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27 OPERATION
Operation
Surround Mode Selection
One of the most important features of the
AVR 310 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 thirteen listening modes are available
on the AVR 310.
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 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 or Logic 7,
when they are broadcast via conventional TV sta-
tions, cable, pay TV and satellite transmission. In
addition, a growing number of made-for-televi-
sion 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, 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 Selectork and then
press the
⁄
/
¤
buttons n to change the
mode. As you press the buttons, the Surround
mode name will appear in the
Main
Information Display
Y, and an individual
mode indicator will also light up
CDFHI
JKLN
. 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 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 310 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 Y.
Digital Audio Playback
Digital audio is a major advancement over older
systems such as Dolby Pro Logic. 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 DVD, and is available on
specially encoded LD discs and satellite broad-
casts and it is a part of the new high-definition
television (HDTV) system.
Note that an optional, external RF demodulator
is required to use the AVR 310 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 ij#% of the AVR 310.
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 310. All
that is required is to connect the player’s output
to either the
Optical or Coaxial input on the
rear panel
ij 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 310, 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.
Selecting a Digital Source
To utilize either digital mode you must have
properly connected a digital source to the AVR
310. Connect the digital outputs from DVD
players, HDTV receivers, satellite systems or CD
players to the
Optical or Coaxial inputs
ij#%. 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 310 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
controls as outlined in this manual. Next, select
the digital source by pressing the
Digital
Input Selector
button qÚ and then using
the
⁄
/
¤
buttons n on the remote or the
Selector buttons 5 on the front panel to
choose any of the OPTICAL or COAXIAL
inputs, as they appear in the Main
Information Display
Y Display Indicator
BEor on-screen display. When the digital