VANTAS DPA-P87 User manual

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Digital Surround Processor / Amplifier
OWNER’S MANUAL
DPA-P87

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FCC NOTICE - This equipment has been tested and found to
comply with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to
part 15 of the FCC Rule. These limits are designed to provide
reasonableprotectionagainstharmfulinterferenceinaresidential
installation.Thisequipmentgenerates,uses,andcanradiateradio
frequencyenergyand,ifnotinstalledandusedinaccordancewith
the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications.However,thereisnoguaranteethatinterference
will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does
causeharmful interferenceto radioor televisionreception, which
can be determined by turning the equipment off and on, the user
is encouraged to try to correct the interference by one or more of
the following measures:
- Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
- Increase the separation between the equipment and receiver.
- Connect the equipment into an outlet on a circuit different
from that to which the receiver is connected.
- Consult the dealer or an experienced radio/TV technician
for help.
This Class B digital apparatus meets all requirements of the
Canadian Interference - Causing Equipment Regulations.
CetappareilnumériquedelaclasseBrespectetouteslesexigences
du Règlement sur le matériel brouilleur du Canada.
The lighting flash with arrowhead,with the equilateral
triangle,isintendedto alert the usertothepresence of
uninsulated“dangerous voltage” within the product’s
enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to
constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.
The exclamation point within an equilateral triangle is
intendedtoalerttotheusertothepresenceofimportant
operating and maintenance (servicing) instructions in
the literature accompanying the appliances.
WARNING - TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK,
DO NOT REMOVE THE COVER. NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE.
REFER SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.
WARNING - CHANGES OR MODIFICATIONS MADE TO THIS
PRODUCT, NOT EXPRESSLYAPPROVED IN THIS MANUAL OR BY
VANTAS, COULDVOIDTHE USER’SAUTHORITYTO OPERATETHE
PRODUCT.
WARNING -TO REDUCETHE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK,
DO NOT EXPOSETHIS PRODUCT TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.
CAUTION - TOPREVENTELECTRICSHOCK,MATCHWIDE BLADE
OF PLUGTOWIDE SLOT,FULLY INSERT.
ATTENTION - POUR ÉVITER LES CHOCS ÉLECTRIQUES,
INTRODUIRE LA LAME LA PLUS LARGE DE LA FICHE DANS LA
BORNE CORRESPONDANTE DE LA PRISE ET POUSSER JUSQU’AU
FOND.
In the space provided below, record the model and serial
No. located on the rear panel of your unit.
Model No.
Serial No.
SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

