JBL SDP-3 Installation & Technical Manual

Also see for SDP-3: Quick reference guide

SDP-3 Digital Surround Processor/Controller AC-3 Effects and Parameters51BASS ENHANCE derives stereo bass to provide low frequencies thatare noticeably less localizable and more spacious in the playback room.Note that results will vary depending on room acoustics and the lowfrequency capacity of the surround speakers.CENTER DLY SAMPLES adjusts the time offset of the center channel.The appropriate value is +0 unless you know that the center channel isnot properly timed, as well as the amount by which it is off.CENTER LEVEL adjusts the output level from the center speaker.CENTER MIX adjusts the level of the center channel applied to the two-channel downmix. The appropriate value for film is 16. The appropriatevalue for music is 11.COMPRESSION enhances the intelligibility of Dolby Digital material atlow volume levels (-6dB or lower). When set to AUTO, this controlautomatically limits peak signals and boosts low level signals. Theamount of compression increases proportionately as volume is de-creased. This is quite useful when listening to Dolby Digital soundtracksat low output levels. When set to ON, full compression is applied,regardless of volume.FRONT STEERING provides three basic settings which have beendeveloped specifically to optimize center channel signal strength for filmand music.The FILM setting has excellent frontal image stability through the wholeroom during dialog and vocals, while preserving the full width of the frontimage in the spaces between dialog, and for music without vocals. Thefront image during vocals is noticeably narrower than with the MUSICsetting, but highly satisfactory nonetheless.The MUSIC setting reproduces sound in all three front speakers whena strongly centered, or mono signal is present. This is an excellentchoice for heavily centered pop music such as metal and sounds morenatural for broadcast material with a single announcer. OFF sets thecenter channel level to 4.5dB less than the front left and right speakers,and then leaves the level unchanged as the steering varies. This settingis equivalent to conventional stereo with a slight center fill.LFE MIX LEVEL allows separate level attenuation of the LFE channel,which is ultimately mixed to the subwoofer output. As the bass from asmany as five other channels is added to the LFE, it can significantly raisesubwoofer output levels — and create the risk of damage to a system.Careful adjustment of this parameter will allow you to achieve propertonal balance and reduce the risk of damage.