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THE BASICS
The following is intended to familiarize users with common terms and applications of Home Theater equipment.
Sources -
your receiver
can directly provide audio from
its built-in AM/FM tuner. It can also provide limited video
from its on-screen menu system. Typically you will want to connect a number of additional sources (VCR, DVD
player, etc.) to your receiver. Your receiver is designed to accommodate a wide range of audio and video signals.
The following table lists the most popular home theater media and how the audio information is stored.
X (compressed)Mini disc (MD)
X (compressed)Digital Compact Cassette (DCC)
XXXXDigital Audio Tape (DAT)
XXSatellite Broadcast
XXXDigital Versatile Disc (DVD)
XXXCompact Disc (CD)
XXXXLaser disc (LD)
XVideo Cassette
XAudio Cassette
DTSDolby DigitalPCMAnalogSource Media
Analog vs. Digital Audio -
This refers to the method used to place audio information on the source material and
how they are delivered to your receiver from the source. Analog signals exactly represent the sound you will hear
through a continuously varying voltage. Audio and video cassettes are analog recordings and are normally
delivered to your receiver over a pair of coaxial audio cables.
Digital signals closely approximate the original audio signals with a set of numbers referred to as a bitstream. CDs
and DVDs are sources of digital audio and are normally connected to your receiver through a coaxial or optical
digital cable. There are several different bitstream formats available. The simplest format is called Pulse Code
Modulation (PCM). In PCM, the bitstream directly represents the original 2-channel audio. In Dolby Digital and
DTS (see “Surround Formats” below) bitstreams are modified using a process called compression to squeeze
more information into limited space. DTS squeezes 5.1 channels into the space normally required for two
uncompressed channels, while Dolby Digital squeezes 5.1 channels into about ¼ the space required for two
channels. Your receiver automatically detects the bitstream currently being provided from the source and performs
the required decompression and surround processing. If no digital signal is present your receiver will automatically
switch to analog processing.
All sounds that you hear from your speakers are analog. Digital signals are automatically converted to analog by
your receiver before being output to your the speakers.
If analog signals exactly represent the audio, while digital signals only approximate it, why would I want to
use digital?
All analog sources add some amount of noise and distortion to the audio signal. Additional noise can be
picked up through the cables from the source to your receiver. It is impossible for the receiver to tell the
difference between the desired signal and the added noise and distortion, so it reproduces both of them.
The result is increased background noise and decreased dynamic range and fidelity. Digital signals are
virtually immune to noise and distortion. The receiver can, therefore, reproduce the signal with the
greatest possible fidelity. We recommend you use digital signals wherever possible. Also Dolby Digital and
DTS (see “Surround Formats” below) work only
with digital signals.
Audio and Surround Formats
- Your source material will be in one of seven possible formats described below.
Monaural
(Mono)
- This is the oldest format available. It contains a single, full range audio channel.
Modern recordings are seldom made in this format, but most older movies and music are available only in
this format. You may get mono from any source - digital or analog. Sound will normally come from the
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