VANTAS DPA-S50 User manual

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Digital Surround Processor / Amplifier
OWNER’S MANUAL
DPA-S50

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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
reasonable protection against harmful interference in a residential
installation.This equipment generates,uses,and can radiate radio
frequency energy and, if not installed and used in accordance with
the instructions, may cause harmful interference to radio
communications.However,there is no guarantee that interference
will not occur in a particular installation. If this equipment does
cause harmful interference to radio or television reception, 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.
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B respecte toutes les exigences
du Règlement sur le matériel brouilleur du Canada.
The lighting flash with arrowhead,within the equilateral
triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence 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
intended to alert the user to the presence of important
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 EXPRESSLY APPROVED IN THIS MANUAL OR BY
VANTAS, COULD VOID THE USER’S AUTHORITY TO OPERATE THE
PRODUCT.
WARNING - TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC
SHOCK, DO NOT EXPOSE THIS PRODUCT TO RAIN OR
MOISTURE.
CAUTION - TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK, MATCHWIDE BLADE
OF PLUG TO WIDE 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 -Do not overload wall outlets or extension cords
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.
Never pull the wires themselves. Do not use force on switches,
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. Do not open or remove covers as you may be exposed
to dangerous voltage or other hazards.
20. Damage Requiring Service - Unplug this product from the
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 - When replacement parts are required,
be sure the service technician has used replacement parts
specified by the manufacturer or have the same characteristics
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
this product, ask the service technician to perform safety checks
to determine that the product is in proper operating condition.
23. Troubleshooting - Be sure to read the “TROUBLESHOOTING”
section regarding common operating errors before concluding
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. Use a clean, damp cloth for cleaning. Do not attempt
to clean the unit with chemical solvents; this might damage
the finish.
6. Ventilation - Slots and openings in the enclosure are provided
for ventilation and to ensure the reliable operation of the
product and to protect it from overheating. These openings
must not be blocked or covered.For example,the product should
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 -The product should be situated away from heat sources
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 -
for example,near a bath tub,wash bowl,kitchen sink, or laundry
tub; in a wet basement; or near a swimming pool;and the like.
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 -This product may be equipped
with a polarized alternating-current line plug (a plug having
one blade wider than the other).This plug will fit into the power
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
replace your obsolete outlet. Do not defeat the safety purpose
of the polarized plug.
IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS

