Ayre DX-5DSD Owner Manual
Ayre DX-5
DSD
Owner’s Manual
Universal A/V Engine
Table of
Contents
Welcome to Ayre . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Overview and Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Connections and Installation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Setup and Configuration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Controls and Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Optimization and Customization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
About Aspect Ratios . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Advanced Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
On-Screen Setup Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58
On-Screen Menu Settings Checklist . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
Numbers and Specifications. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Statement of Warranty. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 112
A Technical Glossary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 115
A Place for Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Welcome to
Ayre
Your Ayre DX-5
both video and audio performance from all digital
formats. The excitement and dimensionality of your
favorite films are apparent from the first viewing.
Music is reproduced with the warmth and
immediacy of a live performance. The combination
of superb resolution and a natural, relaxed quality
will draw you back to your home theater and music
system, time and time again.
This degree of performance has been implemented
using the highest level of workmanship and
materials. You can be assured that the Ayre DX-5
will provide you a lifetime of enjoyment.
To our North American customers, please be
sure to mail your warranty registration card and
photocopy of your original sales receipt within 30
days in order to extend the warranty to five
years.
DSD
offers a significant advance in
DSD
2
Overview and
Introduction
The Ayre DX-5
engine that serves as the central source component
for all of your digital media. It plays all currently
available video optical disc formats (including
Blu-ray and DVD-Video), providing reference-level
picture quality for your home theater. The DX-5
also plays all currently available audio optical disc
formats (including CD, SACD, and DVD-Audio)
with unsurpassed audio quality.
To provide the highest level of performance, the
video and audio sections are totally separate. A bank
of opto-isolators provides electrical isolation
between the two sections of the player.
In addition, the DX-5
personal computer (using either Windows, Mac
OS X, or Linux) via the ubiquitous USB port to
create a true high-performance music server. As
digital downloads continue to grow in popularity,
this feature will become more valuable as time goes
on.
DSD
is a unique universal audio/video
DSD
also connects to your
DSD
DSD
The DX-5
audio clock and requests the data from the computer
generates a fixed-frequency master
3
at the correct time for jitter-free playback of your
music. The DX-5
DSD
also utilizes opto-isolators to
provide total electrical isolation for the connections
between your computer and music system. This
minimizes the introduction of unwanted
radio-frequency interference (RFI), generated by all
computers.
Avoiding the use of wireless networks (e.g.,
Wi-Fi), by employing wired connections instead,
will reduce RFI levels in your home and results in
improved sound quality for any music system.
The Ayre DX-5
DSD
A/V Engine serves as the central
source component for most systems. It plays back
virtually all digital formats, both video and audio,
and it also provides a connection to provide the full
advantages of computer-based audio playback.
Thanks to its advanced technological features the
DSD
DX-5
will extract the full measure of performance
from all digital video and audio formats,
maximizing your enjoyment both now and into the
future.
Quick Start
The Ayre DX-5
versatile. However, many of the features are
primarily of interest to the advanced user.
DSD
is extremely flexible and
The information required to get started is
contained in the following three chapters of this
manual.
The remaining chapters cover additional
information that may be read at your leisure.
4
Connections and
Installation
The infrared beam of the
remote control will also travel
through glass.
The Ayre DX-5
It may be connected to any video display with an
HDMI input, any audio system either with HDMI
or analog inputs, and any personal computer with a
USB output. It is easy to hook up and use. The
following guidelines will ensure that the installation
goes smoothly.
DSD
is a universal audio/video engine.
Location
A good location for your DX-5
accessible height in an open-backed cabinet or on a
shelf. The receiver for the infrared remote control is
mounted behind the small lens to the left of the
display. A direct line of sight from the listening
position will ensure the maximum range.
DSD
is at an easily
Video Outputs
Your Ayre DX-5
Output that supplies both high-resolution video
and multi-channel audio on the same cable.
DSD
is equipped with an HDMI A/V
5
While the HDMI A/V Output also includes the
audio, the best performance for both video and
audio is achieved by using separate connections
for both the video and audio signals.
