Klipsch Thx ultra2 User manual

THX ULTRA2 SURROUND PREAMPLIFIER

STAGE ONE

THX SURROUND PREAMPLIFIER

IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

CAUTION:

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK!

DO NOT OPEN!

CAUTION! To reduce the risk of electric shock and fire, do not

remove the cover or back plate of the device enclosure. There are

no user serviceable parts inside. Refer servicing to an Aragon

authorized service center.

CAUTION! The international symbol of a lightning bolt inside a trian-

gle is intended to alert the user to uninsulated "dangerous voltage"

within the device enclosure. The international symbol of an excla-

mation point inside a triangle is intended to alert the user to the

presence of important operating, maintenance and servicing infor-

mation in the manual accompanying the device.

WARNING! To reduce the risk of fire or electrical shock, do not

expose this equipment to rain or moisture.

1. Read Instructions – All safety and operating instructions should be read

before operating the device.

2. Retain Instructions – The safety and operating instructions should be

retained for future reference.

3. Heed Warnings – All warnings on the device and in the operating instruc-

tions should be adhered to.

4. Follow Instructions – All operating and safety instructions should be fol-

lowed.

5. Attachments – Do not use attachments not recommended by the product

manufacturer as they may cause hazards.

6. Water and Moisture – Do not use this product near water (for example,

near a bath tub, wash bowl, kitchen sink, or laundry tub; in a wet base-

ment; or near a swimming pool; and the like).

7. Ventilation – Slots and openings in the cabinet are provided for ventilation

and to ensure reliable operation of the product and to protect it from over-

heating, and these openings must not be blocked or covered. The open-

ings should never be blocked by placing the product on a bed, sofa, rug,

or other similar surface. This product should not be placed in a built-in

installation such as a bookcase or rack unless proper ventilation is provid-

ed or the manufacturer’s instructions have been adhered to.

8. Heat – This product should be situated away from heat sources such as

radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other products that produce heat.

9. Power Sources – This product should be operated only from the type of

power source indicated on the marking label. If you are not sure of the

type of power supply in your home, consult with your product dealer or the

local power company. For products intended to operate from battery

power, or other sources, refer to the operating instructions.

10. Grounding – This product is equipped with a three-wire grounding-type

plug, a plug having a third (grounding) pin. This plug will only fit into a

grounding-type power outlet. This is a safety feature. If you are unable to

insert the plug into the outlet, contact your electrician to replace your obso-

lete outlet. Do not defeat the safety purpose of the grounding-type plug.

11. 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, paying particular attention to cords at plugs, convenience

receptacles, and the point where they exit from the product.

12. Overloading – Do not overload wall outlets, extension cords, or integral

convenience receptacles as this can result in a risk of fire or electrical

shock.

13. Lightning and Periods of Non-Use – For added protection for this prod-

uct during a lightning storm, or when it is left unattended and unused for

long periods of time, unplug it from the wall outlet and disconnect the

antenna or cable system. This will prevent damage to the product due to

lightning and powerline surges.

14. Cleaning – Unplug this product from the wall outlet before cleaning. Do

not use liquid cleaners or aerosol cleaners. Use a damp cloth for cleaning.

15. Object and Liquid Entry – Never push objects of any kind into this prod-

uct through openings as they may touch dangerous voltage points or

short-out parts that could result in a fire or electric shock. Never spill liquid

of any kind on the product.

16. Damage Requiring Service – Unplug this product from the wall outlet and

refer servicing to qualified service personnel under the following condi-

tions:

a) When the power supply cord or plug is damaged,

b) If liquid has been spilled, or objects have fallen into the product,

c) If the product has been exposed to rain or water,

d) If the product does not operate normally by following the operating

instructions. Adjust only those controls that are covered by the operat-

ing instructions as an improper adjustment of other controls may result

in damage and often will require extensive work by a qualified techni-

cian to restore the product to its normal operation,

e) If the product has been dropped or damaged in any way, and

f) When the product exhibits a distinct change in performance – this indi-

cates a need for service.

17. Replacement Parts – When replacement parts are required, be sure the

service technician has used replacement parts specified by the manufac-

turer or that have the same characteristics as the original parts.

Unauthorized substitutions may result in fire, electric shock, or other haz-

ards.

18. Safety Check – Upon completion of any service or repairs to this product,

ask the service technician to perform safety checks to determine that the

product is in proper operating condition.

19. Servicing – Do not attempt to service this product yourself as opening or

removing covers may expose you to dangerous voltage or other hazards.

Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.

If this unit is purchased outside of the U.S., please contact your local dealer

or distributor for service center information. If purchased inside the U.S. and

dealer service is not available, contact Aragon Customer Service for a return

authorization (RA) number before shipping. For further service information,

contact:

ARAGON CUSTOMER SERVICE

1-866-781-7284

137 COUNTY RD 278

HOPE, AR USA 71801

Welcome to the Aragon Stage One.

We designed the Stage One as a high-performance multi-channel preamp/processor that would eliminate the need for separate home theater and two-channel

music systems. It integrates an audiophile-quality analog stereo preamplifier (based on the design of the Aragon Aurum), an eight-channel analog preamplifier

for connection to a DVD-Audio player, SACD player, or other multi-channel source with analog outputs, and an advanced THX® Ultra2 digital surround sound

processor.

Sophisticated design should mean more than just great performance. A central goal in the development of the Stage One was ease of use without the sacrifice

of operational flexibility. We believe that in this respect the Stage One breaks new ground. The Stage One combines the ease of use of a good stereo

preamplifier with the most advanced surround-sound processing available today plus numerous features that allow precise tailoring to the rest of your

audio/video system.

The Stage One itself will lead you through the basics so that you can start enjoying your system almost as soon as you have finished making connections

between components. This manual exists to help you take the processor to its limits, to answer your questions, and to guide you through any troubleshooting

that might be required. To get the most out of your Stage One, look through the opening sections before installation and read the entire manual at your leisure

afterward.

The version number of the owner’s manual is located at the bottom of this page. Updates will be provided on our Web site at

http://www.aragonelectronics.com/

Click on Help Center at the top of that page to download the latest version of the manual in Adobe Acrobat pdf format. Adobe’s free Acrobat Reader is required

to view the downloaded manual on your computer, and our Web site provides a link for downloading it as well.

Please send in your warranty card or register online in the Help Center so that we can keep you informed about updates to the Stage One and other important

developments.

Mondial Designs Worldwide Headquarters

3502 Woodview Trace

Suite 200

Indianapolis, IN 46268

866-781-7284

Email: [email protected]

www.aragonelectronics.com

Version Number 1.1

Manufactured under license from Digital Theater Systems, Inc. U.S. Pat. No. 5,451,942 and other worldwide patents issued and pending. “DTS” and “DTS Digital Surround” are registered trademarks

Manufactured under license from Lucasfilm Ltd. U.S. patent numbers 5,043,970; 5,189,703; and/or 5,222,059. European patent number 0323830. Other U.S. and foreign patents pending. Lucasfilm and THX are

trademarks or registered trademarks of Lucasfilm Ltd. Surround EX is a trademark of Dolby Laboratories. Used under authorization.

