Denon AVC - A 1 D User Manual

The First Name In Digital Audio

A/V SURROUND AMPLIFIER

AVC-A1D

DENON ASIA CO., LTD.

18/F. No.79 Chatham Road South, Tsimshatsui, Kowloon,Hong Kong

DENON ELECTRONICS SINGAPORE PTE LTD.

257 Selegie Road #03-257 Selegie Complex, Singapore 188350

NIPPON COLUMBIA CO., LTD.

14-14, AKASAKA 4-CHOME, MINATO-KU, TOKYO 107-8011, JAPAN

Internet Home Page Address www.denon.co.jp

31690499 E1 Printed in Japan

Audio Inputs

11 Analog Inputs . . . . . . . . . . . . PHONO, CD, TU NER, DVD, VDP, TV/DBS, VCR-1, VCR-2, V-AUX, MD/TAPE-1,TAPE-2

6 Analog EXT. Input . . . . . . . . . . FRONT L/ R, CENTER, SURROUND L/R, SUBWOOFER

8 Analog EXT. Input . . . . . . . . . . FRONT L/ R, CENTER, SURROUND L/R, EFFECT L/R, SUBWOOFER

5 Digital (Optical) Inputs . . . . . . . OPTICAL X 5

3 Digital (Coaxial) Inputs . . . . . . . COAXIAL X 3

1 Dolby Digital RF Input . . . . . . . Dolby Digital RF

Audio Outputs

8 Analog PRE OUT Terminals . . . . FRONT L/ R, CENTER, SURROUND L/R, EFFECT L/R, SUBWOOFER

4 Analog REC OUT Terminals . . . . VCR-1, VCR-2, MD /TAPE-1,TAPE-2

2 Analog Multi Source Terminals . L/R
1 Digital (Optical) OUT Terminal . Optical

Video Inputs

2 Component Video Inputs . . . . . . DVD, TV

6 Composite Inputs . . . . . . . . . . . DVD, VDP, TV/DBS, VCR-1, VCR-2, V-AUX

6 S-Video Inputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . DVD, VDP, TV/DBS, VCR-1, VCR-2, V-AUX

Video Outputs

1 Component Video Input . . . . . . MON ITOR

4 Composite Outputs . . . . . . . . . . VCR-1, VCR-2, MONITOR-1, MONITO R-2

4 S-Video Outputs . . . . . . . . . . . . VCR-1, VCR-2, MO NITOR-1, M ONITOR-2

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Input/Output Terminals For Every A/V System

Mammoth Array of Input/Output Terminals

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Personal Memory Plus

The AVC-A1D’s Personal Memory Plus function allows you to store the parameter of the surround mode
for further sound source customization. A single push of any source button will instantly recall the settings
stored for each of the sound sources.

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Multi-function Remote Controller

The dominant theme in the design of the AVC-A1D's remote controller has been vastly improved ease of use
from the two aspects of tactile perception and visual ergonomics. The buttons have been given different shapes
so that they can be recognized by touch in a dark room, and visually, the buttons' functions are grouped by color
so that the required buttons are easily found. The buttons also feature GLO-Key for further ease of operation in
the dark. And buttons that are not so frequently used are arranged under a cover that can be easily opened
when needed.

• System Call function to execute up to 10 successive pre-assigned

commands at the single touch of a button

• System Remote Control

• Pre-Memory and Programming function for non-DENON components

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Other Features

Color Component Video Input/Output
Thoroughly Vibration-resistant Structure
Tone Control Circuit (Front L/R, Center, Surround) / REC OUT Select

AVC-A1D

Power Amplifier Section Same quality amplifier for all 5-channel

Rated output * THD figures are power amp stage values.
Front 140 W + 140 W

(8 ohms, 20Hz - 20 kHz, THD 0.05%)

Center 140 W

(8 ohms, 20Hz - 20 kHz, THD 0.05%)

Surround 140 W + 140 W

(8 ohms, 20Hz - 20 kHz, THD 0.05%)

Dynamic Power 190 W x 2 ch (8 ohms)

310 W x 2 ch (4 ohms)
390 W x 2 ch (2 ohms)

Preamplifier Section

Input sensitivity/ Impedance PHONO (MM) : 2.5 mV/ 47 kohms

CD, DVD, VDP, TV/ DBS, VCR-1, VCR-2, V.AUX,
MD/ TAPE 1, TAPE 2, 6-ch EXT., 8-ch EXT.
: 200 mV/ 47 kohms

Output level/Load Impedance FRONT L/R, CENTER, SURROUND L/R, EFFECT L/R,

SUB WOOFER : 1.2 V/ 10 kohms
VCR-1, VCR-2, MD/ TAPE 1, TAPE 2,
MULTI SOURCE : 150mV/ 47 kohms

Digital Input Optical VDP, VCR-1, VCR-2, V.AUX, TAPE1(Initial)

Coaxial CD, DVD, TV/ DBS (Initial)

