Sony SA-VA15 User Manual

Home Theater

Active Speaker System

3-800-386-23(1)

Operating instructions

SA-VA15

© 1995 by Sony Corporation

WARNING

To prevent fire or shock

hazard, do not expose the
unit to rain or moisture.

- Reorient or relocate the receiving
antenna.

- Increase the separation between the
equipment and receiver.

- Cormect 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.

Welcome!

Thank you for purchasing a Sony speaker
system.
Before operating the unit, please read this
manual thoroughly and retain it for
future reference.

CAUTION

A

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

CAUTION: TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC

DO NOT REMOVE COVER (OR BACK).

NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.

REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE

SHOCK,

PERSONNEL.

A

A

This symbol is intended to alert the user
to the presence of uninsulated
"dangerous voltage" within the products
enclosure that may be of sufficient
magnitude to constitute a risk of electric
shock to persons.

This symbol is intended to alert the user
to the presence of important operating
and maintenance (servicing) instructions
in the literature accompanying the
appliance.

IMPORTANT

This equipment has been tested and
found to comply with the limits for a
Qass B digital device, pursuant to Part 15
of the FCC Rules.
These limits are designed to provide
reasoimble protection agaitrst 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
turning the equipment off and on, the
user is encouraged to try to correct the
interference by one or more of the
following measures:

CAUTION

You are cautioned that any change or
modifications not expressly approved in
this manual could void your authority to
operate this equipment

Owner's record

The model and serial numbers are located
on the rear of the unit Record the serial
number in the space provided below.
Refer to them whenever you call upon
your Sony dealer regarding this product.

Model No. SA-VA15
Serial No.

For the customers in Canada CAUTION

TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO
NOT USE THIS POLARIZro AC PLUG
WITH AN EXTENSION СОГО,
RECEPTACLE OR OTHER OUTLET
UNLESS THE BLADES CAN BE FULLY
INSERTED TO PREVENT BLADE
EXPOSURE.

________________

About This Manual

The instructions in this manual describe
the controls on the left speaker. You can
also use the controls on the remote if they
have the same or sinular names as those
on the left speaker.

• The following icotrs are used in this
manual:

Indicates that you can use the
remote to do the task.

1

Indicates hints and tips for

* making the task easier.

This speaker system incorporates the
Dolby Pro Logic Surround System.*

’ Manufactured under license from

Dolby Laboratories Licensing
Corporation. Additionally licensed
under Canadian patent number
1,037,877. "Dolby," the double-D
symbol m and "Pro Logic" are
trademarks of Dolby Laboratories
Licensing Corporation.

Table of contents

Overview 4

Getting Started

Precautions 6
Unpacking 6
Installing the Speaker Stands 7
Choosing the Best Location 7
Speaker System Hookups 8
Audio Component Hookups 9

Home Theater Operations

Enjoying Surround Sound 10
Adjusting the Surround Sound 11
Adjusting the Sound 12
Using an External Center Speaker 12

Additional Information

Troubleshooting 13
Specifications 13
Glossary 14
Index 14

The SA-VA15 is an active home-theater speaker system
incorporating a Dolby Pro Logic decoder and super
woofer speakers. Its design features include easy
connection to your current TV/VCR setup. You can
connect this speaker system without having to
reconnect the cords of your TV and VCR. Also, you

don't have to connect a center speaker to optimize the
surround effects. Easy operation via the supplied
remote ensures maximum enjoyment of the home­theater sound this system provides.

Three different types of surround sound accommodate a variety of program sources

Dolby Surround (Pro Logic) mode

Lets you enjoy superb theater-like presence and
surround effects in your home when playing back
video software encoded with the Dolby Surround
system.

HALL surround mode

Provides a sense of presence similar to that of an open­air stadium. Ideal for maximum enjoyment of
broadcasts of sporting events like football.

SIMULATED surround mode

Creates simulated stereo surround effects from

monaural sound sources, like old movies or monaural
TV shows.

Overview

Built-in center speakers let you enjoy Dolby Pro Logic Surround sound

The use of a center speaker is a key factor in obtaining
a full surround effect when playing sources encoded
with the Dolby Pro Logic Surround sound system.
Center speakers in a movie theater make central
sounds, such as dialogue, clearer and create a unified
sound image.
Normally, you have to install a center speaker
separately, but this speaker system makes it easy to set
up a high-performance home theater system by
incorporating a high-quality center speaker system into
the front speakers.

In addition, rear speakers are also provided with this
system to create a complete home-theater that lets you
enjoy the maximum surround effect.

Top view

tweeters

Dynamic Bass Roar (DBR) super woofer system provides theater-like bass sound

To provide a theater-like experience complete with
dynamic bass sounds, this speaker system incorporates
the Super Acoustically-loaded Woofer (SAW) design
(see below) in the left and right front speakers to form
a DBR super woofer system.

What is the SAW design?

The SAW design features a centrally-positioned woofer drive
uiut, two chamber construction, and a long main duct.
Through precision control of the acoustics of the two chambers,
the unit can reproduce powerful ultra low frequencies without
muddiness.

Front view

Center channel

How the center speaker works

The front left and right speakers are equipped with center
channel tweeters (see above) angled inwards at 30“ to

reproduce high-frequency center channel sounds. Low­frequency center channel sounds are mixed with the front

chaimel signals and reproduced through the front left and right

full range units. This design produces a high-quality
centralized sound image for the center channel which exactly
matches the quality of the front channel sound to provide
superior sound quality and a unified sound image without a
cumbersome external center speaker.

In addition, we also included two super woofer modes
designed to bring the dynamic bass sounds found in
movie theaters (mode 1) and concert halls (mode 2) to
your living room.

Power turns on and off automatically

The speakers turn on automatically when a sound
signal is input and turn off when you've finished
watching a program and the sound signal goes out. So
you don't have to bother using the power switch every
time you use the system.