Harman Kardon AVR 144 Owner's Manual

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39ADVANCED FUNCTIONSTable 4 – Surround ModesSurround Mode Description Incoming Bitstream or SignalDolby Digital Provides up to five separate main audio channels and a dedicated • Dolby Digital 1/0/.0 or .1, 2/0/.0 or .1,low-frequency effects (LFE) channel. May be encoded for Night mode, 3/0/.0 or .1, 2/1/.0 or .1, 2/2/.0 or .1,which allows the user to apply a compression setting that maintains 3/2/.0 or .1intelligibility of softer passages while reducing the loudness of dynamic • Dolby Digital EX (played as 5.1)passages to avoid disturbing others.Dolby Digital Stereo Delivers a 2-channel downmix of Dolby Digital materials. • Dolby Digital 1/0/.0 or .1, 2/0/.0 or .1,3/0/.0 or .1, 2/1/.0 or .1, 2/2/.0 or .1,3/2/.0 or .1• Dolby Digital EXDolby Surround SettingsIn addition to the MODE line, the DOLBY SURROUND submenu includesthree settings that are active only when the Dolby Pro Logic II Musicmode has been selected. See Figure 61.Figure 61 – Dolby Surround Menu ScreenCENTER WIDTH: This setting affects how vocals sound through thethree front speakers. A higher number (up to 7) focuses the vocal infor-mation tightly on the center channel. Lower numbers broaden the vocalsoundstage across the three speakers.DIMENSION: This setting affects the depth of the surround presenta-tion, allowing you to “move” the sound toward the front or rear of theroom. The setting of “0” is a neutral default. Setting “F-3” moves thesound mostly toward the front of the room, while setting “R-3” movesthe sound mostly toward the rear.PANORAMA: With the Panorama mode turned ON, some of the soundfrom the front speakers is moved to the surround speakers, creating anenveloping “wraparound” type of effect.NIGHT MODE: Night mode is available with some Dolby Digital programs,if it has been encoded in the material. It compresses the peak soundlevels, maintaining the intelligibility of the dialogue and quieter passages,while reducing the loudness of special effects and louder passages toavoid disturbing others. Three levels of compression are available:OFF: At this setting, there is no compression, as the Night mode isdeactivated.MID: A mild compression is applied.MAX: More compression is applied.We suggest that you experiment with the modes to find a setting thatmeets your needs.The Night mode may also be adjusted without using the full-OSD menusystem. With a Dolby Digital program encoded with Night mode playing,press the Night Button on the remote. Each press of the button willcycle through the three settings, with the selected setting being dis-played on the front panel and in the semi-OSD display.UPSAMPLING: The last line of the Surround Select menu activatesupsampling, only available with the Dolby Pro Logic II Movie, DolbyPro Logic II Music and Dolby Pro Logic modes. Normally set to OFF,upsampling, when activated, processes digital sources at a higherresolution for improved sound quality. This feature can be useful toeliminate distortion in some low-resolution sources.Default ModesDuring initial use or after a processor reset, the AVR 144 will defaultto the Logic 7 Music mode for all analog and PCM audio inputs.Subsequently, when a source input is selected and an analog orPCM signal is received, the AVR will switch to the last surround modeused for that source input/incoming signal combination.Whenever a multichannel Dolby Digital or DTS signal is detected, theAVR 144 will automatically switch to that mode, unless the DEFAULT SURRMODE setting in the System Setup menu has been changed to OFF. Youmay observe that other surround modes are available for use with the multi-channel digital bitstreams. If you would prefer the AVR 144 to use one ofthose alternate modes any time the same digital signal is detected, thenselect that mode while the multichannel bitstream is present, and then changethe DEFAULT SURR MODE setting in the System Setup menu to OFF.