Sony STR-DA1200ES User manual

©2006 Sony CorporationSony Corporation Printed in Malaysia
2-694-840-12(2)
Multi Channel
AV Receiver
Operating Instructions
STR-DA1200ES

2GB
To reduce the risk of fire or electric
shock, do not expose this apparatus to
rain or moisture.
To prevent fire, do not cover the ventilation of the
apparatus with news papers, table-cloths, curtains,
etc. And don’t place lighted candles on the
apparatus.
To prevent fire or shock hazard, do not place objects
filled with liquids, such as vases, on the apparatus.
Do not install the appliance in a confined space, such
as a bookcase or built-in cabinet.
Install this system so that the power cord can be
unplugged from the wall socket immediately in the
event of trouble.
Don’t throw away the battery with
general house waste, dispose of it
correctly as chemical waste.
NOTICE FOR THE CUSTOMERS IN THE
UNITED KINGDOM
A moulded plug complying with BS1363 is fitted to
this equipment for your safety and convenience.
Should the fuse in the plug supplied need to be
replaced, a fuse of the same rating as the supplied
one and approved by ASTA or BSI to BS1362, (i.e.,
marked with or mark) must be used.
If the plug supplied with this equipment has a
detachable fuse cover, be sure to attach the fuse
cover after you change the fuse. Never use the plug
without the fuse cover.
If you should lose the fuse cover, please contact your
nearest Sony service station.
For customers in Europe
Disposal of Old Electrical & Electronic
Equipment (Applicable in the European
Union and other European countries
with separate collection systems)
WARNING
This symbol on the product or on its
packaging indicates that this product
shall not be treated as household waste.
Instead it shall be handed over to the
applicable collection point for the
recycling of electrical and electronic
equipment. By ensuring this product is
disposed of correctly, you will help
prevent potential negative
consequences for the environment and
human health, which could otherwise
be caused by inappropriate waste
handling of this product. The recycling
of materials will help to conserve
natural resources. For more detailed
information about recycling of this
product, please contact your local
Civic Office, your household waste
disposal service or the shop where you
purchased the product.

3GB
About This Manual
• The instructions in this manual are for model STR-
DA1200ES. Check your model number by looking
at the lower right corner of the front panel.
• The instructions in this manual describe the
controls on the supplied remote. You can also use
the controls on the receiver if they have the same
or similar names as those on the remote.
This receiver incorporates Dolby* Digital and Pro
Logic Surround and the DTS** Digital Surround
System.
* Manufactured under license from Dolby
Laboratories.
“Dolby”, “Pro Logic”, “Surround EX”, and the
double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby
Laboratories.
** Manufactured under license from Digital
Theater Systems, Inc. U.S. Pat.
No’s. 5,451,942; 5,956,674; 5,974,380;
5,978,762; 6,226,616; 6,487,535 and other U.S.
and world-wide patents issued and pending.
“DTS”, “DTS-ES”, “Neo:6”, and “DTS 96/24”
are trademarks of Digital Theater Systems, Inc.
Copyright 1996, 2003 Digital Theater Systems,
Inc. All Rights Reserved.
This receiver incorporates High-Definition
Multimedia Interface (HDMI™) technology.
HDMI, the HDMI logo and High-Definition
Multimedia Interface are trademarks or registered
trademarks of HDMI Licensing LLC.

