Rotel RDA975 User manual
R
DA975
Digital
Surround
Sound
Adapter
OWNERS
MANUAL
Please
write
the
serial
number,
date
of
purchase
and
the
name
of
ROTEL
h
i
fi
Authorized
Dealer
in
the
spaces
provided
for
your
future
reference.
Serial
number_.
Purchase
date_.
ROTEL
hi
fi
Authorized
Dealer
_
.
SAFETY
INSTRUCTIONS
CAUTION
RISK
OF
ELECTRIC
SHOCK
DO
NOT
OPEN
CAUTION:
TO
REDUCE
THE
RISK
OF
ELECTRIC
SHOCK,
DO
NOT
REMOVE
COVER(OR
BACK).
NO
USER-SERVICEABLE
PARTS
INSIDE.
REFER
SERVICING
TO
QUALIFIED
SERVICE
PERSONNEL.
•
Explanation
of
Graphical
Symbols
The
lightning
flash
with
arrowhead
symbol,
within
an
equilateral
triangle,
is
Intended
to
alert
you
to
the
presence
of
uninsulated
'dangerous
voltage'
within
the
prorkicTs
enclosure
that
may
be
of
sufficient
magnitude
to
constitute
a
risk
ol
electric
shock
to
persons
The
exclamation
point
within
an
equilateral
wangle
is
\
intended
to
alert
you
to
the
presence
of
important
\
operating
and
maintenance
(servicing)
instructions
m
•
\
the
literature
accompanying
the
appliance.
APPLICABLE
FOR
USA,
CANADA
OR
WHERE
APPROVED
TO
THE
USAGE
CAUTION
:
TO
PREVENT
ELECTRIC
SHOCK.
MATCH
WIDE
BLADE
PLUG
TO
WIDE
SLOT.
INSERT
FULLY
.
ATTENTION
POUR
EVITER
LES
CHOCS
ELECTRIQUES,
INTRODUCE
LA
LAME
LA
PLUS
LARGE
DE
LA
FICHE
DANS
LA
BORNE
CORRESPONDANTE
DE
LA
PRISE
ET
POUSSER
JUSQU
AU
FOND.
1.
Read
Instructions
•
All
the
safety
and
operating
instructions
should
be
read
before
the
appliance
is
operated
2.
Retain
Instructions
-
The
safety
and
operating
instructions
should
be
retained
four
for
future
reference.
3.
Head
Warnings
-
All
warnings
on
the
appliance
and
in
the
operating
instructions
should
be
adhered
to.
4.
Follow
Instructions
-
All
operating
and
other
instructions
should
be
followed
5.
Water
and
Moisture
•
The
appliance
should
not
be
used
near
water
-
for
example,
near
a
bathtub,
washbowl,
kitchen
sink,
laundry
tub,
in
a
wet
basement,
or
near
a
swimmingpool,
etc.
10.
Power
Source
-
The
appliance
should
be
connected
to
a
power
supply
only
of
the
type
described
in
the
operating
instructions
or
as
marked
on
the
appliance
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
appliance.
12.
Cleaning
-
The
appliance
should
be
cleaned
only
as
recommended
by
the
manufacturer.
13.
Nonuse
Periods
-
The
power
cord
of
the
appliance
should
be
unplugged
from
the
outlet
when
left
unused
for
a
long
period
of
time
6.
Carts
and
Stands
-
The
appliance
should
be
used
only
with
a
cart
or
stand
that
is
recommended
by
the
manufacturer.
PORTABLE
CART
WARNING
S3125A
7.
Wall
or
Ceiling
Mounting
-
The
appliance
should
be
mounted
to
a
wall
or
ceiling
only
as
recommended
by
the
manufacturer.
8.
Ventilation
-
The
appliance
should
be
situated
so
that
its
location
or
position
does
not
interfere
with
its
proper
ventilation.
For
example,
the
appliance
should
not
be
situated
on
a
bed,
sofa,
rug,
or
similar
surface
that
may
block
the
ventilation
openings;
or
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
appliance
should
be
situated
away
from
heat
sources
such
as
radiators,
stoves,
or
other
appliances
that
produce
heat.
14.
Object
and
Liquid
Entry
•
Care
should
be
taken
so
that
objects
do
not
fall
into
and
liquids
not
spilled
into
the
inside
of
the
appliance
15.
Damage
Requiring
Service
-
The
appliance
should
be
serviced
by
qualified
service
personnel
when:
A.
The
power-supply
cord
or
the
plug
has
been
damaged;
or
B.
Objects
have
fallen,
or
liquid
has
been
spilled
into
the
appliance,
or
C.
The
appliance
has
been
exposed
to
rain;
or
D.
The
appliance
does
not
appear
to
operate
normally
or
exhibits
a
marked
change
in
performance;
or
E.
