Channel Vision Aria A6600 User manual

ARIA
by Channel Vision™
A6600
Multi-Room Home Theater Processor
Channel Vision™ • 234 Fisher Avenue. Costa Mesa, CA 92626 (USA)
[phone] • [phone] •[phone] fax
www.channelvision.com • (email) [email protected]

Safety ...............................................................................................................................…………................…………...….... 1
Precautions ............................................................................................................................................................................. 2
Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................. 3
Features and Benefits ........................................................................................................................................................... 4
Installation and Wiring ........................................................................................................................................................... 5
Inter-connection Diagram ..................................................................................................................................................... 6
Schematic ............................................................................................................................................................................... 7
Operating Instructions ........................................................................................................................................................... 8
Operating Functions, Diagram ............................................................................................................................................. 9
Sound Processing Functions ............................................................................................................................................. 10
Operational Overview .......................................................................................................................................................... 11
Operational Overview Diagram ......................................................................................................................................... 13
ARIA Remote ....................................................................................................................................................................... 14
Keypads, Understanding and Installation ........................................................................................................................ 15
Infrared Receivers and Emitters, Understanding and Installation ................................................................................ 17
Cascading Units & Paging ................................................................................................................................................. 19
Page Connection Diagram ................................................................................................................................................. 20
Understanding RS-232 ........................................................................................................................................................ 21
ARIA Command Protocol Definition .................................................................................................................................. 23
Decimal to Hexadecimal Conversion Table ..................................................................................................................... 25
Command Definitions .......................................................................................................................................................... 26
TruSurround, Understanding and Use .............................................................................................................................. 27
Getting the Most ................................................................................................................................................................... 28
Trouble-Shooting ................................................................................................................................................................. 30
Specifications ....................................................................................................................................................................... 32
Installers Notes .................................................................................................................................................................... 33
TABLE OF CONTENTS

WARNING! TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE
THIS UNIT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
CAUTION! TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE COVER.
NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.
REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.
POWER CORD NOTICE FOR INTERNATIONAL OPERATION
Please Note that for 230V 50Hz operation select the power cord for your area. Select the plug for your
area at one end and an IEC320 connector at the other. It is not necessary to make any other changes.
If you have any questions please call CHANNEL VISION TECHNOLOGY at [phone].
Safety Instructions
1. Read Instructions - All the safety and operating instructions should be read before the unit is operated.
2. Retain Instructions - The safety and operating instructions should be retained for future reference.
3. Heed Warnings - All warnings on the A6600 in the operating instructions should be adhered to.
4. Follow instructions - All operating and user instructions should be followed.
5. Water and Moisture - The A6600 should not be used near water. For example, do not use the unit near a
bathtub, washbowl, kitchen sink, laundry tub, in a wet basement, or near a swimming pool.
6. Carts and Stands - The unit should be used only with a cart or stand that is recommended by the manufacturer.
A unit and cart combination should be moved with care. Quick stops, excessive force and uneven surfaces
may cause the unit and cart combination to overturn.
7. Wall or Ceiling Mounting - A6600 components should be not be mounted to a wall or ceiling. Install only as
recommended by the manufacturer.
8. Ventilation - The unit should be situated so that its location or position does not interfere with its proper venti-
lation. For example, ARIA should not be situated on a bed, sofa, rug, or similar surface that may block the
ventilation openings; or be placed in a built-in installation, such as a bookcase or cabinet that may impede the
flow of air through the ventilation openings.
9. Heat - The A6600 should be situated away from heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other
appliances (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
10. Power Sources - The A6600 should be connected to a power supply only of the type described in the
operating instructions or as marked on the unit covers.
11. Grounding or Polarization - Precautions should be taken so that the grounding or polarization means of the
unit is not defeated.
SAFETY
1

