Sony STR-GA7ES, STR-GA8ES User Manual
FM Stereo
FM-AM Receiver
3-856-160-11(1)
Operating Instructions
Mode d’emploi
EN
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STR-GA8ES
STR-GA7ES
© 1996 by Sony Corporation
- Reorient or relocate the receiving
WARNING
To prevent fire or shock
hazard, do not expose
the unit to rain or
moisture.
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.
CAUTION
You are cautioned that any change or
modifications not expressly approved in
this manual could void your authority
to operate this equipment.
Note to CATV system installer
This reminder is provided to call the
This symbol is intended to alert the user
to the presence of uninsulated
“dangerous voltage” within the
product’s
enclosure that may be of sufficient
magnitude to constitute a risk of electric
shock to persons.
CATV system installer’s attention to
Article 820-40 of the NEC that provides
guidelines for proper grounding and, in
particular, specifies that the cable
ground shall be connected to the
grounding system of the building, as
close to the point of cable entry as
practical.
Owner’s record
The model and serial numbers are
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
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
turning the equipment off and on, the
user is encouraged to try to correct the
interference by one or more of the
following measures:
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2
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. STR-GA8ES/STR-GA7ES
Serial No.
For the customers in Canada
CAUTION
TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO
NOT USE THIS POLARIZED AC PLUG
WITH AN EXTENSION CORD,
RECEPTACLE OR OTHER OUTLET
UNLESS THE BLADES CAN BE FULLY
INSERTED TO PREVENT BLADE
EXPOSURE.
Precautions
On safety
• Should any solid object or liquid fall
into the cabinet, unplug the receiver
and have it checked by qualified
personnel before operating it any
further.
On power sources
• Before operating the receiver, check
that the operating voltage is identical
with your local power supply. The
operating voltage is indicated on the
nameplate at the rear of the receiver.
• This unit is not disconnected from the
AC power source as long as it is
connected to the wall outlet, even if
the unit itself has been turned off.
• If you are not going to use the
receiver for a long time, be sure to
disconnect the receiver from the wall
outlet. To disconnect the AC power
cord, grasp the plug itself; never pull
the cord.
• One blade of the plug is wider than
the other for the purpose of safety
and will fit into the wall outlet only
one way. If you are unable to insert
the plug fully into the outlet, contact
your dealer.
• AC power cord must be changed
only at the qualified service shop.
On placement
• Do not install the appliance in a
confined space, such as a bookcase or
built-in cabinet.
• Place the receiver in a location with
adequate ventilation to prevent heat
buildup and prolong the life of the
receiver.
• Do not place the receiver near heat
sources, or in a place subject to direct
sunlight, excessive dust or
mechanical shock.
• Do not place anything on top of the
cabinet that might block the
ventilation holes and cause
malfunctions.
On operation
• Before connecting other components,
be sure to turn off and unplug the
receiver.
On cleaning
• Clean the cabinet, panel and controls
with a soft cloth slightly moistened
with a mild detergent solution. Do
not use any type of abrasive pad,
scouring powder or solvent such as
alcohol or benzine.
For the customers in the USA
For detailed safety precautions, see the
“IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS” leaflet.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
If you have any question or problem
concerning your receiver, please
consult your nearest Sony dealer.
About This Manual
The instructions in this manual are for
models STR-GA8ES and STR-GA7ES.
Check your model number by looking
at the lower right corner of the front
panel. In this manual, the STR-GA8ES is
the model used for illustration
purposes, any difference in operation is
clearly indicated in the text, for
example, “STR-GA8ES only”.
Conventions
• The instructions in this manual
describe the controls on the receiver.
You can also use the controls on the
remote if they have the same or
similar names as those on the
receiver.
• A “Quick Reference Guide” is
supplied on page 32.
• The “Remote Button Descriptions”
section on page 30 provides an
overview of the remote buttons.
• The following icons are used in this
manual:
Indicates that you can use only
the remote to do the task.
Indicates hints and tips for
making the task easier.
This receiver incorporates the Dolby
Pro Logic Surround system.
Manufactured under license from Dolby
Laboratories Licensing Corporation.
“Dolby ,” the double-D symbol a and
“Pro Logic” are trademarks of Dolby
Laboratories Licensing Corporation.
Getting Started
Unpacking 4
Hookup Overview 4
Antenna Hookups 5
Audio Component Hookups 5
Speaker System Hookups 6
TV/VCR Hookups 8
AC Hookups 9
Before You Use Your Receiver 9
Receiver Operations
Selecting a Component 10
Receiving Broadcasts 11
Presetting Radio Stations 12
Indexing 13
Recording 14
Using the Sleep Timer 15
Using Surround Sound
Introduction 16
Using Pre-programmed Sound Fields 16
Getting the Most Out of Dolby Pro Logic Surround Sound 18
Taking Advantage of the Sound fields 19
Customizing the Sound Fields 20
Advanced Remote Operations
Operating One Component While Using Another
(background operation) 23
Changing the Factory Setting of a FUNCTION Button 23
Programming the Remote 24
Additional Information
Troubleshooting 25
Specifications 26
Glossary 27
Rear Panel Descriptions 29
Remote Button Descriptions 30
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Index 31
Quick Reference Guide 32
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3
Getting Started
Unpacking
Check that you received the following items with the
receiver:
• FM wire antenna (1)
• AM loop antenna (1)
• Remote commander (remote) (1)
• Size AA (R6) batteries (2)
Inserting batteries into the remote
Insert two size AA (R6) batteries with the + and – on
the battery compartment. When using the remote,
point it at the remote sensor g on the receiver.
Hookup Overview
The receiver allows you to connect and control the
following audio/video components. Follow the
hookup procedures for the components that you want
to connect to the receiver on the pages specified. To
learn the locations and names of each jacks, see “Rear
Panel Descriptions” on page 29.