The
appliance
has
been
dropped,
or
the
cabinet
damaged.
16.
Servicing
-
The
user
should
not
attempt
to
service
the
appliance
beyond
those
means
described
in
the
operating
instructions.
All
other
servicing
should
be
referred
to
qualified
service
personnel.
17.
Grounding
or
Polarization
-
The
precautions
that
should
be
taken
so
that
the
grounding
or
polanzation
means
of
an
appliance
is
not
defeated.
1
OWNER’S
MANUAL
INDEX
SETTING
the
SPEAKER
CONFIGURATION
SWITCHES
PAGE
2,
3
5.1
CHANNEL
OUTPUTS
and
REAR
PANEL
CONNECTIONS
PAGE
3,
4
INFORMATION
about
DOLBY
DIGITAL
SOUND
PAGE
4
FRONT
PANEL
CONTROLS
PAGE
5,
6
THE
TEST
BUTTON
and
CHANNEL
BALANCE
CHECK
PAGE
6,
7
‘(Skip
the
Test
Button
and
Channel
Balance
section
if
connected
to
a
Rotel
Surround
Processor)
PHYSICAL
INSTALLATION
and
AC
POWER
REQUIREMENTS
PAGE
7
TECHNICAL
SPECIFICATIONS
PAGE
8
TROUBLESHOOTING
HINTS
PAGE
8
Thanks
for
buying
a
Rotel
RDA
975
digital
adapter
for
Dolby
Digital®
sound.
Welcome
to
the
fun
and
excitement
of
digital
surround
sound!
Our
engineers
have
been
designing
and
manufacturing
high
quality,
high
performance
audio
electronics
for
more
than
35
years.
The
RDA
975
has
been
designed
to
accurately
recreate
the
original
input
signal
or
soundtrack.
It
will
provide
faithful
reproduction
of
the
information
encoded
in
Laser
Discs,
DVD
discs,
or
digital
satellite
TV
broadcasts.
This
manual
has
tips
for
set
up,
audio/video/digital
cables,
trouble
shooting
and
installation
to
help
improve
the
sound
of
your
system.
FEATURES
OF
THE
RDA
975
The
RDA
975
includes
high
performance
Burr-Brown
PCM
1710U
decoders,
8
x
oversampling
digital
filters
and
4
,h
order
AL
type
(1
bit)
digital
to
analog
converters.
The
Zoran
38500
DSP
1C
chip
ensures
high
performance
decoding
of
the
digital
signal.
The
DSP
chip
decodes
the
Dolby
Digital
sound,
controls
the
bass
management
and
allows
adjustment
of
the
dynamic
range
and
dialogue
normalization
of
your
system.
We
have
3
digital
inputs
on
the
back
panel,
two
75
Q
coaxial
RCA
inputs
and
one
Toslink
optical
cable
input.
The
5.1
channel
output
signal
from
the
RDA
975
uses
6
RCA
jacks
or
a
single
DB
25
cable
to
connect
to
your
companion
surround
sound
processor.
Because
of
our
desire
to
offer
future
compatible
audio
components,
we
have
rear
panel
DB
25
input
connections
on
our
present
and
future
surround
sound
processors.
Therefore,
connecting
a
RDA
975
is
easy
to
do.
After
connection
and
set
up,
push
the
front
panel
5.1
or
EPL
input
button
on
your
surround
sound
processor
to
engage
the
RDA
975
for
playback
of
Dolby
Digital
source
material.
CONNECTIONS
ON
THE
REAR
PANEL
The
SPEAKER
CONFIGURATION
SWITCHES
on
the
back
panel
are
labeled
FRONT,
CENTER,
SURROUND
and
SUBWOOFER.
We
describe
the
speaker
selections
as
LARGE,
SMALL
or
NONE.
2
FRONT
is
defined
as
the
main
left
and
right
speakers
in
the
front
of
the
room.
CENTER
is
defined
as
the
speaker
for
the
dialog
channel,
usually
positioned
above
or
below
the
video
monitor.
SURROUND
is
defined
as
the
speakers
used
to
reproduce
the
time-delayed
signals
for
ambient
or
special
effects.
SUBWOOFER
is
defined
as
a
speaker
specifically
designed
to
play
the
bass
frequencies
or
Low
Frequency
Effects
(LFE)
below
100
Hz.
A
LARGE
speaker
is
defined
as
a
speaker
with
excellent
low
frequency
bass
response
ora
speaker
capable
of
playing
powerful
bass
notes
(below
100
Hz)
at
high
volume
levels
without
damage.
This
position
sends
a
full
frequency
range
signal,
including
the
bass,
to
the
front
or
center
channel
speaker.
Use
this
setting
with
a
speaker
that
is
THX®
certified
for
use
in
a
home
theater
system.
