Harman Kardon DVD 31 Owners Manual - Page 16

DIGITAL AUDIO CONNECTIONS Optical Digital Audio Connection Notes • Remove the dust protection cap from the optical digital audio output and connect the cable firmly so that the configurations of both the cable and the connector match. • Keep the dust protection cap and always reuse the cap when not using the connector. Audio Output From the Unit's Optical/ Coaxial Digital Audio Output Connector Disc: Sound recording Optical/coaxial digital format: audio output: DVD Dolby Digital Dolby Digital bitstream (2-5.1ch) or PCM (2ch, 48kHz, 16-bit)†† Linear PCM (48/96kHz, 16/20/24-bit) Linear PCM (2ch) (48/96kHz, 16/20/24-bit) DTS Bitstream or no output†† CD Linear PCM Linear PCM (44.1kHz sampling) †† Digital format must be selected as "Original" or "PCM" in Digital Output menu (see "Digital Output" section on page 19). For Your Reference: • Dolby Digital is a digital sound compression technique developed by the Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation. Supporting 5.1- or 7.1channel surround sound depending on the specific disc, as well as stereo (2-channel) sound, this technique enables a large quantity of sound data to be efficiently recorded on a disc. • DTS is another digital audio technology developed by Digital Theater Systems, Inc. It supports 5.1 and 6.1 surround sound, depending on the specific disc, thanks to a sophisticated encoding system. • Linear PCM is a signal recording format used in CDs. While CDs are recorded in 44.1kHz/16-bit, DVDs are recorded in 48kHz/16-bit up to 96kHz/24-bit. • If you have a Dolby Pro Logic Surround decoder connected to the DVD 31's analog audio out connectors, thanks to the "Downmix" function of the DVD 31 you will obtain the full benefit of Pro Logic from the same DVD movies that provide full 5.1channel Dolby Digital soundtracks, as well as from titles encoded with Dolby Surround. • The DVD 31 is designed to digitally output 96kHz PCM audio with a 96kHz sampling rate. However, some 96kHz DVDs may include copy protection codes that do not permit digital output. For full 96kHz fidelity from these discs, use the analog outputs of the DVD 31. If your surround processor converter does not support 96kHz PCM audio, you must use the DVD 31 analog outputs for full 96kHz fidelity with these discs. • When connecting a receiver or surround processor with a digital input but which does not contain a Dolby Digital or DTS decoder, be sure to select PCM as the initial setting in the Digital Output menu (see page 19). Otherwise, any attempt to play DVDs may cause such a high level of noise that it may be harmful to your ears and damage your speakers. • CDs can be played as they would in a conventional CD player. Dolby Digital and DTS Both Dolby Digital and DTS are audio formats used to record 5.1-channel audio signals onto the digital track of film. Both of these formats provide six separate channels: left, right, center, left rear, right rear, and common subwoofer. Remember that Dolby Digital or DTS will only play 5.1-channel sound if the optical or coaxial output of the DVD 31 is connected to a DTS or Dolby Digital receiver or decoder (see page 13) and if the disc was recorded in the Dolby Digital or DTS format. NOTE: Some first-generation DTS decoders that do not support DVD-DTS interface may not work properly with the DVD/CD player. DVD-Audio The high-resolution output of DVD-Audio discs is only available as an analog signal, due to a combination of technical limitations on current digital output devices and various copy protection requirements. For that reason, it is necessary to make direct analog connections between the 5.1-Channel Direct Outputs ¢ on the DVD 31 and the matching 5.1 direct inputs on your A/V receiver or surround processor. 16 DIGITAL AUDIO CONNECTIONS