Antenna Hookups (5)
Speaker
System
Hookups (6, 7)
Front
speaker
(L)
TV/VCR Hookups (8, 9)
TV
VCR
LD player
AM/FM antenna
Front
speaker
Active
woofer
(R)
When to replace batteries
Under normal use, the batteries should last for about 6
months. When the remote no longer operates the
receiver, replace both batteries with new ones.
Notes
• Do not leave the remote in an extremely hot or humid
place.
• Do not use a new battery with an old one.
• Do not expose the remote sensor to direct sunlight or
lighting apparatuses. Doing so may cause a malfunction.
• If you don’t use the remote for an extended period of time,
remove the batteries to avoid possible damage from
battery leakage and corrosion.
Center
speaker
Rear
speaker
(R)
Rear
speaker
(L)
CD player
Tape deck
DAT/MD deck
Turntable
Audio Component
Hookups (5, 6)
Before you get started
• Turn off the power to all components before making
any connections.
• Do not connect the AC power cords until all of the
connections are completed.
• Be sure to make connections firmly to avoid hum
and noise.
• When connecting an audio/video cable, be sure to
match the color-coded pins to the appropriate jacks
on the components: Yellow (video) to Yellow; White
(left, audio) to White; and Red (right, audio) to Red.
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Antenna Hookups
Getting Started
Note
To prevent noise pick-up, keep the AM loop antenna away
from the unit and TV set.
Overview
This section describes how to connect AM and FM
antennas to the receiver. If you want to receive radio
broadcasts with the receiver, complete these
connections first, then go to the following pages.
For specific locations of the terminals, see the
illustration below.
ANTENNA
What antennas will I need?
• FM wire antenna
(supplied) (1)
• AM loop antenna
(supplied) (1)
Hookups
Connecting a ground wire
To prevent hum, connect a ground wire (not supplied)
to the y ground terminal. If you’ve connected an
outdoor antenna, be sure to connect the ground for
lightning protection.
Receiver
.
to ground
Where do I go next?
If you want to connect other components, go on to the next
section. If you’re only planning to use the receiver to listen
to the radio, go to “Speaker System Hookups” on pages 6
and 7.
Audio Component Hookups
FM wire antenna
Receiver
ANTENNA
AM loop antenna
After connecting
the wire antenna,
keep it as horizontal
as possible.
FM
75Ω
COAXIAL
AM
Adjust the
direction.
If AM reception is poor
We reccomed that you purchase and connect the
optional Sony antenna to the unit if reception is
weakened by ferroconcrete used in the construction of
your apartment or buiding.
If you have poor FM reception
Connect a 75-ohm coaxial cable (not supplied) to an FM
outdoor antenna.
FM outdoor antenna
Receiver
ANTENNA
FM
75Ω
COAXIAL
Overview
This section describes how to connect your audio
components to the receiver. If you want to use the
receiver as an amplifier, complete these connections.
For specific locations of the jacks, see the illustration
below.
PHONO CD DAT/MD TAPE
What cords will I need?
Audio cords (not supplied) (1 for each CD player and
turntable; 2 for each tape deck, DAT deck, or MD deck)
White (L)White (L)
Red (R)Red (R)
AM
(continued)
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5
Getting Started
Hookups
The arrow ç indicates signal flow.
CD player
CD player
OUTPUT
LINE
Tape deckReceiver
OUTPUT
DAT/MDReceiver
OUTPUT
Tape deck
DAT/MD
L
R
L
R
Receiver
L
R
IN
CD
INREC OUT
TAPE
INREC OUT
DAT/MD
L
R
INPUT
LINELINE
INPUT
LINELINE
Speaker System Hookups
Overview
This section describes how to connect your speakers to
the receiver. Although front (left and right) speakers
are required, center and rear speakers are optional.
Adding center and rear speakers will enhance the
surround effects. Connecting an active woofer will
increase bass response.
For specific locations of the terminals, see the
L
R
L
R
illustration below.
IMPEDANCE
SELECTOR
WOOFER
FRONT SPEAKERS A
CENTER
SPEAKER
REAR
SPEAKERS
Turntable
Receiver Turntable
L
R
IN
PHONO
OUTPUT
LINE
L
R
• If your turntable has an earth lead
To prevent hum, connect the earth lead to the y ground
terminal on the receiver.
Where do I go next?
Go on to the next section to connect the speakers.
For optimum surround sound effect, place your
speakers as shown below.
Rear speaker
60 - 90 cm
45°
Front speaker
What cords will I need?
Speaker cord (not supplied) (1 for each speaker)
(+)
(–)
(+)
(–)
Twist the stripped ends of the cord about 2/3 inch (15 mm).
Be sure to match the speaker cord to the appropriate
terminal on the components: + to + and – to –. If the cords
are reversed, the sound will be distorted and will lack bass.
Hookups
Front speakers
Front speaker
(R)
Receiver
FRONT SPEAKERS
B
RLARL
Front speaker
(L)
} ]} ]
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Getting Started
Rear and center speakers
Rear
speaker
(R)
} ]} ]
Center
speaker
} ]
Receiver
CENTER SPEAKER
REAR SPEAKERS
R
L
Rear
speaker
(L)
Active woofer
Receiver
REAR
CENTER
WOOFER
Active woofer
INPUTSURROUND OUT
Note
Set the LOW FILTER switch to ON when you connect an
active woofer. This cuts low frequency output from the front
speakers so you can enjoy pure bass from the active woofer.
LOW FILTER
OFF ON
Selecting the speaker system
If you connect only one set of front speakers, set the
SPEAKERS selector on the front panel to A. If you
connect two sets of front speakers, see the following:
To drive
Speaker system A (connected
to the FRONT SPEAKERS A
terminals)
Speaker system B (connected
to the FRONT SPEAKERS B
terminals)
Both speaker systems A and
B (parallel connection)
* Connect speakers with nominal impedances of 8 ohms, or
higher, to the A and B terminals. You don’t have to switch
the impedance selector, since it switches to 4 ohms
automatically.
