Cambridge Sound Works MegaTheater AVS550 User manual

MegaTheater
™
AVS550
DVD/Tuner Pre-Amplifier
User Manual

2
The lightning flash with arrowhead,
within an equilateral triangle, 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 risk
of electric shock to persons.
The exclamation point within an equilat-
eral triangle is intended to alert the user
to the presence of important operating
and maintenance (servicing) instructions
in the literature accompanying this
product.
WARNING
DO NOT OPEN
TO PREVENT THE RISK OF ELECTRIC
SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE
COVER. NO USER-
SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.
REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED
SERVICE PERSONNEL.
AVISIQUE
POUR EVITER TOUT RISQUE DE
CHOC ELECTRIQUE, NE PAS
DEMONTER LE COUVERCLE DU
HAUT PARLEUR. AUCUN ENTRE-
TIEN DES PIECES INTERIEURES
N’EST REQUIS.TOUT SERVICE
D’ENTRETIEN NE DOIT ETRE
EFFECTUE QUE PAR DU PERSON-
NEL D’ENTRETIEN QUALIFIE.
READ AND HEED IMPORTANT SAFETY WARNING
ON REAR OF ENCLOSURE
CAUTION:
TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK, MATCH WIDE BLADE
OF PLUG TO WIDE SLOT, INSERT FULLY.
ATTENTION:
POUR EVITER LES CHOCS ELECTRIQUES, INTRODUIRE
LA LAME LA PLUS LARGE DE LA FICHE DANS LA
BORNE CORRESPONDANTE DE LA PRISE ET POUSSER
JUSQU’AU FOND.
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
THE SERIAL NUMBER FOR THE PRODUCT IS LOCATED
ON THE REAR PANEL. PLEASE WRITE THIS NUMBER
DOWN AND KEEP IT IN A SECURE AREA. THIS IS FOR
YOUR SECURITY.

3
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS
1. Read these instructions
2. Keep these instructions.
3. Heed all warnings.
4. Follow all instructions.
5. Do not use this apparatus near water.
6. Clean only with a dry cloth.
7. Do not block any of the ventilation openings. Install
in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
8. Do not install near any heat sources such as radia-
tors, heat registers, stoves, or other apparatus (includ-
ing amplifiers) that produce heat.
9. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or
grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades
with one wider than the other. A grounding type plug
has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide
blade or the third prong are provided for your safety. If
the provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult
an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
10. Protect the power cord from being walked on or
pinched particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles,
and the point where they exist from the apparatus.
11. Only use attachments/accessories specified by the
manufacturer.
12. Use only with a cart, stand, tripod, bracket, or table
specified by the manufacturer, or sold with apparatus.
When a cart is used, use caution when moving the
cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip-over.
13. Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or
when unused for long periods of time.
14. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.
Servicing is required when the apparatus has been
damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or
plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects
have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been
exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally,
or has been dropped.

4
DISC PRECAUTIONS:
MOISTURE OR DEW – May form on the lens or disc if
the product is suddenly moved from a cold environ-
ment to a warm one, and prevent the unit from reading
the disc. If this happens, turn the product on for a
least one hour before inserting a disc.
DAMAGED DISCS – Never play cracked, warped, or
otherwise damaged discs as they may harm the
mechanism.
HANDLING DISCS –
•Do not touch the play side of the disc. Always
handle the disc by the edges.
•Do not attach paper, tape or labels to the disc
except for purpose-designed CD labels applied with
an applicator intended for the purpose. Out of bal-
ance discs may damage the mechanism.
• Keep discs away from direct sunlight and
excessive heat.
• Keep disc in proper storage cases when not in use.
DISC CLEANING –
•Before playback, wipe the play surface of the disc
outwards from the center with a clean, soft, lint-free
cloth.
STATEMENT OF COMPLIANCE – 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 instruc-
tions, may cause harmful interference to radio commu-
nications. However, this is no guarantee that interfer-
ence will not occur in a particular installation. If this
equipment does cause harmful interference to radio or
television reception, which can be determined by turn-
ing the equipment off and on, you are encouraged to
try to correct the interference by one or more of the
following measures:
• Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna and the
power cord.
• Increase the separation between the equipment and
the receiver.
• Connect the equipment to an outlet on a different cir-
cuit than the one to which the receiver is connected.
• Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV tech-
nician for help.
This product is manufactured under license from
Dolby laboratories, “DOLBY”, “AC-3”, “Pro Logic” and
the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby labora-
tories. Copyright 1992-1997, Dolby laboratories.
This Product incorporates copyright protection tech-
nology that is protected by method claims of certain
U.S. Patents and other intellectual property rights
owned by Macrovision Corporation and other rights
owners. Use of this copyright protection technology
must be authorized by Macrovision Corporation, and is
intended for home and other limited viewing uses only
unless otherwise authorized by Macrovision
Corporation. Reverse engineering or disassembly
is prohibited.

