Controllers

. . . . . . . . .

No product better exemplifies the fundamental shift in

nel musical experience. Other controllers can be considered

home-entertainment technology than the controller. Also

true High End preamplifiers that also offer surround-sound

known as a surround-sound processor or audio-video pre-

decoding and video switching. This diversity of products on

amplifier, the controller is an entirely new

the market lets you choose a controller that

product category that combines many

parallels your priorities. The movie buff will

diverse functions in a single chassis. To

have very different requirements from the

understand what a controller is and does is to

music listener who wants a little surround

understand the technologies that are trans-

sound when he occasionally watches a

forming the way we reproduce sound in our

movie.

 

homes.

 

 

 

 

Inputs, Outputs, and Source

A modern controller replaces as many as

four separate components in your music and

Switching

home-theater system: the source-switching

Let’s start with the controller’s most basic

functions of a preamplifier, a surround-sound

function, selecting the source you listen to or

decoder, six (or eight) channels of digital-to-

watch. The controller accepts audio or A/V

analog conversion, and an electronic

(audio and video) signals from all your

crossover to split up the frequency spectrum.

source components and lets you select which

Moreover, the rapidly increasing computer horsepower in

source signal is sent to the power amplifiers and video mon-

today’s controllers points to a future in which they will

itor. A basic controller will offer two analog-audio inputs

incorporate even more func-

 

 

(for a tuner and CD player, for

tions and capabilities, such as

A modern controller replaces

example) and perhaps four

digital

signal

processing

for

 

 

audio-video (A/V) inputs. In

loudspeaker and room cor- as many as four components

addition to the main outputs

rection. While power amp-

in your music and home-the-

that drive your TV and power

lifiers

and

loudspeakers

ater system: the source-

amplifiers, two record outputs

change

relatively little over

are often provided to drive

time, the controller repre-

switching functions of a pre-

two VCRs or a VCR and an

sents a radical new path to

analog tape recorder.

amplifier, a surround-sound

the future.

 

 

When choosing a con-

Despite the power

and

decoder, six (or eight) chan-

troller, make sure its array of

sophistication

of some

of

inputs matches or exceeds the

today’s controllers, they are nels of digital-to-analog con- number of source compo-

remarkably inexpensive and

version, and an electronic

nents in your system. Your

relatively easy to use. While

system is likely to expand in

none of us would call a $5,000

crossover to split up the

the future, so look for a con-

audio product cheap, the price

troller with at least two more

frequency spectrum.

of a High End controller is rea-

inputs than you need right

sonable considering all the

 

 

now.

functions it performs. In addition, it seamlessly merges a

All controllers have inputs for digital audio signals as

diverse array of sophisticated processing and controls to pro-

well as for analog. These inputs receive the digital-audio

vide nearly transparent inter-operability to the user. Still,

output of a DVD player, laserdisc machine, DSS receiver, or

designers need to focus on improving the user interface so

CD transport. The signals carried on these digital connec-

that anyone can operate even the most sophisticated system.

tions include Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Surround, and two-

As controllers replace two-channel analog preampli-

channel PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) signals, such as from

fiers, many of us music purists are concerned that two-chan-

a CD transport.

 

nel music reproduction may be compromised in the rush to

If you’re an old hand at home theater, you proba-

add features. Some controllers are designed with an empha-

bly own a laserdisc player with Dolby Digital output. Fur-

sis on multi-channel film-soundtrack repro-

ther, you know that to get Dolby Digital

duction, with little regard for the two-chan-

(once called AC-3) onto a laserdisc, the sig-

R O B E R T H A R L E Y

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Image 27
Sony G90 manual Controllers
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