Features
Remote Control
Inputs and Outputs Notes

Features

Video Conversion: Composite, S-video, and component video sources can be converted to HDMI output, allowing you to minimize the number of connections needed from the receiver to the TV. Input video signals up to 1080i can be converted to HDMI. Through HDMI "Active Intelligence", the receiver detects and receives the best possible video and audio signals from all connected devices, making connection and performance as simple as plugging in a single wire. Note: No audio is output from the HDMI when an analog video signal is converted. Only 480i component video signals can be output as S-Video or composite.

HDMI Switching: The receiver can accept video signals up to 1080p through the HDMI inputs. With the two HDMI inputs and the HDMI output, you can switch between two high definition video sources.

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, great for watching most any type of movie
• Digital Cinema Sound 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
• Digital Cinema Sound 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
• V.Multi Dimension: creates 5 sets of virtual speakers from a single pair of actual surround speakers.
• 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.

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, Neural Surround, or Multi Stereo to apply the appropriate decoding for movies or normal stereo sources such as CDs.

Neural Surround: Neural Surround has been adopted by XM Satellite Radio for digital radio broadcasts of XM HD Surround recordings and live events in surround sound. Neural Surround employs psychoacoustic frequency domain processing which allows delivery of a more detailed sound stage with superior channel separation and localization of audio elements.

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 96/24
• 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)
• Portable Audio
• Neural Surround   
• Hall
• Jazz Club
• Live Concert
• Stadium
• Sports
• Multi Stereo (all active channels)

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
• Headphone Multi: outputs the analog signals input to the Multi Channel Input jacks
• Headphone Theater (Digital Cinema Sound): allows you to experience a theater-like environment

Portable Audio: This Music Soundfield reproduces a clear enhanced sound image from your portable audio device. This mode is ideal for MP3 and other compressed music.

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: R +20.0dB to L +20.0dB in 0.5dB steps
• Center Level: -20.0dB to +10dB in 0.5dB increments
• Surround Left Level: -20.0dB to +10dB in 0.5dB increments
• Surround Right Level: -20.0dB to +10dB in 0.5dB increments
• Surround Back Level: -20.0dB to +10dB in 0.5dB increments (if only 1 surround back speaker is connected)
• Surround Back Left Level: -20.0dB to +10dB in 0.5dB increments (if 2 surround back speakers are connected)
• Surround Back Right Level: -20.0dB to +10dB in 0.5dB increments (if 2 surround back speakers are connected)
• Subwoofer Level: -20.0dB to +10dB in 0.5dB increments
• Multi-Channel Subwoofer Level: Lets you increase the level of the multi-channel input subwoofer channel signal by +10 dB. (Subwoofer levels from DVD players are generally 10 dB lower than that of SACD players.)
• Dynamic Range Compressor: allows you to compress the dynamic range of the sound track, select standard or maximum compression, or off (only works with Dolby Digital sources)

Digital Decoding: 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.

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, Mix
• Surround Speakers: Large, Small, No
• Surround Back Speakers: Dual, Single, No, Zone 2, Bi-Amp
• Front Speaker Distance: 3 to 22 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 Back Speaker Distance: when 1 surround back speaker is used, range is from the front speaker distance setting to 15 feet closer than the front speaker distance setting
• Surround Back Left Speaker Distance: when 2 surround back speakers are used, range is from the front speaker distance setting to 15 feet closer than the front speaker distance setting
• Surround Back Right Speaker Distance: when 2 surround back speakers are used, 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 between 40 and 200 Hz

Auto Calibration: The STR-DA3200ES is equipped with Digital Cinema Auto Calibration Technology which uses the included microphone to automatically check the speaker connections, adjust the speaker output levels, and calculate the distance from each speaker to the listening position. The microphone has an 18' cord attached and has a threaded insert on the bottom so it can be mounted to a tripod. Note: The auto calibration feature does not measure or adjust the subwoofer level output.

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. The adjustment range is 0 to 300 ms in 10 ms steps if the sampling frequency is less than 48kHz, and 0 to 150 ms if the sampling frequency is 88.2 or 96 kHz.

Equalizer: You can adjust the tonal quality (bass and treble level) of the front, center, surround, and surround back speakers from -10dB to +10dB in 0.5dB 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 7.1-channel input for use with an external multi-channel decoder (SACD, DVD-Audio, etc). When using the multi-channel input the STR-DA3200ES's speaker set up circuitry is bypassed, so all bass management and speaker level adjustment must be made on the connected component.

Preamp Outputs: The STR-DA3200ES is equipped with eight preamp outputs in a 7.1-channel configuration, to allow you to use the receiver as a preamplifier. The pre outs include Front Left and Right, Center, Subwoofer, Surround Left and Right, and Surround Back Left and Right. External amplifiers can be connected to any or all of the pre outs.

Bi-Amplifying: The surround back amplifier channels can be used for bi-amplifying a pair of front speakers with dual speaker terminals. Once the shorting bars have been removed from the speakers, you can connect the front left and right speaker terminals to the high (or low) side of the speaker's terminals, and the left and right surround back speaker terminal to the low (or high) side of the speaker's terminals.

Dual Zone/Dual Source Operation: You can enjoy audio and video from a component connected to the receiver in another room. In addition to including a 2nd zone remote, the receiver has a composite video output for Zone 2, and a pair of Zone 2 preamp outputs for connecting to a TV and/or a stereo amplifier in the second zone. If desired, you can assign the surround back amplifier channels to a pair of Zone 2 speakers, and still enjoy a 5.1-channel surround source in the main zone. The 2nd zone line output level is fixed, so the 2nd zone audio signal must be fed to a device equipped with a volume control. If you are using the surround back speakers for Zone 2, you can adjust the volume using the receiver's remote control and an IR repeater system. Only signals from components connected to the analog input jacks are output through the Zone 2 outputs.