5

6
TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION
Thanks for choosing the MegaTheater AVS550 as the
heart of your home theater system. We at Cambridge
SoundWorks believe that it is the ideal utilization of
high technology to simplify the home
entertainment experience.
The AVS550 will entertain you for many years with its
flawless playback of DVD movies and high-resolution
DVD-Audio discs, sensitive AM and FM radio recep-
tion, and playback of normal CD, CD+G, HDCD, and
MP3 or WAV music files on recordable CD or DVD
discs. It will also play back DVD-R, DVD-RW, DVD+R,
DVD+RW, VCD and SVCD discs you burn on your PC
from video files such as home movies from your digital
camcorder. In addition, the AVS550 will display your
JPEG digital still photos from CD on your TV screen.
You can even produce a “slide show” with musical
background by saving your photos and background
music MP3 file on the same disc.
The AVS550 includes all the inputs and outputs neces-
sary for most home theater system needs. There are
two sets of rear panel A/V inputs and a recording out-
put to connect a VCR and a satellite receiver or cable
box. A front panel input can be used for quick connec-
tion of a camcorder, video game, or portable music
player. Optical and coaxial digital inputs are also pro-
vided to connect up to two set top boxes (cable TV,
HDTV, or satellite receiver) equipped with a digital output.
The built-in 5.1 surround decoders (Dolby Digital,
Dolby Pro Logic 2 and DTS ) will accurately play back
any contemporary DVD when connected to a suitably
powered loudspeaker system or multichannel power
amplifier. The 24 bit 192kHz Analog to Digital convert-
ers make the AVS550 fully compatible with stereo and
5.1 DVD-Audio discs.
Introduction ................................................................6
Carton Contents..........................................................8
Remote Control ..........................................................9
Front Panel and Display ..........................................13
Getting Started ........................................................14
System Connection Diagrams..................................15
Basic Setup Menu ....................................................20
Operation and Use ..................................................23
Advanced Operation ................................................28
Advanced Setup ......................................................29
Specifications ..........................................................36
Limited Warranty ......................................................37

7
Finally, the AVS550 provides a superb picture when
connected to a High Definition TV thanks to its
advanced Super Smart™ progressive scan circuitry.
This unique circuit analyzes the characteristics of
the source material on DVD and automatically selects
the proper de-interlacing algorithm for fast motion or
still scenes, as well as 3:2 pulldown to convert the
frame rate of film sources to that of video. The result is
the clearest, sharpest picture - totally free of motion
artifacts or the visual stutter sometimes seen when
movies, or movie segments originally shot on film, are
converted to video.
If You Are New To Digital Discs
DVDs are divided into one or more sections called
“titles.” A number corresponding to each title is
displayed on the front panel Vacuum Fluorescent
Display (VFD). You can select the different titles using
the TITLE key on the remote control. The ability to
bypass titles on a particular DVD is controlled by the
maker of the specific DVD, and may not be available
on all DVDs.
Each title is divided further into “chapters”. You may
navigate chapters using the skip keys ( |<<, >>| ),
using the numerical keypad, or within the DVD’s on-
screen menu.
CD and VCD discs are divided into “tracks”. You may
select the tracks using the skip keys or the numeric
keypad.
MP3, WAV and Picture CDs are organized in files that
may be contained within folders. Use the on-screen
“Smart Navi” function to navigate through the folders
on the disc and select the files you wish to play.
Some features of DVD playback are automated by
“flags” in the digital bitstream that let the disc
producer tell your player the optimum playback mode.
The AVS550 will respond to these flags where appro-
priate and automatically select the proper soundtrack
or technique for producing a progressive scan picture
on high definition TV sets. Likewise, the disc producer
may activate or deactivate some features of the for-
mat. If you find the occasional disc that does not offer
some of the features explained in this manual, it is not
the result of a defect of the AVS550.