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• 3 x 100W Center and Surround Channel Power Amplifiers
• 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-Time VTRACK™ Technology for Automatic Volume Matching
• 3 Digital Audio Inputs & 4 Analog Audio Inputs
• Automatic Source Detection & Switching
• 6-Channel Audio Line Outputs for Flexible System Configuration
• Thermally Protected Power Amplifier
• 20-bit Digital-to-Analog (D/A) Converters on all 6 Channels
• Dual Transformer Design (Dedicated Toroid for the Amplifier)
• Test Tone Generator for Accurate Speaker Balance Adjustments
• Programmable Dynamic Range Settings
• Adjustable Bass Crossover
• Fluorescent Display with 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
Operating Your Stereo
System with the DPA-S50
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-S50 Digital Surround Processor/Amplifier,
a combination Dolby Digital decoder and amplifier. Integrated into any stereo system the DPA-S50 allows
immediate access to the vast array of 5.1 Dolby Digital and Surround soundtracks found on DVD, Laserdiscs,
Cable, DSS (Digital Satellite System),TV, CD and VCR sources.
A three-channel (100 watts per channel) amplifier is included to drive the center and surround channels, while
your existing stereo amp continues to drive the front (main) left and right speakers. With the introduction of the
DPA-S50, Vantas presents a proprietary technology known as VTRACK™. Intelligently monitoring the stereo
amp’s main speaker volume levels,VTRACK™ adjusts the center and surround speakers accordingly.All volume
adjustments can then be made from the master volume control of the stereo receiver/preamp.
You can expect years of enjoyment from the DPA-S50 as it allows for future expandability, providing discrete
6-channel audio line outputs for connecting the DPA-S50 to external amplifiers.When used with a 5.1 Ready
receiver/integrated amp or external amplifiers, the DPA-S50’s internal amplifiers can be disabled, converting
the DPA-S50 into a stand-alone decoder.
When the DPA-S50 detects a source, it automatically turns on and switches to the active source.When there is
no source, the DPA-S50 is bypassed allowing full operation of the existing stereo system. The user-friendly
DPA-S50 becomes virtually invisible providing remote-free operation.A variety of system configurations allows
the DPA-S50 to be installed in the simplest to the most complex home theaters.
In addition to the DPA-S50, you should have received the following items in your packaging:
✔2 - Speaker wire pairs (3-feet each and scored for easy stripping)
Use these to connect the stereo amp’s speaker outputs with the DPA-S50’s
speaker inputs.
✔1 - RCA audio cable
Use this cable to connect the DPA-S50’s MAIN-AUDIO LINE OUT to the stereo receiver/preamp’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. DIGITAL IN
The DPA-S50 provides one optical and two coaxial input jacks for up to three separate digital sources
such as DVD/CD, Laserdisc and TV (HDTV). The inputs have been marked for your convenience but
they can be used for any digital audio source.
2. AUDIO INPUT
The DPA-S50 provides four analog input pairs for four components such as DVD/CD, LD, TV and
VCR/TAPE. The inputs have been marked for your convenience but they can be used for any analog
audio source.
3. AUDIO LINE OUT
The MAIN-AUDIO LINE OUT jacks are integral for interfacing the DPA-S50 with any stereo system.
All six AUDIO LINE OUT connections are primarily used for interfacing the DPA-S50 with external
amplifiers or a “5.1 Ready”A/V receiver/integrated amp.
4. TAPE PLAY IN
When the tape play in jacks on a stereo receiver/preamp are used to hook-up the DPA-S50’s,
MAIN-AUDIO LINE OUT, a duplicate set of TAPE PLAY IN jacks are provided for reconnecting a cassette
deck. Connect the tape play out jacks of the cassette deck to the TAPE PLAY IN jacks on the DPA-S50.
The TAPE PLAY IN signals are passed through to the MAIN-AUDIO LINE OUT when the DPA-S50
is in bypass mode allowing your existing stereo receiver/preamp 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-S50.
SPEAKER IN
L
IN
R
L
R
L
R
L
R
L
R
L
R
LD TV
DIGITAL IN
LD
TV DVD/CD
DVD/CD
SURROUND
RT LT CENTER
AUDIO INPUT
VCR/TAPE
OUT
TAPE REC.
TAPE PLAY
IN
CENTER
SUB
MAIN SURROUND
AUDIO LINE OUT
MAIN RT MAIN LT
MAIN RT MAIN LT
1 2 3 4 5 6
7
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5. TAPE REC
The TAPE REC jacks on the DPA-S50 are used to record sources connected to the DPA-S50 and
your stereo receiver/preamp. Connect TAPE REC IN to your stereo receiver/preamp’s tape play out
and connect TAPE REC OUT to a cassette deck’s tape record in.When recording sources
connected to your stereo receiver/preamp the DPA-S50 must be shut off or in “BYPASS”.
When a digital source is selected, the corresponding analog AUDIO INPUT on the DPA-S50 is
made available at the TAPE REC OUT.
6. SPEAKER OUT (MAIN RT and LT)
These speaker terminals are used to connect directly to the main left and right 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.
7. SPEAKER IN (Bottom Row)
These speaker terminals are used to connect directly to your stereo amp’s speaker terminals and
allows the DPA-S50 to monitor and track volume. The DPA-S50’s MAIN LT and RT-SPEAKER IN
terminals connect to your stereo amp’s left and right speaker terminals.
The MAIN-SPEAKER IN signal is always passed through to the MAIN-SPEAKER OUT
and your stereo amp is always driving the main speakers.
8. SPEAKER OUT (SURROUND and CENTER)
When using the DPA-S50’s built-in amplifiers, use the CENTER, SURR LT and SURR RT-SPEAKER
OUT terminals to connect the respective loudspeakers.
CAUTION : NEVER CONNECT SPEAKER TERMINALS FROM YOUR STEREO AMP TO THE
SPEAKER OUT TERMINALS ON THE DPA-S50. THIS COULD CAUSE PERMANENT
DAMAGE TO THE AMPLIFIERS IN BOTH UNITS.
Make certain that the positive (+) and negative (-) SPEAKER IN terminals on the DPA-S50
are connected to the respective positive (+) and negative (-) terminals on the loudspeakers.
9. AC POWER CORD
Connect to an AC power outlet after all connections are completed.
REAR PANEL CONNECTIONS
QUICK FACTS
Alternatively, the main left
and right loudspeakers may
remain directly connected to
your stereo amp and a
second connection is made
between the stereo amp and
the DPA-S50 SPEAKER IN
terminals (the MAIN-
SPEAKER OUT terminals
remain unconnected).
This allows the DPA-S50 to
monitor and track volume.
Any size wire (including the
wires provided) can be used
for this connection.

