Madrigal Imaging Audio/Video Preamplifier Stereo Amplifier User Manual


 
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Dolby Pro Logic™ Sources The PAV accurately decodes the Dolby Stereo™ soundtracks available in virtually
all modern film soundtracks, many television shows, and even some music re-
cordings. It does so by employing carefully optimized Dolby Pro Logic circuitry,
for superior performance and accuracy. Use the pro logic mode whenever listen-
ing to most surround-encoded television shows, MTV (most of which is now sur-
round encoded), and other surround-encoded program material which has been
created for general distribution.
THX Cinema Sources In addition, the PAV incorporates Home THX
®
audio processing to help movie
soundtracks make the transition from large movie theaters into the home. This
extra step is necessary because the acoustics of movie theaters and living rooms
are so different. Some adjustments are necessary in order to achieve the same
subjective effect in your home as in the finest movie auditoriums. These “adjust-
ments” are precisely what Home THX offers. Use the THX cinema mode for
Dolby Stereo movies which were created for theatrical release—meaning virtually
all movies made since the late 1970’s.
Music and the PAV When it is time to enjoy some of your favorite music, the PAV gives you several
simple options, any of which may be selected by pressing the mode button to
cycle through the choices.
The stereo surround mode uses ambient cues contained in your normal stereo
recordings to create a realistic, full-bodied soundfield using all available speakers.
It has been carefully tuned to enhance stereo playback, and can be expected to
be relatively subtle rather than dramatic. (As with attending a live concert, one’s
attention should rarely be called to the characteristic sound of the “hall.” The
acoustics of the space in which the music is performed should enhance the musi-
cal experience without becoming an end unto themselves.)
The mono surround mode can be used to give acoustically “dry” mono record-
ings a sense of spaciousness. This mode can be used for historical monophonic
music recordings as well as for older movie classics which were recorded in
mono. This mode is particularly helpful when watching older, mono movies on a
big-screen television, where the disparity between aural and the visual size would
otherwise be a distraction to the movie experience.
The surround off mode returns your system to two-channel stereo.
Finally, we have provided a “true mono” mode which reproduces both the Left
and the Right signals through the center channel speaker (and subwoofer) only.
The mono mode is sometimes desirable when listening to noisy monophonic
music recordings or movie soundtracks. Since noise tends to be random in na-
ture, much of it cancels out when L+R are mixed together, as they are in this
mode.
Subwoofers and
Surround Modes
If a subwoofer is connected to the sub outputs, it will normally be given the
deepest bass (below 80 Hz) at all times, independantly of the surround mode or
input selected. Whether or not the three front speakers are also given the deepest
bass information (below 80 Hz) to reproduce is determined by the settings of
the set speakers menu during setup. (See System Setup & Calibration for more
information).