8
CARTON CONTENTS
A. One AVS550 main control unit.
B. Remote control
C. Two AA Batteries
D. FM Antenna
E. FM antenna to F-connector adapter cable.
F. AM Loop antenna
G. A/V cable with three RCA plugs
(red, white, yellow) on each end.
H. Component video cable with three RCA plugs
(red, green and blue) on each end.
I. S-Video cable
EJECT/LOAD
SUBTITLE ANGLE REPEAT A-B/MUSIC
STANDBY
AUDIO JPEG SHUFFLE SLIDE
DVD
PROLOGIC
SPDIF TUNER
ENTER
MUTE
TITLE
CH
+
–
CH
AV1AV2AV3
OSD
321 654 987
GOTO+100
PBC
PROGRAM
CLEAR/EQ
VOL SETUP
MENU SETUP
VOL
+
–
VOL
ZOOM STOP
RETURN RESUME SLOW
AM/FM
STEP
SAVE
PAUS E PLAY
–AUTO +–TUNE +
–PRESET +
A
E
C
F
G
H
I
D
B

9
REMOTE CONTROL
Installing The Remote Control Batteries
Remove the lid of battery chamber in back of the
remote control and install the two AAA batteries
(included). Observe and follow the polarity marks.
Replace the lid.
When the batteries become weak, replace them imme-
diately. Old batteries may leak highly corrosive
fluid and permanently damage the remote control.
Button Locations and Functions
Most operation of the AVS550 is done using the remote
control. Basic controls are provided on the front panel
for emergency use in the event of battery failure or a
lost remote.
1. STANDBY: Use this to turn the AVS550 on and off
for normal use.
2. MUTE: Press to mute the main audio output. Press
again to restore output.
3. OSD:
• When playing a DVD, press once to show an On-
Screen Display of the current title and chapter.
Press again to display the remaining time. Press a
third time to display chapter elapsed time. Press a
fourth time to display chapter remaining time. A fifth
press will turn the On Screen Display off.
• For all CD, VCD, SVCD discs, press once for single
track elapsed time. Press again for single track
remaining time. Press a third time for total elapsed
time. The fourth press displays total remaining time,
and the fifth press turns the OSD off.
• For MP3 discs, one press displays file elapsed
time, the second press turns the OSD off.
4. EJECT/LOAD: Press to eject the disc tray, or to load
the disc tray.
5. NUMBER KEYS: Use for direct access to chapters,
titles, and tracks (not all discs allow direct access).
You may also start a disc from a particular title and
chapter, or at a particular time.
• To skip to a track or chapter while playing a disc,
press GOTO, then select the track or chapter num-
ber desired (use +10 key for tracks above 9), then
press ENTER.
• To start playing a specific title at a specific chapter,
press GOTO, then use the < > keys to determine
the desired title number. Enter the title number
using the number keys. Use the < > keys to deter-
mine the desired chapter and enter the chapter
number using the number keys.
• Press ENTER to play the disc from the point you
selected.
• To start playing a disc from a specific time, press
GOTO twice. Use the < > keys to highlight Title
determine the desired title number. Enter the title
number using the number keys. Use the < > keys
to determine Time and enter it using the number
keys. You must enter a 0 first for hours less than 10.
Press ENTER and play will begin from your select-
ed time.