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SYSTEM CONNECTIONS
As a precaution, before making any connections, make sure the stereo amp and the DPA-S50 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-S50 are connected to the respective positive (+) and
negative (-) terminals on the stereo amp and loudspeakers.
• Using the red (RCA) plug for “R” jacks and the white (RCA) plug for “L” jacks consistently
will reduce mistakes during the system connection process. (Just be aware that the DPA-S50
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 with TOSLINK connectors for optical input connections.
• Use only speaker wires marked for correct polarity to avoid reversing the positive (+)
and negative (-) leads.
• Use only 6-ohm (nominal) or greater center and surround loudspeakers with the DPA-S50.

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Connecting a DPA-S50 into a Stereo System
The following diagram is the most common hook-up configuration for the DPA-S50.It converts a stereo system
into a Dolby Digital system.The step-by-step instructions for this configuration are on the next page.
SYSTEM CONNECTIONS
SPEAKER IN
L
IN
R
L
R
L
R
L
R
L
R
L
R
LD TV
DIGITAL IN
LD
TV DVD/CD
DVD/CD
SURROUND
RT LT CENTER
AUDIO INPUT
VCR/TAPE
OUT
TAPE REC.
TAPE PLAY
IN
CENTER
SUB
MAIN SURROUND
AUDIO LINE OUT
MAIN RT MAIN LT
MAIN RT MAIN LT
DPA-S50 REAR
SPEAKERS
STEREO SYSTEM REAR
LEGEND
SHIELDED AUDIO CABLES
SPEAKER WIRE
INPUT/PRE-AMP SECTION AMPLIFIER SECTION
MAIN
RIGHT
POWERED
SUB
MAIN
LEFT
SURROUND
RIGHT
SURROUND
LEFT
CENTER
TAPE PLAY
IN
LINE LEVEL
MAIN RIGHT
SPEAKERS
MAIN LEFT
STEREO SYSTEM WITH STANDARD SPEAKER CONFIGURATION