12. Power Cord Protection - Power supply cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be walked on or
pinched by items placed upon or against them. Pay particular attention to cords at plugs, receptacles, and the
point where they exit from the A6600.
13. Cleaning - The unit should be cleaned only as recommended by the manufacturer.
14. Non-use Periods - The power cord of the unit should be unplugged from the outlet when left unused for a
long period of time.
15. Object and Liquid Entry - Care should be taken so that objects do not fall and liquids are not spilled into the
enclosure through the openings.
16. Damage Requiring Service - The A6600 should be serviced by qualified service personnel when:
A. The power supply cord or the plug has been damaged.
B. Objects have fallen, or liquid has been spilled into the unit.
C. The unit has been exposed to rain.
D. The unit does not appear to operate normally.
E. The unit has been dropped or the enclosure is damaged.
17. Servicing - The user should not attempt to service the A6600 beyond that described in the operating instruc-
tions. All other servicing should be referred to qualified service personnel.
1. Warranty Card - The serial number appears on the rear panel of this unit near the power cord. Copy the serial
number onto your warranty card and mail it back to: Channel Vision, 234 Fischer Avenue, Costa Mesa, CA
92626. Be sure to retain a copy and keep it in a safe place.
2. Power - WARNING! BEFORE TURNING ON THE POWER FOR THE FIRST TIME, READ THE
FOLLOWING SECTION CAREFULLY. All models are designed for use only with the power supply voltage
of the region where they are sold. USA and Canadian: AC 120v, 60Hz.
3. V
oltage Label (Rear Panel) - A label located at the rear panel power connection indicates the AC power input
for the unit. For use in the USA and Canada, the label will read AC 120V, 60 Hz.
4. Do Not Touch the ARIA A6600 with Wet Hands - Do not handle the ARIA A6600 or power cord when your
hands are wet or damp. If water or any other liquid enters the ARIA A6600 cabinet, take the ARIA A6600 to
qualified service personnel for inspection.
5. Location - Place the ARIA A6600 in a well ventilated location. Take special care to provide plenty of ventila-
tion on all sides of the ARIA especially when it is placed on an audio rack. If ventilation is blocked, the
ARIA may over heat and malfunction. Do not expose the ARIA to direct sunlight or heating units as the ARIA
A6600 internal components temperature may rise and shorten the life of the components. Avoid damp and
dusty places.
6. Care - From time to time, you should wipe off the front and side panels and the cabinet with a soft cloth. Do
not use rough material, thinners, alcohol, or other chemical solvents or cloths since this may damage the finish
or remove the panel lettering.
PRECAUTIONS
2

Channel Vision's ARIA A6600 received the prestigious Innovations Design and Engineering Showcase Honors at
the 2000 Consumer Electronics Show. The ARIA A6600 is the world's first virtual surround multi-room home
theater processor which provides a high-performance yet cost-effective way to send multiple audio sources
throughout the home.
Unlike other multi-room audio processors that send only left and right stereo information to secondary zones, the
A6600 includes a unique licensed technology from SRS Labs called TruSurroundTM. This technology uses an
algorithm that processes a six-channel audio signal through only two front firing speakers but sounds like a six-
speaker system.
The A6600 offers the ultimate in multi-room home theater performance by including: audio loop through on all
ports, party mode control, 79-step volume control, separate bass, midrange and treble controls, IR receiver input,
and six IR outputs.
The consumer can enjoy surround sound in his or her bedroom, den, study, or kitchen without having additional
complicated and expensive audio components in each room. He or she will simply select the source from a con-
veniently located keypad or IR receiver, and set the volume to the desired level. Additionally, each component
can be independently controlled from any room.
The A6600 is manufactured in the U.S. and includes a two-year factory warranty.
INTRODUCTION
3