4GB
Table of Contents
Getting Started
Description and location of parts ..................6
1: Installing speakers ..................................16
2: Connecting speakers ...............................17
3a: Connecting the audio components ........19
3b: Connecting the video components .......24
4: Connecting the antennas (aerials) ...........35
5: Preparing the receiver and the remote ....36
6: Setting the speakers ................................38
7: Calibrating the appropriate settings
automatically
(AUTO CALIBRATION) ......................40
Playback
Selecting a component ................................47
Listening to a Super Audio CD/CD ............48
Watching a DVD .........................................49
Enjoying video games ................................50
Watching video ...........................................51
Amplifier Operations
Navigating through menus ..........................52
Adjusting the level
(Level Settings menu) ............................56
Adjusting the equalizer
(EQ Settings menu) ...............................57
Settings for the surround sound
(Sur Settings menu) ...............................59
Settings for the tuner
(Tuner Settings menu) ...........................61
Settings for the audio
(Audio Settings menu) ...........................62
Settings for the video
(Video Settings menu) ...........................63
Settings for the speakers
(Speaker Settings menu) ........................63
Settings for the system
(System Settings menu) .........................67
Calibrating the appropriate settings
automatically
(Auto Calibration menu) ....................... 68
Enjoying Surround Sound
Enjoying Dolby Digital and DTS surround
sound (A.F.D. mode) ............................. 69
Selecting a pre-programmed sound field
(DCS) .................................................... 71
Using only the front speakers
(2CH STEREO) .................................... 73
Enjoying the surround effect at low volume
levels (NIGHT MODE) ........................ 73
Listening to the sound without any adjustment
(ANALOG DIRECT) ............................ 74
Adjusting the speaker levels and balance
(TEST TONE) ....................................... 74
Resetting sound fields
to the initial settings .............................. 76
Tuner Operations
Listening to FM/AM radio ......................... 77
Storing FM stations automatically
(AUTOBETICAL) ................................ 78
Presetting radio stations ............................. 79
Using the Radio Data System (RDS) ......... 81
Other Operations
Displaying menus of the receiver on the TV
screen .................................................... 83
Naming inputs ............................................ 84
Switching between digital and analog audio
(INPUT MODE) ................................... 85
Listening to digital sound from other inputs
(DIGITAL ASSIGN) ............................ 86
Watching HDMI images from other inputs
(HDMI ASSIGN) .................................. 87

5GB
Watching component images from other
inputs
(COMPONENT VIDEO ASSIGN) ...... 88
Changing the display .................................. 89
Using the Sleep Timer ................................ 90
Recording using the receiver ...................... 90
Using a bi-amplifier connection ................. 91
Using the Remote
Operating each component
using the remote .................................... 93
Programming the remote ............................ 94
Clearing all the contents of the remote’s
memory ................................................. 97
Additional Information
Glossary ..................................................... 98
Precautions ............................................... 100
Troubleshooting ....................................... 101
Specifications ........................................... 105
Index ......................................................... 108

6GB
Description and location of parts
To remove the cover
Press PUSH.
When you remove the cover, keep it out of
reach from children.
Getting Started
Front panel
Name Function
APOWER Press to turn the
receiver on or off (page
36, 48, 49, 50, 51, 76).
BAUTO CAL MIC
jack
Connects to the
supplied optimizer
microphone for the
Digital Cinema Auto
Calibration function
(page 40).

7GB
Getting Started
CTONE MODE Adjusts FRONT BASS
and FRONT TREBLE.
Press TONE MODE
repeatedly to select
BASS or TREBLE,
then turn TONE to
adjust the level (page
57).
TONE
DMEMORY/
ENTER
Press to operate a tuner
(FM/AM) (page 77).
TUNING MODE
TUNING
ERemote sensor Receives signals from
remote commander.
FDIMMER Press to adjust
brightness of the
display.
GSLEEP Press to activate the
SLEEP function (page
90).
HSUR BACK
DECODING
Press to activate SB
DECODING (page
60).
IDisplay
window
The current status of
the selected component
or a list of selectable
items appears here
(page 8).
J2CH Press to select sound
field (page 69).
A.F.D.
MOVIE
MUSIC
KDISPLAY Press to select
information displayed
on the display window
(page 89).
Name Function
LINPUT MODE Press to select the input
mode when the same
components are
connected to both
digital and analog jacks
(page 85).
MMULTI CH IN Press to select the audio
input signal from the
component connected
to the MULTI
CHANNEL INPUT
jack (page 47).
NA.DIRECT Press to listen to high
quality analog sound
(page 74).
OPHONES jack Connects to
headphones (page 72).
PSPEAKERS
(OFF/A/B/A+B)
Press to select A, B,
A+B, OFF of the front
speakers (page 38).
QVIDEO 3 IN/
PORTABLE AV
IN jack
Connect to a portable
audio/video component
such as a camcorder or
video game (page 32,
50).
RMULTI
CHANNEL
DECODING
lamp
Lights up when multi-
channel audio signals
are decoded (page 49).
SINPUT
SELECTOR
Turn to select the input
source to play back
(page 47, 48, 49, 50,
51, 84, 85, 91).
TMASTER
VOLUME
Turn to adjust the
volume level of all
speakers at the same
time (page 47, 48, 49,
50, 51).
Name Function

