Harman Kardon AVR 2000 Owner's Manual

Harman Kardon AVR 2000 Owner's Manual Manual pdf 25 page image

OPERATION 25OperationSurround Mode SelectionOne of the most important features of theAVR 2000 is its ability to reproduce a full multi-channel surround sound field from digitalsources, analog matrix surround encoded pro-grams and standard stereo or even mono pro-grams. In all, a total of thirteen listening modesare available on the AVR 2000.Selection of a surround mode is based on personaltaste, as well as the type of program source mate-rial being used. For example, motion pictures or TVprograms bearing the logo of one of the majorsurround encoding processes, such as DolbySurround, DTS Stereo or UltraStereo†† should beplayed in either the Dolby 3 Stereo or Dolby ProLogic surround modes depending on the sourcematerial and speakers in use.However to create wider, enveloping sound fieldenvironments and more defined pans and fly-overs with all analog stereo and surround record-ings select Harman Kardon’s exclusive Logic 7mode, that creates a stereophonic left and rightrear signal, just as recorded in real life (e.g.sound being recorded from left rear side will beheard from that side only) for a dramaticimprovement in comparison to Dolby Pro Logic.NOTE: Once a program has been encoded withmatrix surround information, it retains the sur-round information as long as the program isbroadcast in stereo. Thus, movies with surroundsound may be decoded via any of the analog sur-round modes such as Pro Logic or Logic 7, whenthey are broadcast via conventional TV stations,cable, pay TV and satellite transmission. In addi-tion, a growing number of made-for-televisionprograms, sports broadcasts, radio dramas andmusic CDs are also recorded in surround sound.You may view a list of these programs at the DolbyLaboratories Web site at www.dolby.com.Even when a program is not listed as carryingintentional surround information, you may findthat the Pro Logic, Dolby 3 Stereo or Logic 7modes often deliver enveloping surround presen-tations through the use of the natural surroundinformation present in all stereo recordings.However, for stereo programs without any sur-round information the Theater, Hall and 5CHStereo modes should be tried (5CH Stereo is effec-tive particularly with old ”extreme” stereo record-ings) and for mono programs, we suggest that youtry the Theater or Hall modes. And when you useonly two front channel speakers you should selectHarman’s patented VMAx mode, delivering a virtu-ally three dimensional sound space with twospeakers only.Surround modes are selected using either thefront panel controls or the remote. To select asurround mode from the front panel, press theSurround Mode Selector 7 to scroll throughthe list of available modes. To select a surroundmode using the remote, press the SurroundMode Selector 9, and then press the ⁄ / ¤buttons C to change the mode. As you pressthe buttons, the Surround mode name willappear in the Main Information Display X,and an individual mode indicator will also lightup C D F H I J K L M. As the sur-round modes change, a green LED will light nextto the current mode in the Surround ModeIndicators list ˆ on the front panel.Note that any time a surround mode is changedit remains associated with the input just selecteduntil another choice is made.Note that the Dolby Digital or DTS modes mayonly be selected when a digital input is in use. Inaddition, when a digital source is present, theAVR 2000 will automatically select and switch tothe correct mode (Dolby Digital or DTS), regard-less of the mode that has been previously select-ed. For more information on selecting digitalsources, see the following section of this manual.To listen to a program in traditional two channelstereo, using the front left and front right speak-ers only (plus the subwoofer if installed and con-figured), follow the instructions shown above forusing the remote until SURR OFF appears inthe Main Information Display X.Digital Audio PlaybackDigital audio is a major advancement over pastsystems such as Dolby Pro Logic. It delivers five dis-crete channels: left front, center, right front, left sur-round and right surround. Each channel reproducesfull frequency range (20Hz to 20kHz) and offersdramatically improved dynamic range and signifi-cant improvements to signal-to-noise ratios. Inaddition, digital systems have the capability todeliver an additional channel that is specificallydevoted to low frequency information. This is the“.1” channel referred to when you see these sys-tems descibed as “5.1”. The bass channel is sepa-rate from the other channels, but since it is inten-tionally bandwidth limited, sound designers havegiven it that unique designation.Dolby DigitalDolby Digital (originally known as AC-3®) isa standard part of DVD, and is available onspecially encoded LD discs and satellite broadcastsand it is a part of the new high-definition television(HDTV) system.Note that an optional, external RF demodulatoris required to use the AVR 2000 to listen to theDolby Digital sound tracks available on laserdiscs. Connect the RF output of the LD player tothe demodulator and then connect the digitaloutput of the demodulator to the Optical orCoaxial inputs #$ of the AVR 2000.No demodulator is required for use with DVDplayers or DTS-encoded laser discs.DTSDTS is another digital audio system that is capa-ble of delivering 5.1 audio. Although both DTSand Dolby Digital are digital, they use differentmethods of encoding the signals, and thus theyrequire different decoding circuits to convert thedigital signals back to analog.DTS-encoded sound tracks are available on selectDVD and LD discs, as well as on special audio-only DTS CDs. You may use any LD, DVD or CDplayer equipped with a digital output to playDTS-encoded special audio-only CDs with theAVR 2000, but DTS-LDs can be played on LDplayers and DTS-DVDs on DVD players only. Allthat is required is to connect the player’s outputto either the Optical or Coaxial input on therear panel or front panel #$.In order to listen to DVDs encoded with DTSsound tracks, the DVD player must be compatiblewith the DTS signal as indicated by a DTS logoon the player’s front panel. Note that early DVDplayers may not be able to play DTS- encodedDVDs. This does not indicate a problem with theAVR 2000, as some players cannot pass the DTSsignal through to the digital outputs. If you are indoubt as to the capability of your DVD player tohandle DTS DVDs, consult the player’s owner’smanual.PCM Audio PlaybackPCM (Pulse Code Modulation) is the non- com-pressed digital audio system used for compactdiscs, Non-Dolby Digital/DTS Laserdiscs and somespecial PCM encoded DVDs. The digital circuits inthe AVR 2000 are capable of high quality digital-to-analog decoding, and they may be connecteddirectly to the digital audio output of yourCD/DVD or LD player (LD only for PCM or DTSprograms, for Dolby Digital laser discs an RFadapter is needed, see ”Dolby Digital” above).Connections may be made to either the Opticalor Coaxial inputs on the rear panel or thefront panel Digital Inputs #$.To listen to a PCM digital source, first select theinput for the desired source (e.g., CD) to feed itsvideo signal (if any) to the TV monitor and toprovide its analog audio signal for recording.Next press the Digital Select button Ò Fand then use the ⁄ / ¤ buttons C on theremote, or the Selector buttons 5 on the frontpanel, until the desired choice appears in theMain Information Display X, then press theSet button Ó E to confirm the choice.When a PCM source is playing, the PCM indica-tor A will light. During PCM playback you mayselect any surround mode except Dolby Digital orDTS.Playback from PCM sources may also benefitfrom the Logic 7. When playing a stereo or sur-round-encoded PCM source, such as an LD or CD