The Aria A6600 is the world's first virtual surround multi-room home theater processor offering an enhanced lis-
tening experience unlike any available before. Designed as a versatile audio control center, the A6600 is posi-
tioned as the center component in your home theater system. Then, utilizing its uniquely designed control and
switch matrix technology, ARIA provides routing and control of all audio signals and sources to and from any
location the listener desires. More features of your ARIA A6600 include:
Front Panel Operation - nearly all functions can be controlled directly from the front panel.
Remote Control - easy control from the ARIA remote supplied.
Six Control Inputs - easy connection of wall keypads, IR inputs, or any combination of both.
Six IR Outputs - allows control of external equipment via IR flashers or integration with IR control system.
Common Mode IR Output - suitable for any control application desired.
Six Source Input - up to six sources of audio may be connected (more through optional expansion).
Independent Zone Selection - every zone can individually receive or control any source.
Independent V
olume Control - every zone has independent volume control of any source.
TruSurround - virtual surround audio to every zone from one multi-channel source.
SRS - sound field expansion of all two-channel audio to any zone.
Audio Loop Through - all ports loop audio through for external use.
Party Mode - all zones playing with one touch.
Mute - mute any zone independently or all zones together.
RS232 port - allows enhanced system control and interface.
Panja compatible - designed for easy interfacing with any Panja compatible product.
Control Outputs - six 12 VDC @ 20mA outputs for controlling external systems such as a power amplifier.
Bass, Midrange, Treble Control - listeners in each zone can customize audio to their individual preference or use
for room equalization.
Space and Center Control - user selectable, compensates for room acoustics when in TruSurroundTM or SRSTM
processing modes.
**SRS, TruSurround and the symbol are trademarks of SRS Labs, Inc. SRS technology is incorporated under license from SRS Labs, Inc.
FEATURES
4

The following procedure assumes that all rooms in the house, where remote controlled audio signals are desired,
have been pre-wired with home runs of 4-conductor cable and speaker wires. In addition, all IR receivers,
keypads, and speakers have been connected in each room, and the system is ready for installation of the ARIA.
CONNECTION PROCEDURE
CAUTION: Be sure no power is applied to any of the components until all connections are made.
Fig. 1 shows a typical installation of the ARIA A6600 utilizing 6 source inputs and 6 zone outputs.
1. Make line level connections from the audio output jacks on each of the audio source components to the appro-
priate SOURCE INPUT jack on the A6600. Use high quality audio RCA-type patch cords and make cable
length as short as possible to keep signal integrity intact.
2. Connect each ZONE AUDIO OUTPUT (Left and Right) to the appropriate channel or line input connector on
the power amplifier. (Refer to the instruction manual provided with your particular amplifier.)
3. Connect the speaker leads from each zone to the corresponding SPEAKERS terminals on the Power Amplifier.
Be sure zone speakers are connected to follow the zone outputs from ARIA.
4. Make connections from each zone’s wall keypad via the green 4-wire Euro-connectors to the rear of the
A6600. (Use 82-ohm resistors. See keypad installation)
5. Insert zone infrared emitters as desired into the zone emitter output jacks. Place emitter over the IR receiver
window of the equipment to be controlled.
6. Plug the power cord into a 120v AC outlet.
Note: The DIP switches on the rear panel are factory use only and do not normally require adjustment or setting
by the user.
INSTALLATION AND WIRING
5

PI manuf. 909-598-3718
Alpha Wire 800-52-ALPHA
Zone 1 Zone 2
Zone 3 Zone 4
Zone 5 Zone 6
KeyPad & IR
Receiver
Speakers
ARIA
To Power
Amp
To Power
Amp
Power Amplifier
(up to 12
channels)
A
A
A
A
A
A
B
B
B
B
B
B
C
C
CC
C
C
Diagram shows cabling used with Aria
A = Cat 5 (Alpha P/N 9504C)
B = 16/4 speaker cable (Alpha P/N 5434)
C = RCA audio cables (PI Manuf. P/N RCA-6-MF)
To speakersTo speakers
Other Home
Theater Equipment
(up to 6 sources)
C
C
C
C
C
C
KeyPad & IR
Receiver
Speakers
Fig. 1
INTER-CONNECTION DIAGRAM
6

7
- SUB OUTS
AUDIO OUT
AUDIO OUT
AUDIO OUT
AUDIO OUT
AUDIO OUT
DVD
VCR 1
SAT
SOURCE 1
CD PLAYER
TUNER
FRONT/REAR/CNTR
POWER AMPLIFIER
12 CHANNEL
ARIA
ROOM 1
LR
ROOM 2
L R ROOM 3
L R
ROOM 4
L R
ROOM 5
L R
ROOM 6
LR
SCHEMATIC

