Parasound D-3 Owners manual

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

The lightning flash with the arrowhead symbol within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user
to the presence of “dangerous voltage” inside the product that may constitute a risk of electric shock.

The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is intended to alert the user to the presence
of important operating and maintenance instructions in the literature accompanying the product.

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER. NO USER-SERVICEABLE
PARTS INSIDE. REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL

1. Read Instructions — Read all the safety and operating instructions before operating this product.

2. Retain Instructions — Retain safety and operating instructions for future reference.

3. Heed Warnings — Adhere to all warnings on the product and in the operating instructions.

4. Follow Instructions — Follow all operating and use instructions.

5. Cleaning — Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Use a damp cloth for cleaning.
Clean the outside of the product only.

6. Attachments — Do not use attachments that are not recommended by the product manufacturer;
they may be hazardous.

7. Water and Moisture — Do not use this product near water.

8. Accessories — Do not place this product on an unstable cart or stand. The product may fall, causing
bodily injury and damage to the product. A product and cart combination should be moved with care.
Quick stops, excessive force, and uneven surfaces may cause the product and cart to overturn.

9. Ventilation — Slots and openings in the cabinet are provided for ventilation to ensure reliable operation of
the product and to protect it from overheating. These openings must not be blocked or covered. This product
should not be placed in a built-in installation such as a bookcase or rack unless proper ventilation is provided.

10. Power Sources — Operate this product only from the type of power source indicated on the label.
If you are not sure of the type of power supply to your home, consult your dealer or local power
company. This product is equipped with a three-prong grounding plug. This plug will only fit into a
grounding power outlet. If you are unable to insert the plug into the outlet, contact your electrician
to replace your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the grounding plug.

11. Power Cord Protection — Power supply cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be
walked on or pinched by items placed upon or against them.

12. Lightning — Unplug the unit from the wall outlet for added protection during a lightning storm
and when it is left unattended and unused for long periods of time. This will prevent damage to the
product due to lightning and power line surges.

13. Overloading — Do not overload wall outlets or extension cords. This can result in a fire or electric shock.

14. Inserting Objects into Unit — Never push objects of any kind into this product through any openings;
they may touch dangerous voltage points or short out parts that could result in fire or electric shock.

15. Servicing — Do not attempt to repair or service this product yourself. Opening or removing covers may
expose you to dangerous voltage and other hazards. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.

16. Damage Requiring Service — Unplug this product from the wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified
service personnel under the following conditions: a) If the power-supply cord or plug is damaged.
b) If liquid has been spilled into the product. c) If the product has been exposed to rain or water. d)
If the product does not operate normally by following the operating instructions. e) If the product has
been dropped or damaged in any way. f) If the product exhibits a distinct change in performance.

17. Replacement Parts — When replacement parts are required, be sure the service technician has used
replacement parts specified by the manufacturer. Unauthorized substitutions may result in fire, electric
shock, and other hazards.

18. Safety Check — Upon completion of any service or repairs to this product, ask the service technician
to perform safety checks to determine that the product is in proper operating condition.

19. Wall or Ceiling Mounting — Mount the product to a wall or ceiling only as recommended.

20. Heat — The product should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators, heat registers,
stoves, and other products (including amplifiers) that produce heat.

www.parasound.com

INTRODUCTION

OWNERSHIP REFERENCE INFORMATION

Parasound D 3 Disc Player Serial #:

Parasound Dealer:

/ /

Dealer Phone Number:

Date of Purchase:

( ) -

Thank You for Choosing Parasound

Your Parasound® D 3 is an advanced disc player with extraordinary performance capabilities.

We designed the D 3 to be very easy to set up and to operate. This manual is divided into two
sections. The first section describes connections and menu setup selections that will enable
you to play movies and CDs right away, even if you’ve had little or no previous experience with
audio-video components. The second section explains the advanced features that you may prefer
to use later or even ignore altogether.

We appreciate you taking the time to read these instructions and thank you for selecting
Parasound. For updates and corrections to this manual, we invite you to check our web site,

www.parasound.com

Enjoy.

The Parasound Staff

Keeping Records for Future Reference

Record the serial number located on the back panel of your D 3 in the space below. Also note
your Parasound Dealer’s name and telephone number. We recommend that you make a copy
of your original purchase receipt/bill of sale and store the original and the copy in a safe place.
Your purchase receipt/bill of sale is required to determine if your D 3 is eligible for Parasound
warranty service. We recommend you keep a copy with your original packaging.

