Audio Design Associates Cinema Reference Mach II PTM-8150 - Manual (Page 75)

Page 74
The Cinema Reference Mach II is extremely flexible when it comes to decoding today’s advanced
multi-channel digitally encoded signals. While the process of selecting decoding modes on its surface
may appear confusing, there are several aspects of decoding that the Cinema Reference Mach II
does automatically. To even further simplify the mode selection process, ADA has also included
several default options that will make it easy to operate.
The Cinema Reference Mach II features Channel and Mode indication lamps which will make it easy
to understand the type of input signal, how it was encoded, how many channels are present, and to
how many channels are playing in the system. Prior to proceeding with a discussion on the mode and
input channel lamps, it is important that you already determined the number of the speakers in your
system. This is discussed under Speaker Setup 1. Please note, that the output lamps will only
illuminate active speaker channels based on this setup. Furthermore, all active channels will only
have their lamps on if a mode is selected that is designed to play to all speakers. For a 7.1 speaker
setup, the back surround lamps will only illuminate if an EX/ES Mode is selected while playing multi-
channel material or Quad/Hex (or Neo-6) for two-channel material. If you have all speakers engaged
by you selected a Stereo Mode, only the right, left, and subwoofer Output lamps would be on.
7.1 Channel Speaker Array
Here, the system will include three speakers in the front of the room
(left, center, and right channels), two surround speakers (typically
dipole in nature, placed to the left and right side of the seating area),
two back surround speaker (left and right against the back of the
theater), and a subwoofer(s). The subwoofer represents the “.1”
and the other channels represent the “7”. Here the Output channel
indicator will display all channels, providing the correct mode is se-
lected.
6.1 Channel Speaker Array
In a 6.1 speaker array, only one back surround speaker exists, typi-
cally centered along the back wall of the theater. In this case, the
Output channel indicator will only display the SBL leaving the SBR
lamp off, providing the correct mode is selected. This indicates that
the system has been setup for only one Surround Back channel.
5.1 Channel Speaker Array
This speaker array was the most common configuration prior to the
introduction of THX EX. Here, the system will consist of three speak-
ers across the front of the room (left, center, right), two surround
speakers, and a subwoofer(s).
4.1 Channel Speaker Array
In a 4.1 speaker array, the system is void of a center channel speaker.
If the room environment cannot support the placement of a center
channel speaker, the center channel will be turned off so its informa-
tion can be redirected to the front left and right speakers. While this
is not the most ideal situation, turning off the center channel will
ensure that no signal is lost. Here the Output channel indicators will
show the absence of the center channel while indicating the pres-
ence of the front left and right, as well as surround left and right and
subwoofer. As a point of information, when running surround back
speakers, either one or two, these channels will indicate as described
above, providing the correct mode is selected.
Output Channel Indicator Lamps