10
• You may also directly access radio station presets
1-10 by pressing the appropriate number button
during radio play.
6. VOLUME: Press to increase or decrease volume.
7. CH-/Slow:
• DVD, VCD, SVCD - Press to engage in slow motion
playback. The first press is 2x Slow (i.e.1/2 normal
speed), the second press is 4x, third press is 6x,
and the fourth press is 8x. A fifth press returns to
normal speed.
• Tuner - Select next lower numbered preset
radio station.
CH+/Step:
• DVD, VCD, SVCD - Press to step to the next frame
manually.
• Tuner - Select next higher numbered preset
radio station.
8. REMOTE SOURCE SELECT: Press the button that
corresponds to the device you wish to control. TV,
VCR, and CABLE may be programmed with codes
from other remotes during initial setup. See
“Learning IR Codes.”
9. SOURCE SELECT: Use to select the A/V Source to
be played by the AVS550. The button for AV3 is
located below the door covering the lower half of
the remote.
10.PLAY: Use to start disc play. Also used to step
between Equalizer preset curves.
11.STOP / TUNER SAVE:
• For DVD press the STOP key once, the unit enters
“memory stop.” Play resumes from the same point when
PLAY is pressed. Press STOP a second time to resume
from the disc’s beginning with the next press of PLAY.
• In TUNER mode the STOP Key is used to save the
currently tuned station as a preset.
12. |<< / AUTO –:
• Disc play - Selects PREVIOUS track or Chapter.
• Tuner - Seeks the next lower station.
1
2 3 4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
32
33 34 35 36
31
30
29
28
27
26
25
24
23
22
21
20

11
ticular disc is mastered. If there is no menu level,
this button will select the current title.
25. ZOOM: Each successive press zooms the image
1.5x, 2x, and 3x. Press again to revert to normal size.
26.AUDIO/ST:
• DVD playback - Selects the available audio tracks
on a DVD. This feature is not available on all DVD’s.
• Tuner - Toggles FM reception between Stereo and
Mono.
27.ANGLE: Selects different view angles if supported
by the DVD.
28.SUBTITLE: Selects different subtitles available on
the DVD. Not all DVDs support subtitle selection
from this key.
29.REPEAT: Repeats a chapter or title on DVD, and
disc, folder or track on CD and MP3 playback.
30.A-B / MUSIC: Repeats a user-defined section of a
DVD, CD or MP3 file.
• Press the button once at the start of the section you
wish to repeat, press it again at the end of the
selection. Press the button again to cancel A-B
repeat.
• In Slide Show mode, this key is used to select the
background music file if desired.
31.CLEAR / EQ: Clears last entry when programming.
32.AUDIO IN: Press to toggle between analog and
digital inputs when using AV1 or AV2 source
33.PROLOGIC: Press to select the desired Dolby Pro
Logic 2 mode for Dolby Surround or stereo
sources. Each press selects the next mode.
34.SHUFFLE: Plays CD, WAV, and MP3 music tracks,
or JPEG files in random order.
35.SLIDE: Selects Slide Show mode for JPEG Photo
viewing.
36.PROGRAM: Use to program a playing sequence for
individual CD tracks.
13. >>| / AUTO +:
• Disc Play - Selects NEXT track or Chapter.
• Tuner - Seeks the next higher station.
14. PAUSE / AM/FM:
• Disc Play - Pauses playback
• Tuner - Selects AM or FM band
15.PRESET +: Use to select a specific preset location
to save a radio station.
• Slide Show Mode - select transition mode between
slides. Refer to Viewing JPEG’s on pg. 25.
16.PRESET –: Use to select a specific preset location
to save a radio station.
17. << / TUNE –:
• Disc Play - Selects fast reverse playback. Each
press increases speed of playback 2x > 4x > 6x >
8x > Normal.
• Tuner - Manual tune one step lower in frequency.
18. >> / TUNE +:
• Disc Play - Selects fast playback. Each press increas-
es speed of playback 2x > 4x > 6x > 8x > Normal.
• Tuner - Manual tune one step higher in frequency.
19.SETUP: Use to enter the AVS550 main setup
menus. Disc play will stop when selected. Press the
button again to exit the menu when you are done.
20.CURSOR CONTROL: Press these buttons to navi-
gate through menus. Use the ENTER key to make
your selection.
21.VOL.SETUP: Press to adjust the volume of individ-
ual channels. (Adjustment may be made in DVD or
tuner source mode only.)
22.AV3: Selects AV3 source input.
23.TITLE: The unit will return to the disc title page. You
may navigate and make your selection using the
CURSOR, ENTER and PLAY keys.
24.MENU: Press to select the disc menu for the cur-
rent title. This may vary depending on how the par-