STAGE ONE

THX SURROUND PREAMPLIFIER

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Stage One Features

Latest Digital Decoding and Post-processing

Two-channel Analog Preamplifier

Full Auto Format Selection

Analog Volume Control

In-system Software Upgradable Design

24-Bit A/D and D/A Converters

Eight-channel Analog Preamplifier

Combination Digital and Analog Bass Management

Analog-Domain Dialog Normalization

Adjustable Crossover Point

Separate Level Settings for Each Mode

On-the-Fly Adjustments

Independent Selection of Audio and Video Sources

Built-in AM/FM Tuner

Front Panel Controls

Front Panel Control Operations

Stage Manager Control and Enter Button

Normal Mode

Post-processing Mode

Tuning Mode

Menu Mode

Speaker Configuration

Level Settings

Speaker Distance

THX Setup Menu

Input Selection Buttons

Mute Button and Mute LED

Front Panel Display

Current Mode

Two-channel and Eight-channel Analog Passthrough

Sampling Rate

Volume Level

Current Input

Post-processing

Rear Panel Inputs

Rear Panel Outputs

Remote Control

Hard Buttons

Adjust

Setup

Vol +/-

CH +/-

Mute

Up/Down

Left/Right

Mode

Device

Page Up/Down

Backlight

Power and Input Selection

Modes Page

Analog

Digital

Stereo

Direct

Pro Logic II

DTS Neo:6

Club

Mono

5-Channel Stereo

Party

Adjustments

Pro Logic II

Dolby Digital

THX

DTS

Display

On-the-Fly

Video

Tuner

Pro Logic II Modes

Pro Logic II Setup

Dolby Digital

DTS

THX

THX ASA/EX

Tuner

Separate Video

Setup

On-the-Fly

Display

Input Connections

AC Input

Digital Inputs

Analog Inputs

Video Inputs

Multi-channel Analog Input

Antenna Input

Speaker Placement and Configuration

System Setup

Remote Control System Setup

Front-panel System Setup

Speaker Configuration

Level Settings

Speaker Distances

THX Setup

Crossover Setup

General Operation

THX

AM/FM Tuner

Front-panel Display and Lighting

Advanced Features

Advanced Menus

UNPACKING

WE WANT YOUR NEW PREAMPLIFIER TO LOOK AS GOOD AS IT DID

LEAVING THE FACTORY. PLEASE CHECK PROMPTLY FOR TRANSIT

DAMAGE.

Carefully unpack your new preamplifier. In extreme circumstances, items may

have become damaged in transit. If any damage is discovered, notify the

delivery service and/or dealer where the system was purchased. Make a

request for inspection, and follow the instructions for evaluation. Be sure to

keep the product with its original shipping carton and save your packing mate-

rial to aid in future transportation.

STAGE ONE FEATURES

Latest Digital Decoding and Post-Processing

The Stage One uses advanced digital processing and 7.1-channel output

capability to support all the latest surround-sound formats and decoding

options, including Dolby Digital, DTS, THX Surround EX, DTS ES Discrete

and Matrix, DTS Neo:6, and Dolby Pro Logic II. No matter what the source,

the Stage One can select and apply the best decoding method automatically.

And with its THX Ultra2 post-processing algorithms, the Stage One makes

sure that the final sound is exactly what the director intended. In addition, it

can apply its DSP power to multi-channel enhancement of ordinary stereo

programs via its Party, Club, and 5-Channel Stereo modes. It even does

mono!

Two-Channel Analog Preamplifier

The Stage One also includes an audiophile-quality two-channel analog pre-

amplifier. Each analog input can be configured for Stereo Direct operation,

which bypasses the analog-to-digital converters and the DSP module to guar-

antee uncompromised reproduction of analog sources. Super Audio CD

(SACD) and DVD-Audio players can be connected via their analog outputs to

retain the full fidelity of these new formats.

Full Auto Format Selection

The Stage One will automatically determine the format of an incoming digital

bitstream and switch itself to the appropriate processing mode. Separate level

settings are available for each mode and are loaded automatically when a

new mode is selected. This enables the system to be operated at the push of

a button.

Analog Volume Control

The Stage One adjusts channel balance and overall volume in the analog

domain to retain the full resolution of all signals.

In-System Software Upgradable Design

As the world changes, the Stage One can change with it. Software upgrades

can be delivered in the field via a back-panel RS-232 port. This enables us to

make the Stage One compatible with new sources and to enhance its opera-

tion without ever having to touch the hardware or even remove it from your

system.

24-Bit A/D and D/A Converters

The Stage One uses identical, state-of-the-art, 24-bit Crystal Semiconductor

digital-to-analog converters for all eight output channels. The stereo

analog inputs, when not in Direct mode, are translated to digital with a

24-bit A/D converter.

Eight-Channel Analog Preamplifier

The Stage One provides an eight-channel analog input to allow direct connec-

tion of DVD players with built-in decoders, such as those for DVD-Audio and

SACD. A DB-25 connector is used. This input completely bypasses the digital

processing module, allowing the Stage One to function as an eight-channel

analog preamplifier. (See “Input Connections” for the DB-25 connector’s pin

configuration).

Combination Digital and Analog Bass Management

The Stage One incorporates an advanced hybrid bass-management system

that allows the preamp to preserve full dynamic range under all conditions. It

performs high- and low-pass crossover filtering, as well as bass summing to

the subwoofer, in the digital processor. This allows for more precise crossover

filters. When there is no subwoofer, it routes low-frequency signals (including

the LFE channel in Dolby Digital and DTS) to the system’s "Large" speakers

in the analog domain. This method eliminates any need for digital-domain

attenuation when these signals are combined. Processors that perform this

function digitally (as most others do) must attenuate the signals being com-

bined to avoid overload in the DSP module, resulting in a loss of dynamic

range that can significantly impair sound quality.

Analog-Domain Dialog Normalization

Dolby Digital incorporates a function called Dialog Normalization, which was

originally developed with HDTV in mind. It enables content providers to main-

tain a constant average level for dialog at a given volume setting, regardless

of the nature of the program. The idea is to enable you to switch from channel

to channel on an HDTV set without ever having to lunge for the volume con-

trol, all while not compromising dynamic range. Dolby requires that all Dolby

Digital processors correctly respond to Dialog Normalization instructions in the

bitstream. The Stage One has the ability to make the necessary adjustments

in the analog domain. If this function were performed digitally, it could cause a

loss of resolution.

STAGE ONE

THX SURROUND PREAMPLIFIER

FRONT-PANEL CONTROLS

Adjustable Crossover Point

The Stage One enables you to designate each set of speakers in your system

(Front, Center, Surround, and Surround Back) as either Large or Small and to

adjust the crossover frequency below which bass is redirected away from the

channels feeding the Small speakers. There are twenty different crossover

frequencies to choose from. Separate crossovers can be selected for Stereo

and surround modes.

