Auto Surround, Alc And Stream Direct With Different Input Signal Formats; Speaker Setting Guide - Pioneer SC-81 Operating Instructions Manual

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Auto Surround, ALC and Stream Direct with different input signal
formats
The following charts show what you will hear with different input signal formats, depending on the Stream Direct
mode (see Using Stream Direct on page 57 ) you have selected.
Stereo (2 channel) signal formats
Input signal format
Surround Back speaker(s): Connected
Dolby Digital Surround
DTS Surround
Other stereo sources
Analog sources
PCM sources
DVD-A sources
SACD sources
Surround Back speaker(s): Not connected
Dolby Digital Surround
DTS Surround
Other stereo sources
Analog sources
PCM sources
DVD-A sources
SACD sources
Multichannel signal formats
Input signal format
Surround Back speaker(s): Connected
Dolby Digital EX (6.1 channel flagged)
Dolby TrueHD EX (6.1 channel flagged)
DTS-HD Master Audio ES (6.1 channel flagged)
DTS-ES (6.1 channel sources/6.1 channel flagged)
DTS sources (5.1 channel encoding)
DTS-HD sources
Other 5.1/6.1/7.1 channel sources
Surround Back speaker(s): Not connected
DVD-A sources/Multi-ch PCM
SACD sources (5.1 channel encoding)
Other 5.1/6.1/7.1 channel sources
a Unavailable with only one surround back speaker connected.
Auto Surround / ALC /
PURE DIRECT
DIRECT
Pro Logic IIx MOVIE Pro Logic IIx MOVIE
Neo:X CINEMA Neo:X CINEMA
Stereo playback Stereo playback
As above ANALOG DIRECT (stereo)
As above Stereo playback
As above As above
As above As above
Pro Logic II MOVIE Pro Logic II MOVIE
Neo:X CINEMA Neo:X CINEMA
Stereo playback Stereo playback
As above ANALOG DIRECT (stereo)
As above Stereo playback
As above As above
As above As above
Auto Surround / ALC PURE DIRECT / DIRECT
Dolby Digital EX Dolby Digital EX
Pro Logic IIx MOVIE Pro Logic IIx MOVIE
<a> <a>
DTS-ES (Matrix) DTS-ES (Matrix)
DTS-ES (Matrix/Discrete) DTS-ES (Matrix/Discrete)
Straight decoding Straight decoding
As above As above
As above As above
Straight decoding Straight decoding
As above As above
As above As above

Speaker Setting Guide

In order to achieve an even better surround effect, it is important to accurately position the speakers and make
their volume and tone characteristics uniform so as to finely focus the multi-channel sound.
The three major elements in positioning the speakers are distance, angle and orientation (the direction in
which the speakers are pointing).
Distance: The distance of all the speakers should be equal.
Angle: The speakers should be horizontally symmetrical.
Orientation: The orientation should be horizontally symmetrical.
In most homes, however, it is not possible to achieve this environment. For the distance, on this receiver it is pos-
sible to automatically correct the speaker distance electrically to a precision of 1 cm (0.4 inch) using the Full Auto
MCACC Setup function (page 42 ).
Step 1: Speaker layout and distance adjustment
Use speaker stands or the like to make sure the speakers are steady, and leave at least 10 cm (4 inches) from the
surrounding walls. Position the speakers attentively so that the speakers on the left and right are at equal angles
from the listening position (center of the adjustments). (We recommend using cords, etc., when adjusting the
layout.) Ideally all the speakers should be equidistant from the listening position.
Note
If the speakers cannot be set at equal distances (on a circle), use the Auto MCACC Setup speaker distance cor-
rection and Fine Speaker Distance functions to make them equalize the distance artificially.
Step 2: Adjusting the speaker height
Adjust the heights (angles) of the different speakers.
Adjust so that the front speaker units reproducing mid- and high frequencies is roughly at the height of the ears.
If the center speaker cannot be set at the same height as the front speakers, adjust its angle of elevation to point
it to the listening position.
Set surround speaker 1 so that it is not under the height of the ears.
Step 3: Adjusting the speaker orientation
If the left and right speakers are not pointing in the same direction, the tone will not be the same on the right
and left, and as a result the sound field will not be reproduced properly. However, if all the speakers are pointed
towards the listening position, the sound field will seem cramped. Testing by the Pioneer Multi-channel Research
Group has shown that a good sense of sound positioning can be achieved by pointing all the speakers towards
an area 30 cm (12 inches) to 80 cm (31 inches) behind the listening position (between the surround speakers and
the listening position).
However, the sense of sound positioning can differ according to the conditions in the room and the speakers
being used. In smaller environments in particular (when the front speakers are close to the listening position),
with this method the speakers will be pointed too inward. We suggest you use this example of installation as
reference when trying out different installation methods.
Step 4: Positioning and adjusting the subwoofer
Placing the subwoofer between the center and front speakers makes even music sources sound more natural (if
there is only one subwoofer, it doesn't matter if it is placed on the left or right side). The low bass sound output
from the subwoofer is not directional and there is no need to adjust the height. Normally the subwoofer is placed
on the floor. Put it in a position at which it will not cancel out the bass sound output from the other speakers.
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Additional information