Features
Remote Control
Inputs and Outputs
Note

Features

High-Quality Construction: Premium frame-and-beam construction and an aluminum front panel ward off vibrations that can distort your music. Short signal paths minimize signal loss within the unit. To maximize clarity, Sony's OP (Optimum Pre-Amplification) Processing ensures a high signal-to-noise ratio at all volume levels. An Analog Pureness Control even cuts the power supply to the digital and video sections when they're not in use, to further eliminate noise.

Dual 32-Bit Processors: This receiver incorporates two Digital Signal Processors. Dolby Digital, DTS and Dolby Pro Logic decoding are handled by a dedicated 32-bit DSP engine of superior performance. The Digital Cinema Sound modes and advanced parameter adjustments use a separate 32-bit DSP. This design gives you greater resolution for sound that is realistic and detailed.

6-Channel Amplifier: This receiver drives 100 full-bandwidth-rated watts x 6 channels of power, utilizing "master in-line" configuration for even performance across all channels.

6.1-Channel Decoding: This unit is equipped to decode 6.1-channel Dolby Surround EX signals. In addition to the standard 5.1 channels, some movies now encode a sixth channel, the surround back. The surround back channel improves the realism of sounds panned across the rear soundstage.

Video Surround Modes:

• Normal Surround: Normal Surround includes the following modes:
  • Dolby Digital/Dolby Pro Logic: Dolby Digital sources are played with as many channels as recorded; 2-channel stereo sources are decoded with Dolby Pro Logic
  • DTS
• Cinema Studio Ex. A: reproduces the sound characteristics of Sony Pictures Entertainment's classic editing studio; uses the 3D sound imaging of the Virtual Multi Dimension mode to create 5 sets of virtual surround speakers from one pair of actual surround speakers
• Cinema Studio Ex. B: reproduces the sound characteristics of Sony Pictures Entertainment's mixing studio; uses the 3D sound imaging of the Virtual Multi Dimension mode to create 5 sets of virtual surround speakers from one pair of actual surround speakers
• Cinema Studio Ex. C: reproduces the sound characteristics of Sony Pictures Entertainment's BGM recording studio; uses the 3D sound imaging of the Virtual Multi Dimension mode to create 5 sets of virtual surround speakers from one pair of actual surround speakers
• Semi Cinema Studio Ex. A: reproduces the sound characteristics of Sony Pictures Entertainment's classic editing studio; uses the 3D sound imaging of the Virtual Semi Multi Dimension mode to create 5 sets of virtual surround speakers surrounding the listener using only the front left and front right speakers
• Semi Cinema Studio Ex. B: reproduces the sound characteristics of Sony Pictures Entertainment's mixing studio; uses the 3D sound imaging of the Virtual Semi Multi Dimension mode to create 5 sets of virtual surround speakers surrounding the listener using only the front left and front right speakers
• Semi Cinema Studio Ex. C: reproduces the sound characteristics of Sony Pictures Entertainment's BGM recording studio; uses the 3D sound imaging of the Virtual Semi Multi Dimension mode to create 5 sets of virtual surround speakers surrounding the listener using only the front left and front right speakers
• Night Theater: allows you to retain a theater-like environment while listening at low volume levels
• Mono Movie: creates a theater-like environment from movies with monaural soundtracks
• Stereo Movie: creates a theater-like environment from movies recorded with stereo soundtracks
• Virtual Multi Dimension: uses 3D sound imaging to create an array of virtual rear speakers positioned higher than the listener from a single pair of actual rear speakers. This mode creates 5 sets of virtual speakers surrounding you at approximately a 30-degree angle of elevation
• Virtual Multi Rear: uses 3D sound imaging to create 3 sets of virtual rear speakers from one set of actual surround speakers
• V.Semi-M. Dimension: uses 3D sound imaging to create virtual rear speakers from the sound of the front speakers without using actual rear speakers. It creates 5 sets of speakers surrounding the listener at a 30-degree angle of elevation.
• Virtual Enhanced A: uses 3D sound imaging to create 3 sets of virtual rear speakers from the sound of the front speakers
• Virtual Enhanced B: uses 3D sound imaging to create 1 set of virtual rear speakers from the sound of the front speakers

Audio Surround Modes:

• Digital Concert Hall A: reproduces the sonic characteristics of the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, which is famous for its large sound stage due to its reflectivity
• Digital Concert Hall B: reproduces the sonic characteristics of the Musikverein in Vienna, which is famous for its hall resonance and unique reverberations
• Church: reproduces the acoustics of a stone church
• Opera House: reproduces the acoustics of an opera house
• Jazz Club: reproduces the acoustics of a jazz club
• Disco/Club: reproduces the acoustics of a dance club
• Live House: reproduces the acoustics of a 300-seat live house
• Arena: reproduces the acoustics of a 1000-seat concert hall
• Stadium: reproduces the feeling of a large open-air stadium
• Game: obtains maximum audio impact from video game software

Headphone Audio Modes: When headphones are connected, you can select the following sound fields:

• 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.
• Direct: outputs the analog signals without digital processing
• Theater: allows you to experience a theater-like environment

Auto Format Decoding: Automatically detects the type of audio signal being input (Dolby Digital, DTS, Dolby Pro Logic, 2-channel) and performs the proper decoding without adding any effects.

