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Theta Digital Casablanca III HD Owner's Manual

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Summary of Contents for Theta Digital Casablanca III HD

  • Page 2 In the unlikely event that you have to return your Casablanca III HD to the factory for service, or if you send it to us for updating, the original packaging will best protect the unit from shipping damage.
  • Page 3 The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within the product’s enclosure that may be of significant magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons. The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence of important operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in the literature accompanying the product.
  • Page 4 Casablanca III HD Identification Record This information is for your records and for future identification of the Casablanca III HD. Please take a moment to fill out all pertinent data now, and as upgrades and/or options are installed. Whenever upgrades, inquiries and/or changes are requested, the serial number will be required.
  • Page 5 (which will also not be covered under warranty), please verify that the screws being used to secure non Casablanca III HD feet do not screw any deeper into...
  • Page 6 (The same button that got you in gets you back out). This Casablanca III HD has been put through a rigorous and unique testing procedure that insures that it will last for many years with minimal service requirements. This procedure includes the following: •...
  • Page 7 For clarity purposes, references to buttons, LEDs and display parameters will be shown in BOLD CAPITOL letters. All functions to be performed from, and in reference to, the front panel of the Casablanca III HD will be found in the front section of this manual.
  • Page 8 Intended for use when no surround speakers are present in the system. The surround information is added to the front channels. If the current mode is Dolby Pro Logic, the Casablanca III HD will automatically decode in Dolby 3 Stereo.
  • Page 10 Casablanca III HD Block Diagram – DAC, Analog and Digital Out Sections – Con’t PREMIUM BALANCED OUT CARD Figure 2 - Block Diagram of Premium DAC board SUPERIOR II BALANCED/UNBALANCED OUTPUT CARD Figure 3 - Block Diagram of Superior II DAC board...

  • Page 12: Front Panel Layout

    The VFD will display the last selected INPUT SELECT menu. Pressing this button again will place the Casablanca III HD into standby mode and the LED above the front panel POWER button will light. REMOTE POWER button. Activates/deactivates the REMOTE POWER jack on the rear panel.
  • Page 15 Figure 8 - All Superior II D/A Card Options...
  • Page 16 Each Premium and Xtreme D-2 DAC card can have one of the following speaker sets (channels) assigned to them, regardless of which DAC slot it (they) are installed to: Front Left, Right, Center, Surround Center or Sub 5 Front Left, Right, Side Left, Right Sub 1, Sub 2, Sub 3, Sub 4 Side Left, Right, Sub 3, Sub 4 Front Left, Right, Sub 1, Sub 2...
  • Page 19 Before you begin With all input options installed in a Casablanca III HD, there are up to 24 input jacks: 6 pairs of stereo analog audio, 14 digital audio and 4 HDMI. Each jack can be named for the piece of equipment plugged into it. It is recommended that this step be done first.
  • Page 20 STEP-BY-STEP SETUP GUIDE...
  • Page 21 Casablanca III HD Overall Setup Procedure Flowchart This flowchart shows all steps required to set up the Casablanca III HD in order to achieve the best possible sonic performance and to provide the simplest operation for all users. Instructions and detailed flowcharts for each step are contained on the following pages.
  • Page 22 Step by Step Speaker Configuration Casablanca III HD provides a comprehensive set of speaker configuration settings. These settings are believed to be the most complete ever offered in a home theater component and should allow any speaker to perform optimally regardless of speaker type.
  • Page 23 If the subwoofer is capable of handling this range, this is potentially the best sounding of Casablanca III HD's crossover types. Phase Perfect Crossover Diagram Butterworth This is the most common type of crossover used in home theater, speakers and outboard electronic crossovers.
  • Page 24 If the front left/right speaker set is crossed over to 60Hz, begin by setting the sub woofer’s internal crossover frequency at 60Hz and in the Casablanca III HD, set the slope to match that of the sub woofer’s slope when performing step # 8g. (Refer to the sub woofer’s documentation to determine its slope).
  • Page 25 Speaker Levels Setting up the speaker levels is best accomplished using the Casablanca III HD’s internal noise generator and an SPL meter. If the meter has ‘weighting’ options, “C” is preferable. 10) With Input # 1 selected, go to the speaker levels submenu.
  • Page 26 Adjust the SUB level until the SPL meter reads 75dB. Activate noise in Sub 3, if configured into the system, and point the SPL meter toward the sub woofer. Adjust the SUB level until the SPL meter reads 75dB. m) Activate noise in Sub 4, if configured into the system, and point the SPL meter toward the sub woofer. Adjust the SUB level until the SPL meter reads 75dB.
  • Page 27 subwoofer is closer to the listening position than the front left/right speakers, a delay value can be set for these subs. The delay value will be the difference (in feet) between the sub itself and the front left or right speaker, to the listening position.

