Harman Kardon AVR85 Owners Manual - Page 33

Advanced Features 30 if it is a multichannel Dolby Digital source or a conventional PCM signal, which is the standard output from CD players. An indicator will light in the Front Panel Information Display to confirm the digital signal is AC-3 A or PCM R and if the source is RF, Optical or Coax C. When an AC-3 source is playing the AVR85 will automatically switch to the Dolby Digital surround mode. It is important to note, however, that not all AC-3 sources are encoded with the full complement of five channels plus LFE. When an AC-3 source is playing the Main Information Display K will change to show the input source (RF, Optical or Coax) and then the surround mode will briefly be displayed (DOLBY AC-3). After these displays appear briefly, the display will show the analog source and the digital surround mode as follows: 3/2.1: This message appears when a full complement of Dolby Digital signals is present: 3 front channels (left, center and right), 2 surround channels (surround left and surround right) and "1" channel, which is the dedicated Low Frequency Effects (LFE) channel. 3/1: This message indicates the AC-3 system is decoding a standard Dolby Pro Logic signal with left, center and right front channels and a signal mono surround channel. 2/0: This message indicates that the AC-3 system is decoding a traditional two-channel stereo signal and that no center, surround or LFE signals are present. Night Mode A special feature of Dolby Digital is the Night mode, which enables AC-3 input sources to be played back with their full range while reducing the minimum peak level by 1/4 to 1/3. This prevents abruptly loud transitions from causing disturbances without reducing the impact of the digital source. The Night mode is available only when AC-3 signals with special data are being played. To engage the Night mode, press the Night button 6 e on the front panel or remote and note that Night indicator F will illuminate. The Night mode may also be turned on through SETUP MENU 3. IMPORTANT NOTES ON DOLBY DIGITAL PLAYBACK: 1. When the playback unit is in a pause, fast forward or chapter search mode the digital audio data may momentarily stop, causing a NO DATA message to be displayed. This is normal and does not indicate a problem with either the AVR85 or the source machine. The AVR85 will return to Dolby Digital/AC-3 playback as soon as the data is available when the machine is in a standard play mode. 2. If a digital source is being played and you switch to another input the AVR85 will revert to the analog input when you once again select the prior source. For example, if a DVD is playing with coax digital audio and you switch to TV and then back to DVD, the DVD's analog audio will play when you return to that source. The digital input MUST be selected each time you wish to use it, even if it was in use the last time that source was playing. 3. The AVR85 will decode digital audio sources with a sampling frequency of 32kHz, 44.1kHz and 48kHz. Although this will enable it to decode virtually all DVD movies and HDTV sources, it is possible that some digital sources may not be compatible with the AVR85. 4. The AVR85 will automatically detect most Dolby Digital and PCM digital audio sources and switch to the proper surround mode. It is possible, however, that future source equipment that could not be anticipated at this time, may require manual surround mode selection using the Surround Mode Selectors @ y. PCM Audio Playback PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) is the non-compressed digital audio system used for compact discs and non-AC-3 laser discs. The digital circuits in the AVR85 are capable of high-quality digitalto-analog decoding, and they may be connected directly to the digital audio output of your CD or LV player. Connections should be made to the AC-3/PCM Optical or Coaxial inputs ° · on the rear panel, using whichever input is not occupied by an AC-3 source such as a DVD player. To listen to a PCM digital source first select the analog input (i.e., CD) and then press the desired Digital Input button 9g. Indicators will light to confirm that PCM data is being received R and if the Optical or Coaxial input C is the source. The Main Information Display K will show both the last analog source and the type of digital input in use (e.g., CD/COAX).