Polk RMDS-1 Owners manual

INSTRUCTION

MANUAL

RMDS-1

RMDS-1

Polk customer service [phone]

2

Table of contents

Safety Warnings ..........................................................................4

RMDS-1 Features........................................................................5

Carton Contents ..........................................................................6

Quick Start Guide ........................................................................6

Rear Panels Guide ......................................................................7

System Hook Up, Overview Illustrations ..................................8, 9

Hooking Up the System ........................................................10-13

Radio Antennas..........................................................................10

DVD Player................................................................................10

DSS Receivers ..........................................................................11

VCR ..........................................................................................11

CD Player ..................................................................................11

Audio Tape Deck........................................................................11

Laserdisc Player........................................................................12

Television/Monitor ....................................................................12

Subwoofer ................................................................................12

Speakers ..................................................................................13

AC Power ..................................................................................13

Speaker Placement....................................................................14

Wall Mounting Satellites............................................................15

Preamp/Processor Front Panel Guide..................................16, 17

Remote Control Guide..........................................................18, 19

Calibration (optional) ..........................................................20, 21

How to Use the System ........................................................22, 23

About Surround Sound ..............................................................24

Multi-Room Hook Up and Use ....................................................25

Troubleshooting, Maintenance and Service ..........................26, 27

Warranty ..................................................................................27

Overall System Hookup........................................................28, 29

Specifications............................................................................30

A word from Matthew Polk

Dear Home Entertainment Buff,

Thank you for purchasing the Polk Audio RM Digital Solution.
Your new Polk home theater system includes the latest technolo­gies to assure outstanding performance and enjoyment. While we
designed the RM Digital Solution system to be very easy to set up
and use, please read this manual thoroughly for information on
getting the greatest enjoyment from your new system.

Designing high quality audio products is more than just a busi­ness for the people of Polk Audio—it is our passion. We are all
dedicated to your complete satisfaction and delight.

Should you have any problem or question regarding this or any
Polk Audio product, consult your Polk Audio dealer or call our
Customer Service Department at 1-800-377-7655 from 9am to
6pm, Eastern Time, Monday through Friday.

Sincerely,

Matthew S. Polk

About Polk Audio—A History of Excellence

Polk Audio was founded in 1972 by Matthew Polk and George
Klopfer. Their dream was to make speakers with the performance
of the world’s best speakers, but at reasonable prices. Today, Polk
Audio is still headquartered in Baltimore, Maryland, and is one
of the world’s largest manufacturers of loudspeakers for home,
office and car. Polk’s research has yielded over 20 patents for
advances in loudspeaker performance and value. Polk speakers
have earned the praise of audio experts the world over, as well
as dozens of awards for innovative, high-quality design. Polk
Audio speakers are sold in over 50 countries and in audio/video
specialist retail locations throughout the US.

Even if you don’t have the room for full-size home theater

speakers, you still deserve great sound. This is the theory behind

the development of “subwoofer/satellite” systems, whose coffee-

cup-sized satellites can be placed conveniently and invisibly

almost anywhere. These systems produce remarkable sound for

their size, but even the best “sub/sat” systems have never quite

equaled the performance of full-size speakers.

Knowing this, we set out to develop the ultimate “sub/sat” system.

One with the convenience of a “sub/sat” system, and the

performance you expect from Polk Audio.

Ultimately, we found that the only way to achieve our

goal was to design not only the speaker system but the

preamp, surround processor, and amplifiers as well.

By optimizing the speakers and electronics for each

other we achieved a much higher level of performance than any

previous sub/sat system!

When we were finished, we found we had created something

entirely new: a no-compromise sub/sat surround system with all

of the electronics for a high-performance Dolby Digital home

theatre—integrated into a single, complete system.

We call it the RM Digital Solution: “An Intelligent A/V Pre-amp

Processor and High Performance Loudspeaker System.” With

the RMDS-1, you have everything you need—except sources.

There’s no need to choose a receiver or separate surround

processor or multi-channel power amplifier. With the RMDS-1

you already have them. They’re built-in. And, most importantly,

you know that they were designed specifically for each other to

deliver no-compromise performance.

