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Features
Remote Control
Inputs and Outputs Notes
Features
Digital Cinema Sound (DCS):
Digital Cinema Sound is the concept name of the surround technology for home
theater developed by Sony. DCS uses the DSP (Digital Signal Processor)
technology to reproduce the sound characteristics of an actual cinema cutting
studio in Hollywood. When played at home, DCS will create a powerful theater
effect that mimics the artistic combination of sound and action as envisioned by
the movie director. The DCS soundfields used in this receiver include:
- Digital Cinema Sound EX A:
Reproduces the sound characteristics of the Sony Pictures Entertainment
"Cary Grant Theater" cinema production studio. This mode is great for
watching most any type of movies.
- Digital Cinema Sound EX B:
Reproduces the sound characteristics of the Sony Pictures Entertainment "Kim
Novak Theater" cinema production studio. This mode is ideal for watching
science fiction or action movies with lots of sound effects.
- Digital Cinema Sound EX C:
Reproduces the sound characteristics of the Sony Pictures Entertainment
scoring stage. This mode is ideal for watching musicals or films where
orchestra music is featured in the soundtrack.
- Headphone Theater: Allows
you to experience a theater-like environment while listening through a pair
of headphones.
Dolby Pro Logic IIx:
Dolby Pro Logic IIx furthers the matrix decoding of Dolby Pro Logic II to decode
audio signals recorded on two channels into up to 7.1 playback channels,
including the surround back channel. Dolby Pro Logic IIx also allows 5.1-channel
sources to be played in up to 7.1 channels. The mode can be selected according
to the source. There are 3 Dolby Pro Logic IIx modes: Music, Cinema and Game.
(The Game mode is for 2-channel sources only.)
Auto Format Direct: The Auto
Format Direct (A.F.D.) mode allows you to select the decoding mode you want for
your audio sound. When you select A.F.D. Auto, the receiver automatically
detects the type of audio signal being input (Dolby Digital, DTS, or standard
2-channel stereo) and performs the proper decoding if necessary. You can also
select Pro Logic, Pro Logic II Movie, Pro Logic II Music, Pro Logic II Game, Pro
Logic IIx Movie, Pro Logic IIx Music, Pro Logic IIx Game, Neo:6 Cinema, Neo:6
Music, or Multi Stereo to apply the appropriate decoding for movies or normal stereo sources such
as CDs.
Surround Modes: This receiver
incorporates a wide variety of surround modes to bring you maximum enjoyment
from your audio and video software. The surround modes include:
- Dolby Digital
- Dolby Digital EX
- Dolby Pro Logic
- Dolby Pro Logic II (Movie,
Music, and Game)
- Dolby Pro Logic IIx (Movie,
Music, and Game)
- DTS
- DTS-ES (Discrete 6.1 and
Matrix 6.1)
- DTS Neo:6 (Cinema and Music)
- Cinema Studio Ex. A (Digital
Cinema Sound)
- Cinema Studio Ex. B (Digital
Cinema Sound)
- Cinema Studio Ex. C (Digital
Cinema Sound)
- Hall
- Jazz Club
- Live Concert
Headphone Sound Fields: When
headphones are connected, you can select the following sound fields:
- HP 2CH: outputs the sound
in stereo. Standard 2-channel sources completely bypass the sound field
processing. Multi-channel surround formats are downmixed to 2 channels.
- HP Multi: outputs the
analog signals input to the Multi Channel Input jacks
- HP Theater (Digital Cinema
Sound): allows you to experience a theater-like environment
Surround Back Decoding: This
function lets you select the decoding mode for the surround back signals of the
multi-channel input stream. When you select "SB Auto" and the input stream
contains 6.1-channel information, the appropriate decoder is applied to decode
the surround back signal (Dolby Digital EX, DTS-ES Matrix, or DTS-ES Discrete
decoder). When you select "SB On", Dolby Digital EX is applied when
the output channel is 6.1 and Dolby Digital EX or Dolby Pro Logic IIx is applied
when the output channel is 7.1. When "Off" is selected, no surround back decoding is performed.