Set SPEAKERS selector to
A
B
A+B*
For even more powerful amplification
You can use the POWER SWAP function to connect
two additional amplifiers.
If you have an additional front speaker system
Connect them to the FRONT SPEAKERS B terminals.
If your TV monitor uses separate speakers
You can connect one of them to the SURROUND OUT
CENTER terminal for use with Dolby Pro Logic
Surround Sound (see page 18).
Selecting the impedance
Set the IMPEDANCE SELECTOR for the front speakers
as indicated in the table below. Check the instruction
manual of your speakers if you’re not sure of the
impedance. (This information is usually printed on a
label on the back of the speaker.)
if nominal impedance of
your speaker is
Between 4 and 8 ohms
8 ohms or higher
Set IMPEADANCE SELECTOR to
4 Ω
8 Ω
1 Unplug the power cord.
2 Connect the rear speakers to the FRONT
SPEAKERS terminals on this receiver.
The rear signals are output from the FRONT
SPEAKERS terminals.
Rear speaker
(R)
Receiver
FRONT SPEAKERS
B
RLARL
} ]} ]
Rear speaker
(L)
3 Connect the first amplifier to the SURROUND
OUT REAR, and connect the front speakers to this
amplifier.
The front signals are output from the
SURROUND OUT REAR terminals.
Amplifier 1
Receiver
REAR
CENTER
(for front speakers)
INPUTSURROUND OUT
WOOFER
(continued)
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Getting Started
L
R
L
R
TV/DBS
OUTPUT
VIDEO
IN
AUDIO
IN
VIDEO
AUDIO
MONITOR
OUT 1
INPUT
VIDEO
OUT 2
OUT
4 Connect the second amplifier to SURROUND
OUT CENTER, and connect the center speaker to
this amplifier.
The center signal is output from the SURROUND
OUT CENTER terminal.
TV/VCR Hookups
Overview
Amplifier 2
Receiver
REAR
CENTER
WOOFER
(for center speaker)
INPUTSURROUND OUT
5 Remove the cover on the POWER SWAP selector
and set the selector to the SWAP position.
After you have completed the setting, reattach the
cover to the selector and plug in the power cord.
POWER SWAP
SWAP NORMAL
To adjust the volume
Set the volume control of the separate amplifiers to the
maximum position and adjust the volume level with the
volume control of the receiver.
Notes
• For best results, we recommend using a pair of equivalent
amplifiers to boost front and center speaker output. You
can, however, connect the center speakers to the CENTER
SPEAKER terminals if you only have one additional
amplifier.
• Do not use the terminals labeled CENTER SPEAKER or
REAR SPEAKERS if you connect two additional
amplifiers. Make connections as shown above.
• If you want to turn off the power swap function, set the
POWER SWAP selector to the NORMAL position.
This section describes how to connect video
components to the receiver. For specific locations of the
jacks, see the illustration below.
TV/DBS
VIDEO 2 VIDEO 1LD MONITOR
5.1 INPUT
What cables will I need?
• Audio/video cable (not supplied) (1 for each TV or LD
player; 2 for each VCR)
Yellow
White (L)
Red (R)
Yellow
White (L)
Red (R)
• Video cable (not supplied) (1 for a TV monitor)
Yellow
Yellow
Hookups
The arrow ç indicates signal flow.
TV tuner or DBS (Digital Broadcasting Satellites) receiver
Receiver
TV/DBS
Where do I go next?
To complete your system, go to “AC Hookups” on page 9. If
you want to connect video components to enjoy surround
sound when watching TV programs or video tapes, go on to
the next section.
Monitor
If you are using your TV as a monitor, do not connect
anything to the TV IN jacks.
Receiver
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8
Monitor
VCR (via the VIDEO 1 jacks)
If you have two VCRs connect the second one to the VIDEO
2 jacks.
Receiver
VIDEO 1
INOUT
VIDEO
VIDEO
IN
OUT
AUDIO
AUDIO
IN
OUT
L
R
VCR
OUTPUT
VIDEO VIDEO
AUDIO AUDIO
INPUT
L
R
Getting Started
AC Hookups
If your receiver has a voltage selector on the rear panel
Your receiver operates on either 120, 220 or 240 V AC. Before
connecting the unit to a wall outlet, be sure to set the voltage
selector on the rear of the unit to the appropriate position
according to your local power supply.
220V
240V
120V
x
Connecting the AC power cord
LD player
Receiver
LD
IN
VIDEO
IN
AUDIO
IN
L
R
LD
OUTPUT
VIDEO
AUDIO
L
R
You can play decoded AC-3 soundtracks through the
speakers connected to the receiver.
If you have an AC-3 decoder you can use the receiver to
listen to decoded AC-3 soundtrack with the following
connections (see page 10 for details regarding
operation).
Receiver
FRONT
5.1 INPUT
REAR
CENTER
WOOFER
AC-3 decoder
(etc.)
PRE OUT
CENTER
WOOFER
REAR FRONT
Connect the AC power cord from this receiver and
from your audio/video components to a wall outlet.
If you connect other audio components to the
SWITCHED AC OUTLET(s) on the receiver, the
receiver can supply power to the connected
components so you can turn on/off whole system
when you turn on/off the receiver.
SWITCHED AC OUTLET(s)
/
to a wall
Caution
outlet
Make sure that the power consumption of the component(s)
connected to the receiver’s AC outlet(s) does not exceed the
wattage indicated on the rear panel. Do not connect highwattage electrical home appliances such as electric irons,
fans, or TVs to this outlet.
Where do I go next?
Where do I go next?
Go on to the next section to connect an AC plug and
complete your home theater system.
Before you use the␣ receiver, go to the next section to make
sure that all the controls are set to the appropriate positions.
Before You Use Your Receiver
Before you start using your receiver, make sure that
you have:
• Turned MASTER VOL to the leftmost position (0).
• Selected the appropriate speaker system. (For
details, see “Selecting the speaker system” on
page 7.)
• Set BALANCE to the center position.