You don’t need an advanced degree in digital electronics to get the

most out of this system. We’ve done the work for you. The RMDS-1

is a complete system. Everything is pre-optimized to achieve

the best possible performance. No complicated

setup procedures are required.

Simply plug everything in, and enjoy!

SIMPLY COMPLETE HOME THEATER:

T

HE RM DIGITAL SOLUTION

P

ERFORMANCE

C

ONVENIENCE

S

IMPLICITY

www.polkaudio.com

3

Polk customer service [phone]

4

NOTE TO CATV SYSTEM INSTALLER:

This reminder is provided to call the CATV (Cable-TV) system installer's attention to Article
820-40 of the NEC, that provides guidelines for proper grounding and, in particular, specified
that the cable ground shall be connected to the grounding system of the building, as close to
the point of cable entry as practical.

NOTE:

This equipment has been tested and found to comply with the limits for a Class B digital device,
pursuant to Part 15 of the FCC Rules. These limits are designed to provide reasonable
protection against harmful interference in a residential installation. This equipment generates,
uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with
the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio communications. However, there is
no guarantee that interference will not occur in a particular installation.
If this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, which can be
determined by tuning the equipment off and on, the user is encouraged to try to correct the
interference by one or more of the following measures:

• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.

• Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.

• Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different from that to which the
receiver is connected.

• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician for help.

NOTE:

Changes or modifications may cause this unit to fail to comply with Part 15 of the FCC Rules
and may void the user’s authority to operate the equipment.

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
READ BEFORE OPERATING EQUIPMENT

These products were designed and manufactured to meet strict quality and safety standards. There
are, however, some installation and operation precautions which you should be particularly aware of.

1. Read Instructions-All the safety and operating instructions should be read before the
system is operated.

2. Retain Instructions-The safety and operating instructions should be retained for future reference.

3. Heed Warnings-All warnings on the appliances and in the operating instructions should be adhered to.

4. Follow Instructions-All operating and use instructions should be followed.

5. Cleaning-Unplug the appliances from wall outlets before cleaning. Do not use liquid cleaners or
aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for cleaning.

6. Attachments-Do not use attachments not recommended by the product manufacturer as they
may cause hazards.

7. Water and Moisture-Do not use these appliances near water-for example, near a bath tub, wash
bowl, kitchen sink, or laundry tub, in a wet basement, or near a swimming pool, and the like.

8. Accessories-Do not place these appliances on an unstable cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table. The
audio/video products may fall, causing serious injury to a child or adult, and serious damage to the
products. Use only with a cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table recommended by the manufacturer, or
sold with the appliances. Any mounting of the appliances should follow the manufacturer’s
instructions, and should use mounting accessories recommended by the manufacturer.

9. Ventilation-Slots and openings in the cabinet are provided for ventilation and to ensure reliable
operation of the appliances and to protect them from overheating, and these openings must not be
blocked or covered. The openings should never be blocked by placing the products on a bed, sofa,
rug, or other similar surface. These products should never be placed near or over a radiator or heat
register. These products should not be placed in a built-in installation such as a bookcase or rack
unless proper ventilation is provided or the manufacturer’s instructions have been adhered to.

10. Power Sources-These products should be operated only from the type of power source indicated
on the marking labels. If you are not sure of the type of power supply to your home, consult your
appliance dealer or local power company. For video products intended to operate from battery power,
or other sources, refer to the operating instructions.

11. Grounding or Polarization-These products are equipped with polarized alternating-current line
plugs (plugs having one blade wider than the other). This plug will fit into the power outlet only one
way. This is a safety feature. If you are unable to insert the plug fully into the outlet, try reversing the
plug. If the plug should still fail to fit, contact your electrician to replace your obsolete outlet. Do not
defeat the safety purpose of the polarized plug.

12. 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, paying particular attention to cords at
plugs, convenience receptacles, and the point where
they exit from the appliances.