RF VDP (Fixed)
Digital Output REC OUT : TAPE-1 (Initial)
RIAA deviation ±1 dB (20 Hz - 20 kHz)
Signal-to-noise ratio (A-weighting) 105 dB (DIRECT)
Tone control Treble : ± 10 dB at 10 kHz

Bass : ± 10 dB at 100 Hz

Video Section

Input Terminal Composite DVD, VDP, TV/ DBS, V.AUX, VCR-1, VCR-2 :

1 Vp-p / 75 ohms

S-Video DVD, VDP, TV/ DBS, V.AUX, VCR-1, VCR-2 :

1 Vp-p / 75 ohms

Component Video DVD, TV
Output Terminal Composite VCR-1, VCR-2, MONITOR-1, MONITOR-2 :

1 Vp-p / 75 ohms

S-Video VCR-1, VCR-2, MONITOR-1, MONITOR-2 :

1 Vp-p / 75 ohms

Component Video MONITOR (5 - 20 MHz, +0, -3 dB)

General

Power supply, Power consumption AC 230 V, 50 Hz, 700 W
Dimensions, Weight 434 (W) x 181 (H) x 494 (D) mm, 21.5 kg

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Two 32-bit Floating Point DSPs

The AVC-A1D is equipped with two DSPs that employ newly-developed 32-bit floating point technology
to faithfully process the delicate details of the original sound recording. One of the DSPs is dedicated for
use with the Dolby Digital and dts decoder and the other is used for THX and surround sound reproduction.
The 32-bit digital signals that are decoded by these two DSPs are then converted at high resolution into 24­bit signals and passed to the digital filter.

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24-bit, 96-kHz D/A Converters for All Channels

The same Multiple 24-bit D/A Converter that is used in the DVD-5000 has been employed for all channels in
the AVC-A1D---a dedicated converter for each of the five Front, Center, and Surround channels, plus a 24-bit
D/A converter for the subwoofer---to ensure smooth D/A conversion at high resolution of 24 bits and 96 kHz
for all channels.

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AL24 Processing for Front Channels

The AVC-A1D includes AL24 Processing, the same highly-acclaimed analog waveform reproduction tech­nology that is used in the DVD-5000. AL24 Processing realistically reproduces subtle background sounds that
heighten the emotional drama of movies, or the delicate residual sounds that are enjoyed during live musical
performances.

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Discrete Amplifiers with Uniform Power and Response to All Channels

The wealth of DENON's technological know-how in pure audio amplifiers has been tapped to build a pow­erful, high-quality amplifier system for the reproduction of Dolby Digital. Each channel is configured with its
own discrete power amplifier, all of which deliver equal power and perform with uniform response. The AVC­A1D's power unit incorporates a large transformer and other vital parts that have been developed for
DENON's high-end pure audio components. The various blocks of the AVC-A1D, such as the analog section,
digital section, video section and microprocessor section, have all been isolated from each other in order to
thoroughly suppress any mutual interference caused by noise. This design ensures that the extremely high
level of sound quality that is the hallmark of current and next-generation media remains pure and trans­parent from input to output.

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Built-in DTS Decoder

The AVC-A1D also has a dts Digital Surround decoder to faithfully reproduce the original sound that was
recorded on sources via a Digital Surround encoder. This features allows home theater buffs to enjoy at
home the same sort of dynamic power that one can experience in the sound space of dts-equipped movie
theaters. Since the high performance of 24-bit, 96-kHz D/A converters delivers the full effects of dts Digital
Surround to all channels, the sonic results are completely satisfying.

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THX Ultra: Advanced Surround Taken to the Hilt

The AVC-A1D is equipped with a THX Processor supporting THX 5.1, an advanced surround technology
that recreates the sound space created at a dubbing studio for producing the sound tracks of movies. When
the digital signal that was processed in the Dolby Digital decoder and the dts decoder is passed on to the
Re-Equalization Circuit and the Timbre Matching Circuit, the AVC-A1D is capable of reproducing an ideal
sound space for the enjoyment of multi-dimensional sound.

The AVC-A1D has also cleared approximately 300 requirements to meet the standards of THX Ultra that
Lucasfilm Ltd., the developer of THX technologies, has established governing audio quality and the operat­ing ease of other components in the A/V system.

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A Rich Selection of Surround Modes

Besides the red-hot Dolby
Digital + THX 5.1 combination
plus the dts + THX 5.1 alterna

tive being offered for the first time in the world in a
single A/V surround amplifier, the AVC-A1D provides a
wealth of playback options as well.

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Two Sets of Surround Speakers

for Music and Movie Surround

Two sets of surround speaker output terminals, A and B, have been provided to reproduce the

surround sound tracks more closely to the originally intended ideal.

To recreate the spacious and enveloping ambiance of a motion picture soundtrack, side-mount­ed bipolar or dipolar speakers are most often preferred. These avoid the "point source" localization
problems that plague conventional direct-radiator speakers, and are best for accurately re-con­structing the motion picture soundtrack's surround field.

