Additional Information - Denon AVC-A11XV Operating Instructions Manual

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Additional Information

Optimum surround sound for
different sources
There are currently various types of multi-channel
signals (signals or formats with more than two
channels).
2 Types of multi-channel signals
Dolby Digital (including Surround EX), DTS (including
Surround ES), DVD-Audio, and Super Audio CD.
Note on the above: MUSE 3.1 and MPEG multi-
channel audio are not available to North American
consumers – same is true for Dolby's AAC.
"Source" here does not refer to the type of signal
(format) but the recorded content. Sources can be
divided into two major categories.
2 Types of sources
• Movie audio:
Signals created to be played in movie theaters. In
general sound is recorded to be played in movie
theaters equipped with multiple surround speakers,
regardless of the format (Dolby Digital, DTS, etc.).
Movie theater sound field
Listening room
FL SW C FR
sound field
SL SR
FL SW
SL
SB
Multiple surround speakers
In this case it is important to achieve the same sense
of expansion as in a movie theater with the surround
channels.
To do so, in some cases the number of surround
speakers is increased (to four or eight) or speakers
with bipolar or dipolar properties are used.
SL : Surround L channel
SR : Surround R channel
SB : Surround B (back) channel
• Other types of audio:
These signals are designed to recreate a 360° sound
field using three to five speakers.
FL SW C FR
SL
In this case the speakers should surround the
listener from all sides to create a uniform sound field
from 360°. Ideally the surround speakers should
function as "point" sound sources in the same way
as the front speakers.
These two types of sources thus have different
properties, and different speaker settings, particularly
for the surround speakers, are required in order to
achieve the ideal sound.
The AVC-A11XV's surround speaker selection
function makes it possible to change the settings
according to the combination of surround speakers
being used and the surrounding environment in
order to achieve the ideal surround sound for all
sources. This means that you can connect a pair of
C FR
bipolar or dipolar surround speakers (mounted on
SR
either side of the prime listening position), as well
as a separate pair of direct radiating (monopolar)
speakers placed at the rear corners of the listening
room.
SB
Surround back speakers
The THX Surround EX format adds new "Surround
Back" (SB) channels to the conventional 5.1-channel
system. This makes it easy to achieve sound
positioned directly behind the listener, something that
was previously difficult with sources designed for
conventional multi surround speakers. In addition, the
acoustic image extending between the sides and the
rear is narrowed, thus greatly improving the
expression of the surround signals for sounds moving
from the sides to the back and from the front to the
point directly behind the listening position.
Change of positioning and acoustic image
SR
with 5.1-channel systems
FL
SL ch
Movement of acoustic image from SR to SL
Change of positioning and acoustic image
with THX Surround EX system
FL
SL ch
Movement of acoustic image from SR to SB to SL
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Speaker(s) for one or two channels are required in
order to achieve a THX Surround EX system with the
AVC-A11XV. Adding these, however, allows you to
achieve stronger surround effects not only with
sources recorded in THX Surround EX, but also with
conventional 2- to 5.1-channel sources. The WIDE
SCREEN mode is a mode for achieving surround
sound with up to 7.1 channels using surround back
speakers, for sources recorded in conventional Dolby
Surround as well as Dolby Digital 5.1-channel and DTS
Surround 5.1-channel sources. Furthermore, all the
Denon original surround modes (
compatible with 7.1-channel playback, so you can
enjoy 7.1-channel sound with any signal source.
2 Number of surround back speakers
With THX Surround EX, the surround back channel
consists of one channel of playback signals, but we
SW C FR
recommend using two speakers. When using dipolar
speakers in particular, it is essential to use two
speakers.
Using two speakers results in a smoother blend with
the sound of the surround channels and better sound
positioning of the surround back channel when
listening from a position other than the center.
2 Placement of the surround left and
SR ch
right channels when using surround
back speakers
Using surround back speakers greatly improves the
positioning of the sound at the rear. Because of this,
the surround left and right channels play an important
role in achieving a smooth transition of the acoustic
SW C FR
image from the front to the back. As shown on the
diagram above, in a movie theater the surround
signals are also produced from diagonally in front of
the listeners, creating an acoustic image as if the
sound were floating in space.
SR ch
To achieve these effects, we recommend placing the
speakers for the surround left and right channels
slightly more towards the front than with conventional
surround systems. Doing so sometimes increases the
surround effect when playing conventional 5.1-
SB ch
channel sources in the THX Surround EX mode.
Check the surround effects of the various modes
before selecting the surround mode.
Additional Information
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