Turn on the receiver and check the following indicator.
• Press MUTING on the remote if the MUTING
indicator turns on.
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9
Receiver Operations
Receiver Operations
Selecting a Component
To listen to or watch a connected component, first
select the function on the receiver or with the remote.
Before you begin, make sure you have:
• Connected all components securely and correctly as
indicated on pages 5 to 9.
• Turned MASTER VOL to the leftmost position (0) to
avoid damaging your speakers.
FUNCTION
POWER
1 Press POWER to turn on the receiver.
2 Turn FUNCTION to select the component you
want to use:
To listen to or watch Select
Records PHONO
Radio programs TUNER
Compact Discs (CD) CD
Digital Audio Tapes (DAT) DAT/MD
or MiniDiscs (MD)
TV programs or DBS TV/DBS
Video tapes VIDEO 1, VIDEO 2
Laser discs LD
To listen to analog audio cassettes
Press TAPE MONITOR, the button’s indicator lights up
and “TAPE” appears in the display.
To listen to decoded AC-3 program sources
Select a video source (TV, LD, VIDEO 1, VIDEO 2, or
VIDEO 3) then press 5.1 INPUT, the indicator on the
button lights up. The receiver memorizes 5.1 INPUT
on/off setting independently for each source.
MASTER VOL
or VIDEO 3
To Do This
Mute the sound Press MUTING on the remote.
The MUTING indicator on the
front panel lights up.
Press again to restore the sound.
Reinforce the bass Press BASS BOOST to turn on
the BASS BOOST indicator
Adjust the balance Turn the BALANCE control to
the left (L) or right (R).
When you listen with headphones
Connect the headphones to the PHONES jack and set
the SPEAKERS selector to OFF.
When you want to enjoy high quality sound
Press DIRECT PASS to bypass the tone controls, bass
reinforcement, and surround effects.
The indicator on the button lights up.
When you want to adjust the brightness of the
display
Press DIMMER repeatedly to select the brightness you
desire.
Watching video programs
When you watch TV or video programs, we
recommend you play audio portion through the
receiver instead of your TV’s speaker. This lets you
take advantage of the receiver’s surround sound
effects, like Dolby Surround, and lets you use the
receiver’s remote to control the audio.
Turn off the speakers on your TV before you start so
you can enjoy the surround sound from your receiver.
To watch TV programs, turn on both the TV and the
receiver and turn FUNCTION to select TV.
To watch videos or laser discs, do the following:
1 Turn FUNCTION to select the component (for
example, VIDEO 1).
2 Turn on the TV and set the TV’s video input to
the receiver.
3 Turn on the component (VCR or LD player), and
start playback.
10
3 Turn on the component, for example, a CD player,
and then start playing.
To tune in radio stations on this receiver, see
“Receiving Broadcasts” on page 11.
4 Turn MASTER VOL to adjust the volume.
To adjust the volume of the TV's speakers, use the
volume control on the TV.
EN
Receiver Operations
Using the remote
The remote lets you operate the receiver and the
connected Sony components that can be controlled
with the remote commander.
SYSTEM OFF
SYSTEM
CONTROL/
TV CONTROL
ON
(Press to set remote
to operate TV only)
FUNCTION
1 Press one of the SYSTEM CONTROL/
FUNCTION buttons to select the component you
want to use.
The receiver and the selected component turn on.
The SYSTEM CONTROL/FUNCTION buttons on
the remote are factory-set as follows:
To listen to or watch Press
Records PHONO
Radio programs TUNER
Compact Discs (CD) CD
Digital Audio Tapes (DAT) DAT/MD
or MiniDiscs (MD)
Audio tapes TAPE
TV programs TV
Video tapes VIDEO 1 (VTR 3*)
Laser discs LD
Decoded AC-3 programs 5.1 INPUT
VIDEO 2 (VTR 1*)
VIDEO 3 (VTR 2*)
If you use a Sony TV
When you press TV to watch a TV program, the TV
turns on and switches to the TV input. The TV also
turns on automatically and switches to the appropriate
video input when you press VIDEO 1, VIDEO 2. If the
TV does not switch to the appropriate input
automatically, press TV/VIDEO on the remote.
Watching TV without the receiver (for Sony TVs only)
Press TV CONTROL ON to set the remote to operate TV
functions only (see “Remote Button Descriptions” on
page 30 for details). When you press this button, the TV
turns on and switches to the TV input. If the TV does
not automatically switch to the TV input, press TV/
VIDEO.
Receiving Broadcasts
This receiver lets you enter a station’s frequency
directly by using the numeric buttons (direct tuning). If
you don’t know the frequency of the station you want,
see “Receiving broadcasts by scanning stations”
(automatic tuning).
Before you begin, make sure you have:
• Connected an FM/AM antenna to the receiver as
indicated on page 5.
• Selected the appropriate speaker system. (For details,
see “Selecting the speaker system” on page 7.)
FUNCTION
POWER
Number buttons
MASTER VOL
* Sony VCRs are operated with a VTR 1, 2, or 3 setting
that correspond to Beta, 8mm, and VHS respectively.
If you want to change the factory setting of a button
See page 23.
If the component does not turn on
Press the power switch on the component.
2 Start playing.
Refer to “Remote Button Descriptions” on page 30
for details.
To turn off the components
Press SYSTEM OFF. This will also turn off the video and
audio components connected to the SWITCHED AC
OUTLETs on the back of this unit at the same time.
FM/AM
DIRECT
TUNING
INDEX
– / +
1 Press POWER to turn on the receiver.
2 Turn FUNCTION to select “TUNER”.
The last received station is tuned in.
3 Press FM/AM to select FM or AM stations.
4 Press DIRECT TUNING.
(continued)
11
EN
Receiver Operations
5 Press the numeric buttons to enter the frequency.
Example 1:FM 102.50 MHz Example 2:AM 1350kHz
1 0250
(You don’t have to enter
the last “0.”)