8GB
About the indicators on the display
Name Function
ASW Lights up when sub woofer
selection is set to “YES”
and the audio signal is
output from the SUB
WOOFER jack (page 63).
While this indicator lights
up, the receiver creates a
sub woofer signal based on
the L.F.E. signal in the disc
being played back or the
low frequency components
of the front channels.
BPlayback
channel
indicators
L
R
C
SL
SR
S
SBL
SBR
SB
The letters (L, C, R, etc.)
indicate the channels being
played back. The boxes
around the letters vary to
show how the receiver
downmixes the source
sound (based on the speaker
settings).
Front Left
Front Right
Center (monaural)
Surround Left
Surround Right
Surround (monaural or the
surround components
obtained by Pro Logic
processing)
Surround Back Left
Surround Back Right
Surround Back (the
surround back components
obtained by 6.1 channel
decoding)
Example:
Recording format (Front/
Surround): 3/2.1
Output channel: Surround
speakers are set to “NO.”
Sound Field: A.F.D. AUTO
Name Function
LSW
SL SR
CR

9GB
Getting Started
C;DIGITAL
(EX)
Lights up when the receiver
is decoding Dolby Digital
Surround signals.
“;DIGITAL EX” also
lights up when the receiver
is decoding Dolby Digital
Surround EX signals. When
playing a Dolby Digital
format disc, be sure that you
have made digital
connections and that
INPUT MODE is not set to
“ANALOG” (page 85).
DINPUT Lights up constantly. One of
the input indicators also
lights up according to the
current input.
EAUTO Lights up when INPUT
MODE is set to “AUTO”
(page 85).
FHDMI Lights up when the receiver
recognizes a component
connected via an HDMI IN
jack (page 25).
GDTS (-ES) Lights up when the receiver
is decoding DTS signals.
“DTS-ES” also lights up
when the receiver is
decoding DTS-ES signals.
When playing a DTS
format disc, be sure that you
have made digital
connections and that
INPUT MODE is not set to
“ANALOG” (page 85).
H96/24 Lights up when the receiver
is decoding DTS96/24 (96
kHz/24 bit).
Name Function
ICOAX Lights up when INPUT
MODE is set to “AUTO”
and the source signal is a
digital signal being input
through the COAXIAL
jack, or when INPUT
MODE is set to “COAX”
(page 85).
JOPT Lights up when INPUT
MODE is set to “AUTO”
and the source signal is a
digital signal being input
through the OPTICAL jack,
or when INPUT MODE is
set to “OPT” (page 85).
KANALOG Lights up when INPUT
MODE is set to “AUTO”
and no digital signal is
being input through the
COAXIAL or OPTICAL
jacks, or when INPUT
MODE is set to
“ANALOG,” or when the
ANALOG DIRECT
function is being used (page
85).
LMULTI IN Lights up when MULTI IN
is selected (page 47).
MSB DEC Lights up when surround
back sound decoding is
activated (page 60).
NRDS Lights up while receiving
RDS information (page 81).
OD.RANGE Lights up when dynamic
range compression is
activated (page 57).
PEQ Lights up when the
equalizer is activated (page
57).
QSLEEP Lights up when the sleep
timer is activated (page 90).
Name Function
continued