3

You Should Know

There is no Parasound warranty for this unit if it was not purchased from an Authorized
Parasound Dealer. Investigate warranty coverage statements made by an unauthorized dealer
very carefully, as you will need to depend entirely upon your dealer, and NOT upon Parasound.

Unauthorized dealers lack the capability to make repairs or arrange for repairs of Parasound
equipment. Authorized Parasound Dealers are listed at www.parasound.com or you can call us
at 415-397-7100 between 8:30 am and 4:30 pm Pacific time to verify the status of a dealer.

A missing or altered serial number could indicate that this unit was sold by an unauthorized
dealer or is stolen merchandise. If this unit is missing its serial number, you should return it to
your dealer immediately for a full refund.

4

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Important Safety Instructions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Unpacking and Placement Guidelines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Rack Mounting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

Getting Started . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Connecting Your D 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8

Video Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9

Audio Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11

AC Voltage Switch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

IR Remote Repeater Input . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

RS-232 Serial Port . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Video and Audio connections for a Remote Zone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12

Power Up Your D 3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Navigating The Setup Menus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15

Video Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

HDMI Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

HDMI Format . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Video Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

Scan Type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17

TV Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

TV System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Black Level . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18

Audio Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Speaker Size . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Subwoofer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Front L & R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Center Speaker . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Surround L & R . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Crossover . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Distance Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20

Level Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

Test Tone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Audio Output . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Audio Out . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Late Night . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

DVD Audio Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

SACD Area . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

Language Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Other Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Angle Mark . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Screen Saver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Parental . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Password . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Momentary OSD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Background . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Restore Defualt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Advanced Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

5

Custom Video Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Preset Select . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Remote Control Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Typical Problems and Remedies . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29

If You Require Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Repairs: Return Authorization and Shipping . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Warranty Repair . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

Language Code Chart . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32

Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33

Connection and Setup Notes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34

6

UNPACKING YOUR D 3 AND PLACEMENT GUIDELINES

Unpacking Your D 3

Carefully unpack your D 3 from its shipping carton and locate all the enclosed accessories:

•

Remote control, two AAA batteries

•

AC power cord

•

Combination cord for two channel audio and composite video

While you are unpacking your D 3, inspect it thoroughly for possible shipping damage and tell
your Parasound dealer right away if you find any. If possible, save and store both the inner and
outer cartons and–most especially–the foam packing inserts, so you can use them to protect
the D 3 if you have to move it or ship it. You can flatten the cartons to save room in storage by
cutting the taped seams on the bottom flaps.

Placement Guidelines

The D 3 will be easy to use and will last longer if you follow these simple guidelines:

•

Place the D 3 on a shelf that will adequately support its weight.

•

Unless you’ll control the D 3 through a remote infrared sensor/repeater system, pick a shelf

where you can aim the remote control handset directly at the D 3. (If you do use remote repeater
sensors, be sure the remote’s signals can’t reach both the IR repeater’s sensor and the unit’s
front-panel sensors at the same time.)

If you’re installing the D 3 yourself, use cables that are long enough to leave at least two feet
of slack; that will enable you to pull the D 3 out of the cabinet to check or change connections
without inadvertently disconnecting cables. If you’re putting the D 3 in a cabinet, make sure
there’s grab space on each side; with a space that’s at least 22 inches wide, you’ll be able to turn
it around for access to its rear panel connections.

Rack Mounting Your Parasound D 3

With its four feet removed, the D 3’s front panel height occupies three rack spaces (51⁄4” or 133
mm—a single standard rack space occupies 13⁄4” vertical space.) For mounting in a standard 19”
equipment rack, you must use the Parasound HRA 3 rack mount kit (purchased separately). The
HRA 3 includes four bolts and eight plastic washers with raised “shoulders.”

Slide one washer onto each mounting bolt with its raised shoulder pointing toward the panel hole.

Carefully insert the bolt through the hole and slide the other washer on the bolt with its raised
shoulder facing the rear side of the panel. The washers will sandwich the D 3 panel and the four
mounting bolts to prevent metal-to-metal contact between the Model D 3 chassis, the equipment
rack, and the other components mounted in the rack.