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SAFETY PRECAUTIONS
14. 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 plug and the point where they exit from
the unit.
15. Lightning -For added protection for this product during
lightning storm, or when it is left unattended and unused for
long periods of time, unplug it from the wall outlet.This will
prevent damage to the product due to lightning and power-
line surges.
16. Overloading-Donotoverloadwalloutletsorextensioncords
as this can result in a risk of fire or electric shock.
17. Moving - When moving the unit, first disconnect the power
plug and the wires connected to other equipment.
Neverpull thewires themselves.Donot useforce onswitches,
controls or connection wires.
18. Object and Liquid Entry -Never push objects of any kind
into this product through openings as they may touch
dangerous voltage points or short-out parts that could result
in a fire or electric shock.Care should be taken so that objects
do not fall into and liquids are not spilled inside the product.
19. Servicing - The user should not attempt to service this unit
beyond those means described in the operating instructions.
All other servicing should be referred to qualified service
personnel.Donotopenorremovecoversasyoumaybeexposed
to dangerous voltage or other hazards.
20. Damage Requiring Service -Unplugthisproduct fromthe
wall outlet and refer servicing to qualified service personnel
under the following conditions:
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 appear to operate normally or
exhibits a marked change in performance, and
e. The product has been dropped or damaged in any way.
21. Replacement Parts -Whenreplacement partsare required,
be sure the service technician has used replacement parts
specifiedbythemanufacturerorhavethesamecharacteristics
as the original part.Unauthorized substitutions may result in
fire, electric shock,or other hazards.
22. Safety Check - Upon completion of any service or repairs to
thisproduct,asktheservicetechniciantoperformsafetychecks
todeterminethattheproductisinproper operatingcondition.
23. Troubleshooting-Besuretoreadthe“TROUBLESHOOTING”
sectionregarding commonoperating errors beforeconcluding
that the unit is faulty.
1. Read Owner’s Manual - To assure the finest performance,
please read this manual carefully.All the safety and operating
instructions should be read before the product is operated.
2. Retain Owner’s Manual - Keep this manual in a safe place
for future reference.
3. Heed Warnings - All warnings on the product and in the
owner’s manual should be adhered to.
4. Follow Instructions - All operating and use instructions
should be followed.
5. Cleaning - Unplug this product from the wall outlet before
cleaning.Useaclean,dampclothforcleaning.Donot attempt
to clean the unit with chemical solvents; this might damage
the finish.
6. Ventilation -Slotsandopeningsintheenclosureareprovided
for ventilation and to ensure the reliable operation of the
product and to protect it from overheating. These openings
mustnotbeblockedorcovered.Forexample,theproductshould
not be placed on a bed, sofa, rug, or similar surface that may
block the ventilation openings. This product should not be
placed in a built-in installation, such as a bookcase or cabinet
unless proper ventilation is provided in the installation.
7. Heat-Theproductshouldbesituatedawayfromheatsources
such as radiators, heat registers, stoves, or other products
(including amplifiers) that produce heat.
8. Water and Moisture -Do not use this product near water -
forexample,nearabathtub,washbowl,kitchensink,orlaundry
tub;inawet basement;or neara swimmingpool;and thelike.
9. Install this product away from windows, heat sources,sources
of excessive vibration,dust,moisture and cold.Avoid sources
of humming (transformers,motors).To prevent fire or electric
shock,do not expose the product to rain or moisture.
10. Do not place this product on an unstable cart, stand, tripod,
bracket, or table.The product may fall, causing serious injury
to a child or adult, and serious damage to the product.
11. A product and cart combination should be moved with care.
Quick stops, excessive force, and uneven surfaces may cause
the product and cart combination to overturn.
12. Power-Sources -This product should be operated only from
the type of power source indicated in the operating
instructions or as marked on the product.
13. Grounding or Polarization-Thisproductmaybeequipped
with a polarized alternating-current line plug (a plug having
onebladewiderthantheother).Thisplugwillfitintothepower
outlet only one way.This is a safety feature. If you areunable
to insert the plug fully into the outlet, try reversing the plug.
If the plug should still fail to fit, contact your electrician to
replaceyour obsolete outlet.Do not defeatthe safety purpose
of the polarized plug.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

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• 3 x 100W Center and Surround Channel PowerAmplifiers
• 5.1 Channel Dolby Digital (AC-3) Decoder
• Pro Logic,MPEG,2 and 4 Channel Stereo Processing in the Digital Domain
• 3 Center Channel Modes (Wide/Normal/Phantom)
• Dolby Digital Karaoke Playback
• Real-TimeVTRACK™Technology forAutomaticVolume Matching
• Automatic Source Detection & Switching
• 6-ChannelAudio Line Outputs for Flexible System Configuration
• Thermally Protected PowerAmplifier
• 20-bit Digital-to-Analog (D/A) Converters on all 6 Channels
• DualTransformer Design (DedicatedToroid for theAmplifier)
• Test Tone Generator forAccurate Speaker BalanceAdjustments
• Programmable Dynamic Range Settings
• Adjustable Bass Crossover
• Fluorescent Display Dim Control
• Low-Profile Design for Convenient Installation
Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation“Dolby”,“AC-3”,“Pro Logic”,
and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.
Confidential unpublished works.
© 1992-1993 Dolby Laboratories, Inc.All rights reserved.
FEATURES

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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Introduction
Rear Panel Connections
System Connections
Front Panel Controls
Speaker Placement
Surround Modes
OperatingYour Receiver/
IntegratedAmp with the DPA-P87
Basic Setup
Advanced Setup
Troubleshooting
Servicing
Specifications
6
7
9
16
19
20
21
22
24
26
27
28