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QUICK FACTS:
Although the MAIN
(L,R)-AUDIO LINE OUT
can be connected to any
audio input on the stereo
receiver/preamp,
connnecting to the tape
play input jacks is
recommended if you use
the video switching
capabilities in your
stereo receiver/preamp.
1. Connect the DPA-S50’s MAIN (L, R)-AUDIO LINE OUT jacks to the tape play (L, R) input jacks on the
stereo receiver/preamp. (Cables are provided for your convenience.)
2. Connect the DPA-S50’s MAIN (LT, RT)-SPEAKER IN terminals to the main left and right speaker
terminals on the stereo amp. (The supplied 3-foot speaker wire can be use.) This connection is
neccessary for the DPA-S50 to monitor and track volume.
3. Connect the DPA-S50’s MAIN (LT, RT)-SPEAKER OUT speaker terminals to the main left and
right loudspeakers.
4. Connect the DPA-S50’s CENTER-SPEAKER OUT terminals to the center loudspeaker.
(If you use a powered center speaker connect the DPA-S50’s CENTER-AUDIO LINE OUT
to the center loudspeaker’s amplifier.)
5. Connect the DPA-S50’s SURR. (LT, RT)-SPEAKER OUT terminals to the surround left and right
loudspeakers.
6. Connect the DPA-S50’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 STEREO AMP TO
THE SPEAKER OUT TERMINALS ON THE DPA-S50. THIS COULD CAUSE PERMANENT
DAMAGE TO THE AMPLIFIERS IN BOTH UNITS.
SYSTEM CONNECTIONS
QUICK FACTS:
Alternatively, the main
left and right
loudspeakers may remain
directly connected to
your stereo amp speaker
terminals and the
MAIN-SPEAKER OUT
terminals remain
unconnected.
A second connection
(as described in 2)
is required between the
stereo amp & the
DPA-S50 SPEAKER IN
terminal.

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Using A Powered Center Speaker
If you are using a self-powered speaker or separate amp for the center channel, you do not need to use the
DPA-S50’s built-in amplifiers to drive it. However, it is imperative that the speaker isn’t connected to the
DPA-S50’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 step 4 in the previous instructions and follow this diagram and instruction for
the hook-up of the center channel speaker.
Connect the DPA-S50’s CENTER-AUDIO LINE OUT to the powered speaker’s line input jack.
SYSTEM CONNECTIONS
SPEAKER IN
L
IN
R
L
R
L
R
L
R
L
R
L
R
LD TV
DIGITAL IN
LD
TV DVD/CD
DVD/CD
SURROUND
RT LT CENTER
AUDIO INPUT
VCR/TAPE
OUT
TAPE REC.
TAPE PLAY
IN
CENTER
SUB
MAIN SURROUND
AUDIO LINE OUT
MAIN RT MAIN LT
MAIN RT MAIN LT
DPA-S50 REAR
SPEAKERS
STEREO SYSTEM REAR
INPUT/PRE-AMP SECTION AMPLIFIER SECTION
MAIN
RIGHT
POWERED
SUB
POWERED
CENTER
MAIN
LEFT
SURROUND
RIGHT
SURROUND
LEFT
TAPE PLAY
IN
LINE LEVEL
MAIN RIGHT
SPEAKERS
MAIN LEFT
LEGEND
SHIELDED AUDIO CABLES
SPEAKER WIRE
STEREO SYSTEM WITH POWERED CENTER SPEAKER