Separate Level Settings for Each Mode

The initial setup procedure defines a single channel balance for all modes.

Although this setting should be correct for most of the basic surround modes,

you can trim the balances individually for each mode from the Advanced

Menu. Once set for a particular mode, customized channel levels will be

loaded automatically whenever that mode is selected.

On-the-Fly Adjustments

You can use the remote control’s On-the-Fly and Balances functions to make

temporary channel-level adjustments for a particular soundtrack. In Stereo

mode, you can adjust the left-right balance and subwoofer level. In surround

modes, you can adjust the front-rear balance as well as the center-channel

and subwoofer levels.

Independent Selection of Audio and Video Sources

Apage on the remote control enables you to select video independently with

the push of a button. This allows you to watch one source while you listen to

another, without going through any complicated setup menus.

Built-In AM/FM Tuner

The Stage One has a built-in AM/FM tuner with 20 station presets. The

remote control’s Tuner page contains buttons for selecting presets, as well as

station-seek buttons.

FRONT-PANEL CONTROLS

1Power

The Power button switches the Stage One between its Active and Standby

modes. In Standby, the analog circuitry remains powered while the DSP

module is shut down and the outputs are muted.

2Mute

Pressing the Mute button will toggle the Stage One’s audio outputs on

and off.

3Mute LED

The Mute LED will illuminate red when the system is muted.

4Enter Button

The Enter button is used in conjunction with the Stage Manager to oper-

ate the Stage One menu system. (See "Front-panel Operation.") When

the tuner is selected, the Enter button is used to switch the Stage

Manager into tuning mode. (See "Tuner.")

5Input Selection Buttons

Pressing any of these buttons (TV, DVD, etc.) selects the corresponding

rear-panel connection as the current input.

6Input Indicator LED

The LEDs above the Input Selection buttons indicate the source currently

engaged.

7Stage Manager Control

The Stage Manager is both a knob and, when pushed, a button. It serves

a number of functions, including volume control, AM/FM tuning, and menu

operation. (See "Stage Manager.")

8Display

The Stage One has a two-line by twenty-character vacuum-tube fluores-

cent display that indicates the current audio mode, input, and volume con-

trol setting.

FRONT-PANEL CONTROL

OPERATIONS

Stage Manager Control and Enter Button

The Stage Manager control knob is turned clockwise and counter-clockwise to

make adjustments, and it also functions as a pushbutton in certain operations.

In combination with the Enter button, it controls many of the Stage One’s

functions.

Normal Mode

In the Normal mode, the Stage Manager functions as a volume control.

Turning it to the right will increase the volume, and turning it to the left will

decrease the volume. The Stage One’s volume-control range is from –62dB

to +12dB, with 1dB steps from –62dB to –36dB and 0.5dB steps from

–35.5dB to +12dB. Below –62dB, the system is muted.

Post-Processing Mode

In the Normal mode, holding the input selection button for the current

source and rotating the Stage Manager will change the post-processing

mode. The following selections are available: Stereo, Stereo Direct, Pro

Logic II, DTS Neo:6, Club, 5-Channel Stereo, Party, and Mono.

Tuning Mode

When the Tuner is selected, use the Stage Manager to change stations.

Press the Stage Manager to enter the tuning mode. The currently selected

band will flash. Turn the knob clockwise to tune to FM, and counter

clockwise to select AM. Press the knob a second time to allow the tuning

frequency to be changed. Turn the knob clockwise to increase the frequenc

and turn it counter-clockwise to decrease the frequency. Press the knob a

third time, and the current preset will flash. Turn the knob clockwise to

increase the selected preset and counter clockwise to decrease. Press the

knob a fourth time to exit the Tuning mode. The Stage Manager will auto-

matically revert to Normal mode after 5 seconds of inactivity.

Menu Mode

Press the Enter button once to load the Setup Menu or twice to load the

Advanced Menu. Scroll through the menu items by turning the Stage

Manager knob and press it when you reach the one you want to adjust.

Again, you adjust that item by turning the Stage Manager knob. When a

menu item offers a Yes/No choice, turn the knob to the right to select Yes

and to the left to select No. Press the Enter button to exit the menu. Menu-

specific controls are listed below.

Speaker Configuration

Turn the Stage Manager to adjust the speaker setting. Press the knob to

advance to the next available speaker. Press the Enter button to exit the

Speaker Configuration Menu.

Level Settings

Turn the Stage Manager to increase or decrease the level of a selected

output channel. Press it to advance to the next channel. Press the Enter

button to exit the Level Settings Menu.

Speaker Distance

Turn the Stage Manager knob to increase or decrease the speaker

distance setting for an output channel. Press it to advance to the next

channel. Press the Enter button to exit the Speaker Distance Menu.

THX Setup Menu

Turn the Stage Manager to change the selected THX Setup menu. Press

the knob to select the currently displayed menu item for adjustment. Turn

the knob to the left or right to adjust the value of that item. Press the

Stage Manager or the Enter button to exit the selected menu.

Crossover Setup

Turn the Stage Manager to increase or decrease the crossover frequen-

cy for the speakers selected as Small and for the Subwoofer high-pass

filter. Press the Enter button to exit the Crossover Setup Menu.

Input Selection Buttons

Along the bottom of the front panel are eight buttons for source selection.

Once you have chosen an input, you can change the post-processing

mode by holding its selection button down and turning the Stage Manager

knob.

Mute Button and Mute LED

The Mute button toggles the Stage One’s outputs off and on. The Mute

LED will illuminate red when Mute is engaged. Turning the volume down

past –62dB will also mute the Stage One.

FRONT PANEL DISPLAY

Current Mode

The top left-hand corner of the display indicates the Stage One’s current

decoding mode or the post-processing being applied to a two-channel input

signal. The following decoding and post-processing modes are available in the

Stage One: Dolby Digital, DTS, Stereo, Pro Logic II, 5-Channel Stereo, DTS

Neo:6, Club, Party, and Mono.

Dolby Digital and DTS bitstreams can contain anywhere from 1.0 to 6.1 chan-

nels of information. (The ".1" indicates the presence or absence of a low-fre-

quency effects, or LFE, channel.) If the bitstream contains between 1.0 and

5.1 channels of information, the number will display to the right of the decod-

ing mode.

1.0

This indicates a mono signal. This signal is reproduced through the center

channel if a center speaker is present. Otherwise, it will be reproduced

equally through the left and right front output channels. If a center speaker

is present, you can force the signal to be routed to the left and right front

channels by pressing the Stereo button on the remote control.

2.0

This indicates that a two-channel signal is present. It will be reproduced

through the left and right front output channels. Two-channel signals can

also be modified by any of the Stage One’s post-processing modes. The

post-processing function will be indicated in the bottom left-hand portion of

the front-panel display.

STAGE ONE

THX SURROUND PREAMPLIFIER

3.0

This indicates a three-channel signal, which normally will be reproduced

through the left front, center, and right front output channels. If the system

contains no center speaker, the center channel signal will be split equally

between the left and right front output channels.