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Congratulations on your purchase of the Vantas DPA-P87 Digital Surround Processor/Amplifier,
a combination Dolby Digital decoder and amplifier. Integrated with any Pro Logic or Dolby Surround receiver
(orintegratedamp) the DPA-P87,allowsimmediateaccessto the vast arrayof5.1 audio soundtracksfoundon
DVD, Laserdiscs, DSS (Digital Satellite System) and HDTV sources. Dolby Digital programs provide improved
soundqualityanddynamicrangewithagreatersenseofdirectionalityandlocalization,comparedtoconventional
Dolby surround programs.
A three-channel (100 watts per channel) amplifier is included to drive the center and surround channels, while
your existing Pro Logic receiver/integrated amp continues to drive the front (main) left and right speakers.
With the introduction of the DPA-P87, Vantas presents a proprietary technology known as VTRACK™.
Intelligentlymonitoringthereceiver/integratedamp’smainspeakervolumelevels,VTRACK™adjuststhecenter
and surround speakers accordingly.All volume adjustments can then be made from the master volume control
of the Pro Logic receiver/integrated amp.
You can expect years of enjoyment from the DPA-P87 as it allows for future expandability, providing discrete
6-channel audio line outputs for connecting the DPA-P87 to external amplifiers.When used with a 5.1 Ready
receiver/integrated amp or external amplifiers, the DPA-P87’s internal amplifiers can be disabled, converting
the DPA-P87 into a stand-alone decoder.
WhentheDPA-P87 detects a digital source,it automatically turns the unit on andswitchestotheactivedigital
source. When there is no digital source the DPA-P87 is bypassed allowing full operation of the existing A/V
receiver/integrated amp.The user-friendly DPA-87 becomes virtually invisible providing remote-free operation.
AvarietyofsystemconfigurationsallowstheDPA-P87tobeinstalledinthesimplesttothemostcomplexhome
theaters.
In addition to the DPA-P87,you should have received the following items in your packaging:
✔5 - Speaker wire pairs (3-feet each and scored for easy stripping)
Use these to connect the receiver/integrated amp’s speaker outputs with the DPA-P87’s
speaker inputs.
✔1 - RCA audio cable
Use this cable to connect the DPA-P87’s MAIN-AUDIO LINE OUT to the receiver/
integrated amp’s tape play input jacks.
✔1 - Owner’s Manual
✔1 - Quick Start Instructions
✔1 - Product Registration Card and Limited Warranty Notice
We recommend that you retain the original carton and packing materials for use should you transport or ship
the unit in the future.
INTRODUCTION

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1 2 3 4 5 6 7
1. DIGITAL IN
The DPA-P87 provides one optical and two coaxial input jacks for up to three separate digital sources
such as DVD/CD, Laserdisc andTV (HDTV).The inputs have been marked for your convenience, but
they can be used for any digital audio source.
2. AUDIO LINE OUT
The MAIN-AUDIO LINE OUT jacks are integral for interfacing the DPA-P87 with any Pro Logic
receiver/integrated amp.All sixAUDIO LINE OUT connections are primarily used for interfacing
the DPA-P87 with“5.1 Ready”A/V receiver/integrated amp.
3. LINE IN
The center and sub audio signals from a receiver/integrated amp are connected to the CENTER
and SUB-LINE IN jacks on the rear panel of the DPA-P87. These LINE IN signals are then passed
through to the DPA-P87’s correspondingAUDIO LINE OUT when unit is in bypass mode
(no digital signal).
4. TAPE PLAY IN
When the tape play in jacks on a receiver/integrated amp are used to hook-up the DPA-P87,
a duplicate set ofTAPE PLAY IN jacks are provided for reconnecting a cassette deck.
Connect the tape play out jacks of the cassette deck to theTAPE PLAY IN jacks on the DPA-P87.
The TAPE PLAY IN signals are passed through to the MAIN-AUDIO LINE OUT when the DPA-P87
is in bypass mode allowing the receiver/intergrated amp to monitor the cassette deck.
For detailed information on the use of these connections in a system setup,refer to the section titled System Connections.
REAR PANEL CONNECTIONS
QUICK FACTS
To connect a Laserdisc
player for Dolby Digital
playback, you must use
the player’s AC-3 RF
output jack and connect
it to an RF demodulator
before connecting it
to a DIGITAL IN on the
DPA-P87.

