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2.2 AUDIO CONNECTIONS
AUDIO INPUTS AND OUTPUTS
Digital audio sources can be connected with a coaxial, optical, or HDMI cable. These
carry 2-channel PCM, Dolby Digital, and DTS. The HDMI inputs also accept up to eight
channels of PCM, Dolby Digital TrueHD, DTS-HD, and DTS-HD Master Audio.
Audio on the HDMI outputs is 2-channel PCM as this is meant for the TV’s use.
HDMI AUDIO RETURN CHANNEL
This is meant for use when the TV is the audio source. An example is internet streaming
accessed through the TV’s user interface. As long as the TV also has Audio Return
Channel (check its manual) it sends audio from the TV to the receiver through the HDMI
connection that sends video from the receiver to the TV, eliminating the need for a
separate audio connection. CEC control, described in a later section, must be enabled
for Audio Return Channel to function.
DIALOG NORMALIZATION
Dolby Digital program material contains non-audio data which the receiver uses to adjust
playback level, when necessary, so volume variations between movies and programs are
eliminated. Without Dialog Normalization, movies not encoded at standardized levels for
the dialog could lose dynamic range – higher levels can result in distorted peaks, lower
levels can result in quiet sounds disappearing into the noise oor.
If the display reads “Dial Norm Offset -4.0 dB” at the start of a movie, it is indicating that
the encoded level is higher than standard by 4.0 dB – the playback level of all channels is
then automatically reduced by 4 dB.
PREAMP OUTPUTS
The pre-outs are variable according to the volume control and can be used with external
amplication.
ZONE 2 AND REC
Zone 2 and REC may use analog input, or the optical/coaxial inputs as long as the
source is 2-channel PCM.
If HDMI audio from a Dolby
Digital, DTS, or 2-channel PCM
source is problematic or takes
too long to switch, use of coax/
optical audio connection is
recommended (HDMI video can
still be used). Older cable and
satellite receivers often benet
from this.
The coax and optical REC
outputs provide a passthrough
of coax/optical input, or
2-channel PCM, depending on
source format.