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Surround
The AVR-3801 is equipped with a digital signal processing circuit that lets you play program sources in the surround mode to achieve the same
sense of presence as in a movie theater.
Dolby Surround
(1) Dolby Digital (Dolby Surround AC-3)
Dolby Digital is the multi-channel digital signal format developed by Dolby Laboratories.
Dolby Digital consists of up to “5.1” channels - front left, front right, center, surround left, surround right, and an additional channel exclusively
reserved for additional deep bass sound effects (the Low Frequency Effects – LFE – channel, also called the “.1” channel, containing bass
frequencies of up to 120 Hz).
Unlike the analog Dolby Pro Logic format, Dolby Digital’s main channels can all contain full range sound information, from the lowest bass, up
to the highest frequencies – 22 kHz. The signals within each channel are distinct from the others, allowing pinpoint sound imaging, and Dolby
Digital offers tremendous dynamic range from the most powerful sound effects to the quietest, softest sounds, free from noise and distortion.
2 Dolby Digital and Dolby Pro Logic
Comparison of home surround systems Dolby Digital Dolby Pro Logic
No. recorded channels (elements) 5.1 ch 2 ch
No. playback channels 5.1 ch 4 ch
Playback channels (max.) L, R, C, SL, SR, SW L, R, C, S (SW - recommended)
Audio processing
Digital discrete processing
Dolby Digital (AC-3) encoding/decoding
Analog matrix processing Dolby Surround
High frequency playback limit of surround
channel
20 kHz 7 kHz
2 Dolby Digital compatible media and playback methods
Marks indicating Dolby Digital compatibility: and .
The following are general examples. Also refer to the player’s operating instructions.
LD (VDP)
Coaxial Dolby Digital RF output jack 1
Set the input mode to “AUTO”.
(Page 42)
DVD
Optical or coaxial digital output
(same as for PCM) 2
Set the input mode to “AUTO”.
(Page 42)
Others
(satellite broadcasts, CATV, etc.)
Optical or coaxial digital output
(same as for PCM)
Set the input mode to “AUTO”.
(Page 42)
Media Dolby Digital output jacks Playback method (reference page)
1 Please use a commercially available adapter when connecting the Dolby Digital RF (AC-3RF) output jack of the LD player to the digital input
jack.
Please refer to the instruction manual of the adapter when making connection.
2 Some DVD digital outputs have the function of switching the Dolby Digital signal output method between “bit stream” and “(convert to)
PCM”. When playing in Dolby Digital surround on the AVR-3801, switch the DVD player’s output mode to “bit stream”. In some cases
players are equipped with both “bit stream + PCM” and “PCM only” digital outputs. In this case connect the “bit stream + PCM” jacks
to the AVR-3801.