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5. SPEAKER OUT (Top Row of Speaker Connections)
These speaker terminals are used to connect directly to all the loudspeakers in your
sound system.Be sure to connect the MAIN RT-SPEAKER OUT to the front right speaker and
the MAIN LT-SPEAKER OUT to the front left speaker.The amplifier in the receiver/integrated
amp will drive these speakers through the DPA-P87. When using the DPA-P87’s built-in
amplifiers,use the CENTER,SURR. RT and SURR.LT-SPEAKER OUT terminals to connect to the
respective loudspeakers.
CAUTION :
NEVER CONNECT SPEAKER TERMINALS FROM YOUR RECEIVER/INTEGRATED AMP TO
THE SPEAKER OUT TERMINALS ON THE DPA-P87. THIS COULD CAUSE PERMANENT
DAMAGE TO THE AMPLIFIERS IN BOTH UNITS.
Make certain that the positive (+) and negative (-) SPEAKER OUT terminals on the DPA-P87 are
connected to the respective positive (+) and negative (-) terminals on the loudspeakers.
6. SPEAKER IN (Bottom Row of Speaker Connections)
These speaker terminals are used to connect directly to a receiver/integrated amp’s speaker
terminals.The DPA-P87’s MAIN RT and LT-SPEAKER IN terminals connect to the receiver/
integrated amp’s main left and right speaker terminals.The CENTER-SPEAKER IN terminal
connects to the receiver/integrated amp’s center speaker terminal and the SURR.LT and
SURR.RT- SPEAKER IN terminals connect to the receiver/integrated amp’s surround left
and right speaker terminals.
The MAIN-SPEAKER IN signal is always passed through to the MAIN-SPEAKER OUT
so that your receiver/integrated amp is always driving the main speakers.
The CENTER and SURR.-SPEAKER IN signals are passed through to the CENTER and
SURR. - SPEAKER OUT when this unit is in bypass mode (no digital signal).
CAUTION :
Make certain that the positive (+) and negative (-) SPEAKER IN terminals on the DPA-P87
are connected to the respective positive (+) and negative (-) terminals on the receiver/ integrated
amp.The 5 included speaker wires can be used for these connections.One side of the wire is
marked and should be connected to the positive terminals.
7. AC POWER CORD
Connect to anAC power outlet after all connections are completed.
REAR PANEL CONNECTIONS

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SYSTEM CONNECTIONS
As a precaution,before making any connections,make sure the receiver/integrated amp and the DPA-P87
are turned off (no power) to prevent damage to any amplifiers or loudspeakers.
• Maintain correct polarity when connecting all wires and cables.Make certain that the positive (+)
and negative (-) terminals on the DPA-P87 are connected to the respective positive (+) and
negative (-) terminals on the receiver/integrated amp and loudspeakers.
• If you use the red (RCA) plug for“R” jacks and the white (RCA) plug for“L” jacks consistently,
it will reduce mistakes during the system connection process. (Just be aware that the DPA-P87
doesn’t have separate left and right jacks for the center, sub and digital Inputs and you can use
any color plug.)
• Make sure all interconnect connections are firm. Loose connections can cause loss of sound,
noise or even damage to components in the system.
• Use only shielded interconnect cables for all line-level (RCA) connections.
• Use 75 ohm coaxial interconnect cables for coaxial digital input connections and
optical digital cables for optical input connections.
• Use only speaker wires marked for correct polarity to avoid reversing the positive (+)
and negative (-) leads.
• Use only 6-ohm or greater loudspeakers with the DPA-P87.

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SPEAKERS
MAIN
RIGHT MAIN LEFT SURROUND RIGHT SURROUND LEFT
DPA-P87 REAR
POWERED
SUB CENTER
PRO LOGIC RECEIVER REAR
LEGEND
SHIELDEDAUDIO CABLES
SPEAKERWIRE
A/V RECEIVERWITH STANDARD SPEAKER CONFIGURATION
Connecting a DPA-P87 with a Pro Logic Receiver or Integrated Amp
The following diagram is the most common hook-up configuration for the DPA-P87. It converts a basic Dolby
SurroundorPro Logicreceiver/integratedampinto aDolbyDigital system. Belowthediagram are step-by-step
instructions for this configuration.
SYSTEM CONNECTIONS