Other
high
performance
speakers
capable
of
full
frequency
range
response
may
also
match
these
criteria.
A
SMALL
speaker
is
defined
as
a
speaker
that
is
not
designed
to
play
powerful
bass
notes
below
100
Hz
at
high
volume
levels.
This
configuration
switch
setting
turns
on
a
crossover
circuit
that
removes
the
bass
below
100
Hz
from
the
audio
signal
going
to
the
front
or
center
channel
speaker.
Many
surround
sound
system
speakers
of
medium
or
small
size
are
designed
for
use
with
a
companion
subwoofer.
These
types
of
speakers
are
specifically
designed
to
play
mid-bass
and
the
frequencies
above
100
Hz.
The
SMALL
setting
is
correct
for
speakers
of
this
type.
The
subwoofer
receives
the
low
bass
below
100
Hz
while
the
mid-bass
and
the
higher
frequencies
are
played
through
the
other
speakers
in
the
system.
The
NONE
setting
is
defined
as
the
absence
of
a
speaker.
This
setting
is
sometimes
called
PHANTOM
mode
operation
when
selected
for
the
CENTER
channel
speaker.
This
setting
equally
shares
the
center
channel
dialogue
information
with
the
front
left
and
front
right
speakers.
This
preserves
all
the
dialogue
information
even
though
a
center
channel
speaker
is
not
present
in
the
system.
When
NONE
is
chosen
for
the
surround
channel
speakers,
the
time
delayed
surround
sound
information
is
mixed
with
the
front
speaker
signals.
If
a
center
channel
speaker
is
in
use,
this
mode
of
operation
is
sometimes
referred
to
as
3
CHANNEL
SURROUND
sound.
If
only
the
front
left
and
right
channel
speakers
are
used,
the
signals
for
the
center
speaker
and
the
surround
sound
speakers
are
mixed
together
with
the
signal
for
the
front
speakers.
In
this
way
all
the
information
is
preserved
and
reproduced
through
the
stereo
pair
of
speakers.
We
suggest
that
the
best
results
will
be
obtained
with
a
full
set
of
speakers
for
all
channels,
including
a
subwoofer.
If
you
do
not
use
CENTER
or
SURROUND
speakers
in
your
system,
set
the
CENTER
or
SURROUND
speaker
switch
to
NONE.
If
you
use
CENTER
or
SURROUND
speakers,
choose
the
LARGE
or
SMALL
speaker
setting.
The
SUBWOOFER
YES
or
NO
switch
should
be
set
to
YES
if
you
have
a
subwoofer.
Set
the
switch
to
NO
if
you
don’t
have
a
subwoofer.
The
actual
physical
size
of
each
speaker
is
not
as
important
as
the
frequency
response
and
power
handling
capability
of
the
speaker.
Use
of
a
subwoofer
in
your
system
is
highly
recommended
for
the
best
reproduction
of
LFE
sound
effects.
During
installation
set
the
speaker
configuration
switches
for
the
speakers
currently
in
your
surround
sound
system.
Read
the
owners
manual
for
your
speakers
for
help
with
these
settings.
If
you
change
the
speakers
in
your
system
later,
study
the
owners'
manual
for
the
new
speakers
and
consult
this
manual
to
see
if
changes
are
needed
in
the
speaker
switch
settings.
Careful
listening
should
be
the
final
judge
for
the
correct
setting
of
the
speaker
configuration
switches.
(See
the
diagrams
on
page
10
for
speaker
configuration
switches,
front
panel
controls
and
back
panel
connections.)
BACK
PANEL
CONNECTIONS
ON
THE
RDA
975
The
5.1
OUTPUT
connectors
use
a
DB
25
connecting
cable
from
the
RDA
975
to
the
5.1
CH
INPUT
on
the
back
panel
of
compatible
ROTEL
surround
sound
controllers.
If
you
use
the
RDA
975
with
a
brand
of
surround
sound
controller
without
a
DB
25
cable
input,
the
RCA
output
jacks
should
be
used
for
connection.
Please
observe
the
correct
channel
designations
to
avoid
incorrect
channel
layout
in
your
surround
sound
system,
when
using
the
RCA
connections.
The
INPUT
connections
for
TOSLINK,
COAXIAL
1,
and
COAXIAL
2
on
the
rear
panel
will
allow
you
to
connect
as
many
as
three
different
digital
components
to
the
RDA
975.
3
The
TOSLINK
input
is
for
the
optical
digital
output
connection
from
a
Laser
Disc,
DVD
player
or
other
digital
source.
Input
1
and
2
connections
are
for
digital
signals
using
a
75
ohm
RCA
cable
from
a
Laser
Disc
player,
a
DVD
player,
a
digital
satellite
TV
receiver
or
a
future
digital
tape
system.