1 35
6 When you tune in AM stations, adjust the
direction of the AM loop antenna for optimum
reception.
To receive other stations
Repeat Steps 3, 4 and 5.
If the STEREO indicator remains off
Press FM MODE even when an FM stereo broadcast is
received.
If an FM stereo program is distorted
The STEREO indicator flashes. Press FM MODE to
change to monaural (MONO). You will not have the
stereo effect but the distortion will be reduced. To
return to the auto stereo mode, press this button again.
If you cannot tune in a station and the entered
numbers are flashing
Make sure you’ve entered the right frequency. If not,
reenter the frequency you want.
If the entered numbers still flash, the frequency is not
used in your area.
Press INDEX + or –.
4
Press the + button for a higher station number;
press the – button for a lower one. When you tune
past either end of the band, the receiver
automatically jumps to the opposite end and
continues scanning in the same direction. Every
time a station is received, the receiver stops
scanning. To continue scanning, press the button
again.
Presetting Radio Stations
You’ll most likely want to preset the receiver with the
radio stations you listen to often so that you don’t have
to tune in the station every time. The receiver can store
a total of 30 FM or AM stations. You can store the
stations on preset numbers combining 3 characters (A,
B and C) and numbers (0-9). For example, you can
store a station as preset number A1, B6, or C9.
Numeric buttons
FUNCTION
12
EN
To watch FM simulcast TV programs
Make sure that you tune in the simulcast program on
both the TV (or VCR) and the receiver.
If you enter a frequency not covered by the tuning
interval
The entered value is automatically rounded up or down
to the closest covered value.
Tuning intervals for direct tuning are:
FM: 50 kHz intervals
AM: 10 kHz intervals (to change to 9 kHz intervals, see
page 27)
Receiving broadcasts by scanning stations
(automatic tuning)
If you don’t know the frequency of the radio station
you want, you can have the receiver scan all the
receivable stations to locate the one you want.
1 Select TUNER.
The last received station is tuned in.
2 Press DISPLAY so that the frequency appears in
the display.
3 Press FM/AM to select FM or AM.
SHIFT
– / +
MEMORYPRESET
1 Turn FUNCTION to select “TUNER”.
The last received station is tuned in.
2 Tune in the station you want.
If you are not familiar with how to tune in a
station, see “Receiving Broadcasts” on the
previous page.
3 Press MEMORY.
“MEMORY” appears for a few seconds.
Do steps 4 and 5 before “MEMORY” goes out.
4 Press SHIFT to select a memory page (A, B or C).
Each time you press SHIFT, the letter “A”, “B” or
“C” appear in the display.
5 Press the number you want to use (0 to 9).
If “MEMORY” goes out before you specify the preset
number, start again from step 3.
6 Repeat steps 2 to 5 to preset other stations.
To change a preset station
Preset a new station on the number you want to change.
Receiver Operations
Note
If the AC power cord is disconnected for about one week,
the preset stations will be cleared from the receiver’s
memory, and you will have to preset the stations again.
Tuning preset stations (preset tuning)
You can tune directly to a preset station by entering its
preset number. If you don’t know which stations are
preset on which numbers, you can tune by scanning
the preset stations.
1 Select TUNER.
The last received station is tuned in.
2 Press SHIFT to select a memory page (A, B or C),
then press the number.
For example, select A and then press 7 to tune in
the station preset as A7.
You can also tune by scanning the preset stations
Press TUNER and then DISPLAY so that the frequency
display appears. Then press PRESET + or – to select the
station you want. Each time you press the buttons, the
preset numbers change as follows:
nA1˜A2˜...A9˜A0˜B1˜B2˜...B9˜B0N
nC0˜C9...C2˜C1N
STR-GA7ES
INDEX
+ / –
PRESET
+ / –
MEMORY
CHARACTER
DISPLAY
DPC
MODE
FUNCTION
POSITION
Indexing preset stations
You might find that too many preset stations make it
hard to find the station you want. This receiver
includes a feature that lets you group preset stations by
name (station index) using up to 8 characters.
For example, if you label all of your preset jazz stations
“JAZZ,” selecting “JAZZ” lets you skip other presets
and scan only the stations labeled “JAZZ.” Note that
you cannot assign more than one station index name to
each preset station.
1 Select TUNER.
The last station you received is tuned in.
Indexing
You can index preset stations and then use the index
names to scan specific stations in the preset memory.
You can also use the index feature to label program
sources so that the receiver displays the names of the
components you connected, for example, “VHS”.
STR-GA8ES
INDEX
– / +
DISPLAY
PRESET
– / +
MEMORY
FUNCTION
DPC
MODE
POSITIONCHARACTER
2 Tune in the preset station you want to create an
index for.
If you are not familiar with how to tune in preset
stations, see “Tuning preset stations (preset
tuning)” above.
3 Press DPC MODE repeatedly until the INDEX
indicator lights up.
4 Create a station index name by using the
DIGITAL PROCESSING CONTROL knobs as
follows:
Turn CHARACTER to select a character.
Then turn POSITION to move the cursor to the
next position.
To insert a space, turn CHARACTER until a blank space
appears in the display, the space is between " and A.
The station index is stored automatically.
If you’ve made a mistake
Turn POSITION until the character you want to change
flashes. Then select the right character.
5 Repeat Steps 2 to 4 to assign index names to other
stations.
You can display either the index name or frequency
Each time you press DISPLAY, the display switches
between the frequency and the index name.
(continued)
13
EN
14
EN
Receiver Operations
Scanning indexed stations (index tuning)
Once you select a station index, you can scan all the
stations with that station index.
1 Select TUNER.
The last station you received is tuned in.
2 Press DISPLAY so that the index mode appears in
the display.
The station index for the last station you received
appears in the display.
If “_ _ _ _ ” appears
The station does not have an station index.
3 Press INDEX + or – to select the station index you
want to scan.
4 Press PRESET + or – to select the station you want
receive.
To select a different station index
Press INDEX + or – to select the one you want, then press
PRESET + or – to select a station.
