Table of Contents
Advertisement
Surround Mode Selection
One of the most important features of the AVR 125
is its ability to reproduce a full multichannel surround
sound field from digital sources, analog matrix sur-
round-encoded programs and standard stereo pro-
grams. In all, a total of 16 listening modes are avail-
able on the AVR 125.
Selection of a surround mode is based on personal
taste, as well as the type of program source material
being used. For example, motion pictures or TV pro-
grams bearing the logo of one of the major surround-
encoding processes, such as Dolby Surround
Stereo
®
* or UltraStereo
* may be played in either the
™
Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II or Logic 7 Cinema sur-
round modes depending on the source material.
NOTE: Once a program has been encoded with matrix
surround information, it retains the surround information
as long as the program is broadcast in stereo. Thus,
movies with surround sound may be decoded via any of
the analog surround modes such as Pro Logic II or
Logic 7, when they are broadcast via conventional TV
stations, cable, pay TV and satellite transmission. In addi-
tion, a number of made-for-television programs, sports
broadcasts, radio dramas and music CDs are also
recorded in surround sound. You may view a list of
these programs at the Dolby Laboratories Web site at
www.dolby.com.
Even when a program is not listed as carrying intentional
surround information, you may find that the Pro Logic II,
Logic 7, VMAx and the Hall or Theater modes often
deliver enveloping surround presentations through the
use of the natural information present in all stereo record-
ings. However, for stereo, but not surround programs, we
suggest that you experiment with the other modes.
Surround modes are selected using either the front
panel controls or the remote. To select a surround
mode from the front panel, press the Surround Mode
Selector 7 to scroll up or down through the list of
available modes. To select a surround mode using the
remote, press the Surround Mode Selectorj and
Buttons mq to change the
then press the
⁄
/
¤
mode. As you press the buttons, the Surround mode
name will appear in the Main Information Display
F, and an individual mode indicator will also light up
BCDEGHI. As the surround modes
change, a green LED will light next to the current
mode in the Surround Mode Indicators ˜ list on
the front panel.
NOTE: The name of each Surround Mode will scroll
across the Main Information Display F while the
modes are being selected. To avoid exiting from the
surround mode selection process, push the
Button mq while a mode name is still visible.
The Dolby Digital and DTS modes may only be select-
ed when a digital input is in use. In addition, when a
digital source is present, the AVR 125 will automatical-
ly select and switch to the correct mode (Dolby Digital
or DTS), regardless of the mode that has been previ-
ously selected. For more information on selecting digital
sources, see the following section of this manual.
To listen to a program in traditional two-channel stereo,
using the front-left and front-right speakers only (plus
the subwoofer if installed and configured), follow the
instructions shown above for using the remote until
SURR OFF appears in the Main Information
Display F. The Stereo-Direct (Bypass) mode may
®
*, DTS
only be selected when an analog input is in use.
Digital Audio Playback
Digital audio is a major advancement over older analog
matrix surround systems. It delivers five discrete chan-
nels: left-front, center, right-front, left-surround and right-
surround. Each channel reproduces full frequency range
(20Hz to 20kHz) and offers dramatically improved
dynamic range and significant improvements to signal-
to-noise ratios. In addition, digital systems have the capa-
bility to deliver an additional channel that is specifically
devoted to low-frequency information. This is the ".1"
channel referred to when you see these systems
described as "5.1". The bass channel is separate from
the other channels, but since it is intentionally bandwidth-
limited, sound designers have given it that unique
designation.
Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital (originally known as AC-3
part of the DVD format, and is also part of the new digital
broadcasting system and it is available with many satellite
receivers and some digital cable boxes, as well as with
specially encoded LD discs.
An optional, external RF demodulator is required to
use the AVR 125 to listen to the Dolby Digital sound
tracks available on laser discs. Connect the RF output
of the LD player to the demodulator and then con-
nect the digital output of the demodulator to the
Optical or Coaxial Inputs ·c#$ of the
AVR 125. No demodulator is required for use with
DVD players or DTS-encoded laser discs.
DTS
DTS is another digital audio system that is capable of
delivering 5.1 audio. Although both DTS and Dolby
Digital are digital, they use different methods of
encoding the signals, and thus they require different
decoding circuits to convert the digital signals back
to analog.
or
DTS-encoded sound tracks are available on select
DVD and LD discs, as well as on special audio-only
DTS discs. You may use any LD or CD player
equipped with a digital output to play DTS-encoded
discs with the AVR 125. All that is required is to con-
nect the player's output to either the Optical or
Coaxial input on the rear panel ·c or front panel
#$.
In order to listen to DVDs encoded with DTS sound
tracks, the DVD player must be compatible with the
DTS signal as indicated by a DTS logo on the player's
front panel. Early DVD players may not be able to play
DTS-encoded DVDs. This does not indicate a problem
with the AVR 125, as some players cannot pass the
DTS signal through to the digital outputs. If you are in
doubt as to the capability of your DVD player to handle
DTS discs, consult the player's owner's manual. Please
note that some DVD players are shipped with their
output set for Dolby Digital only. To insure that DTS
data is being sent to the AVR, please check the setup
menu system on your DVD player to make certain that
DTS data output is enabled.
Selecting a Digital Source
To utilize either digital mode you must have properly
connected a digital source to the AVR 125. Connect
the digital outputs from DVD players, HDTV receivers,
satellite systems or CD players to the Optical or
Coaxial Inputs ·c#$. In order to provide a
backup signal and a source for analog stereo record-
ing, the analog outputs provided on digital source
equipment should also be connected to their appropri-
®
) is a standard
ate inputs on the AVR 125 rear panel (e.g., connect
the analog stereo audio output from a DVD to the
DVD Audio Inputs h on the rear panel when you
connect the source's digital outputs).
When playing a digital source such as DVD, first select
the source input using the remote or front-panel con-
trols as described on page 21. Next, select the digital
source by pressing the Digital Input Selector Button
pÚ and then using the
on the remote or the Selector Buttons 5 on the
front panel to choose any of the OPTICAL or
COAXIAL inputs, as they appear in the Main
Information Display F, the Digital Input
Indicators TU. When the digital source is playing,
the AVR 125 will automatically detect whether it is a
multichannel Dolby Digital or DTS source, or a con-
ventional PCM signal, which is the standard output
from CD players. A Bitstream Indicator A will light
in the Main Information Display Û to confirm that
the digital signal is Dolby Digital, DTS or PCM.
OPERATION
Buttons mq
/
⁄
¤
OPERATION
23
Hide quick links:
Advertisement
Table of Contents