13. Outdoor Antenna Grounding-If an outside
antenna or cable system is connected to the

product, be sure the antenna or cable system is
grounded so as to provide some protection against voltage surges and built up static charges.
Section 810 of the National Electrical Code, ANSI/NFPA No. 70-1984, provides information with
respect to proper grounding of the mast and supporting structure, grounding of the lead-in wire to an
antenna discharge unit, size of grounding conductors, location of antenna-discharge unit, connection
to grounding electrodes, and requirements for the grounding electrode.

14. Lightning-For added protection for these audio/video products during a lightning storm, or when
they are left un-attended and unused for long periods of time, unplug them from the wall outlet and
disconnect the antenna or cable system. This will prevent damage to the products due to lightning
and power-line surges.

15. Power Lines-An outside antenna system should not be located in the vicinity of overhead power
lines or other electric light or power circuits, or where it can fall into such power lines or circuits.
When installing an outside antenna system, extreme care should be taken to keep from touching
such power lines or circuits as contact with them might be fatal.

16. Overloading-Do not overload wall outlets and extension cords as this can result in a risk of fire or
electric shock.

17. Object and Liquid Entry-Never push objects of any kind into these products through openings as
they may touch dangerous voltage points or short-out parts that could result in a fire or electric
shock. Never spill liquid of any kind on these audio/video products.

18. Servicing-Do not attempt to service these products yourself as opening or removing
covers may expose you to dangerous voltage or other hazards. Refer all servicing to qualified
service personnel.

19. Damage Requiring Service-Unplug these products from wall outlets and refer servicing to
qualified service personnel under the following conditions:
a. When the power-supply cord or plug is damaged.
b. If liquid has been spilled, or objects have fallen into the products
c. If the products have been exposed to rain or water.
d. If the products do not operate normally by following the operating instructions. Adjust only those
controls that are covered by the operating instructions as an improper adjustment of other controls
may result in damage and will often require extensive work by a qualified technician to restore the
product to its normal operation.
e. If the product has been dropped or the cabinet has been damaged.
f. When the product exhibits a distinct change in performance-this indicates a need for service.

20. Replacement Parts-When replacement parts are required, be sure the service technician has used
replacement parts specified by the manufacturer or have the same characteristics as the original part.
Unauthorized substitutions may result in fire, electric shock or other hazards.

21. Safety Check-Upon completion of any service or repairs to these products, ask the service
technician to perform safety checks to determine that the products are in proper operating condition.

22. Carts and Stands-The appliances should be used only with a cart or stand that is
recommended by the manufacturer.

23. An appliance and cart combination should be moved with care. Quick stops, excessive force, and
uneven surfaces may cause the appliance and cart combination to overturn.

See Figure 1.

Figure 1.

EXAMPLE OF ANTENNA GROUNDING

ACCORDING TO NATIONAL ELECTRICAL

CODE INSTRUCTIONS CONTAINED IN

ARTICLE 810 -“RADIO AND TELEVISION EQUIPMENT”

GROUND
CLAMP

ELECTRIC
SERVICE
EQUIPMENT

NEC - NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE

ANTENNA
LEAD IN
WIRE

ANTENNA
DISCHARGE UNIT
(NEC SECTION 810-20)

GROUNDING CONDUCTORS
(NEC SECTION 810-21)

GROUND CLAMPS

POWER SERVICE GROUNDING
ELECTRODE SYSTEM
(NEC ART 250, PART H)

www.polkaudio.com

5

• You want to enjoy a home theater system, not have it take over your home.
The RMDS-1 features 5 compact satellite speakers that easily integrate into
any room. They’re easy to hide but look great when visible. You can even
hang them on the wall with the supplied wall mount brackets

. (Center

brackets not supplied.)

• The RMDS-1 is a fully integrated and performance optimized

system.
That means all the parts were designed together for a single purpose:
to bring you the highest performance satellite/subwoofer system in the world.

• Got a big room to fill? Not to worry. The RMDS-1 has a high power 6
channel power amplifier

built right into the subwoofer enclosure.
This is an honest-to-goodness, beefy high-end power amp with all the
features that send audiophiles into rapture: high current, discrete
circuits, dynamic headroom... But forget the jargon, this system plays
loud and clean without strain even in large rooms.