96kHz Sampling Frequency Compatibility: The DVD/LD coaxial and DVD/LD optical digital input jacks are compatible with 96kHz, 48kHz, 44.1kHz and 32kHz sampling frequencies.

Bass Management:

• Front Speakers: you may select "LARGE" or "SMALL"
• Center Speaker: you may select "NO", "LARGE", "SMALL", or "2ND ROOM". If the front speakers are set to "SMALL", the center speaker cannot be set to "LARGE". If you use the center speaker in the second room, select "2ND ROOM". When the center speaker is set to "2ND ROOM", the surround back speaker is also automatically set to "2ND ROOM", unless previously set to "NO". 
• Surround Speakers: you may select "NO", "LARGE" or "SMALL". If the front speakers are set to "SMALL", the surround speakers cannot be set to "LARGE".
• Surround Back Speaker: you may select "NO", "LARGE", "SMALL", or "2ND ROOM". If the front speakers are set to "SMALL", the surround back speaker cannot be set to "LARGE". If you use the surround back speaker in the second room, select "2ND ROOM". When the surround back speaker is set to "2ND ROOM", the center speaker is also automatically set to "2ND ROOM", unless previously set to "NO". 
• Surround Back L/R: you may select "YES" or "NO". If you select "YES", you can use the center speaker as the surround back right and the surround back speaker as the surround back left. Note: The center speaker must be set to "NO".
• Subwoofer: you may select "YES" or "NO"
• Subwoofer Phase Polarity: you may select "NORMAL" or "REVERSE"
• Surround Speaker Position: when using rear speakers, this setting is used for proper operation of the sound fields that create virtual rear speakers; you may select "SIDE", "MIDDLE" or "BEHIND"
• Surround Speaker Height: you may select "LOW" or "HIGH"
• Front Speaker Crossover: When the front speakers are set to "SMALL", you can adjust the front speaker bass crossover frequency from 40Hz to 200Hz in 10Hz increments
• Center Speaker Crossover: When the center speaker is set to "SMALL", you can adjust the center speaker bass crossover frequency from 40Hz to 200Hz in 10Hz increments
• Surround Speaker Crossover: When the surround speakers are set to "SMALL", you can adjust the surround speaker bass crossover frequency from 40Hz to 200Hz in 10Hz increments
• Surround Back Speaker Crossover: When the surround back speaker is set to "SMALL", you can adjust the surround back speaker bass crossover frequency from 40Hz to 200Hz in 10Hz increments
• LFE High-Cut Filter: allows you to adjust the LFE high-cut frequency from 40Hz to 200Hz in 10Hz increments
• Test Tone: the test tone feature allows you to independently adjust the volume level of each channel

Sound Field Customizing: Depending on the Mode selected, you can adjust the following parameters:

• Effect Level: the "presence" of the surround effect may be adjusted in 21 steps (0 - 20)
• Wall Type (wall material simulation): 17 steps from hard to soft
• Reverberation Time: may be adjusted in 17 steps
• Front Reverberation: when using Digital Concert Hall A or B, you can select "WET" to increase front reverberations, or "DRY" to decrease front reverberations
• Screen Depth: this feature allows you to adjust the sound so it appears to be coming from inside your TV screen; you may turn this feature off, or it may be set to "MID" or "DEEP"
• Virtual Speakers: allows you to turn the virtual speakers created by "Cinema Studio EX A, B, C" and "Semi Cinema Studio EX A, B, C" off or on
• Front Balance: the balance can be adjusted +/-8 steps
• Surround Balance: the balance can be adjusted +/-8 steps
• Center Level: the level may be adjusted in 1dB steps from -10dB to +10dB
• Surround Level: the level may be adjusted in 1dB steps from -10dB to +10dB
• Surround Back Level: the level may be adjusted in 1dB steps from -10dB to +10dB
• Sub Woofer Level: the level may be adjusted in 1dB steps from -10dB to +10dB
• LFE Mix: lowers the level of the LFE channel output. You may select "OFF" (mute), or the level may be set from -20 to 0dB in 1dB steps. Note that this effects only the LFE channel, not the bass sent to the sub through bass redirection circuitry.
• Dynamic Range Compressor: you may select standard compression, maximum compression or a compression level from 0.1 to 0.9, in 0.1 steps; the dynamic range compressor feature may be turned off. When active, the dynamic range compressor feature compresses the audio output so there is less variation in volume from Dolby Digital sources; this feature does not work with DTS sources
• EQ: you may select one of 23 treble frequencies (ranging from 1kHz to 10kHz), one of 37 mid frequencies (ranging from 198Hz to 10kHz), and one of 21 bass frequencies (ranging from 99Hz to 1kHz) for each channel. You can adjust the level of those frequencies +/-10dB, in 1 dB steps

Multi-room Output: This unit is equipped with gold-plated stereo RCA jacks to send a stereo audio signal to a receiver or amplifier in another room. In addition, the center and surround back speaker outputs can be used to power a set of stereo speakers in a second room. The same source or different sources may be played in the main room and the 2nd room. Only signals from components connected to the analog input jacks are passed through the 2nd audio outputs. Note: If "2nd Room" is set to "Source" and you select the Multi CH 1 or 2 input, you will get no output from the 2nd audio jacks. Additionally, you cannot select Phono as the second audio source.

