O W N E R ' S M A N P/SP-1500 AV Processor/Preamplifier U A L
P/SP-1500 Owner's Manual Table of Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................................ 2 Unpacking and Placement .......................................................................................................................... 2 Setting up Your Home Theater ...................................................................................................................
P/SP-1500 Owner's Manual 3 Setting Up Your Home Theater System Refer to Diagram on Page 4 Speaker Placement Proper speaker placement is essential for optimum performance of your home theater system. Improper placement of speakers can produce an unnatural sound and greatly diminish the home theater experience. Here are some basic guidelines for speaker placement based upon idealized conditions. However, it may be necessary to make compromises for furniture, windows, doorways, and other aesthetic reasons.
P/SP-1500 Owner's Manual L. Surr LEFT Null CENTER MONITOR SUB RIGHT Null R. Surr Typical home theater setup using THX dipole surround speakers. Note that all three front speakers are the same distance to the listening area. L. Surr LEFT CENTER MONITOR SUB RIGHT R.
P/SP-1500 Owner's Manual 5 Making Connections to Your P/SP-1500 Refer to Diagram on Page 6 Input Connections Before making any connections to your P/SP-1500, be sure to turn off the power to your amplifiers. Also, make sure there is no strain or tension on any connections that could make them pull loose. Audio/Video Input Connections Your P/SP-1500 comes equipped with four audio/video line inputs, three audio-only inputs, plus a six channel discrete input for an external digital surround adaptor.
CD Player Audio Cassette Deck Video Cassette Recorder Video Audio Laser Disc Player P/SP-1500 Owner's Manual Audio TV Monitor Video L L L L R R R R L L R R LD Play Line Out Rec/In Discrete 5.
P/SP-1500 Owner's Manual 7 5.1 Outboard Adaptor Input Connection The DB-25 connector on the rear panel of your P/SP-1500 will accept the processed analog output of an outboard 5.1 digital adaptor such as the Parasound P/DD-1500 Digital Surround Processor (available Fall, 1996). With this advanced feature, you can play Dolby Digital AC-3 sources and keep up-to-date with the latest advancements in digital surround and home theater technology.
P/SP-1500 Owner's Manual Center Channel Speaker Selector Set this rear panel switch to accommodate the type of center channel speaker you will be using. Following are descriptions of the preferred center channel switch settings based upon the center speaker you will be using. Large or THX (Wide Band) Switch to the Large or THX position for center channel speakers that have extended low bass capability and can play as loud as your front left and right speakers without bass distortion.
Infrared Sensor Front Panel Display DOLBY SURROUND PRO - LOGIC P/SP-1500 AV Processor/Preamplifier L LUCASFILM C LS SUB Video 1 On-Off Video 2 Video 3 Video 4 Audio 1 Audio 2 Audio 3 Stereo Direct On Off Switch Audio/Video Inputs Off Mute Off Mute and On Buttons Audio Inputs Dolby dB R RS THX Pro Logic Cinema Volume 5.
P/SP-1500 Owner's Manual Operating Your P/SP-1500 Refer to Diagram on Page 9 Using the Remote Control with On Screen and Front Panel Displays The remote control included with your P/SP-1500 gives you complete access to all functions including power, direct input selection, modes, volume, and calibration. The advanced on-screen and front panel displays keep you informed of all of the various functions of the P/SP-1500.
P/SP-1500 Owner's Manual 11 Volume You can adjust the Volume from the remote control or on the front panel. The on-screen and front panel displays indicate the volume level in decibels relative to THX Reference Level and all active channels will flash for three about seconds each time you change the volume. The volume keys are also used in conjunction with the Cal and Trim functions (see page 14 and 16).
P/SP-1500 Owner's Manual Stereo Direct For critical listening, the Stereo Direct mode engages a precision bypass relay to route the selected input source around all the surround processing circuitry of the P/SP-1500 and directly to its preamp section. As a result, only the front left, right and subwoofer channels are active in the Stereo Direct mode. You can select this mode from the remote control or on the front panel.
