Anthem AVM 20 V2.2x Owner's Manual

AVM 20 v2,2x ADDENDUM

This addendum contains operating information for surround modes in software version 2.2x.

For the remaining operating instructions, see AVM 20 Operating Manual v2.1x.

may not be reproduced in whole or in part without our express written permission.

Anthem and the Anthem logo are trademarks of Sonic Frontiers International. All other trademarks

Sonic Frontiers International reserves the right to change specifications and/or features

Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories. “Dolby”, “Pro Logic”, “Surround EX”, and the

“DTS”, “DTS-ES Extended Surround”, and “Neo:6” are trademarks of Digital Theater Systems, Inc.

Manufactured under license from THX Ltd. U.S. patent numbers 5,043,970; 5,189,703; and/or 5,222,059. European patent

number 0323830. Other U.S. and foreign patents pending. Ultra2 and THX are trademarks or registered trademarks of THX Ltd.

Lucasfilm is a trademark of Lucasfilm Ltd. Surround EX is a trademark of Dolby Laboratories. Used under authorization.

are the property of their respective owners.

without notice as design improvements are incorporated.

double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.

DESIGNED AND MANUFACTURED IN NORTH AMERICA

Anthem™can be reached from 9:00 am to 5:30 pm (EST) by phone 905-362-0958 or 24 hours a day by fax 905-564-4642

www

.anthemA

V.com

5. FRONT PANEL OPERATION continued …

.8 SURROUND MODES

A surround mode is signal processing that enhances original source material. There are two main types of surround modes – those that apply to stereo source material and those that pertain to 5.1-channel source material.

Factory defaults for Surround Modes are set so that all of your surround speakers are used with any type of source material. To change these defaults, see Mode Presets in section 7.4.5.

Stereo Source Material:

This includes both analog stereo and digital stereo (stereo PCM or Dolby Digital 2.0) source material. Various surround modes can be applied to provide up to 7.1 channels of output. These are described in depth throughout this section. Each Source memorizes its own Mode setting, so you can, for example, set VCR to ‘AnthemLogic-Cinema’, and then set CD to ‘AnthemLogic-Music’ – when you change Source, the respective Modes are remembered.

Surround modes are not available for inputs set to Anlg-Dir (see section 7.4.5).

Regarding analog VCR input: With analog, there is no way for any processor to detect Dolby Surround encoded material. Dolby Pro Logic must therefore be turned on manually by selecting it in the Mode options.

5.1- and 6.1-Channel Source Material:

The AVM 20 detects the digital format that you select in the DVD menu (Dolby Digital or DTS) and automatically engages decoding for the selected format. Alternatively, you can select the format on-the-fly after pressing the player’s remote control ‘Audio’ button. Note that only one format is sent over the digital connection at a time – the AVM 20 displays and decodes the one that is selected in the player.

As soon as the AVM 20’s display shows the format, you can select additional processing, described throughout this section – there is usually plenty of time to do so when the film studio’s logos are played at the beginning of a movie. Your selections are memorized by format and by Source as well.

Make sure your DVD player setup menu is set to leave Dolby Digital and DTS unchanged (“Bitstream”), otherwise it will have 2.0-channel PCM at the digital output instead of the 5.1 channels on the disc.

5. FRONT PANEL OPERATION continued …

LOGICLOGIC

Various surround modes produce 6.1 or 7.1 channels of output. If you are using a 5.1 system and

ave Rears set to ‘None’ (Speaker Configuration menu – section 7.4.2), Rear channel information

h is not lost, but remains in the L/R Surround speakers.

5.8.1 AnthemLogic

™

These are proprietary surround modes developed by Anthem that offer outstanding surround performance and can be applied to any 2-channel source material:

AnthemLogic-Music

™

AnthemLogic-Music™enhances the stereo listening experience without detracting from the stereo soundstage. Through extensive listening tests a very effective design was developed. This is a minimalist design that uses no echo or reverberation effects which could negatively

6.1

CHANNEL

OUTPUT

affect the purity of the sound.

Depending on your speaker configuration, up to 6.1 channels of output are provided – L/R Fronts, L/R

™

Surrounds, L/R Rears and Subwoofer. AnthemLogic-Music

does not utilize the Center Channel, to ensure that the purity of the stereo music soundstage will in no way be compromised when you’re sitting in the ‘sweet spot’ and listening to your favorite stereo recordings.