• The RMDS-1 also includes one of the world’s most sophisticated
digital surround sound processors, which hooks up to the power
amplifiers with a single convenient cable.

• Plug’n’Play

– the preamp/processor is pre-configured for the speakers
to bring you high performance right out of the box, without the need for
complicated set-up procedures.

• The perfectly matched front, rear, and center speakers ensure
seamless blending and lifelike surround sound effects. You’ll feel like
you are part of the action rather than a distant observer.

• Home theater is a group experience. The RMDS-1 speakers were
designed to deliver broad, even dispersion

of full-response sound
throughout the room. Everyone hears clean, clear dialog music and
sound effects.

• Some CDs have too much bass, some have too little. The same is
true for movies. Most people like to adjust bass volume from CD to CD,
movie to movie. We put the subwoofer volume control on the remote
to make it easy for you to get the right amount of bass without
leaving your chair.

• Half of the world is looking for the meaning of life. The other half is
looking for better bass. (This is as good as humor gets in the audio
business.) If you are part of the latter group, we’ve got the subwoofer
for you. The RMDS-1 subwoofer uses our patented Power Port bass
venting system to deliver deep, powerful bass with low distortion.
Your friends will be green with envy.

• Most folks like more bass on movies than music. With the RMDS-1,
once you have set subwoofer level for each surround mode, the
system remembers and returns to that setting

. We call this feature
subwoofer/source memory. If you are watching a DVD and you select a
bass level of -7, then switch to a CD in stereo and change the bass setting
to -10, the system will return to a bass setting of -7 when you go back to
the surround mode. We love this feature. We think you will too.

• Simple, intuitive operation

. Everyone in the house, from kids to
grandparents, can enjoy ultra high-performance home theater
entertainment without reading this dopey manual.

• You have lots of potential entertainment sources. The RMDS-1 has
enough analog and digital audio inputs to hook up any source

– DVD,

Laserdisc, VCR, DSS, Tape, CD, Camcorder, and Cable TV.

• The RMDS-1 has three digital inputs, including an RF input, for laserdisc
players with an AC-3 RF output, plus two other digital inputs for a DVD
player and the latest Dolby Digital capable satellite TV (DSS) receivers.

• The RMDS-1 comes with audiophile-grade cables

with gold plated

connectors for hooking up all the parts of the RMDS-1 system.

• Is picture quality as important to you as the quality of sound? You’re
going to appreciate that the RMDS-1 offers S V

ideo inputs and outputs
in addition to standard composite video. S video cables provide better
picture detail than conventional video cables.

• Would you like music in another room? No problem. The RMDS-1 has
independent Multi-Room stereo pre-amp outputs

that allow you to hear
one source in a remote room while a different source is playing in the
main room. (Requires optional external stereo integrated amplifier and
speakers for the second zone.)

RMDS-1 FEATURES

Polk customer service [phone]

6

Carton Contents

Your new Polk Audio RM Digital Solution system comes in two
cartons. If you do not have any of the pieces listed below,
or if any component seems damaged, contact your Polk Audio
retailer immediately.

Carton 1:

One (1) RMDS-1 Preamp/Processor
One (1) Infrared remote control
Two (2) AA batteries for remote
Four (4) RM front and surround satellite speakers
One (1) RM center channel satellite speaker
Four (4) satellite wall-mount brackets with screws
Twenty (20) adhesive-backed rubber pads
Three (3) 20' (6M) speaker cables
Two (2) 40’ (12M) speaker cables
One (1) 4 Meter DB-25 interconnect cable
One (1) 4 Meter DB-25 interconnect cable
One (1) FM antenna wire
One (1) AM loop antenna

Carton 2:

One (1) RMDS-1 subwoofer with integrated 6 channel
power amplifier
One (1) IEC-type AC power cable

Quick Start Guide (see illustrations on pages 8 and 9)

1. Remove all of the components and accessories from the
shipping cartons.

2. Connect sources such as DVD player, VCR, etc. to the RMDS-1
audio and video inputs using coaxial (RCA-type) cables.

3. Connect the video output of the RMDS-1 preamp/processor to a
video input on your TV.

4. Connect the RMDS-1 to the subwoofer with the supplied 4
meter DB-25 cable.

5. Using the supplied speaker wires, connect the speakers to the
speaker terminals on the back of the subwoofer. Be sure to
maintain correct polarity ( + to +, - to -) on all channels. The wire
with the black band should always be connected to the black ( - )
terminal and the wire with the color band should always be
connected to the red ( + ) terminal.