We
suggest
high
quality
shielded
cables
for
these
digital
connections.
CONNECTION
CABLES
FOR
YOUR
SURROUND
SOUND
SYSTEM
High
quality
video
and
audio
patch
cables
will
improve
the
sights
and
sounds
of
your
system
and
we
recommend
them.
Composite
video
or
digital
cables
should
be
shielded
and
have
characteristic
impedance
of
750
for
the
best
video
or
digital
performance.
Audio/video
cables
and
AC
power
cables
should
be
separated
from
each
other
to
avoid
potential
interference
that
will
degrade
the
sound
or
picture
quality.
Ask
your
ROTEL/i/
fi
AUTHORIZED
DEALER
for
advice
about
high
quality
cables
for
the
audio,
video
and
digital
signals
in
your
sound
system.
The
quality
of
the
cables
does
make
a
difference
and
high
quality
cables
will
yield
the
best
results.
WHAT
IS
DOLBY
DIGITAL
SOUND?
Dolby
Digital
sound
is
a
digital
format
designed
to
allow
discrete
signals
for
all
of
the
channels
in
your
surround
sound
system.
Many
movie
industry
people
refer
to
discrete
sound
as
5.1
sound.
This
is
because
the
sound
stage
in
a
movie
studio
is
mixing
5
discrete
channels
of
sound
and
uses
the
.1
channel
for
the
low
frequency
sound
effects.
This
has
the
advantage
of
offering
stereo
surround
sound
channels
in
addition
to
the
discrete
output
for
the
low
frequency
effects
or
subwoofer
channel.
The
Dolby
Surround
matrix
encoded
system
has
a
mono
surround
sound
signal,
not
stereo,
even
though
two
surround
speakers
are
used.
PLAYBACK
OF
DOLBY
DIGITAL
SOUNDTRACKS
There
are
three
different
ways
that
a
Dolby
Digital
soundtrack
will
be
received
and
decoded:
1)
A
5.1
channel
program
is
Dolby
AC-3
encoded
and
delivered
by
Laser
Disc
or
DVD
disc.
2)
A
2
channel
stereo
or
2
channel
Dolby
Surround
encoded
program
is
Dolby
AC-3
encoded
and
delivered
by
Laser
Disc,
DVD
disc
or
broadcast
medium,
such
as
satellite
TV.
The
Dolby
AC-3
bitstream
must
be
decoded
to
reproduce
the
2-channel
output
signal.
If
this
2-channel
signal
is
Dolby
Surround
matrix
encoded
it
may
be
decoded
by
a
Dolby
Pro
Logic
decoder.
3)
A
5.1
channel
program
is
Dolby
AC-3
encoded
and
delivered
by
DVD
or
broadcast
medium,
such
as
satellite
TV.
The
receiving
decoder
is
capable
of
only
producing
2
output
channels.
In
this
case,
the
5.1
channels
are
“downmixed"
to
produce
the
2-channel
output
without
losing
any
information.
The
downmixed
2-channel
output
may
be
stereo
or
it
may
be
a
Dolby
Surround
compatible
output
signal,
capable
of
being
decoded
by
a
Pro
Logic
decoder
to
produce
4-channel
surround
sound.
If
your
system
is
capable
of
reproducing
all
5.1
channels,
this
case
will
not
apply.
The
RDA
975
offers
5.1
channel
decoding
of
multi-channel
Dolby
Digital
soundtracks.
Please
remember
that
some
Dolby
Digital
soundtracks
are
stereo,
not
5.1
encoded.
They
may
be
a
2
channel
Dolby
Digital
signal
with
Dolby
Surround
matrix
encoding,
however.
In
such
a
case
Dolby
Pro
Logic
decoding
of
the
Dolby
Digital
output
should
be
performed
by
the
companion
surround
sound
decoder
to
reproduce
all
4
channels
of
the
Dolby
Surround
signal.
OPERATIONAL
NOTE
ABOUT
DOLBY
DIGITAL
DECODING:
Some
control
functions
for
Dolby
Digital
decoding
are
automatic
and
some
may
be
controlled
manually.
Dolby
Digital
decoding
turns
on
automatically
when
RDA
975
is
turned
on
and
a
source
signal
with
Dolby
Digital
AC
3
encoding
is
detected.
2-channel
decoding
engages
when
processing
non-5.1
Dolby
Digital
signals
by
RDA
975.
You
may
manually
choose
STEREO
to
decode
or
“downmix”
5.1
channel
Dolby
Digital
encoded
material
as
2
channel
stereo
output.
The
choice
between
5.1
and
stereo
may
be
selected
while
receiving
a
Dolby
Digital
encoded
input
signal
from
your
Laser
Disc
or
DVD
player.
