E-3
English
Welcome to the AV8 Preamp Processor
USING THIS HANDBOOK
Thank you for purchasing the Arcam FMJ AV8 Preamp Processor.
This handbook has been designed to give you all the information you
need to install, connect, set up and use the Arcam FMJ AV8 Preamp
Processor. The remote control handset supplied with the equipment
is also described.
It may be that the AV8 has been installed and set up as part of your
Hi-Fi installation by a qualified Arcam dealer. In this case, you may wish
to skip the sections of this handbook dealing with installation and
setting up the unit. Use the Contents list to guide you to the relevant
sections.
SAFETY
Safety guidelines are set out on page two of this handbook.
Many of these items are common sense precautions, but for your own
safety, and to ensure that you do not damage the unit, we strongly
recommend that you read them. This is a class 1 product and requires
an earth connection.
INTRODUCTION
The AV8 is a high quality and high performance home cinema
processor and audio pre-amplifier built to Arcam’s traditional high
quality design and manufacturing standards. It combines high resolution
digital processing with high performance audio and video components
to bring you an unrivalled home entertainment centre.
The AV8 allows quality switching and volume control of eight analogue
and seven digital sources making it an ideal companion for both home
cinema and two-channel stereo systems. Since many of these source
components are also capable of outputting high quality video signals,
the AV8 includes broadcast quality video switching for composite, S-
video, component and RGB video signals. There are inputs and outputs
for both tape and VCR, as well as a digital output. DVD-Audio and
SACD can be connected via the multichannel input. Control of the AV8
is either by front panel control buttons, IR remote control or an RS232
port (which can be used to upload future software enhancements).
On the back panel there are trigger outputs for easy connection to
associated equipment. The AV8 can easily be integrated with various
types of power amplifiers and loudspeakers, including those that are
THX certified. The AV8 is itself THX certified, meaning it has passed
the rigorous THX Ultra2 specification enabling it to reproduce THX
Surround EX signals from Dolby Digital soundtracks.
The customised installation of the AV8 in a listening room is an
important process which requires care at every stage. For this reason,
the installation information is very comprehensive and should be
followed carefully.
The AV8 has a universal input power supply that is compatible with
mains voltages between 85V AC and 265V AC, 50Hz to 60Hz.
Manufactured under licence from Dolby Laboratories, Inc.
‘Dolby’, ‘Pro Logic’, ‘Surround EX’ and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby
Laboratories.
Copyright © 1992–1999 Dolby Laboratories, Inc. All rights reserved.
Manufactured under license from Digital Theater Systems, Inc. US Pat. No. 5,451,942,
5,956,674, 5,974,380, 5,978,762 and other world-wide patents issued and pending.
“DTS”, “DTS-ES Extended Surround” and “Neo:6” are trademarks of Digital Theater
Systems, Inc.
Copyright © 1996, 2000 Digital Theater Systems, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Lucasfilm and THX are trademarks or registered trademarks of Lucasfilm, Ltd.
Copyright © Lucasfilm Ltd. &TM.
Surround EX is a jointly developed technology of THX and Dolby Laboratories, Inc. and is a
trademark of Dolby Laboratories, Inc. All rights reserved. Used under authorization.
CONTENTS
Safety guidelines..........................................................................E-2
Safety instructions ..............................................................................E-2
Safety compliance...............................................................................E-2
Welcome to the AV8 Preamp Processor ..............................E-3
Installation ....................................................................................E-4
Positioning the unit ............................................................................E-4
Notes about connections..............................................................E-4
Cables........................................................................................................E-5
Speaker Installation............................................................................E-5
Audio connections.............................................................................E-6
Zone 2 connections..........................................................................E-7
Video connections.............................................................................E-7
Control connections.........................................................................E-8
Trigger outputs.....................................................................................E-8
Connecting to a power supply...................................................E-9
Conguring the AV8 ............................................................... E-10
Basic Setup ..........................................................................................E-11
Advanced Setup...............................................................................E-14
Front panel controls ............................................................... E-17
Remote control........................................................................ E-18
Operating your AV8................................................................ E-19
Using the controls...........................................................................E-19
Using the main menu screen....................................................E-21
Using zone 2.......................................................................................E-23
Surround modes ...................................................................... E-24
Introduction........................................................................................E-24
Two-channel source modes ......................................................E-24
Multichannel sources.....................................................................E-25
Multichannel source modes.......................................................E-25
THX® Modes...................................................................................E-25
DSP Effects Modes .........................................................................E-26
About THX® cinema processing...........................................E-26
Troubleshooting.......................................................................E-27
Technical specications........................................................... E-30
Additional technical information.......................................... E-31
SCART connections ......................................................................E-32
IR remote codes...............................................................................E-33
AV8 serial programming interface.........................................E-34
Utility software..................................................................................E-41
Guarantee.................................................................................. E-42
On line registration.........................................................................E-42