Video switchers and/or scalers
may compromise the signal
integrity unless executed at the
absolute highest standards.
It is recommended to connect the HDMI A/V
Output directly to your display device and connect
one (or both) of the dedicated audio outputs to your
audio system (multi-channel HDMI Audio Output
or two-channel Analog Audio Output).
There is also an analog Composite Video Output
for troubleshooting purposes. It is not
recommended to use the Composite Video
Output as the normal connection, because it only
provides a standard definition video signal.
Audio Outputs
The DX-5
connection with a wide variety of music systems.
However, one of two main outputs should be used
whenever possible:
•
DSD
has multiple audio outputs to allow
Analog Audio Output – for two-channel
playback.
•
HDMI Audio Output – for multi-channel
playback.
6
Isolation of Audio and Video
Any audio/video system will
achieve the best performance
when the video system is
electrically isolated from the
audio system.
The audio section of the DX-5
DSD
is completely
isolated from the video section via opto-isolators
that provide total galvanic isolation. This is unusual
and will require some extra effort to maintain this
isolation when also using other video sources.
For the best performance, all other video sources
should link to the audio system with an electrically
isolated connection to maintain isolation between
the video and audio systems. One simple and
effective method is to use the optical digital
output of other video sources. Coaxial digital
outputs can provide isolation if a transformer is in
the signal path. If you are unsure if your
equipment has built-in digital audio transformers,
external transformers are available. To isolate an
analog audio connection, the best solution is to
use high-quality transformers. Jensen
Transformers offers both digital and analog
isolation transformers.
Two-Channel Systems
For over 50 years, the vast majority of music has
been recorded in two-channel stereo, thus the
DSD
DX-5
includes two ultra-high quality audio
digital-to-analog converters. The stereo Analog
Audio Outputs will play all sources at their absolute
highest quality, including all two-channel optical
discs as well as the USB input for computer audio.
In addition, the stereo Analog Audio Outputs will
play a two-channel mixdown of multi-channel
sources, including both movie soundtracks and
musical discs. This allows the Analog Audio
7
Outputs to provide a rich and fulfilling sonic
experience for movies as well as music. If you have a
two-channel audio system, simply connect the
Analog Audio Outputs to your preamplifier and you
can enjoy all of your sources, both music and
movies.
Multi-channel SACDs may not be downmixed.
However, they nearly always contain a separate
two-channel playback area.
The HDMI Audio Output
must also supply a video
signal for proper operation. It
simply sends a gray screen at
720p for full compatibility.
The Ayre DX-5
DSD
offers both balanced and
single-ended outputs. Balanced connections are
made via three-pin XLR connectors, while
single-ended connections are made via RCA
connectors.
When you have a choice, a balanced connection
will offer slightly higher sound quality than a
single-ended connection.
Multi-Channel Systems
Multi-channel audio is provided at full resolution
via the HDMI connection. Please note that there are
two HDMI connectors on the DX-5
labeled “HDMI Audio Output” and provides higher
quality audio than the HDMI A/V Output that also
supplies the video signal.
The HDMI Audio Output transmits LPCM (or
optionally, DSD in the case of SACDs). All
compressed formats from Dolby and DTS are
decompressed by the player before transmission.
DSD
. One is
Simply connect the HDMI Audio Output to your
surround-sound processor to enjoy multi-channel
8
movie soundtracks and music sources. The Analog
Audio Outputs may also be connected to your
system at the same time as the HDMI Audio
Output, either directly to the surround-sound
processor or through a stereo preamplifier with a
pass-through function.
Note that both the Analog Audio Outputs and
the Digital Audio Output are disabled and the
status LED glows orange when the HDMI Audio
Output is connected to a selected (active) HDMI
input on your surround-sound processor (SSP).
The disabled outputs will be re-activated when the
SSP input connected to the HDMI Audio Output
is de-selected (de-activated).
An adapter is available from
your Ayre dealer should you
need to connect the Digital
Audio Output to an S/PDIF
input that uses an RCA
connector.
