Harman-Kardon AVR 5000 - Manual (Page 30)

30 OPERATION
Operation
Playback from PCM sources may also benefit
from the Logic 7. When playing a stereo or sur-
round-encoded PCM source, such as an LD or CD
or a PCM audio track from DVD, use the Logic 7
C or Cinema mode. For stereo or surround encod-
ed pure music recordings use the Logic 7 M or
Music mode for a wider front sound stage (see
Surround Mode Chart page 28).
HDCD
HDCD, which stands for High Definition
Compatible Digital
® , is a sophisticated process
that enables the AVR 5000 to deliver outstanding
digital-to-analog decoding of PCM signals from
any DVD or CD player, connected to a digital
input on the AVR 5000, no matter what type of
CD or DVD is played and even when normal,
Non-HDCD-compatible players are used (only a
digital output is needed).
When a CD with the HDCD logo is played, the
AVR 5000 is able to take advantage of the spe-
cial recording process that is used in the creation
of HDCD disc. The special circuitry enables audio
with extraordinary fidelity, stunning resolution
and the highest possible overall quality.
The AVR 5000 will automatically sense that it is
an HDCD recording and the HDCD indicator
A
will illuminate on the front panel to remind
you that an HDCD disc is playing.
It is important to note that the HDCD process is
completely compatible with standard recordings.
Indeed, the high-quality digital-to-analog
circuitry that is part of HDCD and the HDCD
decoder chip, replacing the monolithic digital
filters used in conventional DACs, will enable
enhanced performance also with normal,
non-HDCD encoded program material.
MP3 Audio Playback
The AVR5000 is one of the first A/V receivers to
provide on-board decoding for the MP3 audio
format used on specific computer audio files and
by portable MP3 players/recorders. In addition,
some new CD and DVD players are capable of
playing back optical discs that are recorded with
MP3, rather than standard CD audio information.
By offering MP3 decoding, the AVR5000 is able
to deliver more precise conversion of the digital
signals to an analog output, along with the ben-
efits of listening to MP3 audio through the
AVR5000’s high current amplifier and the speak-
ers from your surround system, rather than the
smaller speakers and low powered amplifiers typ-
ically used with computers.
To take advantage of the AVR5000’s MP3 capa-
bilities, simply connect the PCM output of a com-
puter sound card able to feed the MP3 format to
its digital output, or the PCM output of MP3
compatible CD or DVD players or of a portable
MP3 player with a digital output, to either the
rear panel Digital Inputs
RS or the front
panel Digital Inputs #%. When the digital
MP3 signal is selected, the MP3 Bitstream
Indicator A will light, and the audio will begin
playing.
NOTES:
• The AVR5000 is only capable of playing signals
in the MP3 (MPEG 1/Layer 3) format. It is not
compatible with other computer audio codecs.
• The MP 3 DSP mode found in the new
AVR5000 requires an MP3 SPDIF stream.
Presently, only a few units provide this but in the
coming generations of motherboards and operat-
ing system updates this will follow, since SPDIF is
the standard for audio & video hardware.
• The digital audio input signal may be either
optical or coaxial, but the signal must be in the
PCM format. Direct connection of USB or serial
data outputs is not possible, even though the sig-
nals are in the MP3 format. If you have any ques-
tions about the data output format from your
computer or a sound card, check with the
device’s Owner’s Manual or contact the manu-
facturer’s technical support area.
Selecting a Digital Source
To utilize either digital mode you must have
properly connected a digital source to the
AVR5000. Connect the digital outputs from DVD
players, HDTV receivers, satellite systems or CD
players to the Optical or Coaxial inputs on the
rear or front panel
RS#%. In order to pro-
vide a backup signal and a source for analog
stereo recording, the analog outputs provided on
digital source equipment should also be connect-
ed to their appropriate inputs on the AVR5000
rear panel (e.g., connect the analog stereo audio
output from a DVD to the DVD inputs
5 on the
rear panel when you connect the source’s digital
outputs).
When playing a digital source such as DVD, first
select its input using the remote or front panel
controls as outlined in this manual in order to
feed its video signal (if any) to the TV monitor
and to provide its analog audio signal for record-
ing. When the digital input appropriate with the
DVD player is not selected automatically (due to
the input settings made earlier during the system
configuration, see page 21), select the digital
source by pressing the Digital Input Selector
button
G Ú and then using the
⁄ / ¤ buttons
D on the remote or the Selector buttons 5
on the front panel to choose any of the
OPTICAL
or COAXIAL inputs, as they
appear in the Main Information Display Y,
Display Indicator BE or on-screen display.
When the digital source is playing, the AVR5000
will automatically detect whether it is a multi-
channel Dolby Digital or DTS source or a HDCD,
MP3 or conventional PCM signal, which is the
standard output from CD players. A Bitstream
Indicator A will light in the Main
Information Display Û to confirm that the
digital signal is Dolby Digital, DTS, MP3, PCM or
HDCD.
Note that a digital input (e.g. coaxial) remains
associated with any analog input (e.g. DVD) as
soon as it is selected, thus the digital input need
not be re-selected each time the appropriate
input choice (e.g. DVD) is made.
Digital Status Indicators
When a digital source is playing, the AVR5000
senses the type of bitstream data that is present.
Using this information, the correct surround mode
will automatically be selected. For example, DTS
bitstreams will cause the unit to switch to DTS
decoding, and Dolby Digital bitstreams will enable
Dolby Digital decoding. When the unit senses
PCM data, from CDs and LDs and some music
DVDs or certain tracks on normal DVDs, it will
allow the appropriate surround mode to be
selected manually. Since the range of available
surround modes depends on the type of digital
data that is present, the AVR5000 uses a variety
of indicators to let you know what type of signal
is present. This will help you to understand the
choice of modes and the input channels recorded
on the disc.
When a digital source is playing, a Bitstream
Indicator A will light to show which type of
signal is playing:
DOLBY D : When the DOLBY D indicator
lights, a Dolby Digital bitstream is being received.
Depending on the audio track selected on the
source player and number of channels on the
disc, different surround modes are possible. Note
that only one channel without subwoofer, called
”1.0” audio, or all five channels with subwoofer
(”5.1” audio) or all steps between can be record-
ed on digitally surround encoded audio tracks
(see NOTE below). With all those tracks, except
”2.0” audio, only the Dolby Digital and VMAx
modes are available. When the Dolby Digital sig-
nal is only two channel (”2.0”) these two chan-
nels (l and r) often contain Pro Logic surround
informations. With those tracks the AVR5000
automatically switches to the Pro Logic mode,
but you may also select the Vmax mode.
D T S : When the DTS indicator lights, a DTS bit-
stream is being received. When the unit senses
this type of data, only the DTS mode may be used.
P C M : When the PCM indicator lights, a standard
Pulse Code Modulation, or PCM, signal is being
received. This is the type of digital audio used by
conventional compact disc and laser disc record-
ings. When a PCM bitstream is present, all modes
except Dolby Digital and DTS are available. Note
that the PCM signal format can be selected on the
DVD player with any audio track, even with Dolby
Digital tracks (but not with Dolby Digital decod-
ing). So, if selected, even ”2.0” D.D. audio tracks