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23 OPERATION
Operation
Surround Mode Selection
One of the most important features of the
AVR 120 is its ability to reproduce a full
multichannel surround sound field from digital
sources, analog matrix surround-encoded
programs and standard stereo programs. In all,
a total of fifteen listening modes are available
on the AVR 120.
Selection of a surround mode is based on per-
sonal taste, as well as the type of program
source material being used. For example, motion
pictures or TV programs bearing the logo of one
of the major surround-encoding processes, such
as Dolby Surround, DTS Stereo or UltraStereo
®
may be played in either the Dolby Digital, Dolby
Pro Logic II or Logic 7 Cinema surround modes
depending on the source material.
NOTE: Once a program has been encoded with
matrix surround information, it retains the sur-
round information as long as the program is
broadcast in stereo. Thus, movies with surround
sound may be decoded via any of the analog
surround modes such as Pro Logic II or Logic 7,
when they are broadcast via conventional TV
stations, cable, pay TV and satellite transmission.
In addition, a growing number of made-for-
television programs, sports broadcasts, radio
dramas and music CDs are also recorded in
surround sound.You may view a list of these
programs at the Dolby Laboratories Web site
at www.dolby.com.
Even when a program is not listed as carrying
intentional surround information, you may find
that the Pro Logic II, Logic 7, VMAx and the
Hall or Theater modes often deliver enveloping
surround presentations through the use of
the natural information present in all stereo
recordings. However, for stereo, but not surround
programs, we suggest that you experiment with
the other modes.
Surround modes are selected using either the
front panel controls or the remote. To select a
surround mode from the front panel, press the
Surround Mode Selector 7 to scroll up or
down through the list of available modes. To
select a surround mode using the remote, press
the
Surround Mode Selectorj and then
press the
⁄
/
¤
Buttons mq to change
the mode. As you press the buttons, the
Surround mode name will appear in the
Main
Information Display
F, and an individual
mode indicator will also light up
BCDEG
HI
. As the surround modes change, a green
LED will light next to the current mode in the
Surround Mode Indicators ˜ list on the
front panel.
NOTE: The name of each Surround Mode will
scroll across the
Main Information Display
F while the modes are being selected. To
avoid exiting from the surround mode selection
process, be certain to push the
▲
or
▼
Button
mq while a mode name is still visible.
Note that the Dolby Digital and DTS modes may
only be selected when a digital input is in use.
In addition, when a digital source is present,
the AVR 120 will automatically select and
switch to the correct mode (Dolby Digital or
DTS), regardless of the mode that has been pre-
viously selected. For more information on select-
ing digital sources, see the following section of
this manual.
To listen to a program in traditional two-channel
stereo, using the front-left and front-right
speakers only (plus the subwoofer if installed
and configured), follow the instructions shown
above for using the remote until
SURR OFF
appears in the Main Information Display F.
Digital Audio Playback
Digital audio is a major advancement over older
analog matrix surround systems. It delivers five
discrete channels: left-front, center, right-front,
left-surround and right-surround. Each channel
reproduces full frequency range (20Hz to 20kHz)
and offers dramatically improved dynamic range
and significant improvements to signal-to-noise
ratios. In addition, digital systems have the capa-
bility to deliver an additional channel that is
specifically devoted to low-frequency information.
This is the “.1” channel referred to when you see
these systems described as “5.1”. The bass chan-
nel is separate from the other channels, but since
it is intentionally bandwidth-limited, sound
designers have given it that unique designation.
Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital (originally known as AC-3
®
) is
a standard part of the DVD format, and is also
part of the new digital broadcasting system and it
is available with many satellite receivers and
some digital cable boxes, as well as with specially
encoded LD discs.
Note that an optional, external RF demodulator
is required to use the AVR 120 to listen to the
Dolby Digital sound tracks available on laser
discs. Connect the RF output of the LD player to
the demodulator and then connect the digital
output of the demodulator to the the
Optical
or Coaxial Inputs de#$ of the AVR
120. No demodulator is required for use with
DVD players or DTS-encoded laser discs.
DTS
DTS is another digital audio system that is
capable of delivering 5.1 audio. Although both
DTS and Dolby Digital are digital, they use dif-
ferent methods of encoding the signals, and
thus they require different decoding circuits to
convert the digital signals back to analog.
DTS-encoded sound tracks are available on
select DVD and LD discs, as well as on special
audio-only DTS discs. You may use any LD or
CD player equipped with a digital output to
play DTS-encoded discs with the AVR 120. All
that is required is to connect the player’s output
to either the
Optical or Coaxial input on the
rear panel
de or front panel #$.
In order to listen to DVDs encoded with DTS
sound tracks, the DVD player must be compati-
ble with the DTS signal as indicated by a DTS
logo on the player’s front panel. Note that early
DVD players may not be able to play DTS-
encoded DVDs. This does not indicate a prob-
lem with the AVR 120, as some players cannot
pass the DTS signal through to the digital out-
puts. If you are in doubt as to the capability of
your DVD player to handle DTS discs, consult
the player’s owner’s manual. Please note that
some DVD players are shipped with their output
set for Dolby Digital only. To insure that DTS
data is being sent to the AVR, please check the
setup menu system on your DVD player to
make certain that DTS data output is enabled.
Selecting a Digital Source
To utilize either digital mode you must have
properly connected a digital source to the
AVR 120. Connect the digital outputs from DVD
players, HDTV receivers, satellite systems or CD
players to the
Optical or Coaxial Inputs
de#$. In order to provide a backup sig-
nal and a source for analog stereo recording,
the analog outputs provided on digital source
equipment should also be connected to their
appropriate inputs on the AVR 120 rear panel
(e.g., connect the analog stereo audio output
from a DVD to the
DVD Audio Inputs § on
the rear panel when you connect the source’s
digital outputs).
When playing a digital source such as DVD, first
select the input using the remote or front panel