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Quick Facts:
Although the
MAIN (L, R)-AUDIO LINE
OUT can be connected to
any audio input on the
receiver/integrated amp,
connecting to the
tape play input jacks is
recommended if you use
the video switching
capabilities in you
receiver/integrated amp.
1. Connect the DPA-P87’s MAIN (L,R)-AUDIO LINE OUT jacks to the tape play (L,R) input jacks on the
receiver/integrated amp.(Cables are provided for your convenience.)
2. Connect the DPA-P87’s MAIN (LT,RT)-SPEAKER IN terminals to the main left and right speaker out
terminals on the receiver/integrated amp. (The supplied 3-foot speaker wire can be use.)
3. Connect the DPA-P87’s CENTER-SPEAKER IN to the center speaker out on the
receiver/integrated amp.(Use the supplied 3-foot speaker wire.)
4. Connect the DPA-P87’s SURR. (LT,RT)-SPEAKER IN to the surround speaker outs (L,R) on the
receiver/integrated amp.(Use the supplied 3-foot speaker wire.)
5. Connect the DPA-P87’s SUB-LINE IN to the subwoofer pre-out (sometimes called lowpass out) on
the receiver/integrated amp.(If your receiver/integrated amp does not have a subwoofer out or it is
not used this connection is not needed.)
6. Connect the DPA-P87’s MAIN (LT,RT)-SPEAKER OUT speaker terminals to the front left and
right loudspeakers.
7. Connect the DPA-P87’s CENTER-SPEAKER OUT terminals to the center loudspeaker.
(If you use a powered center speaker connect the DPA-P87’s CENTER-AUDIO LINE OUT
to the center loudspeaker.)
8. Connect the DPA-P87’s SURR. (LT,RT)-SPEAKER OUT terminals to the surround left and right
loudspeakers.
9. Connect the DPA-P87’s SUB-AUDIO LINE OUT terminal to the powered subwoofer.
(If your subwoofer is connected to the front left and right speaker wires this
connection is not needed.)
CAUTION :
NEVER CONNECT SPEAKER TERMINALS FROM YOUR RECEIVER/INTEGRATED AMP TO
THE SPEAKER OUT TERMINALS ON THE DPA-P87. THIS COULD CAUSE PERMANENT
DAMAGE TO THE AMPLIFIERS IN BOTH UNITS.
SYSTEM CONNECTIONS
Quick Facts:
All the speakers are
connected to the
DPA-P87 SPEAKER OUT
terminals. The receiver/
integrated amp speaker
terminals are connected
to the DPA-P87
SPEAKER IN terminals.

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A/V RECEIVERWITH POWERED CENTER SPEAKER
DPA-P87 REAR
SPEAKERS
MAIN
RIGHT MAIN LEFT SURROUND RIGHT SURROUND LEFT
POWERED
SUB POWERED CENTER
PRO LOGIC RECEIVER REAR
LEGEND
SHIELDEDAUDIO CABLES
SPEAKERWIRE
Using A Powered Center Speaker
If you are using a self-powered speaker for the center channel,it doesn’t need the DPA-P87’s built-in
amplifiers to drive it.However, it is imperative that the speaker isn’t connected to the DPA-P87’s center
speaker terminal as described in the previous system configuration. It is important that only a line level
connection is made to a self-powered speaker or it can be irreparably damaged. When using a powered
center speaker, skip steps 3 and 7 in the previous instructions and follow this diagram and instructions for
hook-up of the center channel speaker.
1. Connect the DPA-P87’s CENTER-LINE IN to the center line out on the receiver/integrated amp.
2. Connect the DPA-P87’s CENTER-AUDIO LINE OUT to the powered speaker’s line input jack.
SYSTEM CONNECTIONS

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Connecting a Cassette Deck
Sincethebasichook-uprequirestheuseofthereceiver/integratedamp’stapeplayin jacks,anothersetofjacks
hasbeensuppliedontheDPA-P87forconnectingacassettedeckintothesystem.Ifyourprevioussystemhook-
up had the cassette deck tape play out connected to the tape play in of the receiver/integrated amp, you will
need to follow these instructions to re-install the cassette deck into your system.
1. Connect the DPA-P87’sTAPE PLAY IN (L,R) to the cassette deck’s tape play out.
2. Connect the receiver/integrated amp’s tape record out to the cassette deck’s tape record In.
DPA-P87 REAR
RECEIVER REAR
CASSETTE DECK REAR
CONNECTINGA CASSETTE DECK
LEGEND
SHIELDEDAUDIO CABLES
SYSTEM CONNECTIONS