Sound Field Customizing:
Depending on the Mode selected, you can adjust the following parameters:
- Front Balance: Left +1 to
+8, Center Balance, Right +1 to +8 (17 steps)
- Center Level: -10dB to
+10dB in 1dB increments
- Surround Left Level: -10dB
to +10dB in 1dB increments
- Surround Right Level:
-10dB to +10dB in 1dB increments
- Surround Back Level: -10dB
to +10dB in 1dB increments (if only 1 surround back speaker is connected)
- Surround Back Left Level:
-10dB to +10dB in 1dB increments (if 2 surround back speakers are connected)
- Surround Back Right Level:
-10dB to +10dB in 1dB increments (if 2 surround back speakers are connected)
- Subwoofer Level: -10dB to
+10dB in 1dB increments
- Dynamic Range Compressor:
allows you to compress the dynamic range of the sound track. You may select
standard or maximum compression, or off.
- Note: This feature only works
with Dolby Digital sources.
Bass Management: The Speaker
Setup menu allows you to set the size, distance, and location of the speakers
connected to the receiver. The Easy Setup lets you set up your speakers
automatically based on a pre-defined speaker pattern (5.1, 6.1, 7.1, etc.). You
can also set up the speakers manually by indicating the size and presence of
each speaker or speaker pair. The speaker high pass crossover frequency can be
set between 40Hz and 160Hz. A test tone is available to assist you in
determining the speakers' level and balance settings.
A/V Sync: The audio output can
be delayed so that the time gap between the audio output and the visual display
is minimized. This is especially helpful when you are using a large LCD or
plasma TV or a projection TV. Note: A/V Sync cannot be used when the
Multi Channel input or Analog Direct function is used.
Equalizer: You can adjust the
tonal quality (bass and treble level) of the front speakers from -6dB to +6dB
in 1dB steps.
Multi-Channel Input:
Although this unit features built-in Dolby Digital, Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Pro
Logic II, Dolby Pro Logic IIx, and DTS processing, it also has a 5.1-channel
input for use with an external multi-channel decoder.
Video Conversion: The STR-DE698
allows you to convert standard (composite) video signals to S-video signals. The
upconverted signals are only output from the Monitor S-Video Out jack.
Station and Source Naming: Each preset station and program source may be given an index name of up
to 8 characters. For example, two VCRs can be displayed as 8MM and VHS.
Sleep Timer: The unit
may be set to automatically turn off after 2 hours, 1 hour and 30 minutes, 1
hour, or 30 minutes.
Dimmer: You can
adjust the brightness of the display in 3 steps.
Remote Control
Multibrand Remote: The
supplied remote is pre-coded to control Sony A/V equipment and most brands of CD
players, DAT decks, MD recorders, tape decks, LD players, video CD players,
VCRs, DVD players, TVs, DSS receivers, and cable boxes. The remote has two command modes (AV1 and AV2),
allowing you to change modes if the remote is causing interference with other
components.
Inputs and Outputs
Notes
Front Panel Inputs: The
STR-DE698 features a set of front panel inputs with left and right RCA audio jacks, an
RCA
composite video jack, and an optical digital input.
Speaker Outputs: There are
binding post connectors for the Front A left and right, Front B left and right,
Center, Surround left and right, and Surround Back left and right speaker outputs. The binding
posts are not 5-way because a plastic collar prevents their use with spade lugs.
The front A and B speaker pairs are wired in parallel.
SACD Output: No sound is output
from the receiver when you play a Super Audio CD on an SACD player connected to
the Optical digital input or Coaxial digital input labeled "SA-CD/CD In." You must connect an SACD player
via the analog input labeled "SA-CD/CD In" or the multi-channel analog
input.
Assignable Component Video Inputs:
The receiver has 2 component video inputs which can be assigned to specific
sources such as VIDEO 1, VIDEO 2, VIDEO 3, or DVD.
HD Component Video Pass-Through:
This unit features 2 component video inputs and a component video monitor
output. These jacks feature an 80MHz bandwidth, making them capable of passing
high-definition video signals.