These instructions assume a fully connected system and the completion of all setup procedures. It also assumes
that the installer has "taught" all needed or desired IR commands from the A6600 and from the remote controls of
the source components into learning remote controls or key pads. These instructions may serve as a reference for
the installer when preparing a customized instruction set for the end user.
The A6600 is designed for easy customer operation in four steps. After the system is operating, additional sound
processing functions may be activated to enhance the listening experience. Refer to the following instructions for
greater detail.
1. Simply turn on your home theater equipment and the A6600.
2. Select the desired zone.
3. Select the desired source.
4. Adjust the volume
Power On/OffFig. 2
1. Press the POWER button on the ARIA (The power-on indicator should change from RED to GREEN).
Zone Operation Fig. 3
1. Press the ZONE SELECT button for the desired location. (Status light blinks)
2. Press the SOURCE SELECT button for the desired source.
3. Operate the source for desired operation. (TUNER UP/DN, CD PLAY, DVD ON, etc.)
Source Selection Fig. 4
1. Press the ZONE SELECT button for the room desired (Status light blinks).
2. Press the SOURCE button desired.
3. Operate the source with the appropriate commands.
V
olume Control Fig. 5
1. From front panel: Press the ZONE SELECT button for the desired room.
2. Press the VOLUME UP or DOWN button until desired listening level is obtained.
3. Release the button.
4. From the Remote: Press the volume up/down key on the remote while pointing at zone IR receiver.
OPERATING INSTRUCTIONS
8

9
OPERATING FUNCTIONS DIAGRAM
123456
VOLUME SRS(O)
DOWN UP MUTE O PARTY PROGRAM POWER
ZONE SELECT
STEP 1 STEP 2
STEP 3 STEP 4
POWER
LED
LED
: button turns on/off
: red - power off
: green - power on
Zone Status LED's
LED BLINKING
LED on
LED off
LED Red
: The room is selected
: The room is on
: The room is off
: The room is muted
Zone Select buttons activate zone
123456
VOLUME SRS(O)
DOWN UP MUTE O PARTY PROGRAM POWER
ZONE SELECT
123456
VOLUME SRS(O)
DOWN UP MUTE O PARTY PROGRAM POWER
ZONE SELECT
DVD CD SAT VCR TUNER SOURCE 1
TruSurround
Source Status LED's
LED on
LED off
: The source is on
: The source is off
Source Select
: buttons alow you
to"select" sources
VOLUME
Fig. 2 Fig. 3
Fig. 4 Fig. 5

10
SRS Operation
1. Press the ZONE SELECT button that has the source desired for processing mapped to it.
2. Press the SRS button. (LED illuminates if not already on.)
3. Using the ARIA REMOTE, adjust the Treble, Bass, Midrange, Space, and Center.
4. To turn off: repeat steps 1 & 2.
TruSurround Operation
1. Press the ZONE SELECT button that has the DVD Source mapped to it.
2. Press the TruSurroundTM button. (LED illuminates.)
3. Using the ARIA REMOTE, adjust the Treble, Bass, Midrange, Space, and Center.
4. To turn off: repeat steps 1 & 2.
Tone Control (Available from IR Remote only)
1. On the remote, press the BASS or MID or TREB UP/DOWN buttons as needed until desired affect is
achieved.
TruSurroundTM/SRSTM Center or Space Control (Available from IR Remote only)
1. On the remote, press the Center/Space up or down key until the desired affect is achieved.
Mute Control
1. Press the MUTE button on the front panel and all zones will be muted.
2. To Un-MUTE, press the MUTE button again.
3. If done from the remote, the MUTE button only affects the zone where remote is located.
Party Control
1. Set zone 1 volume and source to the desired setting for the entire system.
2. Press the PARTY button (all zones will turn on and map to zone 1).
3. To Exit, press the PARTY button again.
SOUND PROCESSING FUNCTIONS