4.0

This indicates a four-channel signal, reproduced through the left and right

front and surround output channels.

5.0

This indicates a five-channel signal, which normally is reproduced through

the left and right front, center, and left and right surround channels.

The ".1" indicates that the bitstream contains a low-frequency effects (LFE)

channel, which carries only bass information. In most systems, the LFE

channel is reproduced by a subwoofer. If there is no subwoofer, it will be

routed to speakers designated as Large.

The number of channels indicated on the front-panel display is based on the

number of channels of information present in the digital bitstream. It is not an

indication of a signal being present on a particular speaker and does not

reflect your system’s speaker configuration. For example, if you have set

"Center Speaker" and "Subwoofer" to "None" (not present) in the Speaker

Configuration Menu, the display will still show Dolby Digital 5.1 for a 5.1-chan-

nel Dolby Digital soundtrack.

When a Dolby Digital soundtrack contains surround back channel information,

the front-panel display will indicate THX Surround EX.

THX Surround EX will NOT be displayed if any of the following conditions

exist:

1. The Surround Back channels in the Speaker Configuration Menu are set

to None

2. THX Surround EX is turned to OFF in the THX Setup Menu

3. The soundtrack is flagged as not containing stereo surround information

THX Surround EX-encoded discs can be played on a system with any number

of speakers connected to it, but to take full advantage of the surround back

channel information a full complement of speakers must be connected, includ-

ing the Surround Back speakers.

When a DTS soundtrack contains surround back channel information, the

front-panel display will indicate DTS ES Matrix or DTS ES Discrete.

DTS ES soundtracks containing 6.1 channels of information are encoded in a

matrixed or discrete format. In a DTS ES Matrix soundtrack, the surround

back channel information is encoded into the primary surround channels,

extracted by the DSP module, and then sent to the Surround Back output

channels. DTS ES Discrete soundtracks contain a discrete surround back

channel signal, which is decoded by the DSP module and fed to the Surround

Back outputs.

The Stage One will not decode DTS ES if the Surround Back channels are set

to "None" in the Speaker Configuration Menu. DTS ES-encoded discs are

backward-compatible with a 5.1 system, so Surround Back channels are not

required to play them. However, the system cannot take advantage of the

extra surround channel unless, in addition to the primary surround speakers,

surround back speakers are connected.

2-Channel and 8-Channel Analog Passthrough

The top line of the display will indicate when the 8-Channel Analog input or

the Stereo Direct (2-channel passthrough) mode is selected.

Sampling Rate

For PCM signals (standard uncompressed digital output from a CD, DVD, or

laserdisc player or a digital satellite receiver), the display will show the sam-

pling frequency to the right of the post-processing mode.

Volume Level

The bottom right-hand corner of the display indicates the current master vol-

ume setting. The master volume ranges from –62dB to + 12dB, with 00dB as

the THX reference setting.

Current Input

The bottom left-hand side of the display indicates the currently selected input,

as long as there is no post processing information required to be displayed.

When the tuner is selected, this location will display the currently tuned radio

frequency.

Post-Processing

In some modes, the Stage One may need to display additional information,

such as the type of post-processing being applied. The following list presents

the Stage One modes and the post-processing or additional information avail-

able in each.

Dolby Pro Logic II has five possible decoding modes, selected from the

remote control’s Pro Logic II Modes page: Movie, Music, Panorama (indi-

cated as PAN), Matrix and Pro Logic. (See "Modes.")

Dolby Digital has 11 possible decoding modes, either selected from the

remote control’s Modes page or loaded as the default based on system set-

tings: PLII, Stereo, Mono, 5-Channel Stereo, Club, Party, DTS Neo:6, THX,

THX Surround EX, THX MusicMode, and THX Ultra2 Cine. Certain modes

may only be applied to Dolby Digital 2.0 signals that are not flagged as sur-

round encoded (See "Modes.")

DTS has 10 possible decoding modes, selected from the remote control’s

Modes page or loaded as the default based on system settings: PLII,

Stereo, Mono, 5-Channel Stereo, Club, Party, DTS Neo:6, THX, THX

MusicMode, and THX Ultra2 Cine. Certain modes may only be applied to

DTS 2.0 signals that are not flagged as surround encoded (See "Modes.")

REAR-PANEL INPUTS

Be certain that the Stage One preamp/processor, your amplifiers, and all

other associated components are powered OFF before making or break-

ing any connections to the preamplifier. Failure to do so may result in

damage to your speakers or other equipment.

1 ANALOG INPUTS

Seven stereo analog inputs are provided on the rear panel. The analog

inputs are labeled for convenience only, as any line-level source can be

plugged into any analog input. (See "Analog Input Level Control.")

2 DIGITAL INPUTS

Ten digital inputs are provided on the rear panel: seven Coaxial and three

Toslink optical. They can accept digital output from any device that delivers

a standard S/PDIF signal. On the TV, DVD, and CD/LD inputs, the Toslink

input takes precedence over the Coaxial input. Both may be connected

simultaneously.

3 COMPOSITE VIDEO INPUTS

Seven composite video inputs are provided on the rear panel. When an

A/V source is selected, the corresponding video input is also selected and

routed to the Monitor and Record outputs. Video inputs can also be select-

ed independently of the audio inputs. (See "Selecting a Separate Video

Source.")

4 S-VIDEO INPUTS

Seven S-video inputs are provided on the rear panel. When an A/V source

is selected, the corresponding video input is also selected and routed to

the Monitor and Record outputs. Video inputs can also be selected inde-

pendently from audio inputs. (See “Selecting a Separate Video Source.”)

5 COMPONENT VIDEO INPUTS

Three Component Video inputs are provided on the rear panel. These are

assigned to the TV, DVD and Video inputs and are high-definition compati-

ble. When one of these three sources is selected, the corresponding com-

ponent video input is also selected and routed to the Component Video

output. Video inputs can also be selected independently from audio inputs.

(See “Selecting a Separate Video Source.”)

6 RS-232 IN/OUT

The RS-232 port enables the Stage One to communicate with

external control devices or to connect with expansion boxes for future

upgradability. This port also allows for software upgrades to be installed

to the Stage One.

7 IR INPUT

The external IR input on the rear panel allows for an electrical connection

to an infrared receiver module.

8 MULTI-CHANNEL ANALOG INPUT

ADB-25 connector is provided on the rear panel to allow a six- or

eight-channel analog input from a DVD, DVD-Audio, or SACD player.

Compatible RCA to DB-25 adapters are readily available from many

manufacturers. (See “Input Connections.”) This input bypasses the DSP

module.

9 EXPANSION PORT

This port provides for expansion capability for future use should current

or future formats require a method of connection not currently supplied

on the Stage One.

10 AC INPUT

AC Power is supplied to the Stage One via a standard IEC three-wire

power cord.

11 FM ANTENNA INPUT

A75-ohm F-connector input is provided on the rear panel to attach to an

external FM antenna.

12 AM ANTENNA INPUT

Spring clips are provided on the rear panel to connect an external AM

loop antenna.