12
Learning I.R. Codes:
You may teach the AVS550 remote control the codes
from up to three other remote controls. Once you have
programmed the new codes, the AVS550 remote will
operate your entire system.
1. Press and hold the REMOTE SOURCE button (TV,
VCR, or CABLE) you wish to program for 3 seconds
until the status LED above the ANGLE button illumi-
nates a steady GREEN.
2. Face the remote whose command you wish to learn
(source remote) towards the small window above
the ZOOM button of the ASV550 remote. Keep
them approximately 3-4 inches apart.
3. Press the button on the source remote that you
wish to teach the AVS550 remote. The LED will turn
AMBER.
4. Press the button on the AVS550 remote where you
want to assign the new code. When the command
was successfully learned the LED on the AVS550
remote illuminates a steady GREEN. If the Green
LED flashes, there was an error and you must try
again.
5. The remote is now ready to learn the next com-
mand. Press the next button on the source remote
you wish to learn and repeat the process.
6. Repeat as needed until all the commands you need
to operate he system are learned. After 10 seconds
of inactivity the remote will leave learning mode, the
green LED will extinguish, and the remote control is
ready for use.
Hint: Only save the commands you need to use from
the source remote. There is usually no reason to save
all the commands. It may be easiest to combine
selected commands from various sources under one
REMOTE SOURCE button. For example, if you always
use a cable box or satellite tuner it will be easier to
save the TV input source switching and cable box
channel selection buttons under TV. You will not need
to save the channel commands from the TV.

13
FRONT PANEL AND DISPLAY
VIDEO
HP L R VIDEO VOL
1. STANDBY - Turns the unit “on” and “off” in normal
operation.
2. VFD - Vacuum Fluorescent Display. Shows player status.
3. POWER LED - Indicates the presence of AC power.
This LED will remain lit in standby mode when the
main power switch (on the rear panel) is engaged.
4. VOLUME - Controls volume in 40 steps.
5. OPEN/CLOSE - Opens and closes the disc drawer.
6. PLAY - Starts play of the disc.
7. PREVIOUS TRACK/CHANNEL - Selects previous
track on a disc, or selects the next lower radio preset.
8. NEXT TRACK/CHANNEL - Selects the next disc
track or the next higher radio preset.
9. AV3 IN - Composite video and stereo analog audio
inputs for external A/V source.
10.HEADPHONE jack - Output for headphones with a
3.5mm miniplug..
11.HEADPHONE VOLUME - Controls headphone vol-
ume independently of the main system volume.
MAIN POWER SWITCH
A Main power switch is located on the rear panel. This
switch should normally be left ON. Switch it to the OFF
position when leaving the AVS550 for an extended
period of time, such as on vacation, to protect the cir-
cuitry against power surges that may occur when you
are away.
1234
56789
10 11
VIDEO
TITLE CHP ST. TUNED 3D RDS DIGITAL
KHz
MHz
LR
C
LS RS
S
Parental Lock
Indicator
Not used in
US model
FM Stereo
Indicator
Not used in
US model
Speaker
Format
Indicator
AM/FM
Tuned
Indicator
DVD: Title
RADIO: Preset Number
DVD: Chapter
RADIO: Band
DVD: Time
RADIO: Station Frequency