Indexing program sources
This feature is useful when, for example, you have
more than one VCR: you can label one VCR as “VHS”
and label the other as “8mm.” Then, you can have the
receiver display the index names so you can tell which
VCR you are using. This feature also comes in handy if
you connect a component to jacks designed for another
component (for example, connecting a second CD
player to the DAT/MD jacks or a DVD player to the
LD jacks).
1 Select the FUNCTION you want to label.
2 Press DPC MODE repeatedly until the INDEX
indicator lights up.
3 Create a station index name by using the
DIGITAL PROCESSING CONTROL knobs as
follows:
Turn CHARACTER to select a character, then
turn POSITION to move the cursor to the next
position.
To insert a space, turn CHARACTER until a blank space
appears in the display, the space is between " and A.
The station index is stored automatically.
If you’ve made a mistake
Turn POSITION until the character you want to change
flashes. Then select the right character.
You can display either the index or function name
Each time you press DISPLAY, the display switches
between the function name and the index name.
Recording
This receiver makes it easy to record to and from the
components connected to the receiver. You don’t have
to connect playback and recording components
directly: once you select a program source on the
receiver, you can record and edit as you normally
would using the controls on each component.
Before you begin, make sure you’ve connected all
components properly.
MODE
c
ç
Playback component
(program source)
ç: Audio signal flow
c: Video signal flow
Recording on an audio tape or MiniDisc
You can record on a cassette tape, Digital Audio Tape
or MiniDisc using the receiver. See the instruction
manual of your cassette deck, DAT deck, or MD deck if
you need help.
1 Turn FUNCTION to select the program source to
be recorded.
2 Set the component to be ready for playing.
For example, insert a CD into the CD player.
3 Insert a blank tape into the recording deck and
adjust the recording level, if necessary.
4 Start recording on the recording deck and then
start playing the component.
You can monitor the sound being recorded
If you connected a 3-head tape deck to the TAPE
MONITOR jacks, press TAPE MONITOR. “TAPE”
appears in the display and you can hear the sound
being recorded.
Note
When you record on a DAT or MD connected to the DAT/
MD REC OUT jacks, sound adjustments do not effect the
recording.
FUNCTION
c
ç
Recording component
(tape deck, DAT deck,
MD deck, VCR)
Receiver Operations
Recording on a video tape
You can record from a VCR, a TV, or a LD player using
the receiver. You can also add audio from a variety of
audio sources when editing a video tape. See your VCR
or LD player’s instruction manual if you need help.
1 Turn FUNCTION to select the program source to
be recorded.
2 Set the component to be ready for playing.
For example, insert the laser disc you want to
record from into the LD player.
3 Insert a blank video tape into the recording VCR
(VIDEO 1 or VIDEO 2).
4 Start recording on the recording VCR and then
start playing the video tape or laser disc you want
to record.
Replacing audio while copying a video tape
or laser disc
You can add audio from a variety of sources when
editing a video tape. See your VCR or LD player’s
instruction manual if you need help.
To record other audio on a specific part of video
1 Pause the video the point where you want to record the
other audio.
2 Press MODE to select “AUDIO MODE”, then use
FUNCTION (or TAPE MONITOR) to select the audio
source you desire.
3 Start recording on the recording VCR, release the pause
mode and start playing the audio source you want to
record.
To resume recording the sound of the original playback
source, press the SYSTEM CONTROL/FUNCTION button
on the remote for that component.
Using the Sleep Timer
You can set the receiver to turn off automatically at a
time you specify.
SLEEP
1 Turn FUNCTION to select the video program
source to be recorded.
2 Press MODE repeatedly so that “AUDIO MODE”
appears in the display.
The current video signal is fixed and you can
select audio from any other source (except AC-3)
whithout changing the current video signal.
3 Use FUNCTION (or TAPE MONITOR) to select
the audio you desire.
If you want to change the video program selected in
step 1, press MODE to select “VISUAL MODE” and you
can select video from another source while maintaining
the current audio signal.
4 Prepare the respective video and audio sources
for playback.
5 Insert a blank video tape into the recording VCR.
6 Start recording on the recording VCR and then
start playing both the video and audio sources
you want to record.
Note
If you do not select the audio or video source within 8
seconds of pressing MODE, the “AUDIO MODE” or
“VISUAL MODE” is cancelled and the audio or video source
will not be fixed. In this case, press MODE again to display
the mode you desire. The mode changes as follows:
VISUAL MODE / AUDIO MODE / off
Press SLEEP on the remote while the power is on.
Each time you press SLEEP, the time changes as shown
below.
n 2:00:00 n 1:30:00n 1:00:00 n 0:30:00 n OFF
The display dims after you specify the time.
You can freely specify the time
Press SLEEP first, then specify the time you want using
DIGITAL PROCESSING CONTROL buttons , , ,
or . The sleep time changes in 1 minute intervals. You
can specify up to 5 hours.
You can check the time remaining before the
receiver turns off
Press SLEEP. The remaining time appears in the
display.
15
EN
Using Surround Sound
Using Surround Sound
Introduction
The STR-GA8ES and STR-GA7ES are provided with a
variety of surround features which allow you to listen
to a wide range sources in surround sound. They are
also equipped with several adjustable parameters to let
you customize the sound to your preference.
To use a pre-programmed sound field
See “Using Pre-programmed Sound Fields” on this
page. This section describes how to recall the sound
fields and provides a description of each sound field.
To take advantage of Dolby Pro Logic
Surround sound
See “Getting the Most Out of Dolby Pro Logic
Surround Sound” on page 18. This section describes
how to adjust the levels of your speaker system and
customize the PRO LOGIC sound fields.
To create your own sound field
See “Taking Advantage of the Sound Fields” on page
19 and “Customizing the Sound Fields” on page 20.
“Taking Advantage of the Sound Fields” describes
how the various parameters affect the sound.