10GB
RL.F.E. Lights up when the disc
being played back contains
an L.F.E. (Low Frequency
Effect) channel and the
L.F.E. channel signal is
actually being reproduced,
the bars underneath the
letters light up to indicate
the level. Since the L.F.E.
signal is not recorded in all
parts of the input signal the
bar indication will fluctuate
(and may turn off) during
playback.
S;PRO
LOGIC (II/
IIx)
Lights up when the receiver
applies Pro Logic
processing to 2 channel
signals in order to output
the center and surround
channel signals. “;PRO
LOGIC II” also lights up
when the Pro Logic II
MOVIE/MUSIC/GAME
decoder is activated.
“;PRO LOGIC IIx” also
lights up when the Pro
Logic IIx MOVIE/MUSIC/
GAME decoder is activated
(page 70).
Note
This indicator does not light if
both the center and surround
speakers are set to “NO” (page
64).
TNEO:6 Lights up when DTS Neo:6
Cinema/Music decoding is
activated (page 70).
UDISCRETE Lights up when DTS-ES
Discrete decoding is
activated (page 60).
VMATRIX Lights up when DTS-ES
Matrix decoding is
activated (page 60).
Name Function
WSP-A/SP-B/
SP-OFF
Lights up according to the
speaker system used (page
38).
“SP-OFF” lights up when
“SP-OFF” is selected or
headphones are connected.
XPRESET Lights up when TUNING
MODE is “PRESET.”
YTuner
indicators
Lights up when using the
receiver to tune in radio
stations (page 77–82), etc.
ZMEMORY Lights up when a memory
function, such as Name
Input (page 84) etc., is
activated.
wj VOLUME Displays the current
volume.
Name Function

11GB
Getting Started
Rear panel
ADIGITAL INPUT/OUTPUT section
OPTICAL IN/
OUT jacks
Connects to a DVD
player, Super Audio
CD player, etc. The
COAXIAL jack
provides a better
quality sound (page
19, 20, 29).
COAXIAL IN
jacks
HDMI IN/
MONITOR
OUT jacks
Connects to a DVD
player, or a satellite
tuner. An image and
the sound are output
to TV or a projector
(page 25).
BANTENNA section
FM ANTENNA
jack
Connects to the FM
wire antenna (aerial)
supplied with this
receiver (page 35).
AM
ANTENNA
jack
Connects to the AM
loop antenna (aerial)
supplied with this
receiver (page 35).
CCOMPONENT VIDEO INPUT/
OUTPUT section
COMPONENT
VIDEO (Y, PB/
CB, PR/CR)
INPUT/
OUTPUT
jacks*
Connects to a DVD
player, TV, or a
satellite tuner. (page
27, 29).
DAUDIO INPUT/OUTPUT section
AUDIO IN/
OUT jacks
Connects to a MD
deck or tape deck,
etc (page 19, 23).
MULTI
CHANNEL
INPUT jacks
Connects to a Super
Audio CD player or
DVD player with an
analog audio jack for
7.1 channel or 5.1
channel sound (page
19, 22).
PRE OUT jacks Connects to an
external power
amplifier.
L
R
continued

12GB
* You can watch the selected input image when you
connect the MONITOR OUT jack to a TV (page
27). You can also display certain menu settings and
the sound field on the monitor when you press ON
SCREEN on the remote (page 83).
EVIDEO/AUDIO INPUT/OUTPUT
section
AUDIO IN/
OUT jacks
Connects to a VCR
or a DVD player etc.
(page 29, 30, 31, 32).
VIDEO IN/
OUT jacks*
S VIDEO IN/
OUT jacks*
FSPEAKERS section
Connects to speakers
(page 17).
L
R

13GB
Getting Started
You can use the supplied remote RM-AAP015
to operate the receiver and to control the Sony
audio/video components that the remote is
assigned to operate (page 94).
RM-AAP015
Remote commander Name Function
AAV ?/1
(on/standby)
Press to turn on or off the audio/
video components that the
remote is assigned to operate
(page 94).
If you press the ?/1(B) at the
same time, it will turn off the
receiver and other Sony
components (SYSTEM
STANDBY).
Note
The function of the AV ?/1
switch changes automatically
each time you press the input
button (C).
B?/1
(on/standby)
Press to turn the receiver on or
off.
CInput
buttons
Press one of the buttons to
select the component you want
to use. When you press any of
the input buttons, the receiver
turns on. The buttons are
factory assigned to control Sony
components (page 47). You can
program the remote to control
non-Sony components
following the steps in
“Programming the remote”
(page 94).
DRECEIVER Press to enable the receiver
operation (page 52).
ENIGHT
MODE
Press to activate the NIGHT
MODE function (page 73).
FINPUT
MODE
Press to select the input mode
when the same components are
connected to both digital and
analog jacks (page 85).
G2CH Press to select a sound field
(page 69).
A.F.D.
MOVIE
MUSIC
continued