4
CONTROLS
ON
THE
FRONT
PANEL
FRONT
PANEL
CONTROLS
The
POWER
button
is
on
the
left
side
of
the
front
panel.
Push
it
to
turn
the
power
and
indicator
light
ON.
When
you
press
it
a
second
time,
the
power
and
the
indicator
light
will
turn
OFF.
If
you
connect
the
RDA
975
to
the
Rotel
RLC
900
AC
power
switching
control
or
a
switched
AC
outlet
on
the
companion
surround
sound
processor
we
suggest
setting
the
POWER
switch
to
the
ON
position.
When
plugged
into
a
switched
outlet
in
this
way
the
power
on/off
function
is
controlled
by
the
other
component.
This
is
very
convenient
in
a
remote
controlled
system.
The
Dolby
Digital
signal
LOCK
indicator
light,
in
the
display
window,
will
illuminate
constantly
when
a
Dolby
Digital
stereo
or
5.1
channel
encoded
signal
is
detected.
The
display
shows
the
delay
time
for
the
center
(C)
or
surround
(S)
channels
in
milliseconds.
It
displays
which
of
the
Left,
Center
or
Right
front
speakers
or
the
Left
Surround,
the
Right
Surround
or
the
Low
Frequency
Effects
channel
is
being
used
by
TEST
during
set
up
mode
of
operation.
To
cycle
through
the
channels
is
easy.
Press
the
TEST
button
once
each
time
you
wish
to
change
the
channel
receiving
the
test
signal
from
the
built
in
tone
generator.
The
appropriate
channel
indicator
lights
will
illuminate.
For
stereo
decoding
or
stereo
“down-mixing”
of
5.1
channel
signals,
press
the
STEREO
button
and
the
L
and
R
lights
will
illuminate.
The
SURROUND
button
is
for
Dolby
Pro
Logic
decoding
of
2
channel
Dolby
AC
3
encoded
signals
if
the
source
is
Dolby
Surround
matrix
encoded.
It
may
be
used
with
TV
broadcasts
from
cable
or
satellite
TV
in
some
locations.
If
you
prefer
to
use
your
companion
decoder
for
this
purpose,
this
function
may
be
ignored.
Press
the
DOLBY
DIGITAL
button
for
5.1
channel
decoding
and
all
the
channel
indicators
will
illuminate.
If
no
Dolby
Digital
encoded
signal
is
detected
the
LOCK
light
will
not
illuminate.
The
LOCK
light
may
go
out
during
pause
operation
of
your
Laser
Disc
or
DVD
player.
DELAY
times
are
adjusted
using
the
front
panel
push
button
controls.
The
CENTER/SRND
button
is
dual
function,
alternating
between
the
CENTER
and
SURROUND
speakers.
When
set
to
C
for
the
CENTER
channel,
the
DOWN/UP
controls
adjust
for
equivalent
distance
from
your
favorite
chair
to
the
center
and
front
left
and
front
right
speakers.
Center
channel
signal
delay
times
from
0
to
5
milliseconds
are
available.
Measure
the
distance
from
your
favorite
chair
to
the
center,
front
left
and
front
right
speakers.
(1ft
=-1ms
=
~30cm)
If
the
center
channel
speaker
is
3
feet
closer
to
you
than
the
front
left
speaker/front
right
speaker,
set
C
to
read
“03”
in
the
display
window.
This
adjusts
the
Time
Alignment
so
that
the
arrival
times
of
sounds
from
the
all
the
front
channel
speakers
are
equal.
This
setting
will
make
a
positive
difference
in
the
quality
of
center
channel
sound
and
dialogue
intelligibility.
This
needs
no
further
adjustment
unless
the
speakers
are
moved
to
new
locations.
When
the
CENTER/SRND
button
is
set
to
S,
the
SURROUND
delay
times
are
adjusted
with
the
DOWN/UP
buttons.
Default
setting
is
the
“0”
time
setting
in
the
display
window.
If
you
are
equidistant
from
the
FRONT
and
SURROUND
speakers,
please
choose
the
“0"
millisecond
delay
time
for
Dolby
Digital.
If
you
are
sitting
nearer
to
the
surround
speakers,
choose
a
longer
DELAY
time.
Add
approximately
1
ms
for
every
foot
(-30
cm)
that
you
are
closer
to
the
surround
speakers
than
to
the
front
speakers.
Longer
delay
time
settings
available
will
add
5,
10,
and
15
milliseconds
of
delay
to
the
surround
channels.
Because
all
5.1
channels
are
5
discrete
in
Dolby
Digital
sound
no
15-millisecond
delay
is
built
in
to
the
normal
or
default
delay
time
setting,
unlike
Dolby
Pro
Logic
decoding
of
Dolby
Surround
sound.
