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Audio Features
Video Features
Remote Control
Optional Add-on Devices
Audio Features
Surround Modes: The Sony STR-DH500 home theater 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 (5.1): Dolby Digital is a 5.1 multi-channel digital
surround format which consists of front (left/right), center, surround
(left/right) and sub-woofer channels.
- Dolby Pro Logic: Center and mono surround information is
matrixed into two stereo channels. When reproduced, audio is decoded and
output in 4 channel surround sound.
- Dolby Pro Logic II (Movie and
Music): Dolby Pro Logic II technology processes any high quality stereo
(two-channel) movie and music audio into five playback channels of
full-bandwidth surround sound. A matrix surround decoding technology, Dolby
Pro Logic II detects the directional cues that occur naturally in stereo
content and uses these elements to create a five-channel surround sound
playback experience. You can choose from the following Dolby Pro Logic II
formats - Movie or Music
- DTS: DTS Digital Surround is a 5.1 multi-channel digital surround
sound format used for both commercial/theatrical and consumer grade
applications.
- 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:
- Cinema Studio EX A: reproduces the sound
characteristics of the Sony Pictures Entertainment "Cary Grant Theater"
cinema production studio, great for watching most any type of movie
- Cinema Studio EX B: reproduces the sound
characteristics of the Sony Pictures Entertainment "Kim Novak Theater"
cinema production studio, ideal for watching science fiction or action
movies with lots of sound effects
- Cinema Studio EX C: reproduces the sound
characteristics of the Sony Pictures Entertainment scoring stage, ideal
for watching musicals or films where orchestra music is featured in the
soundtrack
- Portable: reproduces a clearer sound image from
your portable audio device; ideal for MP3 and other compressed music
- Hall: reproduces the acoustics of a classical
concert hall
- Jazz Club: reproduces the acoustics of a jazz club
- Live Concert: reproduces the acoustics of a
300-seat live concert house
- Headphone Sound Fields: When
headphones are connected, you can select the following sound fields:
- Headphone 2CH: outputs the sound
in stereo, 2-channel sources bypass the sound field
processing, multi-channel surround formats are downmixed to 2 channels
- Headphone Direct: outputs analog
signals with no sound field or tone processing
- Two Channel Stereo Mode:
The 2 channel button sets the receiver to power only the front left and right
speakers, no surround and no subwoofer. Two-channel sources bypass the sound
field processing and multi-channel sources are down-mixed to 2 channels.
- Analog Direct: The direct feature amplifies the source without any processing, only the volume
and front speaker balance adjustments are active.
Auto Format Direct: The Auto
Format Direct (A.F.D.) mode presents the sound as it was recorded or encoded
without adding any surround effects. 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, or Multi Stereo to apply the appropriate decoding for movies or normal stereo sources such
as CDs. The receiver will generate a low frequency signal for
output to the subwoofer when there is no LFE signal.
Speaker Setup: The Speaker
Setup menu allows you to set the size, distance from your seating position, and location of the speakers
connected to the receiver. The following adjustments are available:
- Subwoofer:
Yes, No
- Front Speakers:
Large, Small
- Center Speaker:
Large, Small, No
- Surround Speakers: Large, Small, No
- Front Speaker Distance:
3 to 23 feet in 1 foot steps
- Center Speaker Distance:
range is from the front speaker distance setting to 5 feet closer than the
front speaker distance setting
- Surround Left Speaker Distance: range is from the front speaker distance
setting to 15 feet closer than the front speaker distance setting
- Surround Right Speaker Distance: range is from the front speaker distance
setting to 15 feet closer than the front speaker distance setting
- Surround Speaker Position:
set based on the location of the surround speakers, side low, side high,
behind low, behind high
- Crossover Frequency:
set crossover point for speakers set to small, choose 40, 60, 80, 90, 100,
110, 120, 140, or 160 Hz
Test Tone Level Adjustment: The receiver employs a test tone with a
frequency centered at 800Hz which allows you to adjust the speaker levels and
balance while listening to the audible tone from your listening position. You
can adjust speaker and the subwoofer level and the balance of just the front
speakers from left to right.
- 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
- Subwoofer Level: -10dB to
+10dB in 1dB increments
Equalizer: You can adjust the
tonal quality (bass and treble level) of the front speakers from -6dB to +6dB
in 1dB steps.