On the other hand, multi-channel music surround sound is recorded with 3 front channels and 2
rear channels and a pair of direct-radiating speakers at the rear corners of your listening room are
recommended for the accurate music surround sound reproduction.

Select these surround speakers when listening to discrete multi-channel music surround and con­cert video. Only the Denon AVC-A1D lets you choose between two surround speaker types (and
placements) for music and movie soundtracks, for surround sound without compromise.

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6-channel + 8-channel Input Terminals for Future System Upgrading

The AVC-A1D provides two sets of expansion input terminals, one of which can be used as an EXT IN ter­minal for the 8th channel, in case home theaters of the future need to support program sources with
increased numbers of channels or other developments. By simply adding a stereo power amplifier, the AVC­A1D system will be able to support 7.1-channel surround sources which are expected to appear in the future.
Along with 8-channel input, a high-precision electronic attenuator will be able to achieve less than 0.1 dB
mutual deviation among all channels and adjust volume levels in 1 dB increments.

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Icon-based On-Screen Display

The AVC-A1D is equipped with an On-Screen Display (OSD) featuring icons (pictorial representations) to let
you easily monitor the current operating status. The OSD feature lets you check or change the source you want
to see, listen to or record, and you can also monitor or change the speakers, surround sound mode, delay time,
channel level, digital inputs or listening parameters. What once required a number of complicated operations
can now be accomplished via a quick glance at the AVC-A1D’s OSD, which has been refined for greater ease
of operation.

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New DDSC-Digital Circuit

DENON's original DDSC (Dynamic Discrete Surround Circuit) -Digital audio
technology represents the integration of all blocks of a surround circuit into a
single, high-performance IC to reproduce digital surround sources at higher
levels of sonic quality. The New DDSC-Digital audio circuit

embodies further performance improvements over the original DDSC-Digital circuit, and reproduces superior-

quality sound not only from surround sources but pure audio sources as well.

The high sound quality of New DDSC-Digital is due in part to the high-grade signal processing of the 24­bit, 96-kHz Digital Interface Receiver (DIR). The AVC-A1D not only allows digital signals input from DVD and
other advanced media to pass directly to the DIR, it also processes them while preserving their integrity so
that even the most delicate nuances of the music, reflecting the emotions of the artists, are passed unfet­tered to the digital signal processor (DSP).

MAIN

TRANSFORMER

SUB

TRANSFORMER

POWER BLOCK

PRE-AMP BLOCK

VIDEO BLOCK

DIGITAL BLOCK

CONTROL BLOCK

Independent Power
Transformers
Block Diagram

AC-3 RF Input

Analog Input

Digital Input

96kHz / 24-bit

96kHz / 24-bit

L
R

Front

L

R

Surround

Center

Subwoofer

DF 1

AL 24

Processing

Digital
Interface
Receiver

DF 2

96 kHz/

24-bit

DF 3

96 kHz/

24-bit

32-bit

floating

point

32-bit

floating

point

DF 4

96 kHz/

24-bit

Demodulator

A/D Converter

Master
Volume
Control

DAC 1

DSP 1 DSP 2

DAC 2

DAC 3

96kHz / 24-bit

96kHz / 24-bit

DAC 4

DAC 5

DAC 6

AC-3

Pro-Logic

Decoder

DTS

Decoder

THX

Processor

Surround

Simulator

Dynamic Discrete Surround Circuit-Digital Block Diagram

AVC-A1D

System Setup Menu Easy setting of speaker

configuration

User-friendly guide for
making settings

Adjusting the delay time

MOVIE MUSIC

Denon, the developer of the world's first A/V components that combined the
magic of Dolby Digital with Lucasfilm's THX 5.1 technology, now elevates the
performance standard with the new AVC-A1D A/V amplifier. Packed with virtu­ally every desirable feature for outstanding home theater and music surround
sound enjoyment, the AVC-A1D is the only A/V component that provides opti­mized surround sound for both movie soundtracks as well as discrete multi­channel music surround. Powered by the newest high speed dual 32-bit DSP
processors, the AVC-A1D includes Dolby Digital as well as DTS decoding, along
with Lucasfilm THX 5.1 post-processing, entirely in digital domain - the world's
first A/V amplifier with this capability.

The AVC-A1D is engineered for the future, with eight channel (7.1) inputs for
the future multi-channel formats, and 8 channel pre-amp outputs for a clear
system upgrade path. Able to accommodate virtually any present or future
source, the AVC-A1D provides component video switching along with "S" and
composite video switching, and nine digital inputs (including one for RF laser
disc). Premium 24-bit, 96-kHz DACs on all six channels with Denon's exclusive
24-bit Alpha processing for the main (L/R channels), and a THX Ultra-certified
five channel power amp section with an output of 140 watts per channel, all add
up to the best-sounding A/V component available today.

The First A/V Amplifier To Master Movies and Music

A/V SURROUND AMPLIFIER Dolby Digital AC-3 / DTS / THX 5.1 Certified