STAGE ONE THX ULTRA2 SURROUND PREAMPLIFIER
THX SURROUND PREAMPLIFIER STAGE ONE IMPORTANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS 11. Power Cord Protection – Power supply cords should be routed so that they are not likely to be walked on or pinched by items placed upon or against them, paying particular attention to cords at plugs, convenience CAUTION: receptacles, and the point where they exit from the product. RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK! 12.
Welcome to the Aragon Stage One. We designed the Stage One as a high-performance multi-channel preamp/processor that would eliminate the need for separate home theater and two-channel music systems. It integrates an audiophile-quality analog stereo preamplifier (based on the design of the Aragon Aurum), an eight-channel analog preamplifier for connection to a DVD-Audio player, SACD player, or other multi-channel source with analog outputs, and an advanced THX® Ultra2 digital surround sound processor.
THX SURROUND PREAMPLIFIER STAGE ONE TABLE OF CONTENTS Stage One Features Latest Digital Decoding and Post-processing Two-channel Analog Preamplifier Full Auto Format Selection Analog Volume Control In-system Software Upgradable Design 24-Bit A/D and D/A Converters Eight-channel Analog Preamplifier Combination Digital and Analog Bass Management Analog-Domain Dialog Normalization Adjustable Crossover Point Separate Level Settings for Each Mode On-the-Fly Adjustments Independent Selection of Audio and Video
Power and Input Selection Modes Page Analog Digital Stereo Direct Pro Logic II DTS Neo:6 Club Mono 5-Channel Stereo Party Adjustments Pro Logic II Dolby Digital THX DTS Display On-the-Fly Video Tuner Pro Logic II Modes Pro Logic II Setup Dolby Digital DTS THX THX ASA/EX Tuner Separate Video Setup On-the-Fly Display Input Connections AC Input Digital Inputs Analog Inputs Video Inputs Multi-channel Analog Input Antenna Input Speaker Placement and Configuration System Setup Remote Control System Setup Front-pa
THX SURROUND PREAMPLIFIER STAGE ONE UNPACKING In-System Software Upgradable Design WE WANT YOUR NEW PREAMPLIFIER TO LOOK AS GOOD AS IT DID LEAVING THE FACTORY. PLEASE CHECK PROMPTLY FOR TRANSIT DAMAGE. As the world changes, the Stage One can change with it. Software upgrades can be delivered in the field via a back-panel RS-232 port.
FRONT-PANEL CONTROLS 8 7 6 3 1 5 Adjustable Crossover Point The Stage One enables you to designate each set of speakers in your system (Front, Center, Surround, and Surround Back) as either Large or Small and to adjust the crossover frequency below which bass is redirected away from the channels feeding the Small speakers. There are twenty different crossover frequencies to choose from. Separate crossovers can be selected for Stereo and surround modes.
THX SURROUND PREAMPLIFIER STAGE ONE FRONT-PANEL CONTROL OPERATIONS Stage Manager Control and Enter Button The Stage Manager control knob is turned clockwise and counter-clockwise to make adjustments, and it also functions as a pushbutton in certain operations. In combination with the Enter button, it controls many of the Stage One’s functions. Normal Mode In the Normal mode, the Stage Manager functions as a volume control.
3.0 4.0 The Stage One will not decode DTS ES if the Surround Back channels are set to "None" in the Speaker Configuration Menu. DTS ES-encoded discs are backward-compatible with a 5.1 system, so Surround Back channels are not required to play them. However, the system cannot take advantage of the extra surround channel unless, in addition to the primary surround speakers, surround back speakers are connected.
THX SURROUND PREAMPLIFIER STAGE ONE 5 REAR-PANEL INPUTS 12 11 4 6 3 7 2 9 8 10 1 REAR-PANEL INPUTS Be certain that the Stage One preamp/processor, your amplifiers, and all other associated components are powered OFF before making or breaking any connections to the preamplifier. Failure to do so may result in damage to your speakers or other equipment. 1 ANALOG INPUTS Seven stereo analog inputs are provided on the rear panel.