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13
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Connecting a Cassette Deck
Since the basic hook-up requires the use of the stereo receiver/preamp’s tape play in jacks, another set of jacks
has been supplied on the DPA-S50 for connecting a cassette deck into the system. If your previous system
hook-up had the cassette deck’s tape play out connected to the tape play in of the stereo receiver/preamp,
you will need to follow these instructions to re-install the cassette deck into your system.
1. Connect the DPA-S50’s TAPE PLAY IN (L, R) to the cassette deck’s tape play out.
2. Connect the DPA-S50’s TAPE REC OUT (L,R) to the cassette deck’s tape record in.
3. Connect the DPA-S50 TAPE REC IN (L,R) to the stereo receiver/preamp’s tape record out.
SYSTEM CONNECTIONS
QUICK FACTS
When recording a source
connected to the stereo
receiver/preamp the
DPA-S50 should be in
“BYPASS” or powered off
and the recording
device’s tape play out is
being monitored.
If the source being
recorded is connected to
the DPA-S50, the source,
not the recording device
is monitored.
QUICK FACTS
When a digital source is
selected the
corresponding analog
AUDIO INPUT on the
DPA-S50 is made
available at the TAPE
REC OUT.
QUICK FACTS
If your system includes a
cassette deck and VCR a
“Y” connection can be
made from the DPA-S50’s
TAPE REC OUT to the
tape record in on both
recording devices.
SPEAKER IN
L
IN
R
L
R
L
R
L
R
L
R
L
R
LD TV
DIGITAL IN
LD
TV DVD/CD
DVD/CD
SURROUND
RT LT CENTER
AUDIO INPUT
VCR/TAPE
OUT
TAPE REC.
TAPE PLAY
IN
CENTER
SUB
MAIN SURROUND
AUDIO LINE OUT
MAIN RT MAIN LT
MAIN RT MAIN LT
DPA-S50 REAR
CASSETTE DECK REAR
TAPE PLAY
OUT TAPE REC IN
STEREO SYSTEM REAR
INPUT/PRE-AMP SECTION AMPLIFIER SECTION
TAPE PLAY
IN
LINE LEVEL
TAPE REC
OUT
MAIN RIGHT
SPEAKERS
MAIN LEFT
CONNECTING A CASSETTE DECK (or VCR)
Allows Pro Logic and 4-channel stereo decoding from your tape source.
Allows tape monitor when recording sources connected to your stereo receiver/preamp.
A
B

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14
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1. Connect the DPA- S50 ’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- S50 ’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- S50 ’s CENTER-AUDIO LINE OUT jack to the center audio line in jack on the receiver/
integrated amp.
4. Connect the DPA- S50 ’s SUB-AUDIO LINE OUT jack to the sub audio line in jack on the receiver/integrated amp.
5. Set the DPA- S50 to decoder mode by disabling the three-channel amplifier. Details on disabling the amplifier are
explained in the Advanced Setup section-Disable Amplifiers.
Connecting the DPA-S50 to a “5.1 Ready” A/V Receiver/Integrated Amp
It is possible to integrate the DPA-S50 into a system that already has a “5.1 Ready” receiver/integrated amp.
It requires six interconnect cables that directly connect the DPA-S50’s AUDIO LINE OUT connections to the
corresponding audio line inputs on the receiver/integrated amp, as shown in the following diagram.
SYSTEM CONNECTIONS
L
R
L
R
L
R
L
R
L
R
LD TV
DIGITAL IN
LD
TV DVD/CD
DVD/CD
AUDIO INPUT
VCR/TAPE
TAPE PLAY
IN
CENTER
SUB
MAIN SURROUND
AUDIO LINE OUT
DPA-S50 REAR
L
R
CENTER
SUB
MAIN SURROUND
6-CH DISCRETE INPUT
5.1 READY SYSTEM REAR
LEGEND
SHIELDED AUDIO CABLES
*
SEPARATE AMPLIFIERS MAY BE USED, INSTEAD OF A 5.1 READY RECEIVER
DECODER SETUP WITH 5.1 READY SYSTEM*

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15
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Installing Digital Components
Components in your system equipped with a digital output jack can be connected directly to one of the
DPA-S50’s DIGITAL IN jacks. Only one digital connection (coaxial or optical) is needed from each digital
audio source.
SYSTEM CONNECTIONS
QUICK FACTS
For decoding digital
sources such as Dolby
Digital, use the DIGITAL
IN jacks.
Installing Analog Components
Components in your system may also be connected to the DPA-S50’s AUDIO INPUT jacks, as shown in the
following diagram.
LL
R
L
R
L
R
LD TV
DIGITAL IN
LD
TV DVD/CD
DVD/CD
AUDIO INPUT
VCR/TAPE
DPA-S50 REAR
ANALOG AUDIO SOURCE 1 ANALOG AUDIO SOURCE 2
AUDIO
LINE OUT AUDIO LINE OUT
L
R
LD TV
DIGITAL IN
LD
TV DVD/CD
DVD/CD
AUDIO INPUT
VCR/TAPE
DPA-S50 REAR
ANALOG AUDIO SOURCE 3 ANALOG AUDIO SOURCE 4
AUDIO
LINE OUT AUDIO LINE OUT
ANALOG AUDIO INPUT CONNECTIONS
DPA-S50 REAR DPA-S50 REAR DPA-S50 REAR
DIGITAL AUDIO
SOURCE 1
DIGITAL AUDIO
SOURCE 2
DIGITAL AUDIO
SOURCE 3
DIGITAL AUDIO INPUT CONNECTIONS
LEGEND
OPTICAL DIGITAL CABLES
COAXIAL DIGITAL CABLES