The
delay
time
for
the
surround
sound
speakers
is
needed
for
Dolby
Surround
to
establish
the
main
and
center
speakers
as
the
primary
sound
signals.
Because
the
signal
is
delayed
to
the
surround
channels,
you
hear
the
front
speakers
first.
This
is
called
the
“Haas
precedence
effect”
and
this
effect
is
used
to
emphasize
the
front
speakers.
They
take
precedence
and
localize
the
sound
images
as
coming
from
the
front
of
the
room.
A
small
amount
of
low
level
leakage
signal
from
the
front
to
the
surround
speakers
is
inherent
in
the
Dolby
Pro
Logic
matrix
decoding
system.
The
delay
time
“masks"
this
small
amount
of
signal
from
the
front
appearing
in
the
surround
channels.
This
low-level
sound
leakage
of
front
channel
to
surround
channel
information
is
not
present
with
Dolby
Digital
5.1
decoding.
When
Dolby
Pro
Logic
decoding
is
used,
delayed
output
from
the
surround
speakers
helps
make
the
surround
sound
experience
more
believable
and
enjoyable.
The
TEST
switch
activates
the
BALANCE
CHECK
mode.
This
should
be
done
during
initial
set
up
or
whenever
a
change
is
made
in
the
components
or
speakers
used
in
your
system.
The
TEST
signal
can
be
used
at
any
time
to
set
up
the
channel
balance
in
5.1
systems
with
individual
channel
level
input
controls.
(See
the
TEST
BUTTON,
below.)
The
DYNAMIC
range
adjustment
control
will
cycle
the
RDA
980
through
four
levels
of
digital
signal
level
compression
plus
dialog
normalization.
When
DYNAMIC
is
in
use,
the
indicator
light
will
be
illuminated.
The
levels
are
FULL
dynamic
range
plus
dialog
normalization
(25%),
NORMAL
dynamic
range
(50%)
plus
dialog
normalization,
MINIMUM
dynamic
range
(75%)
plus
dialog
normalization,
or
BYPASS
position
(0%)
without
dialog
normalization,
respectively.
The
display
window
will
return
to
showing
the
CENTER
or
SRND
delay
a
few
seconds
after
the
DYNAMIC
setting
is
chosen.
The
0%
setting
(BYPASS
position)
turns
off
the
DYNAMIC
indicator
light,
selects
direct
output
and
provides
the
full
dynamic
range
that
the
Dolby
Digital
system
is
capable
of
producing.
The
0%
position
defeats
dialog
normalization.
The
25%
display
setting
(FULL
dynamic
range)
chooses
dialog
normalization
without
added
signal
level
compression.
This
gives
the
full
dynamic
range
of
Dolby
Digital
soundtracks
plus
dialog
normalization.
The
50%
display
setting
(NORMAL
dynamic
range)
provides
6
dB
of
compression
and
is
best
for
general
viewing
of
your
favorite
video
sources,
with
wide
dynamic
range
plus
dialog
normalization.
The
75%
display
setting
(MINIMUM
dynamic
range)
should
be
chosen
if
you
wish
to
greatly
restrict
the
volume
range
of
soft
to
loud
sound
in
your
system.
MINIMUM
provides
12
dB
of
high
volume
level
compression,
low
volume
level
boost
and
dialog
normalization,
all
of
which
are
controlled
by
the
Dolby
AC
3
bitstream.
This
setting
is
great
for
late
night
viewing
to
avoid
offending
other
family
members
or
your
neighbors.
Even
when
the
soundtrack
is
played
quietly
you
will
be
able
to
hear
the
dialog
and
the
special
effects
clearly.
The
BYPASS
position
is
capable
of
very
large
changes
in
apparent
volume
level
from
your
system,
from
very
quiet
to
very
loud.
The
BYPASS
setting
is
best
when
used
with
high
performance,
high
power
surround
sound
systems.
We
suggest
using
companion
components
from
ROTEL,
RSP
980
surround
sound
preamplifier,
the
RB
985
five
channel
power
amplifier
or
the
RMB
100
MOSFET
mono
power
amplifier,
all
THX®
certified
for
home
use.
Other
excellent
choices
are
the
Rotel
RB
971,
RB
991
and
RB
993
power
amplifiers
and
the
RSP
970
or
RTC
970
surround
sound
processors.
The
INPUT
selector
buttons
have
front
panel
indicator
lights
to
indicate
which
one
is
chosen,
and
are
labeled
TOSLINK,
Coaxial
1,
and
2.
They
select
the
digital
input
source
for
playback.
6
THE
TEST
BUTTON
and
SETTING
CHANNEL
BALANCE
If
the
RDA
975
is
used
with
a
ROTEL
surround
sound
processor
or
a
surround
sound
processor
with
fixed
level
inputs
for
an
external
digital
adapter,
SKIP
THIS
SECTION
.