Component Video Switching: In addition to composite and S-video switching, this unit can switch between two component video sources. There are 2 component video inputs and 1 component video monitor output; each input and output has gold-plated RCA jacks labeled "Y", "PB/B-Y" and "PR/R-Y". This feature allows you to connect, and switch between, high resolution video sources equipped with component video outputs.

Multi Channel Input: Although this unit features built-in Dolby Digital and DTS processing, it also has a 5.1 multi-channel input and a 6.1 multi-channel input for use with external multi-channel decoders, including potential future units such as multi-channel SACD players and DVD Audio players. 

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: There are 4 levels of display brightness, plus you may turn the display off (control from the front of the unit only).

Remote Control

Multibrand/Learning Remote: The supplied remote is pre-coded to control Sony A/V equipment and most brands of CD players, DAT, MD recorders, tape decks, LD players, video CD players, VCRs, DVD players, TVs, DSS receivers, and cable boxes. In addition, this remote can learn up to 80 infrared commands from remotes of other components. 

Macro Play: Up to 2 macros, each with a maximum of 10 steps, can be stored in the remote, allowing you to perform a series of operations at the push of a button.

For Sony TVs with picture-in-picture functions, the remote also controls the following functions:

• POSITION: changes the position of the small picture
• SWAP: changes the small and the large picture
• P in P: activates the picture-in-picture function

Inputs and Outputs

Front panel:

• Phones: standard headphone jack
• Video 3: gold-plated RCA audio, composite video and S-video input 

Rear panel:

• DVD/LD coax digital input: gold-plated coax RCA input that is compatible with Dolby Digital, DTS and PCM digital signals; this input is compatible with signals that have a 96kHz sampling frequency. This is NOT AC-3 RF, if you are using a LaserDisc with AC-3 RF output, a demodulator must be purchased separately and connected between the LD player and this unit!
• DVD/LD optical digital input: Toslink optical digital input that is compatible with Dolby Digital, DTS and PCM digital signals; this input is compatible with signals that have a 96kHz sampling frequency. 
• TV/SAT optical digital input: Toslink optical digital input that is compatible with Dolby Digital, DTS and PCM digital signals

• MD/DAT optical digital input: Toslink optical digital input that is compatible with Dolby Digital, DTS and PCM digital signals

  Note: The MD/Tape Toslink optical digital input jack is not compatible with digital signals having a sampling frequency of 96kHz; sound may be intermittent if a digital signal with a sampling frequency of 96kHz is input to the MD/Tape optical digital input.

• MD/DAT optical digital output: Toslink optical digital output
• Antenna inputs: FM Coax and AM spring clip antenna inputs
• Multi-Channel Input 1: this is a 6.1 multi-channel input consisting of gold-plated left front, right front, center, left rear, right rear, surround back and subwoofer RCA inputs for use with external multi-channel decoders (for video use, it is used with any of the Video inputs on the unit)
• Multi-Channel Input 2: this is a 5.1 multi-channel input consisting of gold-plated left front, right front, center, left rear, right rear and subwoofer RCA inputs for use with external multi channel decoders (for video use, it is used with any of the Video inputs on the unit)
• Phono: gold-plated RCA stereo input with ground screw
• CD/SACD: gold-plated RCA stereo input
• MD/DAT: gold-plated RCA stereo input and output
• Tape: gold-plated RCA stereo input and output
• TV/SAT: gold-plated RCA audio, composite video, S-video and component video input 
• DVD/LD: gold-plated RCA audio, composite video, S-video and component video input 
• Video 2: gold-plated RCA audio and composite video input and output
• Video 1: gold-plated RCA audio, composite video and S-video input and output
• Monitor: gold-plated RCA composite video, S-video and component video output
• Preamp Outputs: 8 gold-plated RCA jacks (front left, front right, center, left surround, right surround, surround back and two subwoofers)
• 2ND Room: gold-plated stereo RCA preamp outputs for use with an optional amplifier
• Speakers: binding post outputs for front, surround, surround back, and center speakers (not 5-way, because a plastic collar prevents their use with spade lugs and they are positioned too far apart to be used with dual banana plugs)
• AC Outlets: 2 switched AC outlets (120W/1A Max)
• Control A1II: A1II mini-jack output
• Control S: 2 Control S mini-jack inputs and 2 Control S mini-jack outputs
• Impedance Selector Switch

Note

Backup Memory: Once a sound field is customized, the changes are stored in memory indefinitely, unless the receiver is disconnected from power for about 1 week. If the receiver is disconnected from power for about 1 week, all of the tuner presets will be cleared from the receiver's memory.