14
GETTING STARTED
There are two stages to an efficient installation of the
MegaTheater system.
Stage 1 is the placement and connection of all the
components. We have made this as easy as possible
by color-coding all of the critical connections.
Stage 2 is set-up and adjustment. You tell the AVS550
what type of TV set you have. You may also you tell it
what type of speakers you have and their placement.
You may also set up parental controls and adjust lan-
guage preferences at this time.
COMPONENT ARRANGEMENT:
The arrangement of the speakers within the room sig-
nificantly influences their performance. Here are a few
guidelines to help you get the most from your system.
• The TV monitor is the focal point of any home the-
ater system. The front left and right speakers
should be placed symmetrically a few feet to either
side of the TV. These speakers should be no farther
apart than the distance of the listener to the speakers.
• The center channel speaker should be placed
directly above or below the TV, and ideally at the
same distance from the listener as the left and right
speakers. Placing the front left, front right, and cen-
ter speakers at the same height is preferred.
• The surround speakers should be placed on the
side walls, slightly to the rear of the listening posi-
tion. Ideally they should face each other and be at
a level about 2-3 feet higher than the listeners’
ears. If that is not possible, they may be placed on
the rear wall facing forward.
• The subwoofer is best placed in the front half of the
room, near the plane of the front speakers. Placing
the subwoofer in a corner will provide the most effi-
cient coupling of the subwoofer’s energy to the
room. Positioning the subwoofer away from the
walls will reduce its output. Room acoustics play a
major role in the propagation of bass notes, so it is
advisable to experiment with a variety of placement
options and stick with the one that gives the
strongest bass with the most even response
throughout the room.
• The remote control needs a clear line of sight to the
AVS550’s front panel.
MAXIMUM RECOMMENDED DISTANCE
APART FOR HOME THEATER
SURROUND
SPEAKER
SURROUND
SPEAKER
POWERED
SUBWOOFER
CENTER CHANNEL
MAIN SPEAKERS
45 ANGLE
LEVEL
WITH
CENTER
SPEAKER

15
Determining Your System Setup:
There are a variety of system configurations you can
select, depending on the other equipment you wish to
connect to your MegaTheater system.
Option A: The simplest system consists of the
MegaTheater and a TV set. A cable box or satellite
receiver may connect to your TV’s antenna input and is
viewed by tuning your TV to channel 3 or 4.
Use this diagram if:
A. You do not have a cable box or satellite receiver
and use your TV tuner to select channels.
B. You have a basic cable box connected to your TV
by the antenna connection.
SYSTEM CONNECTION
OUTPUT
INPUT S-VIDEO
VIN
OUT
L
R
AB
V
L
R
COMPOSITE S-VIDEO
ANTENNA IN TO TV
ANTENNA
INPUT
AUDIO
OUT
COMPONENT
VIDEO INPUT
Y
Cb/Pb
Cr/Pr
INPUTS
LRCVBS S
FM 75Ω
AM 300Ω
REC OUT
AV2
CVBS
AV1
COAXIAL S-VIDEO Cr/Pr
Cb/Pb
Y
AUDIO
TOS
Satellite Receiver
or Cable Box
VCR or
Digital Recorder
TV
AVS550
1. Connect the video output from the MegaTheater to
your TV’s video inputs to watch DVD movies.
2. Connect the TV’s L & R audio outputs to an auxil-
iary A/V input of the AVS550. Select this same auxil-
iary A/V input to listen to your off-air, cable, or satel-
lite programs using the Megatheater Audio fea-
tures.
Note: If your cable box or satellite receiver have AV
outputs, it is best to use Option B even if you cur-
rently have it connected to your TV as shown
below. The Option B connection will result in superi-
or sound and picture quality.

16
Option B:
This option is the best choice if:
A. You have a cable TV, HDTV tuner, or satellite receiv-
er set top box (STB) with digital or stereo analog
output.
B. You have a VCR and wish to record or play in
Stereo or Pro Logic II surround mode.
LRVIDEO S-VIDEO COAXIAL
DIGITAL
LRCVBS S
FM 75Ω
AM 300Ω
REC OUT
AV2
CVBS
AV1
COAXIAL S-VIDEO Cr/Pr
Cb/Pb
Y
AUDIO
TOS
OUTPUT INPUT S-VIDEO
VIN
OUT
L
R
VCR or
Digital Video Recorder
Satellite Receiver or Cable Box
AVS550
1. Connect the audio output of the STB directly to the
AVS550. The AVS550 processor can then decode
the Dolby Digital signal from your STB when pres-
ent, or play the sound in Stereo or Dolby Pro Logic
II otherwise.
2. The Video output of the STB may be connected
either to the AVS550 or directly to the TV, whichever
is more convenient. The video output from an HDTV
STB must be connected directly to the TV to get
High Definition video.
* If equipped
Note: If your cable box or satellite receiver has
an OPTICAL digital input, connect it to the AV2
INPUT. Connect your VCR to AV1 INPUT.