  • Page 28: Step

    h) If the incoming signal is 5.1 and the Sides or Center Surround channels are being used, set the +SPKR value to the process which will be used to create the additional channels. This decision will be made solely by listening to which sounds best to the user. These parameter values apply only when the MODE is DTS.

  • Page 29: Step

    Setup Flowcharts A-P Flowchart A – Setup Subwoofer(s)

  • Page 30: Step

    Flowchart B – Front Left/Right Configuration...

  • Page 32: Step

    Flowchart C – Front Center Configuration...
  • Page 34 Flowchart F – Surround (Back) Configuration Go to Surround (Back) Config Step 8a Back Speakers exist? Set Surrounds Off If Back speakers Are in system Set Surrounds ON...
  • Page 35 Flowchart G – Setup Speaker Levels Hold meter near right ear Activate noise in left pointed at the ceiling. Adjust (side) surround right (back) surround speaker. speaker level to 75dB. Hold SPL meter near left ear, pointed to ceiling. Adjust LS speaker level to read 75dB on meter.
  • Page 36 Flowchart H – Setup Speaker Delays...
  • Page 37 Flowchart I – Setup Dolby Digital...
  • Page 38 Flowchart J – Setup DTS...
  • Page 39 Flowchart K – Copy Input/Speaker Parameters...
  • Page 40 Flowchart L – Setup Default Mode...
  • Page 41 Flowchart M – Setup Post Process...
  • Page 43 Flowchart O – Setup Analog Input Levels...
  • Page 44 Input Select Menus When the Casablanca III HD is first powered up via the MAIN POWER switch on the back panel, it will check all software and hardware. It is in the default standby mode as soon as the front panel MAIN POWER LED is lit.
  • Page 45 *Note: The factory default value for MUTE is 0, which is to say that when the MUTE button is pressed, the output level of all channels will be completely muted (master volume = 0). The Casablanca III HD offers a feature in the SETUP/GLOBAL/MUTE-VOLUME submenu whereby when the MUTE button is pressed, the Casablanca III HD will mute to a user defined master volume level.
  • Page 46 Search Order The Casablanca III HD’s inputs can support virtually every analog and digital and video format used in today’s technology. Up to 6 audio input jacks can be mapped to each INPUT SELECT button. These 6 input jacks can be all digital, all analog or any combination of both.
  • Page 47 Note: This menu allows the user to audition different modes when possible. It does not store the changed mode. When a different INPUT SELECT button is pressed, or the Casablanca III HD is powered down, the MODE will revert to its default for that INPUT SELECT button. Each INPUT SELECT button can have its own default MODE, the default mode for each INPUT SELECT is set in the SETUP/ INPUT menu.
  • Page 48 DTS Neo:6 Music (MUSIC). This mode will take an incoming 2-channel source and output 5.1, 6.1 or 7.1 channels. It is intended to be used with any 2-channel source. It preserves the integrity of a stereo mix while augmenting it with a center to anchor the image, and derive enough sound content to yield a spacious, three dimensional listening experience.
  • Page 49 Please refer to page 79 to turn on or off the Mode Change message. If the Casablanca III HD detects a flagged DTS signal on the selected digital input jack, and the MODE is not set to DTS, the Casablanca III HD will display the following message on both the VFD:...
  • Page 51 Standard Tape Out Configuration The following guidelines apply when the tape out circuitry is in its standard configuration, i.e. the optional tape out D/A converter has not been installed. A source to be recorded (via the analog TAPE OUT jacks) can be selected independently of the source currently being viewed or listened to provided that the input for the source to be recorded is ANALOG.
  • Page 52 SETUP Function This function provides access to a series of submenus that will allow the configuration of the entire system. In this section, each feature of the SETUP menu is discussed in detail along with a diagram of each VFD display. Note: A complete step-by-step speaker configuration setup guide is located on page 22.
  • Page 54 Figure 22 - Front Panel Display of the Subs Configuration Submenu Unlike most configuration submenus in the Casablanca III HD, this one is not dynamic. In other words, if there are 1-5 DAC channels installed that are configured as sub woofers, this submenu will show, and allow configuration editing for all 5, except for the #SUBS parameter.
  • Page 55 The crossovers in the Casablanca III HD have been engineered to be superior to any analog crossover, regardless of quality.
  • Page 56 Crossovers The Casablanca III HD contains a comprehensive set of speaker configuration settings. These settings are believed to be the most complete ever offered in a home theater component and should allow any speaker to perform optimally regardless of speaker type. It is important to bear in mind that the below procedure is merely a guideline and that room acoustics, speaker design / quality, music / movie type, and personal preference all play a part in these settings.
  • Page 57 Press button # 1 and select a Phase Perfect crossover frequency for the front left/right speakers, then button # 2 to set the high pass slope. Button # 3 allows the user to invert the low pass phase from 0 (+) to 180 degrees out of phase. AVAILABLE SETTINGS BUTTON PARAMETER...
  • Page 58 AVAILABLE SETTINGS BUTTON PARAMETER FR-HI FR-HI-SLP FR-LO FR-LO-SLP LPφ Table 4 - Available configuration settings for front L/R speaker Butterworth crossover. Press SETUP twice to return to the speaker configuration submenu, then press button # 2 (CEN) to set up the center speaker.
