Kenwood VR-5900 Sovereign User manual

B60-5016-00 02 CH (K,P) OC 0011

Using Your New Kenwood Audio-Video
Receiver
Welcome to the Users’ Guide for your new Kenwood Audio-Video Receiver.
The VR-5900 connects all your current audio and video components. It
allows you to control them all with Kenwood’s remarkable PowerTouch
III touch screen remote—a graphical user interface without having to use
your TV!
The VR-5900 adds dual-zone/dual-source operation, letting you play two
different A/V sources independently in two different rooms! For a match
made in “dual-zone heaven,” add Kenwood’s dual-transport CD-2280M,
or CD-3280M 200-Disc CD Changer to the VR-5900.
NetFront® by Access Co., Ltd. is adopted for this product.
Copyright© 1996, 1997 Access Co., Ltd.
NetFront® is registered trademark of Access Co.,Ltd. in Japan.

i
Table of Contents
Chapter One: Moving Around ................................. 1
What’s on the Front Panel of Your Kenwood Audio - Video
Receiver? ................................................................................... 2
What’s on PowerTouch III? ...................................................... 3
What’s on PowerTouch III’s Screen? ....................................... 4
The Quick Access Menu:...........................................................4
How is PowerTouch III Powered?............................................. 5
How Do I Use PowerTouch III? ................................................ 6
How Do I Move Around? ........................................................ 7
How Do I Enter Text?............................................................... 8
Chapter Two: Using PowerTouch III........................ 9
How Do I Adjust the Sound? ................................................. 10
Turning the Speakers On ........................................................ 10
Adjusting the Volume ............................................................. 11
Adjusting the Loudness (Only in STEREO mode with THX
mode Off) ........................................................................... 11
Adjusting the Tone (Only in STEREO mode with THX mode
Off) ..................................................................................... 12
Adjusting Speaker Levels ....................................................... 13
Muting Sound ........................................................................ 15
Midnight Theater Function (Dolby Digital, DTS and DTS-ES
only) ................................................................................... 16
To balance volume extremes ................................................. 16

ii
How Do I Adjust the Surround Modes? ................................. 17
What is the THX? ................................................................... 17
What are Listen Modes?......................................................... 18
To check the Surround Play Status ........................................ 21
Input Modes ........................................................................... 22
To set the Input Mode manually .......................................... 23
To set the THX Mode ............................................................. 24
To set the Listen Mode manually .......................................... 26
Selectable Listen Modes ........................................................ 27
Selecting the Pro Logic mode with PowerTouch III ............ 28
Description of Dolby Pro Logic II: Music Modes ................ 29
Applying Digital Signal Processor (DSP) Effects ................. 30
HDCD®and D.R.I.V.E. Effects .............................................. 33
Headphone Operation .......................................................... 34
How Do I Operate Devices? ................................................... 35
Controlling a device without altering the receiver’s input
selection (Operations using the SHIFT button) .............. 36
HOME1, HOME2 Devices..................................................... 37
Playback of the device connected to the CD2/TAPE2
MONITOR .......................................................................... 39
CD player ................................................................................ 40
Kenwood System Connected 200-Disc CD Changer .......... 40
To play Kenwood 200-Disc CD Changer (without system
connection) using PowerTouch III ................................... 46
Single CD or Carrousel CD Player ......................................... 51
CD-R Recorder ....................................................................... 52
MD Recorder .......................................................................... 53
Tape Deck ............................................................................... 55
Turntable ................................................................................ 56

iii
Tuner ....................................................................................... 57
TV ........................................................................................... 62
VCR/PVR ................................................................................. 66
DVD Player ............................................................................. 67
Laser Disc Player .................................................................... 68
Operation on the More menu .............................................. 69
How Do I Record? (Edit Mode) ............................................. 70
Digital to Digital Recording .................................................. 72
Digital to Analog Recording .................................................. 72
How Do I Adjust PowerTouch III’s Display? .......................... 73
How Do I See PowerTouch III’s Screen More Clearly? ........ 74
How Do I Turn the Beeping On or Off?............................... 74
Using PowerTouch III to Dim or Brighten the Receiver’s
Front Panel ......................................................................... 75
How Do I Perform Several Actions at Once? ......................... 76
Creating Macros ..................................................................... 77
To check a Macro ................................................................... 78
Modifying a macro ................................................................ 78
Using Macros .......................................................................... 80
How Do I Control Home Automation Equipment? .............. 82
To switch on or switch off the RELAY CONTROL output
using PowerTouch III ........................................................ 82
To switch the video and audio outputs to Zone A or Zone B
while Zone A or Zone B is selected .................................. 83
X-10 Home Automation ........................................................ 83
Lutron ..................................................................................... 85