In
such
an
installation,use
the
channel
balance
test
set
up
tones
in
the
companion
surround
sound
processor.
To
use
RDA
975
with
a
surround
sound
processor
with
individually
variable
channel
inputs
for
an
external
digital
adapter
or
a
direct
connection
from
the
RDA
975
to
a
5
or
6
channel
power
amplifier
with
variable
volume
controls,
use
the
following
set
up
method.
Begin
by
choosing
the
5.1
external
processor
INPUT
on
your
surround
sound
processor.
Next,
press
the
TEST
button
on
the
RDA
975
front
panel.
The
balance
test
signal
will
begin.
This
will
allow
you
to
manually
cycle
through
all
the
speakers
in
your
system,
starting
with
the
LEFT
FRONT
speaker.
Adjust
the
VOLUME
buttons
on
the
remote
control
for
your
surround
sound
processor
or
the
individual
channel
level
controls
on
the
power
amplifier
to
make
the
volume
levels
balance
in
all
channels.
The
volume
for
each
successive
channel
should
be
adjusted
by
using
the
remote
control
while
sitting
in
your
favorite
chair
or
couch.
If
you
are
doing
this
set-up
procedure
direct
to
a
five
or
six-channel
power
amplifier,
you
may
need
a
friend
to
help
you
make
these
adjustments.
All
of
the
channels
should
be
the
same
volume
level
reading
from
the
main
listening
position.
This
does
not
mean
that
the
volume
setting
will
always
be
the
same
value
for
all
the
channels
because
there
may
be
different
distances
from
the
main
seating
position
to
the
location
of
the
speakers.
When
you
have
properly
adjusted
all
the
channels
to
75-dB
sound
pressure
level,
push
the
TEST
button
again
to
turn
OFF
the
test
signal.
If
a
lower
overall
volume
level
is
desired,
adjust
the
speakers
to
a
lower
but
equal
volume
level.
For
best
results,
we
suggest
using
a
sound
pressure
level
(SPL)
meter
when
making
the
BALANCE
CHECK
settings.
An
analog
sound
level
meter
(from
Radio
Shack®
for
example)
will
be
excellent
for
this
purpose.
Listening
by
ear
will
not
be
as
accurate.
The
sound
meter
controls
should
be
set
to
70
dB,
“slow”
and
“C-
weighting."
This
adjustment
should
be
made
while
you
are
seated
in
your
regular
listening
location.
Holding
the
sound
level
meter
head
high
at
arms'
length,
with
the
microphone
aimed
upward
at
a
45“
toward
the
ceiling,
set
all
channels
to
75
dB
SPL.
The
accurate
setting
of
channel
balance
is
important
and
will
affect
the
potential
for
realistic
playback
from
your
system.
PHYSICAL
INSTALLATION
and
ELECTRICAL
REQUIREMENTS
Please
place
the
unit
on
a
DRY,
level
surface
away
from
direct
sunlight
Avoid
installing
in
a
location
where
excessive
heat,
direct
sunlight,
humidity,
vibration
or
moisture
will
be
a
problem.
We
recommend
installation
in
furniture
designed
to
house
audio
and
video
components.
This
will
allow
the
RDA
975
to
be
installed
on
a
separate
shelf,
not
stacked
with
another
component.
This
will
minimize
potential
interference
or
heat
build
up
from
other
components
in
your
system.
The
RDA
975
is
designed
to
work
on
AC
voltage
and
the
correct
voltage
is
displayed
on
the
back
panel.
Please
do
not
connect
it
to
the
wrong
AC
voltage,
as
this
will
damage
the
circuitry.
Connect
the
power
cord
to
your
wall
socket
for
AC
power.
When
you
disconnect
the
power
cord
from
the
wall,
always
grasp
the
plug
firmly
to
pull
the
plug
out
of
the
wall
socket.
Please
do
not
unplug
the
power
cord
from
the
wall
by
pulling
the
cord
only.
This
may
damage
the
power
cord
and
thereby
create
a
hazardous
electrical
condition.
There
is
no
user
serviceable
part
inside
the
RDA
975.
Please
do
not
open
the
cabinet,
as
this
will
expose
you
to
the
risk
of
potentially
dangerous
high
voltage
and
the
risk
of
electric
shock.
CLEANING
THE
CABINET
If
you
wish
to
clean
the
cabinet,
we
suggest
that
you
clean
it
with
a
soft,
DRY
cloth.
Please
don’t
use
harsh
cleaning
compounds
or
solvents
to
clean
the
cabinet
as
they
may
damage
the
finish
or
remove
the
labels.
If
you
believe
that
a
cleaning
solution
is
absolutely
necessary,
please
use
very
small
amounts
of
a
non-residue
liquid
glass
cleaner
on
a
clean
cloth.