17
Connecting the AVS550 To Your TV:
The video output connection is determined by the
capability of your TV.
A. If your TV is equipped with progressive scan
(Y/Pb/Pr) inputs or interlaced (Y/Cb/Cr) component
video inputs, use them for the best picture from
DVD playback.
B. If your TV does not have component video inputs,
S-Video input is the next best choice. Most current
TVs have at least one S-Video input.
C. The most common video input type on a TV is com-
posite video, also known as CVBS. This input uses
a standard RCA jack, usually color-coded yellow.
The AVS550 supports all three of the above options via
it’s TV output. All of the video input sources connected
to the AVS550 are available at its S-Video and CVBS
outputs. The component output is only available when
the AVS550 internal player is used. If you have other
sources connected to the AVS500, you must connect
an S-Video or CVBS cable from the AVS550 to your TV.
Connect an S-video cable if any of your auxiliary
sources have S-Video output. Connect a composite
(CVBS) video cable if any sources have CVBS output
only, or if your TV does not have an S-Video input. If
you are not certain what you need at this point, con-
nect them all.
AB
V
L
R
COMPOSITE S-VIDEO
ANTENNA
INPUT
AUDIO
OUT
COMPONENT
VIDEO INPUT
Y
Cb/Pb
Cr/Pr
INPUTS
CVBS
COAXIAL S-VIDEO Cr/Pr
Cb/Pb
Y
AUDIO
TOS
TV
AVS550

18
Connecting Auxiliary A/V Sources:
There are three auxiliary A/V input connections avail-
able on the AVS550 (AV1, AV2, and AV3). AV1 and AV2
are located on the rear panel and may be used to con-
nect a VCR, Cable Box or similar devices. AV3 is
behind the door on the front panel. It provides conven-
ient temporary connection of a camcorder, video
game, or portable music player.
There is also an output labeled REC OUT for connec-
tion of an audio or A/V recording device such as VCR
or Digital Video Recorder.
A. AV1 has S-Video, CVBS, Stereo Audio and Coaxial
digital input.
B. AV2 has S-video, CVBS, Stereo Audio and Optical
digital input.
C. AV3 has CVBS and Stereo audio input only.
The AVS550 will convert a CVBS input to S-Video out-
put to feed your TV. It will also convert S-video to
CVBS. However, you will get the best picture quality by
viewing the video in its native format. When viewing a
source that has only CVBS output, it is best to select a
CVBS input on your TV. Likewise, when viewing an S-
video source, selecting an S-video TV input source will
result in the best picture.The REC OUT jacks do not
provide any format conversion. You must connect the
AV input source you wish to record in the format your
recording device will accept. Usually this is CVBS.
Connecting an Auxiliary A/V Source
with Digital Output:
Many digital cable systems and almost all Digital
Satellite receivers offer digital audio outputs. This pro-
vides access to the Dolby Digital (AC3) audio stream
from movies and high definition TV broadcasts. You
may also connect any audio source or PC sound card
that provides a standard SPDIF (Sony Philips Digital
Interface) signal with up to 24-bit/96Khz resolution.
If your digital source has a Coaxial output, attach it to AV1.
If the source has an Optical output, connect it to AV2.
When AV1 or AV2 are selected, the AVS550 will auto-
matically choose the digital input if present. If there is
no digital signal the AVS550 will play the analog input.
Note: The digital input must be playing when the AV
input is selected in order for the ASV550 to sense the
signal. If the digital signal is not playing, or if the
AVS550 fails to accurately sense the digital input, you
can manually toggle between Digital and Analog input
by pressing the AUDIO IN key on the remote control.