“Customizing the Sound Fields” describes how adjust
the parameters and provides a chart showing which
parameters are available in each sound field.
Using Pre-programmed Sound
Fields
You can take advantage of surround sound simply by
selecting one of the pre-programmed sound fields
according to the program you want to play.
SOUND FIELD
ON/OFF
MODEGENRE
1 Press SOUND FIELD ON/OFF to turn on the
sound field.
One of the indicators lights up in the display.
2 Press GENRE to select the type of sound field you
desire.
3 Press MODE to select the mode you desire from
the respective genre.
Refer to the chart shown at right.
To play without surround effects
Select “Acoustic” from MUSIC 2. The surround effects are
defeated but you can still adjust the equalizer or tone (see
page 20).
16
EN
For additional information regarding
surround sound
See the “Glossary” on pages 27 and 28.
To turn off the sound fields
Press SOUND FIELD ON/OFF.
You can find Dolby Surround-encoded software by
looking at the packaging
However, some videos and laser discs may use Dolby
Surround sound even if it's not indicated on the
package.
Note
Make sure to select both speakers (A+B) with the SPEAKERS
selector when you use two sets of speakers; otherwise, you
will not obtain the full surround effect.
Using Surround Sound
Sound fields for STR-GA8ES
GENRE MODE To
PRO LOGIC PRO LOGIC Decode programs processed with Dolby Surround.
ENHANCED Obtain additional output from rear speakers when decoding Dolby Surround
MOVIE SMALL THEATER
MEDIUM THEATER Add the acoustic reflections of theater to decoded Dolby Surround signals.
LARGE THEATER
MONO MOVIE Create a theater-like environment from movies with monaural soundtracks.
MUSIC 1 SMALL HALL
MEDIUM HALL Reproduce the acoustics of a rectangular concert halls. Ideal for soft acoustic
LARGE HALL
SMALL OPERA HOUSE
MEDIUM OPERA HOUSE Reproduce the acoustics of an opera house. Ideal for musicals and operas.
LARGE OPERA HOUSE
MUSIC 2 SMALL JAZZ CLUB Reproduce the acoustics of a jazz club.
LARGE JAZZ CLUB
SMALL CHURCH Reproduce the acoustics of a church
LARGE CHURCH
SMALL LIVE HOUSE Reproduce the acoustics of a live house
LARGE LIVE HOUSE
KARAOKE Reduce the vocal tracks of stereo music sources.
ACOUSTIC Reproduce normal 2 channel stereo with equalization (EQ).
SPORTS ARENA Reproduce the feeling of a large concert arena. Great for Rock and Roll.
STADIUM Reproduce the feeling of a large open-air stadium. Great for electric sounds.
GAME GAME 1 Obtain maximum audio impact from video game software.
GAME 2 Obtain maximum audio impact from monaural video game software.
programs.
sounds.
Sound fields for STR-GA7ES
GENRE MODE To
PRO LOGIC PRO LOGIC Decode programs processed with Dolby Surround.
ENHANCED Provide additional output to the rear speakers after decoding the Dolby Surround
program
MOVIE SMALL THEATER Add the acoustic reflections of theater to decoded Dolby Surround signals.
LARGE THEATER
MONO MOVIE Create a theater-like environment from movies with monaural soundtracks.
MUSIC 1 SMALL HALL Reproduce the acoustics of a rectangular concert hall. Ideal for soft acoustic sounds.
LARGE HALL
MUSIC 2 KARAOKE Reduce the vocal tracks of stereo music sources.
ACOUSTIC Reproduce normal 2 channel stereo with tone control (TONE).
SPORTS ARENA Reproduce the feeling of a large concert arena. Great for Rock and Roll.
STADIUM Reproduce the feeling of a large open-air stadium. Great for electric sounds.
GAME GAME Obtain maximum audio impact from video game software.
17
EN
Using Surround Sound
Getting the Most Out of Dolby
Pro Logic Surround Sound
To obtain the best possible Dolby Pro Logic Surround
sound, first select the center mode according to your
speaker system. Then, adjust the sound parameters of
the PRO LOGIC sound field.
Selecting the center mode
The receiver offers you four center modes:
PHANTOM, 3 CHANNEL LOGIC, NORMAL, and
WIDE. Each mode is designed for a different speaker
configuration. Select the mode that best suits your
speaker system configuration.
1 Press SOUND FIELD ON/OFF to turn on the
sound fields.
Note that you must have at least one additional pair of
speakers and/or one center speaker to do the following
adjustments.
SOUND FIELD
ON/OFF
MODEGENRE
LEVELPARAMETER
DPC
MODE
TEST TONE
REAR
LEVEL (+/–)
CENTER
LEVEL (+/–)
GENRE
SOUND FIELD
ON/OFF
MODE
DPC MODE
DIGITAL
PROCESSING
CONTROL
CTR MODE
SURROUND
indicator
0)=+
9(p P r
2 Press GENRE to select the PRO LOGIC sound
field.
3 Press CTR MODE repeatedly until the center
mode you want appears in the display. Select the
center mode by referring to the following chart.
If you have
Front and rear
speakers, no
center speaker
Front and center
speakers, no rear
speaker
Front and rear
speakers, and a
small center
speaker
Front and rear
speakers, and a
center speaker
equivalent to your
front speakers
Select
PHANTOM
3 CH LOGIC
(3 Channel
Logic)
NORMAL
WIDE
So that
The sound of the
center channel is
output from the front
speakers.
The sound of the rear
channel is output
from the front
speakers.
The bass sound of the
center channel is
output from the front
speakers (because a
small speaker cannot
produce enough
bass).
For “complete”
Dolby Pro Logic
Surround sound.
Adjusting the speaker volume
The test tone feature lets you set the volume of your
speakers to the same level. (If all of your speakers have
equal performance, you don’t have to adjust the
speaker volume.)
18
Using the controls on the remote lets you adjust the
volume level from your listening position.
1 Press TEST TONE on the remote.
You will hear the test tone from each speaker
sequentially.
