring movies, music, and games to life in your living room.

One of the standout features of the VSX-LX52 is its support for the latest audio formats, including Dolby Atmos and DTS:X. These object-based audio technologies enable sound to move freely around you in three-dimensional space, creating a captivating listening experience that pulls you into the action. Additionally, the receiver is compatible with legacy surround sound formats, ensuring that you can enjoy a wide variety of content.

Incorporating Pioneer's proprietary MCACC (Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System), the VSX-LX52 automatically fine-tunes your home theater system by analyzing the acoustics of your room. This smart technology adjusts speaker placement, levels, and EQ settings, ensuring optimal sound performance tailored to your environment.

The connectivity options on the VSX-LX52 are extensive and modern, with multiple HDMI inputs supporting 4K video passthrough and HDCP 2.2 compliance for advanced video playback. It also features Zone 2 and Zone 3 audio outputs, allowing you to enjoy different audio sources in separate areas of your home. The inclusion of wireless technologies, such as Bluetooth and Wi-Fi, gives users the flexibility to stream music directly from their smartphones or tablets.

The user-friendly interface includes an intuitive on-screen setup guide and a well-designed remote control, making it easy for anyone to navigate through its numerous features. The receiver also supports high-resolution audio formats, such as FLAC and DSD, ensuring that audiophiles can enjoy their favorite tracks with stunning clarity.

In terms of build quality, the VSX-LX52 boasts a solid chassis and high-quality components designed to minimize interference and enhance sonic performance. Whether you're watching your favorite movie, listening to music, or playing video games, the Pioneer VSX-LX52 stands out as a versatile and powerful AV receiver that delivers an outstanding audio-visual experience. With its blend of advanced technologies, comprehensive connectivity options, and user-focused design, the VSX-LX52 continues to be a top choice for home theater enthusiasts.