14GB
HNumeric
buttons
Press to
– preset/tune to preset stations.
– select track numbers of the
CD player, DVD player or
MD deck. Press 0/10 to
select track number 10.
– select channel numbers of
the VCR or satellite tuner.
– After pressing TV (wj),
press the numeric buttons to
select the TV channels.
IENTER Press to enter the value after
selecting a channel, disc or
track using the numeric buttons.
MEMORY Press to store a tuner station
during tuner operation.
JDISPLAY Press to select information
displayed on the display
window, TV screen of the VCR,
satellite tuner, CD player, DVD
player, or MD deck (page 89).
KAfter pressing MENU (qd) or
TOP MENU (qk), press V/v, B
or bto select the settings. Then
press to enter the selection
(page 52).
LTOOLS Press to display and select items
from the option menus for DVD
player, etc.
OPTIONS
MMENU Press to display the menu of the
receiver, a DVD player or TV,
etc.
NREPLAY B·/
ADVANCE
·b
Press to replay the previous
scene or fast forward the current
scene of the VCR or DVD
player.
Om/Ma)
xa)
Xa)
Hb)
./>a)
Press to operate the DVD
player, CD player, MD deck or
tape deck, etc.
TUNING +/– Press to select stations (page 77,
80).
PPRESET
+b)/–
Press to register FM/AM Radio
stations or to select preset
stations.
TV CH +/– Press TV (wj) and then press
TV CH+/– to operate the TV,
satellite tuner, VCR, etc.
Name Function
V/v/B/b
QF1/F2 Press TV (wj) and then press
F1 or F2 to select a component
to operate.
• Hard disk recorder
F1: HDD
F2: DVD
• DVD/VHS combo player
F1: DVD
F2: VHS
TV/VIDEO Press TV/VIDEO and TV (wj)
at the same time to select the
input signal (TV input or video
input).
WIDE Press to select the wide picture
mode.
RTOP MENU Press to display the menu or
on-screen guide of the DVD
player on the TV screen. Then
use V/v/B/band to perform
menu operations.
MENU Press to display the menus of
the DVD player on the TV
screen. Then use V/v/B/band
to perform menu operations
(page 93).
SMUTING Press to activate the muting
function (page 47).
TMASTER
VOL +/–
Press to adjust the volume level
of all speakers at the same time
(page 47).
TV VOL +/– Press TV (wj) and then press
TV VOL +/– to adjust the
volume level of the TV.
UDISC SKIP Press to skip a disc when using
a multi-disc changer.
VRETURN/
EXIT O
Press to return to the previous
menu or exit the menu while the
menu or on-screen guide of the
VCR, DVD player, or satellite
tuner is displayed on the TV
screen (page 93).
WON SCREEN Press to display the receiver
status. Then, if you press
MENU (qd), the menus of the
receiver appear (page 83).
Name Function

15GB
Getting Started
a) See the table on page 93 for information on the
buttons that you can use to control each
component.
b)The tactile dot is attached to these buttons (H,
PRESET+). Use as a mark of operation.
Notes
• Some functions explained in this section may not
work depending on the model.
• The above explanation is intended to serve as an
example only. Therefore, depending on the
component, the above operation may not be
possible or may operate differently than described.
XCLEAR Press to
– clear a mistake when you
press the incorrect numeric
button.
– return to continuous
playback, etc. of the satellite
tuner or DVD player.
>10 Press to select
– track numbers over 10 of the
VCR, satellite tuner, CD
player or MD deck.
– channel numbers of the
Digital CATV terminal.
D.TUNING Press to enter direct tuning
mode (page 78).
YA.DIRECT Press to switch the audio of the
selected input to analog signal
without any adjustment (page
74).
ZSLEEP Press to activate the Sleep
Timer function and the duration
which the receiver turns off
automatically (page 90).
wj TV Press to enable TV operation.
wk RM SET UP Press to set up the remote.
Name Function