The -DX-5
DSD
also supports “Audio Rate Control”
(ARC), which allows the master audio clock in your
surround-sound processor to be the main clock in
your audio system for the lowest jitter possible in a
multi-channel system. (The Analog Audio Outputs
provide the lowest possible jitter in a two-channel
system.) The DX-5
DSD
will lock onto this clock and
adjust the rate of its playback to ensure perfect
synchronization, and the status LED glows violet.
AES/EBU Digital Audio Output
The Ayre DX-5
AES/EBU (S/PDIF) digital audio output. This
connection is limited to lower-quality compressed
formats such as Dolby Digital and DTS. However,
it can provide multi-channel audio to older
equipment that lacks an HDMI input for audio. The
HDMI Audio Output should be used whenever
possible for multi-channel audio.
DSD
also features a balanced
9
USB Input
The USB input allows the DX-5
DSD
to be connected
to a personal computer for use as a state-of-the-art
music server. The input uses the squarish USB “B”
type connector designed for computer peripheral
devices. The rectangular “A” type connector at the
other end of the cable is designed to plug directly
into the computer itself.
Music input at the USB Audio Input will not be
output by either HDMI connector. Only the
Analog Audio Outputs will deliver music sent to
the USB Audio Input.
The USB 2.0 standard specifies a maximum cable
length of 16 feet (5 meters). It is not recommended
to use extenders or hubs with the DX-5
optic USB cables can be longer, but are relatively
expensive.
AyreLink Ports
DSD
. Fiber
10
The AyreLink communication system provides a
convenient way to control your audio system. There
are two AyreLink ports on the rear panel of the
DSD
DX-5
. Each port has four contacts and contains
both an input and an output. Both ports function
identically and may be used interchangeably.
AyreLink connections are made with commonly
available two-line telephone line cords using
modular (RJ-11) connectors. (These are the cords
that connect the telephone set to the wall in many
countries.) They are readily available in different
lengths and various colors at most electronics stores.
Be sure to use two-line telephone
cords to make AyreLink connections.
These can be identified by the four
gold contacts on each connector.
Single-line cords with only two gold
contacts will not function in this
application.
The linked components may be
joined in any convenient
order.
The linked components should be connected in
daisy-chain fashion, connecting each component to
another until all of the linked components have
been connected.
When connecting the linked
components to form a chain, be careful
not to connect the two ends of the
chain. Closing the chain to form a loop
will cause the AyreLink system not to
function.
Ethernet LAN Connection
On the rear panel of the DX-5
for an optional connection to the internet. This
connection will allow for two functions:
•
BD Live – Some newer Blu-ray titles include a
feature called “BD Live”. This allows an
internet-connected player to access additional
content such as commentaries and games.
DSD
is an RJ-45 jack
11
Firmware update – Periodically Ayre may offer
•
updates to the firmware of the DX-5
offer additional features. While there are several
methods for updating the firmware, perhaps the
easiest is to use an internet connection.
AC Power
DSD
that will
Playing the unit for 100 to
500 hours will ensure full
break-in.
The DX-5
DSD
may be plugged directly into an
unswitched wall outlet. Although proprietary RFI
(radio-frequency interference) filtering is built into
the universal A/V engine, in some situations an AC
power-line filter (such as those offered by Ayre) may
provide additional sonic benefits.
As virtually all computers use switch-mode power
supplies that introduce unwanted RFI on the AC
power line, it may be beneficial to use an AC power
line filter for the computer and its accessories (e.g.,
display monitor), many of which also utilize
switch-mode power supplies.
Break-In
Due to the manufacturing processes used for the
printed circuit boards, wires, and capacitors, a
break-in period is necessary for the player to reach
its full performance potential.
12
Setup and
Configuration
Once you have connected the Ayre DX-5
home theater system, you will need to configure it
to ensure compatibility with your display. There is
an extensive set of options as detailed in the chapter
“On-Screen Setup Menu”. To simplify the setup
process, nearly all of the options have been
pre-selected at the factory. However, a few settings
may need to be changed to match your system.