iv
Makita ..................................................................................... 86
Accessories Control ................................................................ 88
Chapter Three: Using PowerTouch III in Multiple
Zones ..................................................................... 90
How Do I Switch Control Modes? ........................................ 91
Why Don’t I See All My Devices?.......................................... 92
How Do I Operate Devices? .................................................. 93
Operating Devices in Zone A ................................................ 93
Operating Devices in Zone B ................................................ 93
Operation using the SYS.POWER button on PowerTouch III ... 93
Chapter Four: Troubleshooting ............................. 95
Sound...................................................................................... 97
I don’t hear any sound at all. ................................................ 97
Audio is not output only when a 96k fs compatible disc is
played. ................................................................................ 97
The 96k fs indicator does not light while a 96k fs compatible
disc is being played. .......................................................... 97
I can’t hear sound from one or more of the speakers, or the
sound is abnormally low. ................................................. 98
I can’t hear sound from my surround or center speakers. .. 98
I can hear sound only from the center speaker when Dolby
Pro Logic is selected. ......................................................... 98
A DTS-ES encoded source is played but it is not decoded in
DTS-ES. ............................................................................... 98
A Dolby Digital Surround EX-encoded source is played with
THX Surround EX set to “Auto”, but the source is not
reproduced in 6.1-channel audio. .................................... 99

v
Sound from one (or more) of my devices is abnormally loud
or soft. ................................................................................ 99
I can’t hear sound from some of my laser discs. ................100
There wasn’t any sound recorded on tapes made on my VCR
or tape deck. ......................................................................100
The initial sound is intermittent or non-existent when I start
to play from a Dolby Digital, DTS, DTS-ES or MPEG
source. ...............................................................................100
With a Dolby Digital program or DTS program, the loud
sounds aren’t very loud and the quiet sounds aren’t very
quiet. .................................................................................100
All I hear is loud static when I play DTS discs. ................... 101
I hear a hum when I select the PHONO input. .................. 101
Sound is intermittent............................................................ 101
I can’t hear any sound in Zone B. ........................................ 101
Video ......................................................................................102
I can’t see the program I’m playing on the TV
There wasn’t any video output to my VCR when I recorded.
............................................................................................102
PowerTouch III ......................................................................102
I don’t see icons for all my devices. .....................................102
I don’t see icons for all the devices I set up. .......................102
When I select a device icon, I don’t see any commands. ... 102
My PowerTouch III is slow to respond—sometimes I have to
press buttons or select commands several times. ..........102
My PowerTouch III is not responding. ................................103
My PowerTouch III is beeping. What does that mean? ...... 103

vi
PowerTouch III does not "learn" new commands or
functions. ..........................................................................103
I want to clear all the items in PowerTouch III and make it to
the factory-set default condition. ....................................104
The RF remote control function does not work. ................104
Receiver/Tuner ...................................................................... 104
My receiver won’t turn on and the STANDBY indicator is
flashing. .............................................................................104
The sound is distorted, and the CLIP indicator on the
receiver’s front panel flashes red continually, or stays red
for more than 1 second at a time. ...................................105
I can’t access any RDS (Radio Data System) functions. .....106
I can’t receive a radio station. ..............................................106
I’m getting a lot of static/interference. ................................ 107
When I press a button to tune to a preset station, the receiver
does not respond. ............................................................. 107
Macro is not running as I programmed. ............................. 107

1
Moving Around
Chapter One: Moving Around
Welcome to the Kenwood VR-5900 Users’ Guide. This chapter explains
the buttons and functions you can find on the front of the receiver and
on the PowerTouch III. The chapter also includes an explanation of how
to navigate the convenient graphical display on your new PowerTouch
III.
It includes the following sections:
What’s on the Front Panel of Your Kenwood Audio - Video Receiver?
page 2
What’s on PowerTouch III? page 3
How is PowerTouch III Powered? page 5
How Do I Use PowerTouch III? page 6