+
BASS
SW 5.1
L
C
LS RS
R
AUDIO
RS R C L LS
+
–
+
–
19
Audio Output Connections:
5.1 Surround System (RCA Jacks):
The main audio outputs of the AVS550 are next to the
Component video outputs. These outputs are color
coded to match the cables supplied with the
Cambridge SoundWorks BassCube 851. Connect
these outputs to the BassCube 851 or to another 5.1
compatible amplifier/speaker system.
5.1 Surround System (15-pin D-Subminiature Jack):
Audio output for use with specific Cambridge
SoundWorks woofer/amplifier modules. A cable for this
connection will be supplied with compatible products.
DO NOT attach a video monitor to this jack!
Stereo System:
Use only the Red and White output jacks to connect
the AVS550 to a conventional 2-channel stereo system,
or powered system such as the Cambridge
SoundWorks BassCube821. Select an appropriate
Downmix mode, as explained on pg. 32, for stereo
operation.
REC Outputs:
A/V outputs are provided for connection of a VCR or
other recording device. They duplicate the signal fed
to the Front Left and Front Right speaker system, but
are not controlled by the main volume.
Note: If you
wish to make a recording from a DVD or other multi-
channel source, be sure to select the DVD’s STEREO
audio track or choose STEREO in the DOWNMIX setup
menu.
+
BASS
TREBLE
POWER/STANDBY
SPEAKERS
VOLUME CONTROL
FLAT
REDUCE
FRC/S AUX RF CLF
RR LR
ANALOG STEREO IN
SW
L
C
LS RS
R
AUDIO
AVS550
AVS550
Right
Front Center
Left
Front
Right
Surround
Left
Surround
Right
Front Center Left
Front
Right
Surround
Left
Surround
Option A: Use for BassCube 851 and
MegaWorks Series subwoofers.
Option B: Use for subwoofers equipped with
15-pin connector..
WHITE
BROWN
BLUE
ORANGE
BLACK
GREEN
RED
GREEN
GRAY
BLUE
BLACK
Cable supplied
with subwoofer
Cable supplied
with subwoofer

20
BASIC SETUP MENU
To get the most from your MegaTheater system it must
be configured for your TV and speaker types.
Configuration is made via the Setup menu, accessed
by pressing the SETUP button on the Remote control.
Use the v < > buttons to navigate through the menu
and highlight your selection. Use the ENTER button to
make the selection. The < key will return you to the
previous menu level. When you are all done, press the
remote control SETUP button again to return to normal
operation.
1. Turn the main power on using the main power
switch on the rear panel. After a few seconds the
red LED next to the display will illuminate and the
AVS550 will be in Standby mode. Also turn on the
main power to your BassCube (or other amplifier
system) or other amplifier system and to your TV.
Switch the AVS550 to operating mode by pressing
the STANDBY button. The front panel VFD will illu-
minate and indicate LOADING, then NO DISC. If it
does not, press the DVD source button on the
remote.
2. Use your TV’s remote to select the video input you
have connected the AVS550 to. When the correct
input is selected, you will see the Cambridge
SoundWorks logo on the TV. If you have an HDTV
or EDTV, use the Component inputs. If you see a
double, overlapped or streaked logo screen, your
TV is in progressive mode. Change the TV monitor
mode to INTERLACED (for now) so you can read
the menus.
Video Setup:
For the best picture, the AVS550 needs to know a few
things about your TV.
Select TV Aspect Ratio
A conventional TV has an aspect ratio of 4:3 (4 units
wide, 3 units high). A Widescreen TV has a 16:9
aspect ratio. This setting must match your set or the
picture will look stretched or squashed.
A. Press SETUP to enter the setup menu.
B. Select VIDEO and press ENTER.
C. Select ASPECT RATIO, and choose ENTER. If you
have a widescreen TV (16:9 Aspect Ratio), select
WIDE. If you have a conventional 4:3 TV, select
either of the NORMAL options. In wide mode, 16:9
movies will fill the screen; 4:3 movies will have
blank bars at the sides but fill the screen vertically.
Other widescreen aspect ratios may have thin bars
at the top and bottom to fit the full frame onto your
screen.
Note: Some 16:9 TVs will automatically
stretch 4:3 source material to fill the screen result-
ing in distorted geometry on 4:3 material. This is
not a function of the AVS550 and is controlled by
your TV. If you have a conventional 4:3 TV, select
either of the NORMAL options. NORMAL/PS (Pan
and Scan) will crop the sides off of a widescreen
movie in order to fill the screen vertically. NORMAL/
LB (Letterbox) will place black bars at the top and
bottom of widescreen movies in order to fit the full
picture on your screen.
D. Press ENTER to confirm your selection, then press
< to return to the previous menu level.
v