OPERATION 23
OPERATION
Surround Mode Selection
One of the most important features of the AVR 130
is its ability to reproduce a full multichannel surround
sound field from digital sources, analog matrix sur-
round-encoded programs and standard stereo pro-
grams. In all, a total of 16 listening modes are avail-
able on the AVR 130.
Selection of a surround mode is based on personal
taste, as well as the type of program source material
being used. For example, motion pictures or TV pro-
grams bearing the logo of one of the major surround-
encoding processes, such as Dolby Surround or Dolby
Stereo may be played in either the Dolby Digital, Dolby
Pro Logic II 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 surround 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 II or
Logic 7, when they are broadcast via conventional TV
stations, cable, pay TV and satellite transmission. In addi-
tion, a number of made-for-television 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 matrixed
surround information, you may find that the Pro Logic II,
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 record-
ings. For stereo, but not surround programs, we suggest
that you experiment with these modes.
Surround modes may be selected from either the front
panel or remote.
• To select a surround mode from the front panel,
press the
Surround Mode Group Selector Button
7 until the desired group appears. (For example, any
Dolby, DTS or Logic 7 mode, or one of the DSP
modes such as Theater, Hall or VMAx.) Next, press the
Surround Mode Selector Button 8 to choose the
specific mode within the desired group. (For example,
within the Dolby mode group the options are Dolby
Pro Logic, Dolby Pro Logic II Music, Dolby Pro Logic II
Movies and Dolby 3 Stereo.)
• To select a mode from the remote, press any one of
the surround mode selector buttons
kwxy
until the desired mode within that group
appears in the
Lower Display Line ¯.
As you select a new surround mode, the choice will
appear in both the
Lower Display Line ¯ and the
Surround Mode Indicators ˘.
The Dolby Digital and DTS modes may only be selected
when a digital input is in use. In addition, when a digi-
tal source is present, the AVR 130 will automatically
select and switch to the correct mode (Dolby Digital or
DTS), regardless of the mode that has been previously
selected. For more information on selecting 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 Lower Display Line
¯ and both the DSP and Surr Off Surround Mode
Indicators
˘ are lit. The Stereo-Direct (Bypass)
mode is indicated by
SURROUND OFF in the
Lower Display Line ¯ and the Surround Mode
Indicators
˘ and may only be selected when an
analog input is in use.
Digital Audio Playback
Digital audio is a major advancement over older analog
matrix surround systems. It delivers five discrete chan-
nels: 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 capability
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 channel 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 is a standard part of the DVD format. It is
also part of the digital broadcasting standard, and is
available with most satellite receivers and digital cable
boxes, as well as with specially encoded LD discs.
An optional, external RF demodulator is required to
use the AVR 130 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 con-
nect the digital output of the demodulator to the
Optical or Coaxial Inputs •ª*( of the
AVR 130. A demodulator is not 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 different 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 130. All that is required is to con-
nect the player’s output to either the
Optical or
Coaxial input on the rear panel •ª or front panel
*(.
In order to listen to DVDs encoded with DTS sound
tracks, the DVD player must be compatible with the
DTS signal as indicated by a DTS logo on the player’s
front panel. Early DVD players may not be able to play
DTS-encoded DVDs. This does not indicate a problem
with the AVR 130, as some players cannot pass the
DTS signal through to the digital outputs. If you are in
doubt as to the capability of your DVD player to handle
DTS discs, consult the player’s owner’s manual. Some
DVD players are shipped with their output set for
Dolby Digital only. To ensure that DTS data is being
sent to the AVR, please check the setup menu system
on your DVD player to make certain that DTS data
output is enabled.
Selecting a Digital Source
To utilize either digital mode you must have properly
connected a digital source to the AVR 130. Connect
the digital outputs from DVD players, HDTV receivers,
satellite systems or CD players to the
Optical or
Coaxial Inputs •ª*(. In order to provide a
backup signal and a source for analog stereo record-
ing, the analog outputs provided on digital source
equipment should also be connected to their appropri-
ate inputs on the AVR 130 rear panel (e.g., connect
the analog stereo audio output from a DVD to the
DVD Audio/Video Inputs c on the rear panel when
you connect the source’s digital outputs).
When playing a digital source such as DVD, first select
the source input using the remote or front-panel con-
trols as described on page 21. Next, select the digital
source by pressing the
Digital Input Selector Button
q# and then using the
⁄
/
¤
Buttons n on
the remote or the
‹
/
›
Buttons ) on the front panel
to
choose any of the OPTICAL or COAXIAL
inputs, as they appear in the Upper Display Line
˜. When the digital source is playing, the AVR 130
will automatically detect whether it is a multichannel
Dolby Digital or DTS source, or a conventional PCM
signal, which is the standard output from CD players.
Digital Bitstream Indications
When a digital source is playing, the AVR 130 senses
the type of bitstream data that is present. Using this
information, the correct surround mode will automati-
cally be selected. For example, DTS bitstreams will
cause the unit to switch to DTS decoding, and Dolby