2
PHONES
THX DOLBY DIGITAL
DTS MPEG
D.R.I.V.E. HDCD
¤ INPUT SELECTOR ‹
DOOR
OPEN/CLOSE
VOLUME CONTROL
DOWN UP
AV - AUX
S VIDEO VIDEO L - AUDIO - R
A
SPEAKERS B
INPUT
MODE CD 2/TAPE 2 MONITOR LISTEN MODE THX
SET UPRF
ON/OFF RF BAND DISPLAY
SOUND MULTI
CONTROL
fi%
P.CALL MEMORY AUTO BAND
fi%
CLIP
INDICATOR
ON / STANDBY
CD 2 / TAPE 2
MONITOR
SURROUND
BACK 96kfs
STANDBY
DISCRETE 6.1 MATRIX6.1 NEO : 6 PROLOGIC
DTS-ES
POWER
1
3 4 10 11 12 14 15
16
17
18
1920 2124
2
9135
6
7
22
8
25 23
1. STANDBY indicator
2. POWER ON/STANDBY button
3. PHONES jack
4. SPEAKERS A/B buttons
5. INPUT MODE button /
RF ON/OFF button
6. CD 2/TAPE 2 MONITOR button /
RF BAND button
7. LISTEN MODE button/DISPLAY button
8. THX button
9. SOUND button/SET UP button
10. MULTI CONTROL (Up/Down) buttons
11. P. CALL (Up/Down) buttons
12. MEMORY button
13. AUTO button
14. BAND button
15. AV AUX input jacks
16. DOOR OPEN/CLOSE button
17. VOLUME CONTROL knob
18. INPUT SELECTOR buttons
19. Indicators
SURROUND BACK
96kfs
CD2/TAPE2 MONITOR
CLIP INDICATOR
20. Indicators
THX
DTS
D. R. I. V. E.
DOLBY DIGITAL
MPEG
HDCD
21. Display
22. 2-way communication indicator
23. Infrared remote sensor
24. Indicators
DTS-ES DISCRETE 6.1
DTS-ES MATRIX 6.1
NEO : 6
PRO LOGIC
25. Infrared remote transmitter
Buttons 4 to 14 are located behind the door.
Buttons
behind the
door
Standby mode
While the standby indicator of the unit is lit, a small amount of current is flowing into the unit’s internal circuitry to back up the memory. This condition
is referred to as the standby mode of the unit. While the unit is in the standby mode, it can be turned ON from the remote control unit.
What’s on the Front Panel of Your Kenwood Audio-Video Receiver?

What’s on PowerTouch III?
3
Moving Around
What’s on PowerTouch III?
ENTER
V
O
L
U
M
E
UP
DOWN
MUTE
SYS.POWERCONTRAST BACKLIGHT
CONFIRM
1
2
3
4
5 6 7
10
9
8
1. Joystick (see page 7)
2. CONFIRM button
3. MUTE button (see page 15)
4. VOLUME UP/DOWN button (see page 11)
5. CONTRAST button
6. SYS. POWER button
7. BACKLIGHT button (see page 73)
8. Quick Access menu
9. Touch screen display
10. Stylus (stored on top edge)

What’s on PowerTouch III?
4
Moving Around
What’s on PowerTouch III’s Screen?
PowerTouch III’s LCD display screen is divided into two sections: the Quick
Access Menu and the Device Control/Menu Section. Use the stylus to
touch the buttons in each area.
Quick access
Menu
Device
Control/Menu
Section
HOME1 button HOME2 button
Device control buttons
EDIT button
Customize button, communication indicator etc.
SETUP button
An example of HOME1 menu
Info button : Touch the button for Kenwood USA and
Kenwood Canada contact information.
The Quick Access Menu:
The buttons in the Quick Access menu are always available, regardless of
what else is displayed on the touch screen. Touch these buttons for in-
stant access to:
•Home1, Home2 : Music and movie device controls such as CD players,
the radio tuner or VCRs.
•Editing features
•Setup features
•Listen modes such as stereo, Dolby Digital or DTS
•Sound controls, such as loudness or “Midnight”mode