The ARIA A6600 is designed to provide independent source and zone control from either the front panel, the
hand-held infrared remote, or a wall mounted control unit (not supplied). Refer to the following diagrams and
descriptions to become familiar with the controls and operation of your unit.
FRONT PANEL (Refer to Fig. 6)
The front panel serves two functions. It provides a visual indication of both the System and Zone status' and
allows for the operation and control of each source and zone.
System Status - When first approached, the ARIA front panel is indicating the system status. Any sources that are
currently “on” will have LED's lit. Any rooms that are “on” will have zone LED’s on. Any active features or
sound processing currently active will also be indicated by an “on” LED display. Note that this display does not
indicate what source is actually applied to any particular zone, or what features are associated with a zone. The
Zone Status Display provides specific zone/source information.
Zone Status - Zone status is displayed by touching the appropriate Zone Select button of interest. Once pressed,
the Zone Select LED will change to a "blinking" green indication for approximately 7 seconds. During this inter-
val, all active functions connected to that zone will also have their LED indicators lit. After a set time, the blink-
ing green LED for zone 2 will change to solid green indicating that the ARIA has reverted back to System Status
display. At any time while in Zone status display (light blinking,) the front panel may be used for operation or
adjustment of volume or sound processing as desired.
Front Panel Control/Operation
Functions available from the front panel include Power ON/OFF, Volume UP/DOWN, (O)SRS and/or (O)
TruSurround sound processing ON/OFF, selection of Source and Zone, Party activation/deactivation, and initial-
ization of the Program mode. Refer to the description of each switch and (Fig. 6) below. Note that some func-
tions are System/Zone dependent, that is, operation can only be carried out when the ARIA is in either System sta-
tus or Zone status but not both.
POWER - (SW1): Controls the application and removal of operating voltages to the circuits of the A6600.
Pressing this switch sends activating power to the unit and causes the power indicator to glow green. Pressing it
again will turn power off causing the power indicator to glow red.
ZONE SELECT - (SW2-SW7): Activates the zone indicated and prompts the user for the desired operation.
Pressing any of the Zone-1 to Zone-7 keys causes the corresponding zone indicator to emit a green flashing light
prompting the user to choose the desired operation. Numerous operations are available including connection to a
source, adjustment of volume, or application of sound processing. Note that pressing the flashing zone key twice
without selecting a source will be interpreted as 'no output desired' and will turn the zone off.
OPERATIONAL OVERVIEW
11

SOURCE SELECT - (SW8-SW13): These buttons select the audio source to be connected to the indicated zone
for listening. Any zone that is active (zone indicator flashing) may be connected to any source by pressing the
sources button.
TruSurroundTM - (SW14): TruSurroundTM takes a 5.1 or AC3 signal on source one input (SW8) and processes
it to be output on two front firing speakers. Pressing this button while the DVD source is connected to an activat-
ed zone turns processing on or off.
SRSTM - (SW15): The SRS switch activates and deactivates surround sound processing. The surround
sound processor will allow the adjustment of Bass, Treble, Center, Midrange, and Space fields of the input signal.
Note that this switch only activates or deactivates the surround sound processor; adjustment of processing is done
via the IR remote. Pressing the SRS switch while a zone is active turns on SRS for that zone. If SRSTM is
currently active on another zone the indicator will not change but processing has been applied. Another press of
the button turns SRS to the zone off.
VOLUME - (SW16-SW17): The volume level of each zone can be adjusted up or down as the listener desires.
Pressing and holding the 'UP' switch ramps the volume up. Pressing the 'DOWN' switch will cause the volume to
ramp back down. Once the desired level is obtained, leaving the switches in their final position will lock the
sound level. Note that volume in zones 2 thru 6 can only be only be adjusted from the front panel while in zone
status. Volume to all six zones can be independently set by the same two front panel controls.
PARTY - (SW18): This switch is used to activate all zones at the same time. The audio source selected at zone
one will be switched to the remaining five zones. When party mode is desired, press the Party switch and all
zones will become active.
MUTE - (SW19): Pressing this key will cause the volume in all active zones to be reduced to off. Pressing the
switch again will restore all zones to their prior listening level.
PROGRAM - (SW20): This switch activates the teach function and allows the programming of a learning IR
remote or keypad. Operation: See programming section of instruction.
12

