Harman Kardon AVR 525 Owner's Manual page 30

Selecting a Digital Source
To utilize either digital mode, you must have properly
connected a digital source to the AVR 525. Connect
the digital outputs from DVD players, HDTV receivers,
satellite systems or CD players to the Optical or
Coaxial Inputs . In order to provide a
33 36
backup signal and a source for analog stereo recording,
the analog outputs provided on digital source equipment
should also be connected to their appropriate inputs on
the AVR 525 rear panel (e.g., connect the analog stereo
audio output from a DVD to the DVD Audio Inputs
on the rear panel when you connect the source's digi-
tal outputs).
If you have not already configured an input for a digital
source using the on-screen menus as shown on page
20, first select the input using the remote or front
panel controls as outlined in this manual. Next, select
the digital source by pressing the Digital Select
P and then using the
Button
on the remote or the / Selector Buttons
on the front panel to choose any of the
OPTICAL or COAXIAL inputs, as they
appear in the Upper Display Line
display. When the digital source is playing, the
AVR 525 will automatically detect which type of digital
data stream is being decoded and display that infor-
mation in the Upper Display Line
Digital Bitstream Indicators
When a digital source is playing, the AVR 525 senses
the type of bitstream data that is present. Using this
information, the correct surround mode will automati-
cally be selected. For example, DTS bitstreams will
cause the unit to switch to DTS decoding, and Dolby
Digital bitstreams will enable Dolby Digital decoding.
When the unit senses PCM data from CDs and LDs,
it will allow the appropriate surround sources to be
selected manually. Since the range of available sur-
round modes is dependent on the type of digital data
that is present, the AVR 525 uses display indicators to
let you know what type of signal is present. This will
help you to understand the choice of modes.
To help you see which type of digital source is playing,
the Surround Mode Indicators in combination
with the Information Display also serve as
bitstream indications to show which type of bitstream
is present, as well as the surround mode in use, if
applicable.
Dolby Digital: When the green LED next to the Dolby
Digital or Dolby Digital EX modes is lit, a Dolby Digital
bitstream is being received. Depending on the settings
on the source player and specific surround information
and number of channels on the disc, a number of sur-
round modes are possible. For discs with full 5.1
audio, only the Dolby Digital and VMAx modes are
available.
DTS: When the green LED next to the DTS logo
lights, a DTS bitstream is being received. When the
unit senses this type of data, only the applicable DTS
mode may be used.
PCM: When the green LED next to the word DIGITAL
lights, a standard Pulse Code Modulation, or PCM, sig-
nal is being received. This is the type of digital audio
32
used by conventional compact disc and laser disc
recordings. When a PCM bitstream is present, all
modes except Dolby Digital and DTS are available.
HDCD: When the letters HDCD appear on the
Lower Display Line
indicator, the CD that is playing is encoded through the
special High Definition Compatible Digital
HDCD ® discs use 20-bit encoding and other propri-
/ Buttons
etary processing to provide the ultimate in CD listen-
ing. HDCD processing is only available in the Stereo
(Surround Off) mode.
MP3: When MP3 appears on the Lower Display
or on-screen
Line a compatible MPEG 1/Layer 3 digital signal
is being received. This is the popular audio format
used by many computer programs for recording com-
pressed audio files. When an MP3 bitstream is pres-
.
ent, the sound will automatically be played in the
Stereo (Surround Off) mode. The surround modes are
not available during MP3 playback. There are many
different forms of MP3 encoding available and the
format is used at a number of different bit rates. The
AVR 525 may not be compatible with all forms of
MP3, particularly when the data file is encoded at
128kb/s or above.
Speaker/Channel Indicators
In addition to the bitstream indicators, the AVR 525
features a set of unique channel-input indicators that
tell you how many channels of digital information are
being received and/or whether the digital signal is
interrupted. (See Figure 9.)
Figure 9
These indicators are the L/C/R/LFE/SL/SR/SBL/SBR
letters that are inside the center boxes of the
Speaker/Channel Input Indicators
panel Main Information Display
standard analog signal is in use, only the "L" and "R"
indicators will light, as analog signals have only left
and right channels.
Digital signals, however, may have two, five, six or
seven channels, depending on the program material,
the method of transmission and the way in which it
was encoded. When a digital signal is playing, the let-
ters in these indicators will light in response to the
specific signal being received. It is important to note
that although Dolby Digital, for example, is referred to
as a "5.1" system, not all Dolby Digital DVDs or pro-
grams are encoded for 5.1. Thus, it is sometimes nor-
mal for a DVD with a Dolby Digital soundtrack to trig-
in conjunction with the PCM
ger only the "L" and "R" indicators.
NOTE: Many DVD discs are recorded with both "5.1"
® process.
and "2.0" versions of the same sound-track. When
playing a DVD, always be certain to check the type of
material on the disc. Most discs show this information
in the form of a listing or icon on the back of the disc
jacket. When a disc does offer multiple soundtrack
choices, you may have to make some adjustments to
your DVD player (usually with the "Audio Select" button
or in a menu screen on the disc) to send a full 5.1
feed to the AVR 525. It is also possible for the type of
signal feed to change during the course of a DVD
playback. In some cases, the previews of special
material will only be recorded in 2.0 audio, while the
main feature is available in 5.1 audio. The AVR 525
will automatically sense changes to the bitstream and
channel count and reflect them in these indicators.
The letters used by the Speaker/Channel Input
Indicators
has been interrupted. This will happen when a digital
input source is selected before the playback starts, or
when a digital source such as a DVD is paused. The
flashing indicators remind you that the playback has
stopped due to the absence of a digital signal and not
through any fault of the AVR 525. This is normal, and
the digital playback will resume once the playback is
started again.
Night Mode
A special feature of Dolby Digital is the Night mode,
which enables specially encoded Dolby Digital input
sources to be played back with full digital intelligibility
while reducing the minimum peak level by 1/4 to 1/3.
This prevents abruptly loud transitions from disturbing
others, without reducing the impact of the digital
source. The Night mode is available only when Dolby
Digital signals with special data are being played.
in the front-
. When a
also flash to indicate when a bitstream