How is PowerTouch III Powered ?
5
Moving Around
The Device Control/Menu Section: The device control section provides
the same kinds of access as the Quick Access menu, but with more struc-
ture. Use the main menu to navigate through the feature menus to ex-
actly the feature or device you want to use.
Using these features, your Kenwood PowerTouch III can store and dis-
play a large number of tasks, making it easier for you to access features.
You get all the advantage of on-screen graphical display, without having
to use a TV screen!
For more information on using these icons, see “How Do I Use
PowerTouch III?”on page 6.
How is PowerTouch III Powered ?
Your new PowerTouch III uses four C (LR14) alkaline batteries and oper-
ates in the following range:
If you use PowerTouch III outside of this range, PowerTouch III’s display
may show incorrect information, or may not operate.
The remote control signal received by the main unit is the RF signal.
The signal sent from the main unit is sent as Infrared signal.
The control distance of the RF remote signal is about 30 ft (10 meters)
provided there is no obstacle.
The PowerTouch III transmits an infrared signal in addition to an RF sig-
nal. When operation by means of the RF signal is not possible because of
the radio wave conditions, aim the PowerTouch III towards the receiver
and use it as an infrared remote control.
For operation of other identified devices or with an external IR receiver,
aim the PowerTouch III towards the respective unit and use it as an infra-
red remote control.
20 ft
(6m) IR Transmitter
VOLUMECONTROL
ENTER
V
O
L
U
M
E
UP
DOWN
CONFIRM
e
d
i
t
m
o
v
i
e
m
u
s
i
c
s
o
u
n
d
l
i
s
t
e
n
m
o
d
e
m
a
c
r
o
RF Remote
Antenna
IR Sensor

How Do I Use PowerTouch III?
Moving Around
6
As you use PowerTouch III, be aware of the following:
•When PowerTouch III’s operating range gets shorter or PowerTouch
III displays a low battery alarm, replace all 4 batteries. (see “Installing
the Batteries”on page 34 of the Connections and Setup Guide.)
•Do not install the receiver where direct sunlight or high-frequency
fluorescent lighting can shine directly into the infrared remote sen-
sor. This can limit PowerTouch III’s operating range.
How Do I Use PowerTouch III?
Use your new PowerTouch III to control your new receiver and most de-
vices attached to it. PowerTouch III appears and functions a little differ-
ently from traditional remotes. Because it can control so many different
devices, it displays a separate set of controls for each device on an LCD
screen.
Only devices you have identified and connected to the receiver appear as
buttons on the touch screen. If you are “missing”a device’s icon on the
HOME1 or HOME2 screen, make sure you have identified the device to
the PowerTouch III. For more information on identifying devices to the
PowerTouch III, see “Chapter Two: Setting Up PowerTouch III”in the
Connections and Setup Guide.

How Do I Use PowerTouch III?
7
Moving Around
Do not block the IR transmitter on the front panel of the receiver or on
PowerTouch III. Even a brief blockage while it is transmitting (such as
someone walking by) can cause the communication and feedback to be-
come erratic temporarily. If this happens, press CONFIRM and
PowerTouch III will resume normal operation (you might need to reen-
ter the interrupted command).
How Do I Move Around?
1. Press any button or touch the screen to activate PowerTouch III’s dis-
play.
2. Use the stylus to touch the menu or control button you want to use.
Operations using the joystick
The joystick makes the following operations possible.
1. Customization of the PowerTouch III screen: The buttons on the screen
of PowerTouch III can be moved or resized. (Refer to "To Customize
the PowerTouch III Screen" on page 43 of the Connection and Setup
Guide.)
2. Contrast adjustment of the PowerTouch III screen: For details, see "To
adjust the contrast" on page 74.
Also use the joystick when using the OSD (On-Screen Display) of the
DVD or LD player. (Certain functions may be restricted with some de-
vices.)
•Display a menu containing the OSD function.
•Press the OSD button or Menu. The menu is displayed on the TV
monitor screen.
•Select an item by tilting the joystick up/down or to the left/right.
•Press the joystick’s ENTER button to enter the selected item.
(With certain models, the selected item may also be established with
the other buttons.)