P/SP-1500 Owner's Manual 13 Surround Channel Delay The surround delay circuitry allows you to choose the amount of time it takes sound from the surround channel speakers to follow the sound from the front left, right, and center speakers. This establishes the precedence effect for the front channel speakers and helps you associate the sound with the image on the screen rather than from behind you.
P/SP-1500 Owner's Manual Calibrating Your Home Theater System Calibration involves independently adjusting the output level for each of the six channels of your P/SP-1500 to accommodate different types of speakers and their placement variations. System calibration is critical for optimum performance of your home theater. The P/SP-1500’s front panel and on-screen display make system calibration very easy to perform.
P/SP-1500 Owner's Manual Off On Mute Off On Mute R-15 R-15 Cal Input Cal Volume Trim Display Input Delay Display Volume Trim CALIBRATE CH LEVELS Delay Video 1 Video 2 Video 3 Video 4 Audio 1 Audio 2 Audio 3 Hall 5.1 Ch Ambiance THX Video 1 L C R LS SUB RS dB Mono Video 2 Video 3 Video 4 Audio 1 Audio 2 Audio 3 Hall Pro Logic Stereo Direct Stereo Direct THX Dolby Pro Logic Cinema 5.1 Ch Ambiance Volume 5.
P/SP-1500 Owner's Manual Using the Trim Function for Temporary Level Adjustment If you want to temporarily adjust the individual levels of any channel for a particular soundtrack or recording, use the Trim button on the remote control. For example, you may want to boost your subwoofer or surround levels for a particular soundtrack without having to change the levels back when you play your next selection. The Trim function works in much the same way as the calibration function.
P/SP-1500 Owner's Manual 17 Maintaining Your P/SP-1500 Your P/SP-1500 requires no periodic maintenance and has no user serviceable parts inside. To avoid the risk of electric shock do not remove the top cover. Clean the chassis with a soft cloth moistened only with Windex or clear water. Never use solvents or abrasives. Remove the two AA batteries from the remote control if you do not plan to use it for an extended period. Remove the battery cover annually to inspect and remove leaking batteries.
P/SP-1500 Owner's Manual Remote Control Won't Work Check batteries Check for front panel operation to verify problem is not with P/SP-1500 DC Trigger Won't Activate Other Components Check voltage at connector with DC voltmeter Make sure other components do not require voltage exceeding +12 Vdc or current exceeding 350 mA If All Else Fails If you cannot get your P/SP-1500 to operate properly after referring the troubleshooting guide, call your Parasound dealer or Parasound Technical Service.
P/SP-1500 Owner's Manual P/SP-1500 Specifications Dolby Pro Logic/THX Cinema Preamp Direct Frequency Response Front Rear Center (Small) Center (Large or THX) Subwoofer 12 Hz-60 kHz 500 Hz-6.5 kHz 200 Hz-60 kHz 12 Hz-60 kHz 10 Hz-80 Hz 10 Hz-100 kHz Harmonic Distortion Front Center Rear Subwoofer < 0.06 % < 0.06 % < 0.6 % < 0.15 % < 0.01 % Input Sensitivity All Channel Inputs 200 mV 200 mV Input Impedance All Inputs 47 kΩ 47 kΩ IM Distortion (1 kHz 1V Output) All Channels < 0.06 % < 0.
P/SP-1500 Owner's Manual Special Features • • • • • • • • • • • • • Four Audio/Video Inputs Seven Processing Modes On-Screen Display Lucasfilm THX Certified 5.
P/SP-1500 Owner's Manual 21 Parasound Limited Warranty (USA only) Your Parasound P/SP-1500 is covered by a limited warranty against defects in materials and workmanship for a period of two years from date of purchase. This warranty is provided by the Parasound dealer where the unit was purchased. Warranty repair will be performed only when a copy of your purchase receipt is presented to validate your ownership, date of purchase and authorized status of the selling dealer.
