Audio Control Maestro M2e User manual

High Performance Pre-Amplifier
Surround Processor
with Active Balanced Technology
Owners Enjoyment Manual
For those who consider
perfection possible®
22410 70th Avenue West • Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 USA
Phone [phone] • Fax [phone]
www.audiocontrol.com
©2006. All Rights Reserved
®
Rev 1.1
SYSTEM
tm
Home Theater

High Performance Pre-Amplifier
Surround Processor
with Active Balanced Technology
Owners Enjoyment Manual
For those who consider
perfection possible®
22410 70th Avenue West • Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043 USA
Phone [phone] • Fax [phone]
www.audiocontrol.com
©2006. All Rights Reserved
®
Rev 1.1
tm

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This page was intentionally left blank. Please enjoy it!

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Table of Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .7
Key Features and Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .8
Guided Tour of the Masestro M2e
Front Panel Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10
Rear Panel Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
Set-Up & Configuration
Unit Placement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Speaker Considerations and Placement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
Power Wiring . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Audio Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
System Diagram . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .18
Video Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .19
IR Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .20
12V Trigger Connections . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Zone 2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .21
Main User Menus
Navigating the Setup Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Inputs and Volume . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Audio Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
Zone 2 Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .24
Advanced Setup Menus
General Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .25
Speaker Sizes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .26
Subwoofer Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .27
Delay Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
Level Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .28
EX Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .29
Speaker Eq Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Video Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Digital Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
Zone 2 Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
Input Trim . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
HDMI Settings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .32

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Table of Contents
Operating The Maestro M2e
Power . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .33
Menu . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Source Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .34
Stereo Direct . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .35
Display Brightness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .36
Surround Modes
Selecting Surround Modes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .39
Automation Integration
RS-232 Serial Control Protocol Commands . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .41
Protocol Structure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .42
Command Structure and Parameters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .45
IR Remote Control Codes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .49
Troubleshooting
General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Video . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .51
Audio . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Appendix . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Warranty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .61

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Congratulations
Great attention to system design, installation, and calibration makes
the difference between an average multiplex theatre and a great movie
palace. For your own personal home theater experience, the choice of
components and attention to detail is just as critical as if you were de-
signing a professional installation. For that reason AudioControl created
the Perfection Theater components to allow enthusiasts to experience a
performance theater in their own home.
AudioControl’s passion for high quality, meticulous attention to detail
and pro sound heritage shows itself in the dozens of awards we have
won for our designs, products and service. This manual is designed to
help you get the most from your Maestro M2e pre-amp processor. Even
though you’re dying to plug it in and start pushing buttons, please take
a little time to glance over this users guide and learn about the Maestro
M2e theater surround processor. Any component that does as much as
the Maestro M2e does, deserves all the explanation it can get.
Most Important Instruction of All
Make certain the warranty card is filled out and mailed back to us. Also,
record the serial number and put your sales receipt or invoice in a safe
place. This is very important in the unlikely event that the Maestro
M2e gets a sudden illness, or for proof of ownership if somebody takes
a fancy to your theater system in the middle of the night. Insurance
companies have no imagination when it comes to components like the
Maestro M2e being part of the theater system. This concludes the nag-
ging section of this manual.
Introduction

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Key Features Of the Maestro M2e
Multiple Surround Sound Formats
A powerful 32 bit DSP processor enables the Maestro M2e to
decode all current discrete surround digital formats avail-
able for 5.1, 6.1 and 7.1. In addition your Maestro M2e has
the capabilities to process two channel signals using Dolby
Pro Logic II, Pro Logic IIx and DTS Neo to provide multi-
channel output. The flash memory of your Maestro M2e
will allows it to be upgraded in the future when new for-
mats become available.
Balanced Outputs
The Maestro M2e offers balanced XLR outputs for superior
signal to noise performance when interfacing with ampli-
fiers with balanced inputs, like the AudioControl Pantages,
Avalon, or Savoy.
High Definition Video Inputs and Switching
Great sound is important, but you also need a great picture
to complete your performance home theater. The video
routing and switching in the Maestro M2e has it’s roots in
the broadcast studio. With high video bandwidth, you will
see even the finest details from the video sources even with
demanding 1080 and current progressive scan HDTV sig-
nals. In addition, the Maestro M2e switches high end digi-
tal video formats like HDMI for easy interface with todays
digital projection devices
AM/FM Tuner With RDS Support
The radio tuner in your Maestro M2e can receive both AM
and FM signals. In addition, the RDS (Radio Data System)
feature allows selected FM stations to display their respec-
tive names, song titles and even artists on the display of the
Maestro M2e.
Extensive Automation Integration
A touch screen or automation system is what really pulls a
high-end home theater together. It puts the full power of
the system at your fingertips. The RS-232 serial port and in-
frared remote control inputs feature an extensive command
library to control all aspects of the Maestro M2e. You have
the power.
Key Features

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Active Balanced Outputs
The Maestro M2e is the worlds first theater processor
equipped with an Active Balanced Output which allows it
to output a component video signal via an RJ-45 connec-
tor onto standard Category-5 wiring and extend it up to
1000’. The signal is also “balanced” which is a method used
in professional video and audio to reject noise, hum, and
distortion that can sometimes get introduced into signal
paths. An optional (sold separately) AudioControl BVR-25 is
used to receive this balanced signal and convert it back to a
standard component video signal. This is then connected
to your projector, monitor or other video display device.
Because the Maestro M2e was designed with high perfor-
mance video in mind, the Active Balanced Output on the
Maestro M2e can accommodate high-resolution signals of
480, 720, and 1080!
Second Zone Outputs
Do you want to enjoy your home theater system in the
bedroom also? The Second Zone output of the Maestro en-
ables you to independently control the source selection and
volume to a room outside of the home theater.
AudioControl PerfectionTheater System
The Maestro M2e is part of the AudioControl Perfection
Theater System. Also included in this system are the Diva
Digital Room Correction Processor combined with the
Avalon, Pantages, or Savoy high definition amplifiers. To
maximize the performance of your Perfection Theater sys-
tem, we also highly recommend that you have your audio
system calibrated by a factory trained technician using
AudioControl analysis equipment. Together these compo-
nents ensure superior audio and video performance from
your Prefection Home Theater system.
Award-Winning Quality
The Maestro M2e, like all AudioControl Perfection Theater
components, is backed with a comprehensive five-year
parts and labor warranty. This comes from a company
that has been designing and manufacturing perfor-
mance audio components since 1977.
Key Features
BVR-25
Balanced Video Receiver

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Front Panel Features
 Standby – The switch serves to “wake up” your Maestro M2e, provid-
ed the main power switch, located on the rear panel, is turned on.
 RDS Info – Displays the RDS (Radio Data System) text information (ie.
song name, artist, etc) provided the radio station selected is transmit-
ting it.
 FM Mute – Engages auto-muting circuit which mutes weak FM radio
signals.
 Store – Allows you to store your radio presets plus a good place to
buy groceries.
 Tuner – Allows you toggle between the two tuning modes (Tune or
Preset).
 Down/Up – Pressing these buttons allows you to scroll up and down
through various stations. In the “Preset” mode these buttons scroll
through the 30 FM stations or 10 AM stations stored in the preset
memories of your Maestro M2e.
 IR Remote Control Sensor - Behind this display is the infrared sen-
sor remote control. If the Maestro M2e is located in a system where this
window is not line-of-sight with the main listening seat; a rear panel
jack enables use of an outboard IR sensor.
  
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  
Guided Tour of the Masestro M2e