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DPA-P87 BACK
5.1 READY RECEIVER BACK
DECODER SETUPWITH 5.1 READY RECEIVER*
LEGEND
SHIELDEDAUDIO CABLES
*
SEPARATE AMPLIFIERS MAY BE USED,INSTEAD OF A 5.1 READY RECEIVER
1. Connect the DPA-P87’s MAIN (L,R)-AUDIO LINE OUT jacks to the main left and right audio line in jacks on
the receiver/integrated amp.
2. Connect the DPA-P87’s SURROUND (L,R)-AUDIO LINE OUT jacks to the surround audio line in (L,R) jacks on
the receiver/integrated amp.
3. Connect the DPA-P87’s CENTER-AUDIO LINE OUT jack to the center audio line in jack on the receiver/
integrated amp.
4. Connect the DPA-P87’s SUB-AUDIO LINE OUT jack to the sub audio line in jack on the receiver/integrated amp.
5. Set the DPA-P87 to decoder mode by disabling the three-channel amplifier.
Details on disabling the amplifier are explained in theAdvanced Setup section-DisableAmplifiers.
Connecting the DPA-P87 to a “5.1 Ready”A/V Receiver/IntegratedAmp
It is possible to integrate the DPA-P87 into a system that already has a“5.1 Ready”receiver/integrated amp.
It requires six interconnect cables that directly connect the DPA-P87’sAUDIO LINE OUT connections to the
corresponding audio line inputs on the receiver/integrated amp, as shown in the following diagram.
SYSTEM CONNECTIONS

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Installing Digital Components
The digital output on the components in your system that are capable of delivering a digital audio source
must be connected to the DPA-P87’s digital inputs,as shown in the following diagram. Only one digital
connection (coaxial or optical) is needed from each digital audio source to the DPA-P87.
DPA-P87 REAR DPA-P87 REAR DPA-P87 REAR
DIGITAL AUDIO
SOURCE 1 DIGITAL AUDIO SOURCE 2 DIGITAL AUDIO SOURCE 3
DIGITAL INPUT CONNECTIONS
LEGEND
OPTICAL DIGITAL CABLES
COAXIAL DIGITAL CABLES
SYSTEM CONNECTIONS

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42 7 1151 3 6 8 109
1. POWER
The POWER button turns the unit on and off. While in the“on”position, the DPA-P87 will always
stay in a low power standby mode until it detects a signal at the inputs,when it then switches to an
active mode.
2. POWER INDICATOR
The LED above the power button illuminates to indicate the DPA-P87 is “on”,regardless of
whether it is in the standby or active mode.The indicator remains illuminated until the unit is turned
off or unplugged from the power outlet.
3. VOLUME SYNC
Pressing theVOLUME SYNC button places the DPA-P87 in either the manual volume mode or
theVTRACK™ mode.In theVTRACK™ mode, the center and surround volume levels are
automatically adjusted in relation to the main left and right speakers when the master volume control
on the receiver/ integrated amp is used.“VOL SYNC” appears in the Display Panel whenVTRACK™ is
engaged (recommended).
In the manual volume mode,the “+”and“-”buttons (in diamond shaped configuration on right
side of front panel) will control the volume on all six channels.The volume setting,measured in
decibels (dB),appears in the Display Panel.When you press and hold this button down for a few
seconds a test tone is generated into the main left and right speakers,automatically setting the
maximum balanced manual volume level (to manually adjust this level,see theAdvanced Setup
section-Maximum ManualVolume Setting).The tone providesVTRACK™ a signal to measure the
receiver/integrated amp’s volume setting and establish the identical (balanced) volume for the center
and surround channels.Now when you adjust the volume with the “+”and“-”buttons,the volume
on all six channels is increased or decreased together.
FRONT PANEL CONTROLS
QUICK FACTS
If your receiver/
integrated amp can
output significantly
higher power than 100
watts per main channel
(into 8 ohms) and is
operated at an
excessively high volume,
the DPA-P87 will begin
attenuating the main
channels to maintain
balanced-volume with all
the other channels.
QUICK FACTS
The volume can not be
increased manually
beyond the maximum
balanced volume since it
is limited by the receiver/
integrated amp’s master
volume control setting.