6. Plug the AC cord that was in the subwoofer box into the AC
receptacle on the subwoofer.

7. Plug the AC cords from the preamp/processor and subwoofer
into 120V/60 Hz AC power outlets.

8. Turn the power switch on the subwoofer to the "Standby"
position.

9. Press the power button on the preamp/processor front panel or
remote control.

10. Select the input of your choice.

11. Set volume and bass level to taste and enjoy!

GETTING STARTED

RMDS

VCR

TV

DVD

SUBWOOFER

CABLE

COAX1

DIGITAL

STEREOTEST MEMO AUTO

PCM

power ———— standby

source

on/off

surround

multi-room

tune

save
preset

clear

presets

TUNED

OPT NIGHT

PROLOGIC

P-SCANSTEREO

MULTICOAX2

db

kHz
MHz

DOLBY

DIGITAL

RM DIGITAL SOLUTION

INTELLIGENT A/V PREAMP/PROCESSOR/LOUDSPEAKER SYSTEM

aux. inputs S-video

volume

video L..audio..R

BASIC SETUP

www.polkaudio.com

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Area A - Antenna Connections

This is where you hook up indoor or outdoor antennas for AM and FM
radio reception.

Area B - Audio Analog Inputs/Outputs

This is where connections are made for the analog audio outputs of
sources such as CD player, DVD player, tape deck, etc. It is a good idea
to connect the analog outputs of all sources, even sources such as DVD
and Laserdisc players that have digital audio connections. Doing so
allows the use of digital sources for multi-room sound.

Area C - Multi-Room Outputs

These jacks allow you to use the sources (CD player, tape deck, etc.)
connected to the RMDS-1 as sources of sound in another room. See the
section on “Using Multi Room” on page 25 of this manual.

Area D - Video Inputs/Outputs

These jacks are used to feed the video signals of video players such as
VCR and DVD into the preamp/processor and then out to your TV. This
allows you to switch audio and video at the same time. For example,
when you want to switch from watching the VCR to watching the DVD,
you only have to push one button on the RMDS-1 remote instead of two
(one to switch audio on the RMDS-1 remote and one to switch video on
the TV remote).

There are two kinds of video jacks on the RMDS-1: standard
“composite,” and S-VHS (or S-video). If a video source and your TV have
S video connectors, use them; you will get a picture with more detail.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you connect a video source to the RMDS-1 with
an S-video cable, you must connect the TV to the RMDS-1 with an S­video cable, or you will not see the picture on your TV. See “Connection

Precautions” on page 10.

Area E - Digital Inputs

This is where you connect sources with digital audio outputs, such as
DVD, 12" Laserdisc, and digital DSS receivers.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The input jack labeled “LD RF” is for a Dolby
Digital RF signal from a 12" Laserdisc player only. Do not connect
a normal audio output terminal or the digital coaxial output of a
DVD player or any other source to the “LD RF” jack. You will
damage the RMDS-1 if you do.

Area F - Remote Control Extension jacks

These jacks are for potential future Polk Audio products. When we bring
out other electronic products, these jacks will help you unify the remote
control functions of the RMDS-1 and the new device.

Area G - Multi-pin Connectors

(on Preamp/Processor and Subwoofer)

These may look like connectors for computer printers, but they are not.
This is the way the 6 channels of sound get from the preamp/processor
to the 6 amplifiers that are built in to the subwoofer enclosure. We even
supply the cable.

Area H - Speaker Connections

(on Subwoofer)

This is where you hook up the speakers to the built-in amplifiers.