How Do I Use PowerTouch III?
Moving Around
8
How Do I Enter Text?
Many of the control menus allow you to assign your own names to list
items (such as radio stations, CD titles, etc.).
To enter text for names:
1. Access the control screen with the item name you want to change.
You have accessed the appropriate screen if , , or
appears on the screen.
2. Touch , , or :
•Use the stylus to select characters from the keyboard.
•Touch to access other characters.
•Touch or to move back and forth between the characters.
•Touch to clear the last character you entered. Touch to de-
lete all the characters in the line.
•Touch to insert a space.
•Touch to feed a line. (The button may not be provided in
certain menus.)

9
Using PowerTouch III
How Do I Adjust the Sound?
Chapter Two: Using PowerTouch III
Your new receiver comes with the easiest—and most innovative—remote
you’ve ever seen. Its palm-sized illuminated screen displays clear icons
and menus. Because PowerTouch III maintains two-way communication
with your receiver, it shows the result of your action right on its screen.
PowerTouch III is a universal remote that can control hundreds of de-
vices, and is the first of its kind to offer infra-red compatibility with X-10,
Lutron lighting, and Makita drapery control systems, making it perfect
for controlling even the most elaborate home theater system.
This chapter contains the following sections:
How Do I Adjust the Sound? page 10
How Do I Adjust the Surround Modes? page 17
How Do I Operate Devices? page 35
HOME1, HOME2 Devices page 37
How Do I Record? (Edit Mode) page 70
How Do I Adjust PowerTouch III’s Display? page 73
How Do I Perform Several Actions at Once? page 76
How Do I Control Home Automation Equipment? page 82

10
Using PowerTouch III
How Do I Adjust the Sound?
How Do I Adjust the Sound?
You can control and adjust a variety of sound settings using the receiver’s
front panel or PowerTouch III.
Turning the Speakers On
To turn on the speakers A, press the DOOR OPEN/CLOSE button to
open the door and press the SPEAKERS A button located in the door of
the receiver’s front panel.
To turn on the speakers B, press the SPEAKERS B button inside the door.
(Åor ıdisplayed)
If you select SPEAKERS B (Zone B) while listening to a surround mode
in Zone A, the sound in Zone A will automatically revert to stereo. While
SPEAKERS B is on, surround mode cannot be selected.
If you use speakers connected to amplifiers via the PRE OUT jacks, choose
SPEAKERS A.
L SPEAKERS R
INPUT
MODE CD2/TAPE 2 MONITOR LISTEN MODE SETUP SOUND MULTI
CONTROL
fi%
P.CALL MEMORY AUTO BAND
fi%
Speaker indicators (Å, ı)

11
Using PowerTouch III
How Do I Adjust the Sound?
Adjusting the Volume
Use one of the following methods to adjust the volume.
•Turn the volume knob on the front panel of the receiver.
•Press
V
O
L
U
M
E
UP
DOWN
in the appropriate direction on PowerTouch III.
Adjusting the Loudness (Only in STEREO mode with THX mode Off)
The Loudness control increases the bass and treble at low volume control
settings. This adjusts to the way the human ear hears sound at quiet vol-
umes, retaining music’s fullness and sparkle.
1. Touch (Sound) on the Quick Access menu to open the Sound
menu.
If the opened menu is not the Sound menu, touch .
2. Touch to turn the loudness setting on or off.
3. Touch to return to the previous menu or touch one of the Quick
Access menu buttons to proceed to the next operation.
Operation on the receiver:
1. Press the SOUND button inside the door repeatedly until LOUD-
NESS OFF or ON is displayed.
2. Press the MULTI CONTROL (%/fi) button to select LOUDNESS ON
(or OFF), then press the SOUND button repeatedly until “SOUND
FIXED”is displayed.

12
Using PowerTouch III
How Do I Adjust the Sound?
Adjusting the Tone (Only in STEREO mode with THX mode Off)
Use the Sound menu to adjust the bass or treble tone of your front left
and right speakers manually. In addition to setting bass and treble tone
adjustment values, you can completely bypass the tone control circuitry
for a purer sound.
1. Touch (Sound) on the Quick Access menu to open the Sound
menu:
2. Touch to open the Tone menu:
3. Touch to turn the tone settings on or off.
4. If you selected “On”in the above, touch the left or right
arrow next to a tone setting (Treble or Bass) to adjust it. A readout
between the arrows shows the current setting.