Using the advanced surround, Using stream direct, Using the sound retriever – Pioneer VSX-421 User Manual

Page 23: Better sound using phase control, Listening to your system

Listening to your system

Using the Advanced surround

The Advanced surround feature creates a variety of surround
effects. Try different modes with various soundtracks to see
which you like.

Using Stream Direct

Use the Stream Direct modes when you want to hear the
truest possible reproduction of a source. All unnecessary
signal processing is bypassed.

Using the Sound Retriever

When audio data is removed during the compression
process, sound quality often suffers from an uneven sound
image. The Sound Retriever feature employs new DSP
technology that helps bring CD quality sound back to
compressed 2-channel audio by restoring sound pressure
and smoothing jagged artifacts left over after compression.

 Press S.RETRIEVER to switch the S.RTV (Sound Retriever)
ON or OFF.

Note

• The Sound Retriever is only applicable to 2-channel

sources.

Better sound using Phase Control

This receiver’s Phase Control feature uses phase correction
measures to make sure your sound source arrives at the
listening position in phase, preventing unwanted distortion
and/or coloring of the sound.
Phase Control technology provides coherent sound
reproduction through the use of phase matching for an
optimal sound image at your listening position. The default
setting is on and we recommend leaving Phase Control
switched on for all sound sources.

 Press PHASE to switch the P.CTL (Phase Control) ON or
OFF.

Note

• Phase matching is a very important factor in achieving

proper sound reproduction. If two waveforms are ‘in
phase’, they crest and trough together, resulting in
increased amplitude, clarity and presence of the sound
signal. If a crest of a wave meets a trough, then the sound
will be ‘out of phase’ and an unreliable sound image will
be produced.

• If your subwoofer has a phase control switch, set it to the

plus (+) sign (or 0°). However, the effect you can actually
feel when Phase Control is set to

ON on this receiver

depends on the type of your subwoofer. Set your
subwoofer to maximize the effect. It is also recommended
you try changing the orientation or the place of your
subwoofer.

• Set the built-in lowpass filter switch of your subwoofer to

OFF. If this cannot be done on your subwoofer, set the
cutoff frequency to a higher value.

• If the speaker distance is not properly set, you may not

have a maximized Phase Control effect.

• The Phase Control mode cannot be set to

ON in the

following cases:

When the

PURE DIRECT mode is switched on.

When the headphones are connected.

ACTION

Designed for action movies with dynamic
soundtracks.

DRAMA

Designed for movies with lots of dialog.

ENT.SHOW

Suitable for musical sources.

ADVANCED GAME Suitable for video games.

SPORTS

Suitable for sports programs.

CLASSICAL

Gives a large concert hall-type sound

ROCK/POP

Creates a live concert sound for rock and/or
pop music.

UNPLUGGED

Suitable for acoustic music sources.

EXT.STEREO

Gives multichannel sound to a stereo
source, using all of your speakers

F.S.S.ADVANCE
(Front Stage
Surround
ADVANCE)

Allows you to create natural surround
sound effects using just the front speakers
and the subwoofer.
Use to provide a rich surround sound effect
directed to the center of where the front left
and right speakers sound projection area
converges.

PHONES SURR

When listening through headphones, you
can still get the effect of overall surround.

BD MENU

ADV SURR

ADVANCED
SURROUND

Front left

speaker

Front right

speaker

AUTO SURROUND See Auto playback on page 22.

DIRECT

Sources are heard according to the settings
made in the Speaker Setup (speaker
setting, channel level, speaker distance), as
well as with dual mono settings. You will
hear sources according to the number of
channels in the signal.
Phase Control, Sound Delay, Auto Delay,
LFE Attenuate and Center image functions
are available.

PURE DIRECT

Analog and PCM sources are heard without
any digital processing.

AUTO/

DIRECT

AUTO SURROUND/

STREAM DIRECT

VOL

ADAPTER

TUNER PORTABLE

PHASE

SIGNAL SEL

S.RETRIEVER