Using
liquids
near
electricity
is
very
dangerous,
please
be
careful
to
avoid
risk
of
shock
or
damage
to
the
circuitry.
7
A
FINAL
THANK
YOU
FROM
ROTEL
We
designed
RDA
975
for
high
performance
using
test
equipment
and
our
ears.
We
believe
both
are
essential
in
the
design
of
digital
audio
electronics.
This
is
a
time
consuming
process
but
we
feel
that
the
music
and
movie
soundtracks
benefit
from
this
care
and
attention
to
detail.
We
hope
that
you
thoroughly
enjoy
the
latest
soundtracks
while
listening
through
this
Dolby
Digital
surround
sound
adapter.
Enjoy
the
sights
and
sounds!
SPECIFICATIONS:
RDA
975
Frequency
Response
Signal
to
Noise
Ratio
(all
channels)
Input
Impedance
Output
Impedance
Total
Harmonic
Distortion
Output
Power
Consumption
Power
Requirements
(AC)
Weight
Dimensions
All
specifications
are
accurate
at
the
time
of
printing.
5-20,000
Hz,
±
1.0
dB
100
dB,
IHF
A
@
1
kHz
75
Ohm
1
kOhm
0.006
%
(1
kHz)
1.0
volt,
large
speaker
@
1
kHz,
0
dB
FS
17
watts
115
volts
50/60
Hz
or
230
volts
50/60
Hz
5.2
Kg,
9.24
Lb.
440
X
104
X
310mm
(W
x
H
x
D)
17.38
X
4.09
X
12.20"
(W
x
H
x
D)
reserves
the
right
to
make
improvements
without
notice.
Rotel
ROTEL®,
and
the
ROTEL/7/
fi
logo
are
the
registered
trademarks
of
The
Rotel
Co.,
Ltd.,
Tokyo,
Japan.
All
rights
reserved.
THX®
is
a
registered
trademark
of
Lucasfilm
Ltd.
Radio
Shack
is
a
registered
trademark
of
Tandy
Corp.,
Ft.
Worth,
Texas.
Manufactured
under
license
from
Dolby
Laboratories
Licensing
Corporation.
“Dolby”,
“Pro
Logic"
and
the
double-D
symbol
are
trademarks
of
Dolby
Laboratories.
Confidential
Unpublished
Works.
Copyright
1992-
1997
Dolby
Laboratories,
Inc.
All
rights
reserved.
TROUBLESHOOTING
HINTS
NO
POWER
HAVE
YOU
CHECKED
THE
AC
OUTLET
IS
THE
AC
CORD
CONNECTED
TO
A
SWITCHED
OUTLET?
IS
THE
SWITCHED
AC
OUTLET
TURNED
ON?
IS
THE
AC
CIRCUIT
SAFETY
FUSE
BLOWN?
NO
TEST
SIGNAL
IS
THE
5.1
INPUT
SELECTED
ON
YOUR
COMPANION
(From
RDA
975)
SURROUND
SOUND
PROCESSOR?
TEST
BUTTON
ON
RDA
975
SET
TO
ON?
CABLE
TO
SURROUND
PROCESSOR
LOOSE?
NO
SOUND
5.1
INPUT
SELECTED
ON
SURROUND
PROCESSOR?
(Lock
light
on)
IS
THE
POWER
AMPLIFIER
TURNED
ON?
CABLE
FROM
RDA
975
TO
SURROUND
PROCESSOR
LOOSE?
(Lock
light
off)
CORRECT
INPUT
CHOSEN
FOR
5.1
DIGITAL
INPUT
SOURCE?
NO
BASS
SPEAKER
CONFIGURATION
SWITCHES
SET
CORRECTLY?
IS
THE
SUBWOOFER
AMPLIFIER
TURNED
ON?
IS
THE
POWERED
SUBWOOFER
TURNED
ON?
DISTORTED
BASS
SPEAKER
CONFIGURATION
SWITCHES
SET
CORRECTLY?
CONTINUED
PROBLEMS?
ASK
YOUR
AUTHORIZED
ROTEL
hi
fi
DEALER
FOR
HELP.
8
Other manuals for RDA975
2
Table of contents
Other Rotel Adapter manuals
Popular Adapter manuals by other brands
NETGEAR
NETGEAR WNDA3100v2 - RangeMax Dual Band Wireless-N USB 2.0... installation guide
MCC
MCC MIIC-201 user guide
Key Digital
Key Digital KD-VTCA3 user guide
Allied Telesis
Allied Telesis AT-2916SX Installation and user guide
GROM Audio
GROM Audio GROM-MST4 AUDI MMI 2G Operation manual
Sitecom
Sitecom CN-512 user manual