  • Page 59 In this case, with 5.1 sources, the surround information is added to the front left/right channels. In Dolby Pro Logic mode, the Casablanca III HD will automatically decode in Dolby 3 stereo. When the left/right surrounds are set to PHANTM, the user can adjust their level using the PHLVL parameter.
  • Page 60 Like the speaker configuration menus, the level submenu(s) will reflect the DAC channels that are installed in the Casablanca III HD. If there are 6 DAC channels installed, the names of these channels will be displayed on one page of the levels submenu. If more than 6 DAC channels are installed, a menu will appear asking the user which set of speakers are to have their levels adjusted: 1-6 or 7-12, as shown in figure 30.
  • Page 61 When the A-D button is pressed, the source name or noise type will appear in the VFD below the submenu title. Press A-D Button MODE SOURCE USED Selected Input AUDIO INPUT Once Noise - all speakers NOISE A Twice Noise - one (selected) speaker NOISE 1 Table 5 - Source to Output Routing for Speaker Level Configuration.
  • Page 62 If more than six DAC channels are installed in the Casablanca III HD, there will be a right arrow above the A-D button.
  • Page 63 To determine a delay time for the surround left/right speakers, measure the distance (in feet) from the listening position to the front left/right, then from the listening position to the surround left and right speakers. Subtract the front left and surround left distance from the front right and the surround right distance. Add this number to the existing delay value of the surround left/right speakers.
  • Page 65 HDTV HDTV SERV SERV GAME GAME DVDA DVDA COAX1 COAX1 Figure 38 - Front Panel Display of the SETUP/INP Page 2/SOURCE/AUD Submenu The default jack names reflect the type of jack on the rear panel. The INPUT SELECT buttons can be set up with 2 theories in mind. The most common used is to assign one source device to each INPUT SELECT button.
  • Page 66 Encoded; or No Indication. Regardless of the indication, the user can instruct the Casablanca III HD to process this decoded signal in virtually any MODE. For Dolby Surround encoded signals, press button # 1 (2CHEN – or two-channel encoded) and use the LEVEL UP/DOWN buttons to select the MODE to be applied to Encoded 2 channel Dolby Digital signals.
  • Page 67 It is important to note that the Casablanca III HD does not support negative delays based on the theory that even we at Theta cannot make time go backwards. Therefore the sum of the delays cannot be less than 0. As an example, if the center delay in the SETUP/INP/DELAYS submenu were set at 0 and in the Dolby Digital setup submenu set at –1, the...
  • Page 68 Press the A-D button to access Page 3 of the Dolby Set Up submenu. This page contains parameters used when the mode is Dolby Digital EX. This menu is shown in figure 41a. Figure 41a - Front Panel Display of the SETUP/INP Page 2/DOLBY Page 3 EX Submenu When the system has more than 5.1 channels and the incoming Dolby Digital signal is flagged as EX, then the additional channels (+SPKR) can be created using one of the processes selected by pressing button # 1, or turned off.
  • Page 69 With Pro Logic IIx decoding, dominant center signals can come only from the center speaker. The Center Width (CWID) control allows variable adjustment of the center image so that it may be heard only from the center speaker; only from the left/right speakers as a phantom image; or from all three front speakers to varying degrees.
  • Page 70 MODE for the currently selected input is DTS, would be +1. This same process applies to the delays. However, the Casablanca III HD does not support negative delays based on the theory that even we at Theta cannot make time go backwards.
  • Page 71 Note: The +SPKR setting has no effect (is bypassed) if the mode is DTS 96/24, DTS ES Matrix or Discrete. Pressing the A-D button once will take the user to the second DTS Setup page, shown in figure 431. Figure 43 - Front Panel Display of the SETUP/INP Page 2/DTS 2 Submenu In Cinema Mode, for Left/Right film soundtracks, sounds steered to the Center is subtracted from the Left/Right channels.
  • Page 73 With video processing, there can be a delay in the output of the video signal, causing the audio and video to be out of sync. The Casablanca III HD allows the user to set an overall, or master, audio delay in order to re-sync the audio and the video signals.
  • Page 74 The Six Shooter is an external preamp/analog switcher that allows the 6 analog output channels of an SACD or DVDA player to integrate with the Casablanca III HD. There are 3 inputs and one output on the Six Shooter. The first two inputs are designed to receive 6 channels of analog SACD or DVDA signal.
  • Page 76 # 5 – MTIM, or Main [Delay] Time. This is useful for sequencing the activation of high power components such as amplifiers. When the Casablanca III HD is put into standby, it can be set to turn off the MAIN POWER jacks simultaneously or sequenced in the opposite order they were activated.
  • Page 77 Any changes in the BALANCE menus are, by default, temporary. When a different INPUT SELECT button is pressed or the Casablanca III HD is put into standby, all changes will be reset to zero. This feature can be overridden by pressing button # 4 in the first SETUP/GLOBAL page (figure 48 on page 75) and set to OFF.