Area I - AC Outlets

Connect the power cables of components such as a cassette deck and
CD player to these outlets. The one marked UNSWITCHED is always
live as long as The RMDS-1 is plugged into a live outlet. A component
connected here may be left on permanently, or may be switched off
with its own power switch. Caution: In order to avoid potential turn-off
thumps, anything plugged in here should be turned on before

the

RMDS-1 is turned on.

The outlet marked SWITCHED only delivers power if the RMDS-1 is on.
This is a good place to plug in any component that you want to turn on
and off along with the RMDS-1 system. Check the AC power rating of
the components you want to plug into these outlets. If either component
draws more than 0.8 Amperes

of current, do not use these outlets.

Plug the component directly into a wall socket or power strip.

Area J - Subwoofer AC functions

(on Subwoofer)

Once everything else is hooked up, set the switch to the “Standby”
position. If the system fails to function, disconnect the subwoofer’s
power cord from the AC outlet, remove and inspect the fuse. Replace
with 7.5A Slow Blow 250V fuse only.

Area K - Pilot light

(on Subwoofer)

When the subwoofer is plugged in to a live AC outlet and the
power switch (J) is set to “Standby” this light will glow red while
the preamp/processor is “off,” and green when the preamp
processor is “on.”

REAR PANEL GUIDED TOUR

Right

ANALOG
AUDIO
INPUTS

Left

CD

TAPEInTAPE Rec.

Out

DSS LD DVD

VCR Rec.

Out

VCR

In

ANTENNA

DSS

(out)

(in)

REMOTE
CONTROL
EXTENSION

AC OUTLET
SWITCHED

120V,60HZ
100W,0.8A

AC OUTLET
UNSWITCHED

120V,60HZ
100W,0.8A

DIGITAL AUDIO INPUTS

DVD

LD
RF

FRONT

SPEAKER OUTPUT

CENTER

SPEAKER OUTPUT

SURROUND

SPEAKER OUTPUT

L R

AUDIO INPUT

L

R

Multi-Room
Output

FM(75Ω) GROUND AM

VIDEO
INPUTS

DSS

S-VHS

OR

Standard

LD DVD

VCR Rec.

Out

VCR
Input

Video
TV out

AUDIO OUT (connect to subwoofer)

H

Polk customer service [phone]

8

DIGITAL OUT
AUDIO

VIDEO
OUT

FM ANTENNA

AM LOOP ANTENNA

IN OUT

VIDEO IN

L AUDIO

VIDEO

VIDEO

L AUDIO

R AUDIO

R AUDIO

TV

DVD PLAYER

VCR

RMDS

CONNECTS TO

SUBWOOFER

Right

ANALOG
AUDIO
INPUTS

Left

CD

TAPEInTAPE Rec.

Out

DSS LD DVD

VCR Rec.

Out

VCR

In

ANTENNA

DSS

(out)

(in)

REMOTE
CONTROL
EXTENSION

AC OUTLET
SWITCHED

120V,60HZ
100W,0.8A

AC OUTLET
UNSWITCHED

120V,60HZ
100W,0.8A

DIGITAL AUDIO INPUTS

DVD

LD
RF

Multi-Room
Output

FM(75Ω) GROUND AM

VIDEO
INPUTS

DSS

S-VHS

OR

Standard

LD DVD

VCR Rec.

Out

VCR

Input

Video
TV out

AUDIO OUT (connect to subwoofer)

VHF/UHF

CABLE TV

BASIC SYSTEM HOOK UP

www.polkaudio.com

9

FRONT

SPEAKER OUTPUT

CENTER

SPEAKER OUTPUT

SURROUND

SPEAKER OUTPUT

L R

AUDIO INPUT

L

R

SUBWOOFER

RIGHT SURROUND

RIGHT FRONT

LEFT FRONT

LEFT SURROUND

CENTER

CONNECTS TO PROCESSOR

SPEAKER HOOK UP

Polk customer service [phone]

10

Connection Precautions

• Do not plug the preamp/processor or subwoofer into AC outlets until
all the connections have been made.