REAR-PANEL OUTPUTS 1 2 7 8 3 4 6 5 REAR-PANEL OUTPUTS 1 COMPONENT VIDEO OUTPUT One component video output is provided to connect to a monitor with a component video input. This output is active only for routing the three Component Video inputs (TV, DVD and Video) connected to component video sources. 5 ANALOG RECORD OUTPUTS Two sets of outputs are provided on the rear panel to connect to recording devices, such as VCRs and tape decks.
THX SURROUND PREAMPLIFIER STAGE ONE REMOTE CONTROL 3 4 UP/DOWN The supplied Philips ProntoNEO® touchscreen remote control is pre-configured for the Stage One. This programmable learning remote is enormously flexible and can be customized to operate your entire audio/video system. The remote has its own manual, which explains its operation in full detail. Be sure to read the ProntoNEO manual as well as the descriptions below to get the most from the remote control.
on off TV 8 Ch In DVD VIDEO CD/LD VCR TAPE AUX TUNER POWER AND INPUT SELECTION There are separate power On and Off buttons for the Stage One. Direct access buttons are available for each of the eight source inputs, including the tuner. The 8 Ch In button selects the 8-channel analog input. MODES PAGE The Modes page provides Stage One post-processing adjustments and individual buttons for selection of stereo direct, analog, and digital inputs.
THX SURROUND PREAMPLIFIER STAGE ONE ADJUSTMENTS PRO LOGIC II MODES Pg. 2 Adjustments Modes Pro Logic Dolby Dig Music Movie THX DTS Panorama Matrix Display On the Fly Video Tuner The Pro Logic II Modes page allows you to select the Dolby Pro Logic II mode. Five Pro Logic II modes are available: Music, Movie, Panorama, Matrix and Pro Logic. Pro Logic PRO LOGIC II SETUP Pg.
THX ASA/EX Separate Video Switch Pg. 1 DVD TV VIDEO CD/LD Cinema SEPARATE VIDEO The Separate Video switching page allows the video input to be adjusted independently of the audio source. This allows you to listen to one source, such as the built-in tuner, while watching another. Music ASA Mode VCR TAPE Off AUX EX Auto EX On EX Off SETUP Surround EX Mode Setup The THX ASA and EX setup page allows the THX Advanced Speaker Array and THX Surround EX modes to be adjusted.
THX SURROUND PREAMPLIFIER STAGE ONE SATELLITE CD PLAYER Unbalanced DB-25 Pin Assignments DIGITAL OUTPUT DIGITAL OUTPUT S VIDEO OUTPUT ANALOG OUTPUT ANALOG OUTPUT COMPONENT OUT SAT COMPOSITE VIDEO OUTPUT DIGITAL OUTPUT AM ANTENNA ANALOG OUTPUT S VIDEO INPUT COMPOSITE ANALOG VIDEO INPUT INPUT COMPOSITE VISEO INPUT COMPOSITE VIDEO OUTPUT S VIDEO INPUT COMPONENT VIDEO OUT DVD PLAYER VCR 14 COMPONENT INPUT PIN 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9, 10 11, 12, 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23, 24, 25 ASSIGNM
SPEAKER PLACEMENT AND CONFIGURATION S The number and placement of speakers is a very critical part of the function of the Stage One. While you can certainly use the Stage One in systems with as few as two main left and right speakers, you will not be able to realize the full surround sound potential of the processor without proper set-up of a complete surround speaker package. The following text and diagrams describe how to place your speakers for THX Surround EX playback.
THX SURROUND PREAMPLIFIER STAGE ONE SYSTEM SETUP The Stage One Setup Menu is a quick and easy step-by-step guide to configuring your system. You can access and navigate the Setup Menu from the remote control or by using the Stage Manager and Enter button on the front panel. When you complete a setup item, the system will automatically advance to the next selection until setup is complete. It will then revert to the initial menu.
LEVEL SETTINGS The most accurate method for setting the relative levels of the speakers is to use the Stage One’s calibration signal in conjunction with a sound-pressure level (SPL) meter. The Level Settings menu will begin with the test signal set at a predetermined output level. THX suggests that the output of each channel be set to 75dB, read from the SPL meter at the listening position.