STAGE ONE

THX SURROUND PREAMPLIFIER

REAR-PANEL INPUTS

REAR-PANEL OUTPUTS

1 COMPONENT VIDEO OUTPUT

One component video output is provided to connect to a monitor with a

component video input. This output is active only for routing the three

Component Video inputs (TV, DVD and Video) connected to component

video sources.

2 S-VIDEO MONITOR/RECORD OUTPUT

Two outputs are provided for S-video signals to route them to your moni-

tor or recording device. The Stage One does not convert composite video

input signals to S-video, although both composite and S-video signals can

be used simultaneously.

3 COMPOSITE VIDEO MONITOR/RECORD OUTPUT

Two outputs are provided for composite video signals to route them to

your monitor or recording device. The Stage One does not convert com-

posite video signals to S-video, although both composite and S-video sig-

nals can be used simultaneously.

4 TOSLINK OPTICAL DIGITAL OUTPUT

AToslink optical digital audio output is provided on the rear panel. The

signal from the selected digital source is routed to the Toslink digital out-

put for recording purposes.

5 ANALOG RECORD OUTPUTS

Two sets of outputs are provided on the rear panel to connect to recording

devices, such as VCRs and tape decks. The analog signal from the

selected source is routed to both record outputs. (Be careful when

connecting these to a VCR line input if the VCR is the currently selected

source and line-in is selected on the VCR. This can cause a feedback

loop.)

6 PREAMPLIFIER OUTPUTS

RCA outputs are provided for each channel. Connect these to the inputs

of the corresponding power amplifier channels.

7 RS-232 IN/OUT

The RS-232 port enables the Stage One to communicate with external

control devices or to connect with expansion boxes for future

upgradability. This port also allows for software upgrades to be installed

to the Stage One.

8 12-VOLT DC OUTPUT

The 12-volt DC output can be used to trigger external devices that are

driven by a 12-volt continuous DC output (up to 100mA).

REAR-PANEL OUTPUTS

REMOTE CONTROL

The supplied Philips ProntoNEO®touchscreen remote control is pre-config-

ured for the Stage One. This programmable learning remote is enormously

flexible and can be customized to operate your entire audio/video system. The

remote has its own manual, which explains its operation in full detail. Be sure

to read the ProntoNEO manual as well as the descriptions below to get the

most from the remote control. The functions listed below apply only when the

Stage One is selected on the remote control.

HARD BUTTONS

1ADJUST

The Adjust button switches the remote control touchscreen to the

Adjustments page, which has buttons for jumping to the most commonly

used mode and system adjustment pages.

2SETUP

The Setup button switches the remote control to the Setup page, where

you can enter the system setup functions.

3 4 UP/DOWN

When in the menu system, the Up and Down buttons move between

menu items. In the Speaker Configuration, Level Setting, and Speaker

Distances menus, the Up and Down buttons change the channel selected

for adjustment. When the Stage One is in Normal mode and decoding

surround sound, the Up and Down buttons adjust the front/rear balance.

5 6 LEFT/RIGHT

Once you have selected a menu item, use the Left and Right buttons to

adjust the value of its setting. When the Stage One is in Normal mode

and playing a stereo signal, press the Left and Right buttons to adjust the

left/right balance.

7 8 VOL +/–

The Vol+ and Vol– buttons adjust the Stage One’s overall volume level.

910CH +/–

When the Stage One’s built-in tuner is selected, the CH+ and CH– but-

tons seek forward and back to the next station with enough signal

strength for clean reception.

11 ƒ

Pressing the F button brings the remote back to the input selection page.

12 MUTE

The Mute button toggles the Stage One’s audio output on and off. When

you are adjusting the Level Settings in the Setup menu, pressing the

Mute button will exit the menu without saving changes.

13 OK

Press the OK button to enter and exit menus.

14 MODE

Holding down the Mode button brings up the remote control’s setup

menu, which allows you to program the remote. For detailed instructions

on how to use this function, see the ProntoNEO manual.

15 DEVICE

Pressing the Device button brings up the top-level Device page, which is

where you select which component you want the remote to address.

Select the Stage One by pressing the Stage One button at the bottom of

the page.

16 17 PAGE UP/DOWN

On the left hand side of the remote, the Page Up and Down buttons

enable you to scroll through the pages that apply to the currently select-

ed device.

18 BACKLIGHT

Pressing the Backlight button lights up the touchscreen and hard buttons

so you can see them clearly in the dark. To adjust the touchscreen’s con-

trast, press the Page Up and Down buttons while holding down the

Backlight button.

STAGE ONE

THX SURROUND PREAMPLIFIER

12 11

POWER AND INPUT

SELECTION

There are separate power On and Off buttons for the

Stage One. Direct access buttons are available for

each of the eight source inputs, including the tuner.

The 8 Ch In button selects the 8-channel analog

input.

MODES PAGE

The Modes page provides Stage One post-processing adjustments and indi-

vidual buttons for selection of stereo direct, analog, and digital inputs.

Analog

This button forces the Stage One to process from the analog input. The Stage

One will remain locked onto the analog input until you select a new source,

press the Digital button, or power it off.

Digital

Choosing Digital forces the Stage One to process from the digital input,

regardless of whether or not a digital signal is present for the currently select-

ed source. The Stage One will remain locked onto the digital input until you

select a new source, press the Analog button, or power it off.

Stereo

When an analog or PCM digital signal is present for the currently selected

source, pressing the Stereo button decodes the signal in two-channel stereo

and sets the default for analog and PCM signals on the particular input to

stereo. When a Dolby Digital or DTS signal is selected, pressing the Stereo

Button will cause the Stage One to downmix multi-channel soundtracks for

reproduction by just the front left and right speakers.

Direct

Pressing the Direct button forces the Stage One into Stereo Direct mode and

sets Stereo Direct as the default mode for the currently selected source.

Stereo Direct bypasses all digital processing, enabling the Stage One to act

as a stereo analog preamplifier while still allowing subwoofer operation.

PLII

Pressing the PLII button when the signal for the currently selected source is

analog, PCM digital, Dolby Digital 2.0 or DTS 2.0 causes the Stage One to

apply Dolby Pro Logic II decoding to the signal. The Stage One will automati-

cally apply Dolby Pro Logic II decoding to Dolby Digital 2.0 signals that are

flagged as Dolby Surround encoded. Pressing the PLII button also jumps the

remote to the Pro Logic Modes page, where you can adjust the currently

selected Dolby Pro Logic II mode.

DTS Neo:6

Pressing the DTS Neo:6 button when the signal for the currently selected

source is analog, PCM digital, Dolby Digital 2.0 or DTS 2.0 applies the DTS

Neo:6 surround processing algorithm.

Club

Pressing the Club button when the signal for the currently selected source is

analog, PCM digital, Dolby Digital 2.0 or DTS 2.0 applies Club-mode process-

ing.

Mono

Pressing the Mono button when the signal for the currently selected source is

analog, PCM digital, Dolby Digital, or DTS will downmix all channels to mono

and send the resulting signal to the center speaker or, if the system has no

center speaker, the left and right front speakers.

