Yamaha NOT FOND DSP-Z11 - Manual (Page 130)

Glossary
130
En
■ THX Ultra2
Before any home theatre component can be THX Ultra2 certified, it must incorporate
all the features above and also pass a rigorous series of quality and performance tests.
Only then can a product feature the THX Ultra logo, which is your guarantee that the
Home Theatre products you purchase will give you superb performance for many years
to come. THX Ultra2 requirements cover every aspect of the product including pre-
amplifier performance and operation, and hundreds of other parameters in both the
digital and analog domain.
■ THX Cinema processing
THX is an exclusive set of standards and technologies established by the world-
renowned film production company, Lucasfilm Ltd. THX grew from George Lucas’
personal desire to make your experience of the film soundtrack, in both movie theatres
and in your home theatre, as faithful as possible to what the director intended. Movie
soundtracks are mixed in special movie theatres called dubbing stages and are designed
to be played back in movie theatres with similar equipment and conditions. This same
soundtrack is then transferred directly onto Laserdisc, VHS tape, DVD, etc., and is not
changed for playback in a small home theatre environment. THX engineers developed
patented technologies to accurately translate the sound from the movie theatre
environment into the home, correcting the tonal and spatial errors that occur. On this
product, when “THX” appears in the front panel display, THX features are
automatically added in Cinema modes (e.g. THX Cinema, THX Surround EX).
THX Cinema mode
In this mode, THX Loudness Plus is designed around the industry-standard reference
mixing level as well as adding other proprietary THX technologies such as Adaptive
Decorrelation, Re-EQ, and Timbre Matching to recreate the theatrical experience at
home.
■ THX Music mode
THX Music modes provide the appropriate THX processing to enhance music
listening. THX Music applies a dedicated music profile of THX Loudness Plus,
designed around the varying mix levels in music sources which are often very different
than film or television sources. Additionally, THX Music applies Timbre Matching to
the surround speaker channels.
■ THX Games mode
THX Games mode gives the benefit of THX Loudness Plus, as well as other THX
proprietary features which provide the gamer with a more accurate listening experience
at lower levels, while maintaining all of the directional cues critical to gameplay.
■ THX Surround EX
Dolby Digital Surround EX is a joint development of Dolby Laboratories and the THX
Ltd.
In a movie theater, film soundtracks that have been encoded with Dolby Digital
Surround EX technology are able to reproduce an extra channel which has been added
during the mixing of the program. This channel, called Surround Back, places sounds
behind the listener in addition to the currently available front left, front center, front
right, surround right, surround left and subwoofer channels. This additional channel
provides the opportunity for more detailed imaging behind the listener and brings more
depth, spacious ambience and sound localization than ever before.
Movies that were created using the Dolby Digital Surround EX technology, when
released into the home consumer market may exhibit wording to that effect on the
packaging. A list of movies created using this technology can be found on the Dolby
web site at www.dolby.com.
Only receiver and controller products bearing the THX Surround EX logo, when in the
THX Surround EX mode, faithfully reproduce this new technology in the home.
This product may also engage the “THX Surround EX” mode during the playback of
5.1 channel material that is not Dolby Digital Surround EX encoded. In such case the
information delivered to the Surround Back channel will be program dependent and
may or may not be very pleasing depending on the particular soundtrack and the tastes
of the individual listener.
■ THX Ultra2 Cinema mode
THX Ultra2 Cinema mode plays 5.1 movies using all 8 speakers giving you the best
possible movie watching experience. In this mode, ASA processing blends the side
surround speakers and back surround speakers providing the optimal mix of ambient
and directional surround sounds. This mode permits the playback of a non Surround
EX/ES encoded 5.1 movie to be played back over a 7.1 system. DTS-ES (Matrix and
6.1 Discrete) and Dolby Digital Surround EX encoded soundtracks will be
automatically detected, if the appropriate flag has been encoded. Some Dolby Digital
Surround EX soundtracks are missing the digital flag that allows automatic switching.
If you know that the movie that you are watching is encoded in Surround EX, you can
manually select the THX Surround EX playback mode, otherwise THX Ultra2 Cinema
mode will apply ASA processing to provide optimum replay.
■ THX Ultra2 Music mode
For the playback of multi-channel music the THX Ultra2 Music mode should be
selected. In this mode THX ASA processing is applied to the surround channels of all
5.1 encoded music sources such as DTS, Dolby Digital and DVD-Audio to provide a
wide stable rear soundstage.
■ THX Ultra2 Games mode
For the playback of stereo and multi-channel game audio the THX Ultra2 Games mode
should be selected. In this mode THX ASA processing is applied to the surround
channels of all 5.1 and 2.0 encoded game sources such as analog, PCM, DTS and
Dolby Digital. This accurately places all game audio surround information, providing a
full 360 degree playback environment. THX Ultra2 Games mode is unique as it gives
you a smooth transition of audio in all points of the surround field.
■ THX Loudness Plus
THX Loudness Plus is a new volume control technology featured in THX Ultra2
Plus™ and THX Select2 Plus™ Certified receivers. With THX Loudness Plus, home
theater audiences can now experience the rich details in a surround mix at any volume
level. A consequence of turning the volume below Reference Level is that certain sound
elements can be lost or perceived differently by the listener. THX Loudness Plus
compensates for the tonal and spatial shifts that occur when the volume is reduced by
intelligently adjusting ambient surround channel levels and frequency response. This
enables users to experience the true impact of soundtracks regardless of the volume
setting. THX Loudness Plus is automatically applied when listening in any THX
listening mode. The new THX Cinema, THX Music, and THX Games modes are
tailored to apply the proper THX Loudness Plus settings for each type of content.
THX information