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QUICK FACTS
Dolby Digital soundtracks
that are not specified
for dynamic range
compression will not be
effected by the STD and
MIN settings.
4. 22
22
2DIGITAL DYN RANGE
Pressing this button repeatedly scrolls through three separate Dolby Digital Dynamic Range
settings“MAX,STD or MIN” when listening to Dolby Digital sources.Dynamic range is the
difference between the maximum level and the minimum level of sound. Movie soundtracks
typically feature a very wide dynamic range.
When a particular Dolby Digital source seems too loud, turning down the master volume is not
always as effective as adjusting the dynamic range.If you only turn down the volume,
objectionable sounds such as explosions and other effects will be lower but the dialog level will
be so low that it may be difficult to hear or understand.To ensure that the relative volume
differences between dialog, sound effects and musical score are preserved, adjust the Dolby
Digital Dynamic Range to your personal preference.
The MAX setting allows for the widest possible dynamic range.It is more noticeable with
full range speakers and a subwoofer capable of handling the extreme dynamics of a
Dolby Digital soundtrack.
The STD (Standard) setting provides a slightly compressed dynamic range. In some situations, it
may not be acceptable to reproduce the soundtrack at loud volume levels.However, at lower
volume levels, softer sections (often dialog) in the soundtrack may not be heard clearly.By
compressing the data,the original soundtrack’s overall dynamic range is reduced without
affecting the dialog level.
The MIN setting provides the greatest compression possible and is recommended for late night
viewing when loud sound effects could be disturbing.This setting is sometimes referred to as the
midnight mode.
5. SURROUND MODE
This button sets the playback mode when the source is PCM (uncompressed audio),2-ch Dolby
Digital or MPEG.The available playback modes for these sources are stereo,4-ch Stereo,regular
Pro Logic, Pro Logic (phantom center) and Dolby 3 Stereo.These modes are displayed at each
push of the button with speaker icons indicating the active speakers. Certain playback modes
may not be available depending on the speaker configuration of your system.
When a PCM signal is detected,the display will read“STEREO” or“PRO LOGIC”, indicating the
current surround mode.When 4-ch Stereo or Pro Logic (phantom center) modes are selected the
“ , “ icons flash on the display for 6 seconds.When regular Pro Logic is
selected the center channel icon“ ”is also displayed.
When a 2-ch Dolby Digital signal is detected on the selected input“2DIGITAL” appears in the
Display Panel. Either the Stereo or Pro Logic surround mode can be selected to play 2-ch Dolby
Digital sources.The selected surround mode will show up on the display.
When an MPEG source is detected“MPEG”will appear in the display with “PRO LOGIC”or
“STEREO”indicating the playback surround mode.
For more details on the individual modes,see the following section titled Surround Modes.
FRONT PANEL CONTROLS

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6. INPUT SOURCE
Pressing this button repeatedly scrolls through the input sources for manual selection of the
digital inputs“DVD/CD,LD orTV”.The optimum setting,however,is “SEARCH”,allowing the
DPA- P87 to automatically select the input with an incoming digital data stream.
If the DPA-P87 detects more than one digital signal at the same time the search priority is DVD/
CD —> LD —>TV. Once a signal is locked on, the DPA-P87 will stop searching other sources.
To automatically switch to a different input, that source must be stopped.Alternatively, a new
source can be manually selected with the INPUT SOURCE button.The sampling rate of the digital
source is displayed in kHz for 6 seconds.
7. DISPLAY PANEL
The florescent Display Panel provides key information and registers all adjustment made to the
DPA-P87.If no digital source is detected the display will turn off after 1 minute.
8. SETUP
The SETUP button advances through five different set-up parameters;Speaker Configuration,Center
and Surround Delay, Bass Crossover Frequency Cutoff,Karaoke Playback,and SpeakerTrim with
TestTones.Each of these settings is explained in detail in the section titled Basic Setup.
9. +/- Buttons
During manual volume mode (seeVOLUME SYNC in this section) the“+”and“-”buttons increase
or decrease the master volume in all six channels.These buttons also make adjustments or setting
changes during the five setup procedures. Details on these procedures are explained in the section
titled Basic Setup.
10. SPEAKER
This button scrolls through the six speaker icons“ “ However,
the only speaker icons that are displayed are those that have been enabled in the Basic Setup
procedure.Each one blinks on the Display Panel as it is selected. Once a speaker is selected its level
can be trimmed with the“+” and“-”buttons.During setup,this button scrolls through the speakers
for configuration and delay setting.
11. MUTE (DIM)
This multi-function button will either silence the audio output of the DPA-P87 or adjust the
illumination of the Display Panel. Just pressing the button will either mute or activate the audio
output.“MUTE” will be displayed in the display panel to indicate the output has been muted.
Pressing and holding this button down for a few seconds will set the illumination of the Display
Panel.The dim control was designed for those who like to darken the room when watching a
movie or listening to music. When holding the button,the display will cycle through 100%,50%,
25% or no illumination.Release the button when you reach the desired setting.The dim level will
remain at the last setting even after powering the unit off and on. Anytime any button is pushed,
100% illumination is restored for 6 seconds before returning to the selected dim level.
FRONT PANEL CONTROLS
and