13
OPERATIONAL OVERVIEW DIAGRAM
DVD CD SAT VCR TUNER SOURCE 1
TruSurround
123456
VOLUME SRS(O)
DOWN UP
ZONE
ENABLE OPARTY PROGRAM POWER
ZONE SELECT
SW 8
SW 9
SW 10 SW 11
SW 12
SW 13
SW 14
Figure 1 (a)
Figure 1 (b)
SW 2 SW 3 SW 4 SW 5 SW 6 SW 7
SW 1SW 15SW 16 SW 17 SW 18SW 19 SW 20
Fig. 6

14
The ARIA A6600 Hand-Held Remote Control is designed to be an extension of the ARIA keypad. All of the
A6600 functions available on the front panel are also available with the remote. Furthermore, the remote is the
ONLY method of controlling Bass, Midrange, Treble, and Center and Space. The remote will make programming
learning keypads and learning remotes much easier, providing an easy way to extract ARIA A6600 commands.
TO USE: Lift and aim the remote at the front of the ARIA or keypad equipped with an IR receiver. Press the
button of the function desired.
The remote can be used from a distance of 1 foot out to approximately 15 feet. The remote should be
pointed directly at the unit or at an angle as far as 60 degrees from straight on.
Center and Space Controls
In order to receive the most pleasure when listening to recorded media, three things must occur.
First, the “timbre” or tonal quality of the music must be as close to the original source as possible. Any loss here
causes the music to sound un-real.
Second, the directional properties of the source must be accurately reproduced. The left-right spread of performers
across a stage represents the directional properties of a concert or play, and causes the listeners to perceive the
performance as being "live". If these properties are weakly reproduced or missing, the audio will sound “flat” and
uninteresting.
Thirdly, spatial realism must be present. Spatial realism consists of the acoustic
cues allowing the listener to perceive front-to-back dimension. The voice channel
of a movie or TV program is an illustration of this. If the actors voices did not
proceed from the center of the screen, the audience would
be at a loss as to what the movie is about; neither would they be able to follow the
story line. Spatial realism keeps the audience focused on the action.
ARIA has two controls that allow the listener to fine tune her listening environment.
The CENTER control will gradually shift the spatial information of the source
toward the left or right. It should be set to where the listener most feels the voice
or dialogue proceeds from a straight-ahead position.
The SPACE control will adjust the directional properties of the source to allow the
listener to gain a sense of depth and realism. It should be set to where the listener
most perceives the sound field expands outward toward his left and right.
Both the CENTER and SPACE controls move a total of 8 steps providing up to
31 dB of range.
ARIA REMOTE

15
There are many ways to control your ARIA A6600 system. Each zone or location may use a different method
depending upon the type of control desired. This section deals specifically with wall-mounted keypads.
Keypads extend the flexibility and enjoyment of your system by allowing you to control the A6600 and home
theater equipment from a convenient location in your room. You simply touch the button corresponding to the
feature you desire and the A6600 responds to your command! Some keypads offer infrared control allowing you
to use the remote from this location by simply pointing at the wall and pressing a key. Other keypads may pro-
vide a larger selection of commands for greater control; smaller command sets for easier use and less confusion;
or even custom designed control layouts for maximum utility. Consult your home theater dealer to find the best
choice for you.
The ARIA A6600 is compatible with most leading manufacturers’ programmable keypads including, NILES,
XANTECH, and RUSSOUND. These manufacturers supply detailed operational, programming, and setup
instructions with there units and should be consulted for detailed installation and setup. General background
information is presented here as it pertains to this specific example. Note that the keypad you choose MUST be
programmable in order to learn the A6600 codes used for control.
Basic Keypad Function
The basic function of the keypad is to extend control of the A6600 from the front panel out to every zone in the
house. This is done by accepting your commands at the wall unit and transmitting them via wire down to the
back of the unit where the command is interpreted and carried out. *See Diagram
The individual keys of the keypad must be programmed to issue the correct command. This is done by activating
the keypad’s learning function and using the A6600’s remote to supply the codes. Typically a button on the key-
pad is touched indicating where the command is desired, and then aiming the A6600 remote at the "learning eye"
of the keypad and pressing the corresponding key on the remote. The code is received and programmed inside the
keypad. For specific details consult your keypad instruction manual.
Once the keypad is programmed and activated, the commands need be transmitted to the A6600. This is usually
done through a cable connected from the keypad to the rear of the A6600. A good "data grade" four conductor
cable (CAT 5, for example) should be run from the keypad to the A6600. Most keypads, as does ARIA’s, use a
four-wire Euro connector (supplied) for connecting the cable between the two units.
KEYPAD
ARIA A6600 KEYPAD
(remote zone)
wall