THX SURROUND PREAMPLIFIER STAGE ONE SPEAKER DISTANCES Surround Back Right In the Speaker Distances menu, you will enter the distance from each speaker to the listening position. This enables the Stage One’s DSP engine to set internal delays for time alignment of the speakers in the system to within 1/12th of a millisecond. Only speakers listed as present in the Speaker Configuration menu will appear in this menu.
THX SETUP There are a number of options that you can set that will be default options when THX mode is selected. Press the OK button on the remote or the frontpanel Stage Manager knob to enter the THX Setup menu. Boundary-Gain Compensation If the Subwoofer is set to Ultra2 in the Speaker Configuration menu, indicating that your subwoofer is THX Ultra2-certified or capable of reproducing frequencies down to 20Hz, the Boundary-Gain Compensation menu will be available.
THX SURROUND PREAMPLIFIER STAGE ONE THX On/Off GENERAL OPERATION INPUT SELECTION This menu allows you to turn off all of the THX functions on the Stage One. This would prevent any THX post-processing from taking place on any signals. The default setting for the THX circuit is ON. If THX is turned to OFF, the next time the unit is powered on, it will return to the default ON setting. Press OK on the remote control or the front-panel Stage Manager knob to enter the THX Menu.
present, is active in Stereo Direct mode; you can turn it off by lowering its channel volume to below –10dB. 8-CHANNEL ANALOG INPUT The Stage One provides an 8-channel analog input for use with a DVD player that has a built-in surround decoder or with a DVD-Audio or SACD player. It also allows easy adaptation to any new surround formats that might appear in the future. Pressing the 8 Ch In button on the remote will activate this input for the audio signal for the currently selected source.
THX SURROUND PREAMPLIFIER STAGE ONE Dolby Digital A Dolby Digital signal can contain anywhere from one to 5.1 channels of perceptually coded audio. (The “.1” indicates a limited-bandwidth, bass-only channel called the low-frequency effects, or LFE, channel.) A single DVD can contain multiple soundtracks having varying numbers of channels. The Stage One can apply numerous forms of post-processing to a Dolby Digital 2.0 signal: Stereo Pressing the Stereo button on the remote while playing a Dolby Digital 2.
Mono Any DTS signal can be downmixed and reproduced by the center channel of the system by pressing the Mono button. If the center channel is not present, the mono signal will be reproduced by the left and right front speakers. You can make the Stage One downmix any DTS soundtrack to stereo or mono by pressing the corresponding button on the remote control’s Modes page. DTS ES Matrix soundtracks contain a surround back channel matrix encoded into the two primary surround channels.
THX SURROUND PREAMPLIFIER STAGE ONE ASA (Advanced Speaker Array) ASA is a proprietary THX technology, which processes the sound fed to 2 side and 2 back surround speakers to provide the optimal surround sound experience.
Separate Bass Management Settings for Stereo You can set up a separate bass-management scheme for Stereo mode, including a different crossover frequency. While the Stage One is in Stereo mode, enter the Advanced Menu and select the SpkrConfig STEREO menu. Configure the speakers for Stereo mode as Large or Small. Now you can go to the Crossover Setup menu to select a crossover frequency for Stereo mode.
THX SURROUND PREAMPLIFIER STAGE ONE AutoMute On Input The default setting is Yes. The Stage One’s Auto Format Detection requires that it read a flag from the incoming digital bitstream. This can cause a slight delay in the detection of a standard PCM signal from a CD player. To eliminate the delay, change this setting to No. This may sometimes result in a short burst of noise from the main speakers while the processor is determining the signal format. Front-Panel Lighting The default setting is On.
WARRANTY U.S. and Canada The Warranty below is valid only for sales to consumers in the United States or Canada. The manufacturer warrants this ARAGON product to be free from defects in materials and workmanship (subject to the terms set forth below) for a period of two (2) years from the date of purchase. During the Warranty period, the manufacturer will repair or replace (at the manufacturer’s option) this product or any defective parts.
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Make sure to return your warranty card or register your preamplifier online at www.aragonelectronics.com so that we may keep you up-to-date on new Aragon products and promotions. As always, if you have any questions, contact your local authorized Aragon dealer. For your records: ARAGON P.O.