XM Ready: Using the optional XM Mini Tuner and Mini Tuner Home Dock, you can take advantage of the variety and sound quality of XM Satellite radio. XM offers over 150 channels of music, news, sports, and talk radio and even has weather and traffic information in several major markets. The channel number, channel name, channel category, artist name, and song title are listed on the STR-DA3200ES's display. Up to 30 XM stations can be stored as presets and recalled in the same way AM and FM stations are. A subscription to XM Satellite Radio is required.

Tuner: The STR-DA3200ES has 30 presets each for AM, FM, and XM, for a total of 90. In addition to preset and auto tuning, stations can be tuned directly by frequency or XM channel number.

Two Channel 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 Analog Direct feature amplifies the source without any processing, only the volume and front speaker balance adjustments are active.

Station and Source Naming: Each preset station and input source may be given an index name of up to 8 characters. For example, the two HDMI sources can be displayed as DVD and Satellite.

On Screen Display: All setup operations and critical functions are displayed on the monitor screen to provide constant feedback from the receiver.

Sleep Timer: The unit may be set to automatically turn off after 30, 60, 90, or 120 minutes.

Dimmer: You can adjust the brightness of the display in 3 steps: 100%, 60% or 0%.

Remote Control

Dual Remotes: The STR-DA3200ES comes with two separate remotes: the RM-AAL003 for the main zone, and the RM-AAU008 for the 2nd zone. Since both remotes are IR, an IR repeater system is needed in order for you to control the receiver from the 2nd zone.

Main Zone Remote: The main zone remote (RM-AAL003) is pre-coded to control this Sony receiver, Sony video CD players, Sony DVD recorders, Sony DVD/VCR combos, Sony tuners, Sony hard disc recorders, Sony Blu-ray disc recorders, and Sony PSX, plus Sony and other brands of CD players, DAT decks, MD recorders, cassette decks, LD players, VCRs, DVD players, TVs, DSS receivers and cable boxes. Other features found on the main zone remote control include:

• Learning Function: If a remote control command is not stored in the supplied remote, it is possible for the remote to learn the code using the Learning function. Pointing the receiver's remote and the device's remote at each other and pressing specific buttons, the commands of the device are stored in the receiver's remote control.
• Macro Play: The Macro Play function lets you link several commends in a sequential order as a single command. The remote has the capability of 2 Macros with up to 20 commands per macro list.

2nd Zone Remote: The RM-AAU008 remote is for Zone 2 operations only--you cannot control the main receiver directly with this remote. Using an IR repeater, you can operate both a component in the main zone and a Sony receiver in Zone 2 from Zone 2. You can switch the output source for the Zone 2 out jacks, switch the Sony receiver's power on/off in Zone 2, and adjust the volume of the Sony receiver in Zone.2.

Inputs and Outputs Notes

Assignable HDMI Inputs: The receiver has 2 HDMI inputs and 1 HDMI output. The inputs can be assigned to specific sources such as Video 1, Video 2, Video 3, DVD, TV/Sat, Tape/CD-R, SACD/CD, or MD/DAT.

Assignable Component Video Inputs: The receiver has 3 component video inputs which can be assigned to specific sources such as Video 1, Video 2, Video 3, DVD, TV/Sat, Tape/CD-R, SACD/CD, or MD/DAT.

HD Component Video Pass-Through: This unit features 3 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.

Assignable Digital Inputs/Output: In addition to the 3 coaxial digital inputs and the 5 optical digital inputs, there is 1 optical digital output to feed a digital recording component, such as a CD or MiniDisc recorder. These digital inputs can be assigned to a specific component, such as Video 1, DVD, Tape/CD-R, SACD/CD, etc.

Front Panel Inputs: The STR-DA3200ES features a set of front panel inputs with left and right RCA audio jacks, plus S-Video and RCA composite video jacks, and an optical digital input.

Speaker Outputs: All the speaker outputs are binding post connectors, including front A left and right, front B left and right, center, surround left and right, and surround back left and right. The binding posts are not 5-way because a plastic collar prevents their use with spade lugs, but they will accept bare wire, single banana, and dual banana plugs. The front A and B speaker pairs are wired in parallel.

XM: This proprietary terminal allows you to connect an optional XM Mini Tuner Home Dock.

Multi Channel Input: Eight analog RCA inputs are used for outboard 5.1 or 7.1 channel processors. Note: The signal fed to the multi-channel input is not output to the MD/DAT, Tape/CD-R, Video 1, or Video 2 analog audio outputs.

Preamp Outputs: Eight analog RCA preamp outputs are used for connecting the receiver to external power amplifiers.

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.

Headphones: When headphones are plugged into the full-size 1/4" jack on the front panel, all the speakers are automatically muted.

Control Jacks: Three sets of 3.5mm minijack connectors are supplied for the following control methods:

• RS232C: The receiver can be configured in the menu to receive commands from 3rd party control systems (Crestron, AMX, etc.) via the RS232C port.
• Control S: If you have a Control S-compatible Sony TV, satellite tuner, monitor, DVD player or VCR, you can use a Control S cord (mono mini-to-mono mini) to connect the receiver to the compatible component. The receiver has one Control S In and one Control S out jack.
• Trigger Out: You can use the +12V trigger to turn external equipment on or off when the receiver is turned on or off. In the menu, you can configure the receiver to operate in various ways and areas, including Zone 2, with individual inputs, or in conjunction with RS232C control. The receiver has a single +12V trigger output.
• IR Remote: You can connect an IR repeater system to the receiver to send and accept IR command signals to and from other zones, or when the receiver is enclosed in a cabinet. The receiver has three IR remote jacks: IR Out 1, IR Out 2, and IR in.