™

AnthemLogic-Music

is very effective in creating an expansive musical soundstage that psychoacoustically helps to remove the barrier of the listening room itself, and it does so in a completely non-intrusive, natural and very compelling way. This is the factory default 2-channel Mode for CD, 2-Ch BAL, TAPE, and FM • AM.

AnthemLogic-Cinema

™

AnthemLogic-Cinema™provides a large, enveloping and dynamic movie listening experience that makes 2-channel movies sound more like what is experienced in a state-of-the art movie theater. Again through extensive listening tests a very effective design was developed. This

7.1

CHANNEL

OUTPUT

is also a minimalist design that avoids the use of echo effects, which could otherwise negatively affect the purity of the sound.

™

AnthemLogic-Cinema

uses the rear speakers to provide up to 7.1 channels of output, depending on your

speaker configuration.

AnthemLogic-Cinema™provides the missing link that lets you experience 7.1 channels of output for full impact home theater sound, from any 2-channel stereo analog source such as VCR or TV, or any Dolby Digital 2-channel source, such as DVD or satellite. This is the factory default Mode for DVD, TV, SAT, VCR, and AUX.

5.8.2 DOLBY DIGITAL 2.0

Dolby Digital 2.0 soundtracks with surround encoding contain a flag that can be used to automatically activate Pro Logic IIx Movie mode. The AVM 20 can be set to either use this flag or to override it.

o find out if the Dolby Digital 2.0 material being played has the sur

round flag, press

MODE. If flagged, the

first line of the display says ‘DOLBY D 2.0 SUR AUTO’ and if not flagged, it says ‘MODE FOR 2 CH INPUT’.

The Modes in the next section may be selected separately for flagged and unflagged stereo source material.

Note: Movies with mono (single-channel) soundtracks use either the Left/Right channels or the Center

channel depending on how they’r

e encoded. The Mode changes to Mono if the soundtrack only

uses the Center channel – you can switch it to Mono-Academy or All Channel Mono afterwards.

5. FRONT PANEL OPERATION continued …

.8.3 SURROUND MODES FOR 2.0-CHANNEL SOURCE MATERIAL

umber of output channels for each Mode is indicated below in bold type – ‘.1’ refers to a subwoofer signal

N derived through bass management, not a separate channel (see section 7.4.2). Press Master Control Knob or use North/South arrows on the remote control, to cycle through the following:

THX must be Off for all Modes to be available (see section 5.8.6).

MODE, then rotate the

Stereo:

AnthemLogic-Music:

AnthemLogic-Cinema:

Pro Logic IIx Music:

Pro Logic IIx Movie:

Pro Logic IIx Matrix:

Pro Logic IIx Game:

Dolby Pro Logic:

No surround mode is applied.

6.1 –

One of Anthem’s proprietary surround modes, specifically designed to expand the stereo soundstage of stereo music in a very natural way without any loss of soundstage integrity or image focus.

7.1 –

Another proprietary mode from Anthem, designed to provide the impact of

a large theater experience from 2-channel movies and TV programs.

7.1 –

Created for use with stereo music material. The following three parameters can be adjusted by pressing the MODE button one, two, or three times while in Pro Logic IIx Music, and rotating the Master Control Knob:

Center Width is adjustable from 0 to 7 – ‘0’ places all Center sound in the Center speaker, while ‘7’ places it equally in the Left and Right channels.

Dimension helps achieve the desired front-to-back balance by providing seven steps of adjustment between the Surround and Center channels.

Panorama is effective for recordings with strong left or right channel elements. When ‘On’, it extends the front stereo image to include the Surround channels.

7.1 –

Dolby Surround decoder for 2-channel movies and TV programs.

7.1 –

A matrix decoder that does not steer the image from one speaker to another.

7.1 –

Bass from surround effects in video games is optimized for visceral impact.

4.1 –

In case there’s a desire to hear it “as it used to be” (Surrounds are mono).

The Center channel is not used.

Neo:6 Music:

Neo:6 Cinema:

All Channel Stereo:

All Channel Mono:

Mono:

Mono-Academy:

6.1 –

Can be used with stereo music material to create 6.1 output channels. The center image can be adjusted by pr rotating the Master Control Knob:

Center Image is adjustable fr center channel pr

6.1 –

A matrix decoder that can be used with any matrix-encoded movie. Separation is created by allowing various sounds to be placed at different points in the sound field simultaneously.