5 Ch St

Pressing the 5 Ch St button when the signal for the currently selected source

is analog, PCM digital, Dolby Digital 2.0 or DTS 2.0 applies 5-Channel Stereo

processing.

Party

Pressing the Party button when the signal for the currently selected source is

analog, PCM digital, Dolby Digital 2.0 or DTS 2.0 applies Party-mode pro-

cessing.

TV DVD

VIDEO CD/LD

VCR TAPE

AUX TUNER

on off

8 Ch In

Analog Digital

Stereo Direct

PL II 5 Ch St

Party

DTS Neo

Mono

Club

ADJUSTMENTS

Pro Logic

Pressing the Pro Logic button switches the remote to the Pro Logic II Modes

page, where you can adjust the currently selected Dolby Pro Logic II mode.

Dolby Digital

Pressing the Dolby Digital button switches the remote to the Dolby Digital

page, where you can adjust the Dolby Digital Night Mode compression level.

THX

Pressing the THX button switches the remote to the THX page, where you

can adjust the THX options.

DTS

Pressing the DTS button switches the remote to the DTS page, where you

can adjust the DTS options.

Display

Pressing the Display button switches the remote to the Display Options page,

where you can turn the front panel display on and off and adjust the front

panel lighting.

On-the-Fly

Pressing the On-the-Fly button switches the remote to the On-the-Fly page,

where you can temporarily adjust center-channel and subwoofer levels to

compensate for variations in soundtracks.

Video

Pressing the Video button jumps the remote to the Separate Video Switching

page, where you can select the video input independently of the audio signal.

Tuner

Pressing the Tuner button switches the remote to the Tuner page, where you

can select the band, select a preset, or tune stations.

PRO LOGIC II MODES

The Pro Logic II Modes page allows you to select the

Dolby Pro Logic II mode. Five Pro Logic II modes are

available: Music, Movie, Panorama, Matrix and

Pro Logic.

PRO LOGIC II SETUP

The Pro Logic II Setup page enables you to adjust

Dolby Pro Logic II parameters. The following adjust-

ments are available: Center Channel Width and

Dimension. Changes are stored in memory and load

automatically when the Pro Logic Music or Panorama

modes are engaged.

DOLBY DIGITAL

The Dolby Digital page allows you to adjust the level

of compression in Dolby Digital.

DTS

The DTS page allows you to adjust the DTS Neo:6

mode.

THX

The THX Setup page allows THX processing to be

turned On and Off. When THX processing is on, the

Re-Equalization circuit can be turned on and off.

Once the Stage One is powered off, the Re-

Equalization circuit returns to the default state of ON.

STAGE ONE

THX SURROUND PREAMPLIFIER

Pg. 1

center

dimension

Low Medium

Night Off

Compression

Music Movie

Neo:6 Mode

On Off

THX On THX Off

Pg. 2

Re EQ

Pro Logic Dolby Dig

Adjustments

THX DTS

Display On the Fly

Video Tuner

Pro Logic

Pg. 2

Modes

Music Movie

Panorama Matrix

THX ASA/EX

The THX ASA and EX setup page allows the THX Advanced Speaker Array

and THX Surround EX modes to be adjusted. Available options for the

Advanced Speaker Array (ASA) mode are Ultra2 Cinema, THX MusicMode,

and Off. Ultra2 Cinema mode will be most appropriate for movie soundtracks

that are not Surround EX-encoded, while MusicMode will work best for multi-

channel music sources. The default setting for the ASA Mode menu is Ultra2

Cinema.

Available options for THX Surround EX are AUTO, ON, and OFF. In the AUTO

mode, THX Surround EX processing will occur when all Surround EX condi-

tions have been met, and the Dolby Digital bitstream contains the appropriate

flag to indicate that the soundtrack is Surround EX encoded. In the ON mode,

THX Surround EX processing will take place whenever all Surround EX condi-

tions have been met. In the OFF mode, THX Surround EX processing will not

take place even if the appropriate conditions are met. The default setting for

the Surround EX Mode menu is AUTO.

ASA and Surround EX adjustments can only be made when accessing 5.1

Dolby Digital and DTS soundtracks. These settings will only take effect when

the Stage One is configured with Surround Back speakers in the Speaker

Configuration menu.

TUNER

The Tuner page contains all the functions for control-

ling the built-in AM/FM tuner. AM and FM buttons are

provided to select the current band. Tuning Up and

Tuning Down buttons at the bottom of the page allow

for the frequency to be adjusted up and down. Ten

presets are available for each band, selected by the

buttons 1 through 10. Pressing and releasing the pre-

set button will tune the radio to the selected preset

station. Pressing and holding the preset button for

three seconds will store the currently selected station

as the preset.

SEPARATE VIDEO

The Separate Video switching page allows the video

input to be adjusted independently of the audio

source. This allows you to listen to one source, such

as the built-in tuner, while watching another.

SETUP

The setup page allows you to enter the Setup and

Advanced Setup menus and adjust the analog input

gain when necessary. Pressing Setup or Advanced

Setup will enter and exit the menus. The Up/Down,

Left/Right and OK buttons are used to navigate the

front panel menus. When accessing an analog input,

the analog input gain can be adjusted up and down

with the Input Gain + and – buttons. Pressing the Exit

Setup Menu button will change the remote control

back to the input selection screen.

ON-THE-FLY

The center channel and subwoofer levels can be

temporarily adjusted with the buttons on the On-the-

Fly page. These levels can be adjusted up or down to

compensate for differences in particular soundtracks.

The next time the mode is accessed, the settings

saved in memory will be loaded into the processor.

The need to continuously adjust the center channel

and subwoofer levels may be an indication that the

saved settings in the Level Settings menu are not cor-

rect.

DISPLAY

The Display page allows the front panel display to be

turned on and off, and the front panel lighting to be

turned On, Off, or set to Dim. The display setting will

revert back to the default ON setting the next time

the processor is turned on. The front panel lighting

setting is stored in memory.

Pg. 1

Off

Cinema Music

Surround EX Mode

EX Off

EX Auto

EX On

ASA Mode

center

subwoofer

On the Fly Adjustments

On Off

Display Settings

Light Settings

Dim

TV DVD

VIDEO CD/LD

VCR TAPE

AUX

Separate Video Switch

Setup

Advanced Setup

Exit Setup Menu

Input Gain

Shift

123

45 6

789

FM AM

STAGE ONE

THX SURROUND PREAMPLIFIER

INPUT CONNECTIONS

The Stage One allows for analog, digital, and video outputs for seven sources

to be connected to the rear panel inputs. You also have the ability to switch

the Audio and Video signals independently of each other. For easiest opera-

tion, the digital, analog, and video outputs from each source should be

attached to the same source input (lined up vertically) on the rear panel of the

Stage One. If different types of video outputs are available, one of each type

(S-video, Composite, and Component/RGB/HDTV) can be connected to a sin-

gle source input. This ensures that video output will be available regardless of

the input selected on the monitor.