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1. POWER
The POWER button turns the unit on and off. While in the “on” position, the DPA-S50 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-S50 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 the VOLUME SYNC button places the DPA-S50 in either the manual volume mode or
the VTRACK™ mode. In the VTRACK™ 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 stereo receiver/preamp is used. “VOL SYNC” appears in the Display Panel
when VTRACK™ 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 the Advanced Setup
section-Maximum Manual Volume Setting).The tone provides VTRACK™ a signal to measure the
stereo 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.
FRONT PANEL CONTROLS
QUICK FACTS
If your stereo amp is
rated higher than 100
watts per main channel
(into 8 ohms) and it is
operated at an
excessively high volume,
the DPA-S50 will begin
attenuating the main
channels to maintain
a 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 stereo
receiver/preamp’s master
volume control setting.
42 7 1151 3 6 8 10109

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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 analog, 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 an analog or 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 appear on the display for about 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 section titled Surround Modes on page 20.
FRONT PANEL CONTROLS

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6. INPUT SOURCE
Pressing this button repeatedly scrolls through the input sources for manual selection of the analog
(icon “A” displayed) or digital (icon“D” displayed) inputs. The optimum setting, however,
is “SEARCH”, allowing the DPA-S50 to automatically select the active input.
When the DPA-S50 detects an analog and digital signal at the same time the search priority is digital
over analog. Once a digital signal is locked on, the DPA-S50 will stop searching for 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. Unlike digital sources, analog
sources will not be detected during silent moments so only one analog source should be played at a
time or the source should be manually selected to avoid switching to another source during quite
moments. The sampling rate of a detected digital source is displayed in kHz for about 6 seconds.
7. DISPLAY PANEL
The florescent Display Panel provides key information and registers all adjustments made to the
DPA-S50. The display will turn off one minute after the unit is in “BYPASS”.
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 Speaker Trim
with Test Tones. Each of these settings is explained in detail in the section titled Basic Setup.
9. +/- BUTTONS
During manual volume mode (see VOLUME SYNC on page 16) the “+” and “-” buttons increase
or decrease the master volume in all six channels.These buttons also make adjustments or setting
changes during the 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-S50 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 about 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 the TV. 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 the TV to assure proper on-screen
localization of the center channel material.To avoid interference with your TV, 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 two to three feet 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-S50 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-S50 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-S50 will also decode MPEG sources, which is an optional compression scheme for audio formats on
DVD. It is also available on satellite broadcasts and computer multimedia.Vantas has included this format on
the DPA-S50 to ensure it is compatible with current and future digital formats.
The DPA-S50 also employs a digital Pro Logic decoder. Pro Logic can be used to create a surround effect on
2-channel sources. Dolby Surround sources can be found on CDs, Laserdiscs, videotapes, many TV/Cable
broadcasts, etc.When a 2-ch source (analog, PCM, MPEG or 2-ch Dolby Digital) is played on the DPA-S50,
the Pro Logic processor decodes the signal and properly distributes the surround-sound effects. The DPA-S50
uses Analog-to-Digital (A/D) converters to provide digital domain decoding of analog sources.
The Dolby Pro Logic decoder employed in the DPA-S50 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