EN
2 Adjust the volume levels so that you hear the test
tone from each speaker at the same volume level
when you are in your listening position:
• To adjust the volume between the front right
and front left speakers, use the BALANCE
control on the front of the main unit.
• To adjust the level of center speaker, press
CENTER LEVEL + or – on the remote.
• To adjust the level of rear speakers, press
REAR LEVEL + or – on the remote.
3 Press TEST TONE on the remote to turn off the
test tone.
Using Surround Sound
Taking Advantage of the
Sound Fields (STR-GA8ES)
This receiver uses digital signal processing to
reproduce the sound effects of various listening
environments, such as a movie theaters and concert
halls (etc.). By adjusting the surround parameters you
can control thes sound elements to create a custom
listening environment.
Room Size Simulation (ROOM SIZE)
You can adjust all speakers at one time
Adjust MASTER VOL.
Adjusting the delay time
You can make the surround sound more effective by
delaying the output from the rear speakers (delay
time). You can adjust the delay time in 0.1 ms steps (for
STR-GA8ES) or 5 ms steps (for STR-GA7ES) within the
range of 15 to 30 ms. For example, if you’ve placed the
rear speakers in a large room or apart from your
listening position, set the delay time shorter.
1 Start playing a program source encoded with
Dolby surround sound.
2 Press DPC MODE until the SURROUND indicator
lights up.
3 Rotate the PARAMETER knob to select the delay
time.
The current delay time appears in the display.
4 Rotate the LEVEL knob to adjust the delay time.
Before sound reaches our ears, it is reflected many
times between the left and right walls, ceiling, and
floor. In a large room, sound takes more time to
bounce from one surface to another than in a smaller
room.
The ROOM SIZE parameter lets you control the
spacing of the early reflections to simulate a sonically
larger (L), or smaller (S) room. The mid-point
designates a standard room with no adjustment.
Wall Material Simulation (WALL TYPE)
When sound is reflected off soft material, such as
curtain, the high frequency elements are reduced. A
hard wall is highly reflective and does not significantly
affect the frequency response of the reflected sound.
The WALL TYPE parameter lets you control the level
of the high frequencies to alter the sonic character of
your listening environment by simulating a softer (S),
or harder (H) wall. The mid-point designates a neutral
wall (made of wood).
Seat Position Simulation
(FRONT/REAR and LEFT/RIGHT)
Adjusting the equalizer (STR-GA8ES) or
tone (STR-GA7ES)
You can adjust the tone of the speakers.
Follow the procedure described in “Adjusting the
equalizer” or “Adjusting the tone controls” on page 20.
If you sit in the front of a room, you hear more direct
sound from the front speakers. As you move to the
rear, the reflected sound increases. Similarly, the
reflected sound changes when you move from left to
right, and vice versa.
The FRONT/REAR and LEFT/RIGHT parameters let
you control the balance of direct and reflected sound to
simulate your listening position.
In the FRONT/REAR parameter, “F” signifies the front
of the room and “R” signifies the rear. The mid-point
designates the center.
In the LEFT/RIGHT parameter, “L” signifies the left
side of the room and “R” signifies the right side. The
mid-point designates the center.
(continued)
19
EN
Using Surround Sound
Reverberation Time (REVERB)
This parameter adjusts the length of time required for
the reverberation (echoes) generated from a given
sound to attenuate –60 dB.
You can choose shorter (S) or longer (L) reverberation
times.
Note
The EFFECT parameter allows you to adjust the overall
presence of the sound field.
Customizing the Sound Fields
Each sound field is composed of an equalizer
(STR-GA8ES) or tone controls (STR-GA7ES) and
surround sound parameters — variables of sound, that
create the sound image. You can customize the sound
fields by adjusting some of the sound parameters to
suit your listening situation. See the charts on page 22
for the parameters available in each sound field.
Once you customize the sound fields, they are stored in
memory unless the receiver is unplugged for about 1
week.
STR-GA8ES
SURROUND
indicator
EQUALIZER
SLOPEBAND
Before you get started
Select the sound field you want to customize and start
playing a program.
Adjusting the equalizer (STR-GA8ES)
Adjust the tone of the front, center and rear speakers
for optimum sound. You can adjust the tone of all
sound fields, including Dolby Surround.
1 Press SOUND FIELD ON/OFF so the name of the
previously selected sound field appears in the
display.
2 Press DPC MODE so that the “EQUALIZER”
indicator lights up.
3 Press EQUALIZER BAND to select a frequency
band: B (bass), M (midrange), or T (treble).
4 Press SLOPE to select the type of adjustment you
want: NARROW (to adjust a specific frequency),
MEDIUM (to a small group of frequencies), or
WIDE (to adjust a broad range of frequencies).
5 Rotate the FREQUENCY digital processing
control knob to select the frequency you want to
adjust.
6 Use the EQ LEVEL digital processing control
knob to raise or lower the level of the selected
frequency.
20
EN
STR-GA7ES
EQUALIZER
indicator
SURROUND
indicator
TONE
indicator
PARAMETER
FREQUENCY
PARAMETER
BASS/TREBLE
DPC
MODE
DPC
MODE
LEVEL
EQ LEVEL
LEVEL
TONE LEVEL
7 Repeat steps 3 through 6 for other frequency
bands until you obtain the equalization curve you
desire.
You can turn off the tone adjustments without
erasing them
Press EQ/TONE ON/OFF on the remote to turn the
tone parameter off or on. The tone adjustments and on/
off setting are stored in each sound field.
Adjusting the tone controls (STR-GA7ES)
Adjust the tone of the front, center and rear speakers
for optimum sound. You can adjust the tone of all
sound fields, including Dolby Surround.
1 Press SOUND FIELD ON/OFF so the name of the
previously selected sound field appears in the
display.
2 Press DPC MODE so that the “TONE” indicator
lights up.
3 Rotate the BASS/TREBLE digital processing
control knob to select “BASS” or “TREBLE”.
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