AC INPUT

Using the supplied IEC power cord, plug the Stage One into the wall outlet.

DIGITAL INPUTS

The rear panel of the Stage One provides ten digital inputs (three Toslink, and

seven Coaxial). Any S/PDIF digital output can be connected to any, or all ten

digital inputs. For inputs with both a Toslink and Coaxial digital connection,

Toslink takes precedence. It is possible to connect both a Toslink and a

Coaxial digital signal to a single source input, but only one will be operational

at a time. There is no need to "assign" the digital inputs, as one is provided

for each source connection. For easiest operation, the digital output of the

source should be connected to the same source input (lined up vertically) as

the analog and video outputs of the source.

ANALOG INPUTS

The rear panel of the Stage One provides seven stereo analog line level

inputs. The analog output of any line level source can be connected to any, or

all of the stereo analog inputs. The input gain of the analog inputs should be

adjusted for each analog source that you have connected. For optimum per-

formance, the gain should be adjusted to the highest point before clipping

occurs. (See “Advanced Features.”)

VIDEO INPUTS

The rear panel of the Stage One provides 17 Video inputs (seven composite,

seven S-video and three component). The Stage One does not perform any

video conversion. For example, if you connect the S-video output of a DVD

player to the Stage One, that signal will only be available at the S-video out-

puts.

MULTI-CHANNEL ANALOG INPUT

The Stage One provides an 8-Channel Analog Input. This DB-25 connector

can be used to connect the analog outputs from a DVD player with a built-in

decoder. The 8-Channel Analog input is passed directly to the analog pream-

plifier section. Individual channel level adjustment, as well as overall level

adjustment, is available for this input.

ANTENNA INPUT

Spring clips for an AM loop antenna, and a coaxial type terminal for a 75-ohm

FM antenna connection are provided on the rear panel to allow the built-in

AM/FM tuner to be connected to an antenna.

S VIDEO

OUTPUT

ANALOG

OUTPUT

DIGITAL

OUTPUT

COMPONENT

OUT SAT

DIGITAL

OUTPUT

ANALOG

OUTPUT

ANALOG

OUTPUT

COMPOSITE

VIDEO OUTPUT

COMPONENT

VIDEO OUT

S VIDEO

INPUT COMPONENT

INPUT

SATELLITE CD PLAYER

DVD PLAYER VCR TELEVISION

DIGITAL

OUTPUT

S VIDEO

OUTPUT

ANALOG

OUTPUT

COMPOSITE

VIDEO INPUT

ANALOG

INPUT

S VIDEO

INPUT

S VIDEO

OUTPUT

COMPOSITE

VIDEO OUTPUT

COMPOSITE

VISEO INPUT

AM ANTENNA FM ANTENNA

Unbalanced DB-25 Pin Assignments

9, 10

11, 12, 13

23, 24, 25

ASSIGNMENT

Left positive

Center positive

Right positive

Subwoofer positive

Surround left positive

Surround right positive

Surround back left positive

Surround back right positive

Shield drains

No connection

Left ground

Center ground

Right ground

Subwoofer ground

Surround left ground

Surround right ground

Surround back left ground

Surround back right ground

Shield drain

No connection

25 14

SPEAKER PLACEMENT AND

CONFIGURATION

The number and placement of speakers is a very critical part of the function of

the Stage One. While you can certainly use the Stage One in systems with as

few as two main left and right speakers, you will not be able to realize the full

surround sound potential of the processor without proper set-up of a complete

surround speaker package. The following text and diagrams describe how to

place your speakers for THX Surround EX playback.

Please consult the owner’s manuals for your speakers and amplifier to

ensure correct connections. Make sure the power to your amplifier and

the Stage One are off before making or breaking any connections.

Failure to do so could result in damage to your equipment.

Front Left and Right Speakers

These are the primary speakers in the system. They function as the left and

right speakers in a stereo configuration and as the front left and right speak-

ers in a surround speaker set-up. They should be placed to left of and to the

right of your video monitor.

Center Channel Speaker

The center channel speaker functions as the primary sound source for a sur-

round sound system. It should be placed as close to the video monitor as

possible – typically on top of the monitor. The center channel localizes all

on-screen dialog, action and effects for realistic sonic effect.

Surround Left and Right Speakers

The surround left and right speakers function as the dimensional speakers in

a surround speaker set-up. They reproduce the ambience and three-dimen-

sional movement required for realistic playback of surround encoded source

material. Ideally, these speakers should be placed to the left side and right

side of the primary listening position at a height of 0.5-1 meter above the lis-

tener’s ears.

Surround Back Left and Right Speakers

The surround back left and right speakers are necessary for optimal playback

of THX Surround EX and DTS ES-encoded material. They add additional

ambience and effects to the soundfield, further enhancing the movie theater

experience in your home. These speakers should be placed to the rear of the

listening position at a height of 0.5-1 meter above the listener’s ears.

Subwoofer

The subwoofer reproduces all of the deep bass that brings home the sonic

realism of a movie soundtrack. It can also reproduce bass response that has

been redirected from other speakers that are too small to do so. The sub-

woofer is typically placed along the front wall of the listening room in either the

right or left corner. Placement can dramatically affect the performance of this

speaker. Consult your subwoofer owner’s manual or the manufacturer for

assistance in set-up and placement of this speaker.

SL SR

SBL SBR

LCR

L R

SL SR

SBL

SBR

SYSTEM SETUP

The Stage One Setup Menu is a quick and easy step-by-step guide to configur-

ing your system. You can access and navigate the Setup Menu from the remote

control or by using the Stage Manager and Enter button on the front panel.

When you complete a setup item, the system will automatically advance to the

next selection until setup is complete. It will then revert to the initial menu

Remote Control System Setup

With the ProntoNEO, select the Setup button to enter the Setup Menu. The Up and

Down buttons change the currently selected menu or option and the Left and Right

buttons change the setting. Use the OK button to enter or exit a particular menu.

Front-Panel System Setup

Although most of the instructions below are primarily for operation from the

remote control, you can use the Stage Manager and the Enter button to set up

the Stage One completely from the front panel. Press the Enter button to enter

and exit the Setup Menu. Turn the Stage Manager knob to the left or right to

make choices or adjustments in the selected menu. Press the Stage Manager

knob to enter a particular menu. When applicable, each subsequent press of

the Stage Manager will advance to the next channel or parameter. Press the

Enter button to exit a menu.

SETUP MENU

Press the Setup button on the remote or the Enter button on the front panel to

begin the setup procedure.

SPEAKER CONFIGURATION

The Speaker Configuration menu enables you to adjust the bass management

of your system. Press the remote OK button or front-panel Stage Manager to

enter the Speaker Configuration menu.