Video Setup
With the DX-5
and powered on, press the “Setup” button on the
remote control handset (just above the “Red”
button). This will access the On-Screen Setup Menu.
Use the “Up/Down” arrow buttons to navigate to
the Video Setup menu item. Press the “Enter”
button to select the menu items and then once again
use the “Up/Down” arrow buttons to select the
desired option.
DSD
connected to your video display
DSD
to your
13
TV Aspect Ratio
14
16:9 Display
4:3 Display
The Ayre DX-5
DSD
comes from the factory
pre-configured for proper operation with a
“widescreen” (16:9). This will work for the vast
majority of systems. However if you have an older
“standard” (4:3) display, you will need to change the
menu item TV Aspect Ratio.
Use the “Up/Down” arrow buttons to select the
proper menu item and then press “Enter”. Use the
“Up/Down” arrow buttons to select 4:3 Letterbox
and then press “Enter”. If you have inadvertently
changed the setting, the correct selection for a
“widescreen” display is 16:9 Wide/Auto.
TV System
Around the world, there are two main video
standards in use, NTSC (North America and Japan)
and PAL (Europe, Asia, South America, and Africa).
The Ayre DX-5
either system. From the factory the unit is set up to
play both types of discs (NTSC and PAL) in their
native format.
If your display accommodates both standards, you
need not change this setting. Similarly, if you only
play discs purchased from the same area as your
display, this setting will work well.
However, if you have purchased discs from other
parts of the world and your display only supports
one video standard, then you will need to change
the TV System setting to match your display.
Scroll down to the menu item TV System and press
“Enter”. Select the video standard (PAL/NTSC) to
match your display. The options are:
DSD
can work perfectly well with
•
Multi-system (default) – No system conversion is
performed. The output video system is the same
as that encoded on the disc. Requires a display
that supports both NTSC and PAL systems.
•
NTSC – When playing NTSC-encoded discs, no
system conversion is performed. PAL-encoded
content is converted to NTSC output.
•
PAL – When playing PAL-encoded discs, no
system conversion is performed. NTSC encoded
content is converted to PAL output.
15
Output Resolution
Not only does the Ayre DX-5
DSD
Digital A/V
Engine play high-definition Blu-ray discs, but it
also has a world-class scaling engine that
up-converts standard definition video stored on
DVD discs. The sophisticated video processor
ensures that the video will have the best possible
color, detail, and motion.
The player offers several video output resolutions.
To achieve the best visual result, it is important to
select the output resolution that best matches your
display device. The rule of thumb when selecting an
output resolution is to match the “native resolution”
of your display.
The default setting from the factory is Auto. This
selection allows the display to communicate with
the player in order to establish the best resolution. If
there is difficulty with this setting, or if you wish to
select the resolution manually, use the “Up/Down”
arrow buttons to select Output Resolution and then
press “Enter”.
16
For the latest generation of 1080p, “Full HD” or
“True HD” displays, the best output resolution will
be 1080p. (A few early model 1080p displays do
not accept 1080p signal. For these displays the best
output resolution to use is 1080i.) For all other
digital televisions this will likely be 720p. For CRT
tube or rear projection televisions this will likely be
1080i. These are general recommendations that
work for most users, but there can be exceptions.
Consult the owner’s manual for your display.
The DX-5
DSD
also supports a special “Source Direct”
output resolution. This resolution is only
recommended for use with high-performance
external video processors. In “Source Direct” mode,
the player works as a “transport”. It decodes video
from the discs and then sends the raw video signal
in its native resolution and format, without extra
processing, to the external video processor.
Beyond the Initial Setup
If your system requires a special setup configuration,
additional advanced details are given in various
chapters, including “On-Screen Setup Menu” and
“Optimization and Customization”. The DX-5
offers many specific features that may increase the
ease of operation in your audio/video system.
Configuring the Computer
DSD
You will also need to set up your personal computer
to act as a music server, using the USB Audio Input
on the DX-5
DSD
. There are a variety of software
music players that are well suited for the job.