16GB
1: Installing speakers
This receiver allows you to use a 7.1 channel
system (7 speakers and one sub woofer).
To fully enjoy theater-like multi-channel
surround sound requires five speakers (two
front speakers, a center speaker, and two
surround speakers) and a sub woofer (5.1
channel system).
Example of a 5.1 channel
speaker system configuration
AFront left speaker
BFront right speaker
CCenter speaker
DSurround left speaker
ESurround right speaker
HSub woofer
You can enjoy high fidelity reproduction of
DVD software recorded sound in the Surround
EX format if you connect one additional
surround back speaker (6.1 channel system) or
two surround back speakers (7.1 channel
system). (see “Using the surround back
decoding mode (SB DECODING)” on page
60).
Example of a 7.1 channel
speaker system configuration
AFront left speaker
BFront right speaker
CCenter speaker
DSurround left speaker
ESurround right speaker
FSurround back left speaker
GSurround back right speaker
HSub woofer
Tips
• When you connect a 6.1 channel speaker system,
place the surround back speaker behind the
listening position.
• Since the sub woofer does not emit highly
directional signals, you can place it wherever you
want.
Enjoying a 5.1/7.1 channel
system

17GB
Getting Started
2: Connecting speakers
AFront speaker A(L)
BFront speaker A(R)
CCenter speaker
DSurround speaker (L)
ESurround speaker (R)
FSurround back speaker (L)b)
GSurround back speaker (R)b)
HSub wooferc)
a) If you have an additional front speaker
system, connect them to the FRONT
SPEAKERS Bterminals. You can select
the front speaker system you want to use
with the SPEAKERS (OFF/A/B/A+B) on
the front panel (page 38).
b) If you connect only one surround back
speaker, connect it to the SURROUND
BACK SPEAKERS L terminals.
HGF
BADEC
AB
FRONT SPEAKERS
Bterminals a)
AMonaural audio cord (not supplied)
BSpeaker cords (not supplied)
continued

18GB
c) When you connect a sub woofer with an auto
standby function, turn off the function when
watching movies. If the auto standby
function is set to on, it turns to standby mode
automatically based on the level of the input
signal to a sub woofer, then sound may not
be output.
Note
When you connect all the speakers with a nominal
impedance of 8 ohms or higher, set
“SP. IMPEDANCE” in the System Settings menu to
“8 ohm.” In other connections, set it to “4 ohm.” For
details, see “6: Setting the speakers” (page 38).
Tip
To connect certain speakers to another power
amplifier, use the PRE OUT jacks. The same signal
is output from both the SPEAKERS terminals and
the PRE OUT jacks. For example, if you want to
connect just the front speakers to another amplifier,
connect that amplifier to the PRE OUT FRONT L
and R jacks.

19GB
Getting Started
3a: Connecting the audio components
This section describes how to hook up your
components to this receiver. Before you begin,
refer to “Component to be connected” below
for the pages which describe how to connect
each component.
After hooking up all your components,
proceed to “4: Connecting the antennas
(aerials)” (page 35).
The sound quality depends on the jack used.
Refer to the illustration that follows. Select the
connection configuration according to the
jacks of your components.
Notes
• When connecting optical digital cords, insert the
plugs straight in until they click into place.
• Do not bend or tie optical digital cords.
Tip
All the digital audio jacks are compatible with 32
kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, and 96 kHz sampling
frequencies.
How to hook up your
components
Component to be connected Page
Super Audio CD
player/ CD player
With digital audio
output
20
With multi-channel
audio output
22
With analog audio
output only
23
MD/TAPE With digital audio
output
20
With analog audio
output only
23
Analog disc turntable 23
Audio input/output jacks to be
connected
High quality sound
Digital Analog

20GB
The following illustration shows how to
connect a Super Audio CD player, CD player
and an MD/TAPE deck.
Connecting components with
digital audio input/output jacks
Super Audio CD
player, CD player
MD deck,
TAPE deck
A
B
A
AAudio cord (not supplied)
BCoaxial digital cord (not supplied)
COptical digital cord (not supplied)
C