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Ideal reproduction of 5.1 digital soundtracks requires five loudspeakers (main-left,center,
main-right, surround-left and surround-right) plus a subwoofer.To ensure the optimum surround
sound performance,the five speakers (plus subwoofer) should be set up as follows:
1. Main Speakers
The left and right speaker should be equidistant from theTV.It may be necessary to tilt
them slightly inward toward the main listening area.
2. Center Speaker
Place the center speaker directly above or below theTV to assure proper on-screen
localization of the center channel material.To avoid interference with yourTV, use a
magnetically shielded speaker.
3. Surround Speakers
Place the left and right surround speakers off to the side or slightly behind the main
listening position.They should be approximately 40 inches above the ear level of a seated
individual in the main listening position.
4. Subwoofer
Since low bass tones are not highly directional,placement may vary depending on the room
size and dimensions.It may be necessary to experiment with different locations to find
the optimum placement that will deliver clear,articulate bass without any muddy or
boomy qualities.
SPEAKER PLACEMENT
QUICK FACTS
For best results, all the
speakers should be the
same distance from the
listening position.
When this is not possible,
adjust the center and
surround delay on the
DPA-P87 so that sound
from these speakers
arrives at the listening
position at the same
time as from the
main speakers.

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The DPA-P87 employs a Dolby Digital (AC-3) decoder,providing playback for the latest generation of
multi-channel digital audio sources.Dolby Digital provides five full range channels [main left,center,main
right, surround left and surround right] and a sixth bass-only effect channel, commonly referred to as LFE
(low frequency effect).This low bass effect is independent of any other channel. Since this channel only uses
a fraction of the available bandwidth,it is referred to as 0.1,hence the term 5.1 channels of audio.Unlike
Dolby Pro Logic with its mono surrounds,Dolby Digital features stereo (split) surrounds.The surrounds offer
the same full range fidelity as the three front speakers.
Expanding the realism and heightening the home theater experience,Dolby Digital provides an increased
dynamic range with precise sound localization and improved sound quality compared to previous Dolby
Surround.There is an abundant library of DVD and Laserdisc titles available in Dolby Digital.Dolby Digital is
also applied to DSS,CATV and HDTV sources.The continued release of Dolby Digital theatrical releases
ensures a constant supply of Dolby Digital-encoded software.
The DPA-P87 will also decode MPEG sources, which is an approved compression scheme for audio formats
on DVD in PAL territories (Europe).It is also available on satellite broadcasts and computer multimedia.
Vantas has included this format on the DPA-P87 to ensure it is compatible with current and future digital
formats.
The DPA-P87 also employs a digital Pro Logic decoder.Pro Logic can be used to create a surround effect on
2-channel sources. Dolby Surround digital sources can be found on CDs,Laserdiscs,etc.When a digital 2-ch
source (PCM, MPEG or 2-ch Dolby Digital) is played on the DPA-P87,the Pro Logic processor decodes the
signal and properly distributes the surround-sound effects.
The Dolby Pro Logic decoder employed in the DPA-P87 is 100% digital processing and reduces crosstalk
between channels and provides accurate positioning of the sound in the listening environment.The regular
Pro Logic mode requires a dedicated center channel speaker.The Pro Logic (phantom center) mode is used
when there is no center channel speaker. In this mode the center information is redirected to the main left
and right speakers.
The Dolby 3 Stereo creates a panoramic frontal sound field while maintaining the dialog in an on-screen
position.While this mode was designed for Dolby program sources,it may also improve the sound field unity
on non-Dolby programs. However, dialog position and sound image definition may be less accurate with
non-Dolby sources.While this is a recommended mode for Dolby Pro Logic sources when there are no
surround speakers, it is still available when surround speakers have been configured in the basic setup.
Users may enjoy the frontal sound only playback on two channel sources.
The 4-ch Stereo mode makes full use of the main (L, R) and surround (L,R) speakers without adding any
processing or delay.The stereo sound created in the main speakers is identically reproduced in the surround
speakers.This allows full-room stereo playback with enhanced stereo image.A center speaker is not required
for this mode.
The 2-ch Stereo mode only makes use of the main (L, R) speakers, the center or surrounds are turned off and
there is no delay adjustments available.
SURROUND MODES