  • Page 78 Initial Power-On Master Volume Button # 1 (INILVL, or Initial Level) allows the user to store the initial master volume setting that the Casablanca III HD defaults to out of standby. FVOL and SVOL When certain parameters are edited or the master volume changed, holding the LEVEL UP/DOWN button for more than 5 steps will, by default, speed up the rate at which the value changes.
  • Page 79 Display Time The Casablanca III HD’s display brightness will automatically dim to ¼ if no button has been pressed for X time. X is the value, in minutes, from the DTIM (Display Time) parameter under button # 4 of the 2 Global menu page.
  • Page 80 Macros The Casablanca III HD contains several useful macros that allow the user to perform multiple tasks at the press of a button. To enter the Macros submenu, press SETUP, then MACROS (button # 3). The Macros submenu appears, as shown in figure 55.
  • Page 81 Before any macro is executed the user will be asked “Are you sure you want to perform this macro?”. Press YES (A-D button) or NO button # 6). The Casablanca III HD will prompt “Complete”. Press OK (A-D button) to return to the Macros menu.
  • Page 83 that, at 2KHz, drops by 1.5dB when the parameter value is set at 1, 3dB when set at 2, 6dB when set at 3, and 9dB when set at 4. The EQ is active in all modes and is designed to roll off excessive brightness in different program material.
  • Page 84 This feature, accessible from the hand held remote or RS232 control device, provides the user with a ‘quick view’ of the most pertinent current settings of the Casablanca III HD. It is available from any menu or submenu by pressing the STATUS button. While viewing the Status pages, the INPUT SELECT buttons (1 - 6) are inactive.
  • Page 85 Dialog Norm (DIANRM): Dialog normalization value. See the Setup Dolby Digital Dialog Normalization on page 66 for Casablanca III HD’s use of this parameter. Press the A-D button once more to display the DTS Status page, an example of which is shown in figure 61.
  • Page 87 Note: When operating the hand-held remote control, point it at the remote sensor on the Casablanca III HD’s front panel. The remote control can be used 3 to 20 feet from the Casablanca III HD within 30 of each side of the sen- sor.
  • Page 89 This display, accessible from the hand held remote and viewed on the VFD, provides the user with a ‘quick view’ of the most pertinent current settings of the Casablanca III HD as well as information about a Dolby Digital source. The status page is available from any menu or submenu simply by pressing the STATUS button.
  • Page 90 MODE Function This function allows the user to audition MODEs for the currently selected input. Storing a default MODE is done in the SETUP/INPUT page 1 submenu. Pressing the MODE button once displays the first page of the MODE menu. This page consists of 6 different signal processing modes, one of which can be selected and temporarily applied to the current input.
  • Page 91 Six Shooter input will be used. For all other INPUT SELECT buttons on the Casablanca III HD, set this parameter to 3 so that the incoming signal is routed from the first 6 outputs of the Casablanca III HD into Input # 3 of the Six Shooter (which is a bypass) and then directed to the amplifiers.
  • Page 92 APPENDIXES...
  • Page 93 Appendix A Troubleshooting Guide If the Casablanca III HD should function abnormally during operation, please review the items in the following checklist. Please be sure to thoroughly check all other connected components such as speakers, amplifiers, input devices (CD/LD transport, VCR, TV, etc.) as well as cables.
  • Page 94 Appendix B Speaker Placement Guides Figure 63 - Recommended Speaker Placement for Six-Channel Configuration Figure 64 - Recommended Speaker Placement for Twelve-Channel Configuration...
  • Page 95 Figure 65 - Recommended Output Wiring Diagram Using 12-channels (Six Balanced and Six Single-Ended) Figure 66 - Recommended Output Wiring Diagram Using 8 balanced Xtreme channels...
  • Page 96 With the optional Digital Output Card installed, there are no additional menu features to select from. The card can be installed in any Analog Out slot in the Casablanca III HD. However, if it is installed in conjunction with another D/A card that has front left and right analog outputs on it, the Digital Out card must be positioned in the Analog Out 2 or 3 slot in order for the Analog Direct and Analog Matrix modes to function.
  • Page 97 Figure 68 - Wiring diagram for the Casablanca III HD Digital Output board and a 6-Channel External Volume Control unit.
  • Page 98 Six Shooter Wiring Diagram Blu-ray, SACD or DVDA Blu-ray, SACD or DVDA Player Player Figure 69 - Wiring diagram for the optional Six Shooter...
  • Page 99 Remote Extender Jack Technical Description and Protocol The remote extender jack on the Casablanca III HD rear panel serves as a direct electrical pathway to the input section of the main microcontroller. Using this jack eliminates the need to attach an IR transmitting device to the front panel IR receiver.
  • Page 100 (www.thetadigital.com) in the Library/Downloads section. When TDD “connects”, it will take over control of the Casablanca III HD. When updating it will read and store the internal hardware configuration and user settings and then update and/or overwrite the flash files on every board. It will then restore the hardware configuration parameters that were set at the factory as well as the user settings.