The four wires are: GROUND, +12VDC, DATA/SIGNAL, and STATUS.
 +12VDC is used to supply power to the keypad for operation
 Ground is the ground return line
 DATA/Signal is the actual command code or data traveling from the keypad
 Status is a two level signal, +12VDC or 0 VDC.
Some keypads use the status signal to determine that the audio equipment is actually turned on before sending it a
command. If the audio equipment is not on, these keypads will send a power-on command to energize the equip-
ment before issuing the users command. (High = ON, Low = OFF). Also, some keypads have on/off indicators
that rely on the status signal to determine the correct state of the equipment.
Installation
Strip 3/8" of insulation from the end of each wire. If using stranded wire, tightly twist each wire end until there
are no frayed ends. Insert one end of the wire into the connector of the keypad and secure. Note the color of each
wire as to its function at the keypad. Run the cable over to the ARIA A6600. Matching the color code used at
the keypad, insert each wire into the Euro connector and tighten the retaining screw.
 Pin 1 is INPUT.
 Pin 2 is STATUS.
 Pin 3 is GROUND.
 Pin 4 is +12 VDC.
Once the wires are secure, insert the connector into the appropriate slot on the rear of the A6600. Looking from
the back, the first slot is ZONE 1, the second slot is ZONE 2, etc.
On keypads that only use three wires, the Status wire can be connected together with the +12VDC wire or left
unconnected at both ends.
NOTE: Keypads come with various amounts of output drive and may be designed for specific wire gauges and
run lengths. To compensate for the various combinations, a set of 82 ohm resistors are included in the A6600
packaging. Some set-ups may require them while others will not. If the keypad does not seem to have any con-
trol but you know that the signals are being sent, add in the resistors and retry. One resistor on each Euro connec-
tor inserted between the ground and data lines should solve the problem. Insert the resistor into the Euro connec-
tor on pins 1 & 3 (i.e. between INPUT and GROUND) along with the wires and tighten the screws. This will
compensate for line variances and ensure error free infrared signal reception.
16
KEYPAD
INPUT
STATUS
GROUND
+ 12VDC
82 ohms
ARIA Connector