7.1 –

The Left and Right channels are also sent to the Surround and Rear channels, while the Center channel and Subwoofer receive a combination of both. Some processing is used to retain image clarity. Useful for playing music at parties so that it can be heard with equal loudness in all parts of the room.

7.1 –

Combines the Left and Right channels and sends the signal to all speakers.

1.1 –

Combines the Left and Right channels and sends them to the Center speaker

1.1 –

Gives a pr to the 1960s, which relied on high-frequency rolloff for sound balance and to mask inher be useful with DVDs of some TV shows if high-pitched noise leakage fr (cathode ray tube) monitor is audible in the recording.

ominence.

esentation closer to the original on movies made fr

ent hiss. Use with old mono movies that sound overly noisy. Can also

essing

MODE while in Neo:6 Music, and

om 0 to 5 – incr

easing the number gives mor

om the 1930s

om a CR

5. FRONT PANEL OPERATION continued …

5.8.4 DOLBY DIGITAL EX / PRO LOGIC IIx FOR 5.1 SOURCES

Dolby Digital EX and Pro Logic IIx can be used to decode DVDs encoded in Dolby Digital Surround EX by

xtracting Rear channel information from the two Surround channels. Dolby Digital EX creates a mono Rear

e signal, whereas with Pro Logic IIx, the two Rear channels play a stereo signal. Either one of these Modes

an be applied to any other 5.1-channel material. The Rear channels may or may not be pleasing depending

c on the soundtrack.

A list of movies encoded in Dolby Digital Surround EX can be found on the Dolby web site at www.dolby.com and on the THX web site at www.thx.com. Newer titles contain a flag that can automatically engage Dolby Digital EX / Pro Logic IIx, whereas older titles do not. Press Master Control Knob to select the Mode that sounds best – the display says ‘DOLBY D 5.1 INPUT’ if the soundtrack is unflagged, and ‘DOLBY D EX AUTO’ if it is flagged.

5.8.5 DTS-ES

There are two ways that Rear channel information is encoded in DTS-ES – Matrix and Discrete:

• Matrix – DTS-ES Matrix movies contain a matrixed Rear channel. The AVM 20 automatically engages Neo:6 to decode DTS-ES Matrix. Neo:6 can also be turned on manually and applied to any other 5.1-channel material – when a movie starts playing, press MODE and use the Master Control Knob to select. A mono Rear channel is derived from the Left and Right Surround channels. This Rear channel may or may not be pleasing depending the soundtrack.

MODE when a movie starts playing and use the

• Discrete – DTS-ES Discrete soundtracks contain 6.1 channels with an independent Rear channel.

The AVM 20 automatically engages DTS-ES Discrete decoding.

5.8.6 THX ULTRA2 / THX SURROUND EX

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, both in movie theaters and in your home theater, as faithful as possible to what the director intended. Movie soundtracks are mixed in special movie theaters called dubbing stages and are designed to be played back in movie theaters with similar equipment and conditions. This same soundtrack is very often transferred to DVD, Laserdisc, VHS tape, etc. without any adjustments for playback in the smaller home theater envir from the movie theater environment into the home, restoring proper tonal and spatial balance.

Each THX mode includes a specific combination of the following:

onment. THX engineers developed patented technologies to accurately translate the sound

• Re-Equalization – De-emphasizes high frequencies in the front channels, and in THX Surround EX, the rear channels as well. Soundtracks commonly have pre-emphasized treble because they are mixed for movie theaters where high frequencies are usually absorbed. They can then sound overly bright when played back in the home. Re-Equalization restores the correct tonal balance for watching a movie soundtrack in a home theater envir in Dolby Surround also benefit from Re-Equalization, whereas some movies on DVD have already been re-adjusted and do not require Re-EQ. To enable or disable Re-EQ, press “THX RE-EQUALIZATION”, then select On or Off. Re-EQ may also be applied when THX is Off – this may be useful if the high-pitched noise produced by standard CRT monitors accidentally leaked into the audio while it was being recorded, and you would like to filter it out.

onment. Some TV shows that ar

THX twice to display

e broadcast

• Timbre Matching – The human ear changes our perception of a sound depending on the direction

from which the sound is coming. In a movie theatre, there is an array of surround speakers so that the surround information is all around you. In a home theatre, you use only two speakers located to the side of your head. Timbre Matching, which includes Re-EQ, filters the information going to the

round speakers so that they more closely match the tonal characteristics of the sound coming

sur from the front speakers. This ensures seamless panning between the front and surround speakers.

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