• When connecting sources, use either standard composite (good) or S
Video (better) throughout. Do not use both composite and S Video
connections. Use the same type of connection between the RMDS-1 and
your TV.

• Connect one cable at a time observing the “input” and “output.”
This will avoid any cross connection between channels and signal
inputs and outputs.

• Insert the plugs securely. Incomplete connections may result in noise
or signal loss.

• We’ve included high quality pre-cut and terminated speaker wire,
and a 25-pin processor-subwoofer cable. To hook up your sources, we
recommend the use of high quality audio and video connecting cables.
See your Polk Audio dealer for specific recommendations.

• Prior to connecting other audio and video equipment to the RMDS-1,
please read their owners’ manuals.

Connecting Radio Antennas

Connect the supplied FM wire antenna to the FM (75 Ohm) F-type
connector. For better reception connect an indoor or outdoor FM antenna.

The Polk RMDS-1 comes supplied with an AM loop antenna that
connects to the GROUND and AM terminals as illustrated. To use those
terminals, unscrew the tabs and insert the antenna’s bare wires into
the holes, then tighten the tabs. To find the best place to put the
AM antenna, tune in a local AM radio station (see page 22) and
move the AM loop antenna around until you get the clearest
reception. You can secure the antenna to a wall or the inside
wall of an equipment cabinet with screws.

Connecting a DVD Player

Connect the coaxial digital output of the DVD player to
the DVD DIGITAL INPUT of the RMDS-1 preamp/processor.
We recommend that you also connect the Left and Right analog
outputs of the DVD player to the analog audio DVD inputs of the
RMDS-1 using RCA connectors. This will allow you to tape record
the audio output of the DVD player and use the DVD player as an
audio source for a remote room.

Connect either the composite video or the S-video output of the DVD
player to the corresponding DVD video input of the RMDS-1.

Do not use both composite and S-video connections. If you use
S-video connections here, you must connect your TV to the RMDS-1
preamp/processor with an S-video cable in order to get a picture
with this input. If your DVD player has “component” video outputs

(three jacks), you must connect those directly to a TV that has
corresponding “component” video inputs.

A very few DVD players do not have a coaxial (RCA type) digital output
but only an optical cable output. In that case, hook up the DVD player into
the DSS optical digital and analog audio and video inputs. Select “DSS”
when you want to use your DVD player.

OPTION: If the DVD player is also being used as a CD player and there is
no other CD player in the system, you may want to plug the analog audio
outputs of the DVD player into the analog CD inputs rather than the
analog DVD inputs. This allows you to set one bass level for stereo and
another bass level for surround. When you play a CD in the DVD player,
push the CD button on the remote and you will hear the CD with the
amount of bass you previously selected. When you play a DVD movie,
push the DVD button on the remote and you’ll automatically hear the DVD
with the bass level set to another previously set level (generally higher).
The one downside of this hook-up is that you will not be able to record
DVD movies to your VCR. That is copyright infringement and you
shouldn’t be doing it anyway. Don’t you read those FBI warnings at

HOOKING UP THE SYSTEM

ANTENNA

FM(75Ω) GROUND AM

FM ANTENNA

AM LOOP ANTENNA

RMDS

ANALOG AUDIO OUT

STEREO DSS RECEIVER

(See next page)

DIGITAL OUT
AUDIO

VIDEO
OUT

LEFT

RIGHT

DVD PLAYER

AUDIO OUT

VIDEO OUT

RMDS

Right

ANALOG
AUDIO
INPUTS

Left

CD

TAPEInTAPE Rec.

Out

DSS LD DVD

VCR Rec.

Out

VCR

In

ANTENNA

DSS

(out)

(in)

REMOTE
CONTROL
EXTENSION

DIGITAL AUDIO INPUTS

DVD

LD
RF

Multi-Room
Output

FM(75Ω) GROUND AM

VIDEO
INPUTS

DSS

S-VHS

OR

Standard

LD DVD

VCR Rec.

Out

VCR
Input

Video
TV out