17
At some point while you are enjoying our home theater system, you will probably want to make an adjustment
but would rather not have to get up and walk over to the system. What is desired is some type of a remote opera-
tion. Thankfully there are many ways of operating a system from a remote location, the most common being
infrared (IR).
Infrared technology allows you to send commands, by light beam, to your equipment and have them respond as
though you were actually touching the unit. The basic design of this type of control, the equipment required, and
connection to the A6600, is what will be described here. This information is specific to this example and the user
should refer to all the component manufactures literature supplied with their particular system.
Infrared systems are composed of two main units, a sender and a receiver. The sender interprets your request,
converts it to an infrared signal and transmits it through a medium over to the receiver. The receiver receives the
signal and presents it to ("flashes") the equipment to be controlled. The equipment then interprets the signal and
performs the requested operation.
Sender
The sending process begins with the user. The sending unit, normally a handheld remote, is raised and pointed at
an IR receiver and a button activated. Inside the remote, the command from the user is converted to a code spe-
cific to the sending unit; modulated at some frequency to ensure better reception, and then transmitted via infra-
red light over to the receiver. The IR receiver detects the code and sends it through the cabling to the A6600. The
A6600 then either processes the command directly or hands it over to the external device via an IR emitter. The
IR emitter is a secondary sending device that reconverts the code back into IR energy and flashes it at the devices
IR window to exert control.
Receiver
The IR receiver is usually recognized as a small window located on the front of the equipment. A variation of this
concept is the receiver placed inside of a wall-mounted keypad or mounted separately in a gang box or tube in a
remote location. The receiver detects the IR energy and converts it to an electrical signal that can travel through
wire. As the cable is run from the remote location to the unit to be controlled, the user is now able to operate his
or her remote from a location other than the front of the actual equipment. The equipment that receives the cable
may also "pass-thru" the code by using an IR emitter to flash other equipment. The equipment picks up the signal
and interprets it the same as if the remote were actually in front of the unit. *See Diagram
The above illustration demonstrates the remote (a), sending the IR signal over to the keypad (b), the keypad
passing the IR signal down through walls via cable (c), and over to the A6600 (d). An IR emitter (e), connecting
to the A6600, then re-broadcasting the IR signal to the unit (f) to be controlled.
INFRARED RECEIVERS AND EMITTERS

18
IR Considerations
Avoid locating any of the cables, sensors, or keypads near any potential sources of ElectroMagnetic Interference
(EMI) such as light dimmers, speed controls for ceiling fans, electrical ballasts, television sets, large motors,
heaters, or air conditioners.
Each room must be home run (wired directly) to its assigned sensor input. Recommended cables are "data grade"
cables made of twenty-two gauge or larger conductors surrounded by a foil shield and a bare ground wire.
Twenty-two to sixteen gauge shielded cable with a drain wire will accommodate 150 to 600 foot runs to each
sensor. CAT 5 is acceptable.
Reception range depends on the device being controlled and the levels of IR or EMI present.
The remote should be held vertical and with no more than 45 degrees off axis for nominal reception angle.
Be aware that different types of equipment have different latencies. Latency is an apparent delay between when
the command is issued and the unit responds. Some equipment may appear to respond faster than others and this
is normal.
Keypads generally use one of two types of signal transmittal - either current driven or voltage driven, meaning
that the actual data is conveyed as either a current pulse or voltage pulse traveling down the wire. Each method
has advantages and disadvantages, but to be compatible with as many different set-ups as possible, the A6600
comes with a set of 82-ohm resistors. These should be inserted between INPUT and GROUND signal lines at the
Euro connector if the keypad you are using seems to be malfunctioning. This will compensate for line variances
from method to method.
One keypad can be combined with one IR sensor within the same room. Do not use more than one receiver in a
room. If more than one receiver picks up the same signal, the A6600 may not respond.
Connection
Most Infrared receivers use a 4-screw terminal block. Follow the connections supplied with the instruction manu-
al of the unit. Keypads with built in IR pass-thru usually have the IR receiver connected internally. See KEYPAD
section for details. If your unit only uses three wires, either connect the status and +12VDC wires together at the
keypad or leave the status wire disconnected at both ends of the cable.
The IR/Keypad wiring is pulled down to the A6600 and connects to the supplied Euro connector detailed in the
KEYPAD section.
NOTE: Some installations may require use of the supplied 82-OHM resistor for reliable reception. See section
above and "Understanding Keypads".
Flashers/Emitters
The ARIA A6600 has seven IR emitter outputs located on the rear panel: Zone 1, Zone 2, Zone 3, Zone 4, Zone 5,
Zone 6 and Common. The Zone 1-6 outputs provide IR signal output from their respective zones, while the
Common output provides IR signal output from all zones. The Common output would most likely be used to con-
trol source equipment needed by every zone, such as CD players etc. The Zone 1-6 outputs are used to control
equipment that is proprietary to a particular zone.
Place the emitter/flasher over the receiver window on the equipment to be controlled, and insert the jack into the
Zone Output plug corresponding to the location where zone control is desired.