Digital Audio Connection - Harman Kardon DVD 27 Owner's Manual

DIGITAL AUDIO CONNECTION

Optical Digital Audio Connection Notes
Gently push the cable plug through the built-in shutter
that covers the Optical Digital Audio Output 2,
and connect the cable firmly so that the configurations
of both the cable and the connector match.
Audio Output From the Unit's Optical/
Coaxial Digital Audio Output Connector
Disc: Sound recording Optical/coaxial digital
format: audio output:
DVD Dolby Digital Dolby Digital bitstream
(2-5.1ch) or PCM
(2ch, 48kHz, 16-bit)
Linear PCM Linear PCM (2ch)
(48/96kHz, (48/96kHz,
16/20/24-bit) 16/20/24-bit)
DTS Bitstream or no
output
††
MPEG (2.0) MPEG
bitstream (2ch)
or linear PCM
(2ch, 48kHz)
VCD MPEG-1 Linear PCM
CD-DA
CD Linear PCM Linear PCM
(44.1kHz sampling)
MP3 Linear PCM
(MPEG-1 (44.1–48kHz,
Audio depending on
Layer 3) source, if digital
output format
selected as
"Bitstream").
(48kHz if digital
output format
selected as
"PCM")
WMA Linear PCM
(Windows (32–48kHz)
Media
Audio)
Digital format must be selected as "Bitstream" or
††
"PCM" in Digital Output menu (see "Digital Output"
section on page 19).
16 DIGITAL AUDIO CONNECTION
For Your Reference:
• Dolby Digital is a digital sound compression
technique developed by the Dolby Laboratories
Licensing Corporation. Supporting 5.1- or 6.1-
channel surround sound depending on the specific
disc, as well as stereo (2-channel) sound, this tech-
nique enables a large quantity of sound data to be
efficiently recorded on a disc.
• DTS is another digital audio technology developed
by Digital Theater Systems, Inc. It supports 5.1 and
6.1 surround sound, depending on the specific
disc, thanks to a sophisticated encoding system.
††
Some receivers and processors also feature
Dolby Pro Logic IIx and DTS Neo:6
processing decoders that may be used with DTS
5.1 discs to derive the surround back channel.
• Linear PCM is a signal-recording format used in
CDs. While CDs are recorded in 44.1kHz/16-bit,
DVDs are recorded in 48kHz/16-bit up to
96kHz/24-bit.
• If you have a Dolby Pro Logic Surround decoder
connected to the DVD 27's analog audio out con-
††
nectors, thanks to the "Downmix" function of the
DVD 27 you will obtain the full benefit of Pro Logic
from the same DVD movies that provide full 5.1-
channel Dolby Digital soundtracks, as well as from
titles encoded with Dolby Surround.
• The DVD 27 is designed to digitally output 96kHz
PCM audio with a 96kHz sampling rate. The 96kHz
indicator will light in the display. However, some
96kHz DVDs may include copy protection codes
that do not permit digital output. For full 96kHz
fidelity from these discs, use the analog outputs of
the DVD 27. If your surround processor converter
does not support 96kHz PCM audio, you must use
the DVD 27 analog outputs for full 96kHz fidelity
with these discs.
• When connecting a receiver or surround processor
with a digital input that does not contain a Dolby
Digital or DTS decoder, be sure to select PCM as
the initial setting in the Digital Output menu (see
page 19). Otherwise, any attempt to play DVDs may
cause such a high level of noise that it may be
harmful to your ears and damage your speakers.
• CDs can be played as they would in a conventional
CD player.
Dolby Digital and DTS
Both Dolby Digital and DTS are audio formats used to
record 5.1-channel audio signals onto the digital track
of film. Both of these formats provide six separate
channels: left, right, center, left surround, right surround
and LFE (low-frequency effects).
The latest discs may include the 6.1-channel formats,
such as Dolby Digital EX and DTS-ES
Matrix. These formats add an additional surround back
channel behind the listener to create an even more
realistic sense of envelopment.
Remember that Dolby Digital or DTS will only play
5.1-channel sound if you've connected the optical or
® matrix post-
coaxial output of the DVD 27 to a DTS or Dolby Digital
receiver or decoder (see page 14) and if the disc was
recorded in the Dolby Digital or DTS format.
NOTE: Some first-generation DTS decoders that do
not support DVD-DTS interface may not work properly
with the DVD/CD player.
® Discrete or