53
Operating the DCR600 Receiver (Continued)
Selecting a Surround Mode
One of the most important features of the
DCR600 is its ability to reproduce a full
multichannel, surround-sound field from digital
sources, analog matrix surround-encoded
programs and standard stereo programs. In all,
a total of twelve listening modes are available
on the DCR600.
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 programs bearing the logo of one of the
major surround-encoding processes, such as
Dolby Surround, DTS Stereo or UltraStereo may
be played in either the Dolby Digital, Dolby
Pro Logic 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 or Logic 7,
when they are broadcast via conventional TV
stations, cable, pay-TV and satellite transmission.
In addition, a growing 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
intentional surround information, you may find
that the Pro Logic, 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 recordings.
However, for stereo, but not surround programs,
we suggest that you experiment with the
other modes.
Surround modes are selected using either the
front panel controls or the remote. To select a
surround mode from the front panel, press the
Surround Mode Selector 7to scroll up or
down through the list of available modes. To
select a surround mode using the remote, press
the Surround Mode Selectortand then
press the
⁄
/
¤
Button ty to change
the mode. As you press the buttons, the
Surround mode name will appear in the Main
Information Display W, and an individual
mode indicator will also light up CDFHI
JKLM.
Note that the Dolby Digital and DTS modes may
only be selected when a digital input is in use.
In addition, when a digital source is present, the
DCR600 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 Main Information Display W.
Using Digital Sources
Digital audio is a major advancement over older
systems such as Dolby Pro Logic. It delivers five
discrete channels: 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 (originally known as AC-3®) is a
standard part of DVD, and is available on specially
encoded LD discs and satellite broadcasts and is
a part of the new high-definition television (HDTV)
system.
Note that an optional, external RF demodulator
is required to use the DCR600 to listen to the
Dolby Digital soundtracks available on laser
discs. Connect the RF output of the LD player to
the demodulator and then connect the digital
output of the demodulator to the Optical or
Coaxial Inputs ef#$ of the DCR600. No
demodulator is 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 dif-
ferent methods of encoding the signals, and
thus they require different decoding circuits to
convert the digital signals back to analog.
DTS-encoded soundtracks 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 DCR600. All that is
required is to connect the player’s output to
either the Optical or Coaxial Input on the rear
panel ef or front panel #$.
In order to listen to DVDs encoded with DTS
soundtracks, the DVD player must be compatible
with the DTS signal as indicated by a DTS logo
on the player’s front panel. Note that, although
early DVD players may not be able to play DTS-
encoded DVDs, the DVD600 is compatible. This
does not indicate a problem with the DCR600,
as some players cannot pass the DTS signal
through to the digital outputs. If you are in
doubt as to the capability of your DVD player to
handle DTS discs, consult the player’s owner’s
manual.
Selecting a Digital Source
To utilize either digital mode, you must have
properly connected a digital source to the
DCR600. Connect the digital outputs from DVD
players, HDTV receivers, satellite systems or CD
players to the Optical or Coaxial Inputs
ef#$. In order to provide a backup signal
and a source for analog stereo recording, the
analog outputs provided on digital source equip-
ment should also be connected to their appropri-
ate inputs on the DCR600 rear panel (note that
the DCR600 does not offer an analog audio
input for DVD).
When playing a digital source, first select the
input using the remote or front panel controls as
outlined in this manual. Next, select the digital
source by pressing the Digital Input Selector
Button Úand then using the ⁄/¤Buttons
yon the remote or the Selector
Buttons 5on the front panel to
choose any of
the OPTICAL or COAXIAL
inputs, as
they appear in the Main Information Display
W, or Source Indicators BE. Note that the
DCR600‘s DVD input is configured at the factory
to default to the COAX 1 digital input. When the