Dynamic Range Compressor: This feature allows you to compress the
dynamic range of the sound track. You can select standard or maximum
compression, or off (only works with Dolby Digital sources).
Effect Level: The Effect Level feature lets you adjust the
presence of the surround effect for soundfields selected with the Movie or Music
mode or Headphone Theater mode. You can choose from Minimum effect, Standard
effect or Maximum effect.
Speaker Outputs: The receiver is equipped with binding post speaker
terminals for the front channel speakers and spring clip terminals for the
surround an center channel speakers.
Digital Inputs: The receiver has two optical digital inputs and one coaxial digital inputs.
You can choose auto decoding or PCM for the digital audio inputs. Auto will decode the signal in its
original form (Dolby Digital, DTS, PCM, etc), PCM decodes the signal to
2-channel.
Headphones: When headphones are plugged into the full-size 1/4" jack on the front panel, all
the speakers are automatically muted.
AM/FM Tuner:
The STR-DH500 has 30 presets each for AM and FM for a total of 60. In
addition to preset and auto tuning, stations can be tuned directly by frequency.
Input Mode: When you
connect components to both digital and analog audio input jacks on the receive,
you can fix the audio input mode to either of them, or switch from one to the
other, depending on the type of material you intend to watch.
Sleep Timer: The unit
may be set to automatically turn off after 30, 60, 90, or 120 minutes.
Video Features
HDMI: The receiver is
equipped with three HDMI inputs for connecting HDMI-equipped DVD players and
Blu-Ray disc players. They are capable of carrying uncompressed digital audio
and video up to 1080p. There is also an HDMI output to feed the signals to an
HDTV or projector.
Note: The HDMI
connections on this receiver are pass-through only. When connecting a
DVD, Blu-Ray disc player, or set-top box via HDMI to the receiver, you
must also connect a coaxial or optical digital cable in order to hear
multi-channel surround audio from the speakers. Both video and audio
signals are passed through to the TV, so only the HDMI cable is needed
if you want to listen to the audio signal on the TV.
HD Component Video: This unit features 2 component video inputs and a component video monitor
output. These jacks feature an 80 MHz bandwidth, making them capable of passing
high-definition video signals.
Note: The
receiver does not convert video signals. It can only output the same type of
signals that it receives. The receiver is capable of receiving and sending HDMI,
Component Video, and Composite Video signals. There are no S-Video jacks.
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. When activated, the delay is fixed at 60 ms.
Station and Source Naming: Each preset station and program source may
be given an index name of up to 8 characters.
Dimmer: You can
adjust the brightness of the display in 3 steps: 0% dim, 40% dim, or 70% dim.
Remote Control
Remote: The
supplied remote (RM-AAU020) is pre-coded to control this Sony receiver, Sony
TVs, Sony CD players, Sony DVD players and recorders, and Sony Blu-ray disc
players and recorders. You can change the factory settings of the input buttons
on the remote to suit the components in your system. For example, if you connect
a DVD recorder to the Video 1 input jacks, you can set the Video 1 buttons on
the remote to control the DVD recorder.
Optional Add-on Devices
Digital Media Port (DMP): Sony's proprietary Digital Media
Port (DMP) allows you to integrate a wide variety of music into your home
theater system. The Digital Media Port allows you to connect optional DMP
accessories to play music from your compatible PC or iPod music player. You can
connect the following adapters (sold separately).
-
DMP iPod Dock (TDM-IP50): The Sony TDM-iP50 Digital
Media Port adapter (158TDMIP50, sold separately) for iPod/iPhone lets you
enjoy your iPod/iPhone's audio, video, and photo content through your
entertainment system by connecting the TDM-iP50 to the Sony audio/video
receiver's Digital Media Port interface. For added convenience, the dock
also charges your compatible iPod's battery. You can operate your
iPod/iPhone by its own click-wheel or touch-screen, the control buttons of
the Sony receiver, or the IR wireless remote control supplied with the Sony
receiver.
-
DMP Media Port Wi-Fi client (TDM-NC1): The Sony TDM-NC1
Wireless Network Adapter (158TDMNC1, sold separately) Allows you to stream
digital music from your PC to the DMP compatible BRAVIA audio receiver and
view song information on your connected television or monitor. Requires PC
with Microsoft Window XP SP2 operating system or newer.