No matter what operating system (OS) your
computer uses — Apple, Windows, or Linux —
you’ll need to set up your computer to perform
several different tasks:
•
Transferring music to your computer’s hard
drive, either by converting the files from your
CD collection, commonly called “ripping”, or
17
by purchasing files that are downloaded via the
internet.
Labeling the files you have transferred with the
•
names of the song, artist, album, et cetera,
commonly called “tagging”. (Downloaded files
will normally already have the “tags” included.)
Using a music player program to organize your
•
music collection and play it back.
Optionally record music selections back onto
•
CDs for playback in your car or other places,
commonly called “burning”.
Optionally transfer part of your music collection
•
to a portable music player.
A few programs can perform all of these functions,
for example iTunes (Apple and Windows), J.River
Media Center (Windows), and Windows Media
Player (Windows). Some users will prefer to use a
combination of other specialized programs to
perform these functions.
18
An introductory guide to setting up your computer
is available at the Ayre website at:
www.ayre.com/usb.htm
DSD
Please note that the DX-5
can play DSD-encoded
files that have been downloaded to your computer
via the “DSD over PCM” format (DoP). However
this requires that your music player software
application also supports DoP. Again, more
information is available at the Ayre website noted
above.
Controls and
Operation
The Ayre DX-5
the front panel buttons or the remote control
handset. Basic functions are available at both
locations. Additional functions are available only at
the remote control handset.
This chapter is divided into three sections:
•
Basic Functions
•
USB Computer Audio
•
Media File Playback
There are also many other sophisticated functions
available for the advanced user. These are described
in a separate chapter, “Advanced Features” (page
39).
DSD
may be controlled using either
19
20
Status LED
There is a status LED on the front panel to the
lower-left of the control ring. It changes color to
indicate various states of the DX-5
•
Blue = Display Off (see page 54)
•
Green = Pure Audio (see page 46)
•
Red = LFE Mixdown (see page 47)
•
Orange = HDMI Audio Active (see page 9)
•
Violet = HDMI Audio with ARC (see page 9)
DSD
as follows:
21
Basic Functions
While the remote control handset has a multitude
of functions, only a few of them are commonly used.
These basic functions apply to all optical discs,
including Blu-ray discs (BDs), DVDs,
DVD-Audios, SACDs, and CDs. Details on the
remaining functions may be found in a separate
chapter, “Advanced Features” (page 39).
Standby/Operate
The “Standby/Operate” button toggles the unit
between normal operation and standby mode. When
in standby mode, the LED in the front-panel
“Standby” button is green and all critical circuitry
remains powered. This ensures optimal performance
with a minimum of warm-up time.
Please note that the “Power” button on the
remote control corresponds to the
“Standby/Operate” function on the DX-5
DSD
.
22
Open/Close
The “Open/Close” button opens and closes the disc
tray. An open tray may also be closed by pressing
gently on the front edge of the tray. When the tray
is closed, most video discs will automatically begin
playing. The behavior of CDs and SACDs when
closing the tray is determined by the On-Screen
Setup Menu (page 61).
Play
Pressing the “Play” button initiates playback of the
disc. If the drawer is open, pressing “Play” will also
close the drawer.
Pause
Pressing the “Pause” button will pause the disc
playback. Playback may be resumed either by
pressing the “Pause” button again or the “Play”
button.
Stop
Pressing the “Stop” button will stop disc playback.
However the position is memorized and the video
display shows “Press PLAY to continue.” Press “Play” to
start from the memorized position, or press “Stop” a
second time to clear the memorized position.
For more information on the “Memory Resume”
feature, please refer to page 50.
Previous
Pressing the “Previous” button will back up to the
start of the current chapter or track. Additional
presses will move to previous chapters or tracks.
23
Next
Pressing the “Next” button will move to the start of
the next chapter or track. Additional presses will
move to subsequent chapters or tracks.
Reverse Scan
The “Reverse Scan” mode scans backward through
the disc. Each button press increases the scan speed
until it returns to the normal playing speed as
shown at the diagram. Pressing “Play” will also
restore normal playback speed.