Note: Tighten each bolt just
enough to keep the unit secure
in the rack to avoid deforming
the shoulder washers.

GETTING STARTED

To get the most out of your Halo D 3, you’ll need to know how to connect it to your other
components, how to set it up for your listening space and how to operate it. This manual is
organized in this order:

7

Connecting Your D 3: pages 8 – 12

This will show you how to make the video and audio connections that go between your Halo D 3
and your 5.1 channel or 7.1 channel surround controller (or AV receiver) and your TV. Which con­nections you make will depend on the capabilities of the other equipment in your audio system.

Setting Up Your D 3: pages 15 – 26

This section will show you how to make the selections in your D 3’s Setup Menu to match your
D 3 to your TV and your loudspeakers. You will also learn how to set up each channel to play at
the correct volume level and so that the sound from each channel reaches your seating position
at the correct time. You do not need to make all of these adjustments right away, so feel free to
enjoy your movies now and come back to this section at a later time.

Remote Control Functions: pages 27 – 28

Here you will learn about some of the more advanced buttons on your remote control.

Frequently Asked Questions: pages 29 – 30

There may be answers here if you can’t get something to work correctly. If you are still having
problems, please contact your dealer or call the Parasound Tech Department for technical support.
The telephone number and hours are shown on page 31.

8

CONNECTING YOUR D 3

Making Connections

The connector jacks on various components often have different names, so read the operating
instructions of each component to make sure you are identifying the correct jacks by the names
we use on the D 3 and in this manual.

Jacks on the units and the plugs on your video and audio cables are usually color coded to
simplify hookup. Be sure to connect the same color plugs to their corresponding jacks.

Don’t attach the D 3’s AC cord yet. You will do this after all the other connections are made.

CONNECTING YOUR D 3 continued

VIDEO CONNECTIONS

You should make the video connection between the D 3 and your TV first. It will be either direct
or via the video inputs on your surround controller (or AV receiver). A video connection is required
to view the D 3’s setup menu on your TV. This section will help you make the video connection.

The D 3 includes four different types of video outputs. All of the video outputs can be active
at the same time allowing you to use a combination of connections for a second TV or second
Zone. You will connect only one of the D 3 video outputs for your primary viewing area, or “main
zone.” Choose the best quality video output for which your TV has a matching input.

- HDMI provides the best picture quality. Only High Definition digital TVs include an HDMI input.

- Component video is the next best and consists of three separate cables.

- S-video is next, but it’s a big step down in picture quality from component video.

- Composite video is the lowest quality but is the most common type of connection.

9

HDMI Video Connections

Connect the HDMI Output connector of the D 3 to the HDMI INPUT connector on your TV using a
high quality HDMI-certified cable. If your TV does not have an HDMI or DVI connector you should
skip to “Component Video connections” on the next page.

HDMI connections are for the transmission of uncompressed wide bandwidth digital video and
stereo or multi-channel digital audio signals. HDMI data transmission is usually superior because
it avoids degradation from video digital-to-analog and analog-to-digital conversion, so what you
see and hear is a perfect reproduction of the disc being played.

“HDMI” will flash on the D 3’s front panel when an HDMI cable is not connected between the
D 3 and a TV or if your TV is turned off. If you are not using the HDMI output you can turn it off
in the Video setup menu and it will stop flashing.

Note: If you have more than one HDMI source component (such as a cable or satellite receiver,
or a game console) you may need to use an external HDMI switcher.

We strongly recommend the HDMI-certified Parasound Zhd five input switcher. You can find
details on the Zhd at www.parasound.com.

D 3 HDMI Output to a TV’s DVI Input

If your TV is equipped with a DVI input connector instead of an HDMI input connector you might
be able to use it with a commercially available HDMI-to-DVI adapter. Please make sure your TV’s
DVI Input supports HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection), otherwise it will not be
compatible with the D 3. If you plan to route the DVI signal through your surround controller’s or
AV receiver’s DVI input, it must also support HDCP.

Note: Many earlier model TVs with DVI inputs are not HDCP-compliant (digital copyright protection)
and will not operate with the D 3 HDMI output. Your TV’s owner’s manual or your TV dealer can
tell you if the TV is HDCP-compliant.

10

CONNECTING YOUR D 3 continued

No HDMI or DVI input on your TV?