Front Speakers

Use the Left and Right buttons on the remote control or Stage Manager knob

to configure the front left and right front speakers as Large or Small. Select

Small (THX) when the front left and right speakers have limited bass response

or if you simply want the bass from all channels to go to a subwoofer. Select

Large for full low-frequency output to the front left and right speakers. The

default THX setting for the front left and right loudspeakers is Small, which

reroutes bass below the crossover frequency to the subwoofer output. (The

crossover frequency can be adjusted in a subsequent menu.) Once you have

selected the correct speaker designation, press the Up button or the Stage

Manager to move to Center Speaker configuration.

Center Speaker

The center speaker can be configured as Large, Small (THX), or None. If you

select Small, the Stage One will reroute bass below the crossover frequency

from the center channel to the subwoofer output if there is a subwoofer in the

system; if there is no subwoofer and the front left and right speakers are

configured as Large, bass from the center channel will be split between the

front left and right speakers. If you do not have a center speaker, select None,

which will split the center-channel output between the front left and right

speakers. The default THX setting for the center channel is Small. Use the

remote’s Left and Right buttons or the Stage Manager knob to select the

desired setting. Then press the Up button on the remote control or the Stage

Manager on the front panel to move to Surround Speaker configuration.

Surround Speakers

The Stage One gives you three choices for number of surround speakers—None,

One, or Two—and two choices for type—Large or Small (THX). If you select Large,

the surround speakers will receive full-range signals. Selecting Small will redirect

bass in the surround channels below the crossover frequency to the subwoofer out-

put if there is a subwoofer in the system; if there isn’t a subwoofer, bass will be split

between the front left and right speakers if they are configured as Large. The

default THX setting for the surround speakers is 2 Small. Use the Left and Right

buttons on the remote control or the Stage Manager on the front panel to select the

Surround Speakers setting. Once you have chosen the correct speaker designa-

tion, press the Up button on the remote control or the Stage Manager knob on the

front panel to move to Surround Back Speaker configuration.

Surround Back Speakers

If you select None in surround speaker configuration, the Stage One will auto-

matically set the surround back speaker configuration to None. If you have both

surround and surround back speakers, your only choice for this setting will be to

choose the quantity–None, One or Two–as the size configuration will be set the

same as that of the surround speakers. If your surround speakers are set to

Large, you should make sure your surround back speakers can handle a

full-range signal as well. If they cannot, you should set the surround speakers

size to Small so that the bass for all of these speakers is redirected to the sub-

woofer. Use the Left and Right buttons on the remote or the Stage Manager knob

to select the correct surround back speaker setting. Then press the up button on

the remote or the Stage Manager knob to move to Subwoofer configuration.

Subwoofer

There are three options for the subwoofer setting—No, Yes, and Ultra2. If your

system does not have a subwoofer, choose No. If it has a THX Ultra2-certified

subwoofer or a subwoofer that is capable of reproducing frequencies down to

20Hz, choose Ultra2. If it has a subwoofer that is not THX Ultra2 certified and

not capable of reproducing frequencies down to 20Hz, choose Yes. The sub-

woofer will reproduce the low-frequency effects (LFE) channel of Dolby Digital

and DTS soundtracks as well as any bass rerouted from speakers designated

as Small. A subwoofer signal is also created during Stereo and Pro Logic II

playback. Use the Left and Right buttons on the remote control or the Stage

Manager knob on the front panel to select the correct subwoofer setting. Then

press the OK button on the remote or the front-panel Enter button to exit the

Speaker Configuration menu and continue to the Level Settings menu.

STAGE ONE

THX SURROUND PREAMPLIFIER

LEVEL SETTINGS

The most accurate method for setting the relative levels of the speakers is to

use the Stage One’s calibration signal in conjunction with a sound-pressure

level (SPL) meter. The Level Settings menu will begin with the test signal set

at a predetermined output level. THX suggests that the output of each chan-

nel be set to 75dB, read from the SPL meter at the listening position. (The

meter should be set to slow response and C-weighting, with the microphone

at seated ear height and pointed toward the ceiling. A camera tripod can be

helpful for this purpose.) If you do not use an SPL meter, set the levels by ear

so that the calibration signal sounds equally loud through all the speakers

except the subwoofer. Because our ears are much less sensitive at low fre-

quencies than at middle ones, setting the subwoofer to an audibly equal level

on the test signal will make it too loud on program material. If you must set

levels by ear, adjust the subwoofer level for a natural tonal balance on familiar

music recordings that contain substantial bass. The test signal will either

rotate from speaker to speaker at two-second intervals or stay locked to the

selected speaker, depending on the setting of the Scroll Test Tones menu in

the Advanced Menus. (See "Advanced Menus.") The test signal and level-set-

ting options will be available only for speakers selected as present in the

Speaker Configuration menu.

Press the OK button on the remote control or the front-panel Stage Manager

to enter the Level Settings menu.

Front Left

Press the Left and Right buttons on the remote or turn the front-panel Stage

Manager knob to adjust the level of the front left speaker to 75dB on the SPL

meter. Press the Up button on the remote or the front-panel Stage Manager to

proceed to center channel level setting.

Center

Press the Left and Right buttons on the remote or turn the Stage Manager

knob to adjust the level of the center speaker (if present) to 75dB. Press the

Up button on the remote or the front-panel Stage Manager to proceed to front

right channel level setting.

Front Right

Press the Left and Right buttons on the remote or turn the front-panel Stage

Manager knob to adjust the level of the front right speaker to 75dB. Press the

Up button on the remote or the front-panel Stage Manager to proceed to sur-

round right channel level setting.

Surround Right

Press the Left and Right buttons on the remote or turn the front-panel Stage

Manager knob to adjust the level of the surround right speaker (if present) to

75dB. Press the Up button on the remote or the Stage Manager to proceed to

surround back right channel level setting.

Surround Back Right

Press the Left and Right buttons on the remote or turn the front-panel Stage

Manager knob to adjust the level of the surround back right speaker (if pres-

ent) to 75dB. Press the Up button on the remote or the Stage Manager to pro-

ceed to surround back left channel level setting.

Surround Back Left

Press the Left and Right buttons on the remote or turn the front-panel Stage

Manager knob to adjust the level of the surround back left speaker (if present)

to 75dB. Press the Up button on the remote or the Stage Manager to proceed

to surround left channel level setting.

Surround Left

Press the Left and Right buttons on the remote or turn the front-panel Stage

Manager knob to adjust the level of the surround left speaker (if present) to

75dB. Press the Up button on the remote or the Stage Manager to proceed to

subwoofer level setting.

Subwoofer

Press the Left and Right buttons on the remote or turn the front-panel Stage

Manager knob to adjust the level of the subwoofer (if present) to 75dB. Press

the OK button on the remote or the Enter button on the front panel to exit the

Level Setting menu and proceed to the Speaker Distances menu.

SPEAKER DISTANCES

In the Speaker Distances menu, you will enter the distance from each speaker

to the listening position. This enables the Stage One’s DSP engine to set

internal delays for time alignment of the speakers in the system to within

1/12th of a millisecond. Only speakers listed as present in the Speaker

Configuration menu will appear in this menu.

Press the OK on the remote button or the front-panel Stage Manager knob to

enter the Speaker Distances menu.

Front Left