  • Page 101: Specifications

    Appendix E Specifications Digital Input Section (32KHz, 44.1KHz, 48KHz, 88.2KHz, 96KHz compatible): Main digital input board: Inputs: 10:6 coaxial (RCA), 4 optical (2 TosLink, 2 open for optional AT&T). Outputs: 2 digital tape out coaxial on RCA jacks. Auxiliary Digital Input board: Inputs: 5: 2 AC-3 RF (RCA) for laserdisc Dolby Digital, 1 AES/EBU (XLR), 1 BNC, 1 TosLink.
  • Page 102 HDMI Section Four HDMI 1.4 inputs One HDMI 1.4 output HDCP Compliant * * * Power Requirements: 117 VAC, 50-60 Hz, 120 watts with all options installed. Dimensions: 19”W x 16”D x 7.5”H (483 x 406 x 191 mm) Weight: 43 Lbs (19.5 Kg) Stand alone, 50 Lbs (22.7 Kg) Boxed with accessories Environment: Operating Temperature:...

  • Page 103: Front Left, Right, Center, Surround Center Or Sub

    Xtreme D-2 Quality Balanced D/A Output Card Output Options: Slot 1-3: (One of the following, each): Front Left, Right, Center, Surround Center or Sub 5. Front Left, Right, Side Left, Right Front Left, Right, Center, Sub 4 Sub 1, Sub 2, Sub 3, Sub 4 Front Left, Right, Center, Sub 3 Side Left, Right, Sub 3, Sub 4 Front Left, Right, Center, Sub 2...
  • Page 104 Superior II Balanced/Unbalanced D/A Output Card Output Options: LEFT FRONT LEFT FRONT Front Left/Right/Center. Sub 2/Sub 3/Surround Center. Front Left/Right/Sub1. Surround Center/Side Left/Right. Sub 1/Surround Left/ Right. Sub 2/Side Left/Right. Sub 2/Surround Left/ Right. Surround Center/Surround Left/ Right. Sub 2/Sub 3/Sub 4. Front Center/Surround Left/Right.
  • Page 105 Premium Quality Balanced D/A Output Card Output Options: Slot 1-3: (One of the following, each): Front Left, Right, Center, Surround Center or Sub 5. Front Left, Right, Side Left, Right Front Left, Right, Center, Sub 4 Sub 1, Sub 2, Sub 3, Sub 4 Front Left, Right, Center, Sub 3 Side Left, Right, Sub 3, Sub 4 Front Left, Right, Center, Sub 2...
  • Page 106 (5 Year optional extended service contract) Theta Digital Corporation, henceforth referred to as Theta, warrants the product designated herein to be free of manufacturing defects in material and workmanship, subject to the conditions set forth herein, for a period of 90 days from the date of purchase by the original purchaser, henceforth referred to as purchaser.