If your TV does not have an HDMI input you will have to use one of the analog video
connections. These connections are Component, S-Video and Composite. Choose the
highest quality connection that your TV has.

Component Video Connections
If your TV doesn’t have an input for HDMI or DVI

This is a three-cable connection that must use cables that are made for video. The three Component
Video jacks are identified with red, green, and blue colors. The component video cable’s plugs are
usually color-coded to help you connect the same color jacks on the D 3 and your TV.

Connect either set of the Component Video Out 1 or 2 jacks on your D 3 to the three
corresponding Component Video Input jacks on your TV or your surround controller/receiver.

The Component Video Out 1 jacks are standard RCA type and the Component Video Out 2
jacks are higher quality, more robust, BNC jacks.

S-Video Connections
If your TV doesn’t have an input for HDMI, DVI or Component Video

Connect either the S-Video 1 or 2 Out jack on your D 3 to the S-VIDEO input jack of your
surround controller/receiver or TV. The S-Video 1 and 2 Out jacks carry the same video signal,
enabling connection of two TVs.

Note: Connect the S-Video jacks only if you do not use either the Component Video or
Composite Video connections.

Composite Video Connections
If your TV doesn’t have an input for HDMI, DVI, Component Video or S-Video

Connect either the Composite Video 1 or 2 Out jack on your D 3 to the Composite VIDEO
(or sometimes called simply VIDEO) input jack of your surround sound controller/receiver or TV. The
Composite Video 1 and 2 Out jacks carry the same video signal, enabling connection of two TVs.

Note: Connect the Composite Video jacks only if you do not use either the Component Video
or S-Video connections. An exception is if you are using the remote, Zone B, feature on a
Parasound C 1, C 2 or Model 7100 7.1 Channel Surround Controller.

Note: All of the analog video connections are active simultaneously.

CONNECTING YOUR D 3 continued

AUDIO CONNECTIONS
TO YOUR SURROUND CONTROLLER OR RECEIVER

There are four types of audio output connections, unbalanced analog, balanced analog,
digital and HDMI. The proper connection will depend on your audio system’s capabilities.

Analog Audio Outputs

5.1 Channel Analog Audio Outputs

Connect these jacks to the corresponding channel input jacks of your
surround controller or AV receiver. These connections are required to
reproduce high resolution multi-channel DVD-A (DVD Audio) and SACD
recordings because full resolution is not available via the HDMI or Digital
Coaxial or Optical outputs. If you do not plan on listening to DVD-A or SACD
discs you do not need to use these jacks.

Note: The D 3 supports HDMI 1.1 which does not
include playback of SACD audio over HDMI.

Unbalanced Stereo Outputs

These jacks can connect to a second stereo preamp or receiver or to the remote
Zone audio input jacks on a Parasound 7.1 Channel Surround Controller. They
carry the same signals as the 5.1 Analog Audio Output L and R jacks.

Note: You will not hear any dialog from the stereo outputs when playing a DVD
recorded with surround sound, unless you selected NONE for the center speaker
in the Audio setup menu. For information on the Audio setup menu see page 19.

11

Balanced Stereo Outputs

Recording and broadcast studios use balanced connections almost exclusively because of their
inherent ability to reject noise and hum, even with long cable runs.

The balanced XLR jacks on the D 3 are wired according to the
AES standard: pin 1 shield, pin 2 + (positive), pin 3 – (negative
or “return”). Should you need to connect the D 3’s XLR jacks
to the unbalanced RCA jacks on another component, you can
make an adapter cable by wiring an unbalanced cable’s shield
to pin 1 on an XLR connector, wiring the unbalanced cable’s
center conductor to pin 2, and leaving pin 3 unconnected.

Digital Outputs

Connect either the Digital Coaxial jack or the Optical connector (Toslink) to one
of the Coaxial or Optical inputs on your surround controller or receiver. This is your
primary audio connection for use with DVD movies and CDs. When using the
Coaxial output, make sure to use a digital cable that is made for this purpose; a
standard audio cable will not pass digital signals correctly. Toslink cables are fragile;
be very careful not to bend the fiber optic cable sharply.

Note: The D 3 Coaxial or Optical digital outputs do not carry DVD Audio and SACD
digital audio signals. To play multi-channel DVD Audios and SACDs, you should also
connect the 5.1 Ch Audio Output jacks.