Forward Scan
The “Forward Scan” mode scans forward through
the disc. Each button press increases the scan speed
until it returns to the normal playing speed as
shown at the diagram. Pressing “Play” will also
restore normal playback speed.
24
Cursor Buttons
Nearly all video discs feature on-screen menus to
access the various features found on the disc. These
menus use a highlighted cursor that is controlled by
using the “Cursor” buttons on the remote control
handset. When the desired selection is highlighted,
press the “Enter” button.
The cursor buttons are also used to navigate the
“On-Screen Setup Menu”. For additional
information, please refer to page 58.
Please note that the front panel control rings may
also be used to navigate on-screen menus. The
“Previous” and “Next” buttons correspond to
“Left” and “Right”. The “Pause” button
corresponds to “Up”, while the “Stop” button
corresponds to”Down”. Finally, the “Play” button
corresponds to the “Enter” function.
Menu Buttons
The on-screen menus found on nearly all video discs
will normally automatically display upon loading
the disc.
Blu-ray discs usually contain a Top Menu and a
Pop-Up Menu. The Top Menu normally appears at
the beginning of the playback, after the previews
and copyright messages. The Pop-Up Menu can be
accessed during the movie without interrupting
playback. Some menus make use of the “Color”
buttons. You can select menu functions by pressing
the corresponding “Color” button on the remote
control.
25
Most DVD discs use a chapter menu for navigation.
Press the “Pop-Up Menu” button to display the
chapter menu. Some DVD discs may contain a title
menu, usually in addition to the chapter menu.
During playback, press the “Top Menu” button to
return to the disc title menu.
Number Buttons
During the playback of a disc, you can use the
“Number” buttons on the remote control to directly
jump to a specified chapter or track number.
To enter a number greater than “9”, simply press
the desired number buttons in order. For
example, to enter “23”, first press “2”, then “3”.
Audio
Most video discs and some audio discs have multiple
soundtracks. These usually offer choices of different
languages, although some discs will have a choice of
different encoding schemes (e.g., Dolby Digital or
PCM). You can select a preferred language that will
automatically play using the On-Screen Setup
Menus (page 56), or you can scroll through the
available soundtrack choices using the “Audio”
button on the remote control.
26
Subtitle
Many video discs offer a choice of subtitles. You can
select a preferred language that will automatically
display using the On-Screen Setup Menus (page 56),
or you can scroll through the available subtitle
choices, or turn the subtitles off completely, using
the “Subtitle” button on the remote control.
Pressing the “Subtitle” button once displays the
current setting. Additional presses will scroll
through the available choices.
Repeat
To repeat a certain chapter, title, track or disc, press
the “Repeat” button on the remote control. Each
press of the “Repeat” button switches the repeat
mode in the following sequence:
DVD and DVD-Audio
•
•
Blu-ray
•
CD and SACD
Selecting a Repeat mode cancels any Shuffle or
Random mode you may be using.
Shuffle and Random
When playing a CD or SACD, press the “Blue”
button on the remote control to activate the Shuffle
and Random modes. Each press of the “Blue” button
switches the playback mode in the following
sequence:
27
In normal playback mode, each track is played back
in sequential order. The Random playback mode
randomly selects a track to play. The Shuffle mode
also plays back the tracks in random order, but it
ensures that each track is played only once.
Selecting the Shuffle or Random mode cancels any
Repeat mode you may be using.
DVD Quick-Start
When watching a DVD, the “Yellow” button allows
you to skip any previews or other material before the
beginning of the film. Simply load the disc in the
open tray and press the “Yellow” button to begin
play.
Light
When any button is pressed on the remote control,
the backlight will illuminate the buttons with a soft
amber glow for a few seconds. Conveniently placed
in the lower right corner, the “Light” button allows
you to turn the backlight on without activating any
functions on the DX-5
DSD
.
28
If the front-panel display is off, pressing the
“Light” button will momentarily turn the display
on.
Bass on Multi-Channel Discs
If you are playing a multi-channel disc using the
HDMI Audio Output and the sound quality has
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