English

NATURAL SOUND AV AMPLIFIER

DSP-AX10

INPUT INPUT MODE VOLUME 6CH INPUT

D I G I T A L

D I G I TA L

STANDBY /ON

SURROUND
SOURCE DVD MD/TAPE D-TV/LD CD-R

A/B/C/D/E

PRESET/ TUNING
PRESET TUNING /TUNING FM/AM MEMORY MODE

TREBLE

SPEAKERS A B
BASS PROCESSOR EXTENSION DIRECT
CBL/SAT VCR 1 VCR2 /DVR V-AUX

TUNER CD

EDIT PHONES EFFECT PROGRAM
MAN'L/AUTO FM AUTO/MAN'L MONO S VIDEO VIDEO

L AUDIO R

OPTICAL

REC OUT

SILENT VIDEO AUX
TRANSMIT RE-NAME CLEAR LEARN MACRO

OFF ON

SYSTEM

STANDBY

MD/TAPE

D-TV/LD

CBL/SAT

VCR 2/DVR

6CH INPUT TITLE
ENTER SOURCE DISPLAY SELECT MENU SOUND

SEARCH

CHAPTER +
10KEY DSP HALL 1 HALL 2 CHURCH JAZZ CLUB

ROCK CONCERT

STADIUM

ENTERTAINMENT

TV SPORTS

6.1/ES MONO MOVIE

/DTS SUR.
MOVIE MOVIE THEATER 1 THEATER 2

CHP/INDEX

A/B/C/D/E PRESET

TV VOL

TV INPUT TV MUTE

MUTE EFFECT

VOLUME
Printed in Malaysia ID V641360-1

00.10.19, 11:18 AM

2 00.10.19, 11:16 AM

INTRODUCTION

PREPARATION
BASIC OPERAIONT ADVANCED OPERATION

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

APPENDIX

00.10.19, 11:16 AM

4 00.10.19, 11:16 AM

1 00.10.19, 10:14 AM

2 00.10.19, 10:14 AM

3 00.10.19, 10:14 AM

INPUT INPUT MODE

6CH INPUT

qw e r t
MAN'L/AUTO FM AUTO/MAN'L MONO

4 00.10.19, 10:14 AM

5 00.10.19, 10:14 AM

1 A 2 B 5

e r t y u
ENTER SOURCE DISPLAY MENU SOUND

7 C 0 q

SELECT

p a sd f g h

PARAMETER

ON SCREEN LEVEL

SET MENU

6 00.10.19, 10:14 AM

d 0 f q g h e j

7 00.10.19, 10:14 AM

8 00.10.19, 10:14 AM

VIRTUAL

DIGITAL PRO LOGIC DSP 6.1/ES SP PCM AB
DTS MOVIE THEATER PTY HOLD EON STEREO AUTO DOLBY DIGITAL NEWS INFO AFFAIRS SPORT SLEEP PRO LOGIC ENTERTAINMENT MEMORY TUNED
D-TV/LD CBL/SAT VCR 1 VCR2/DVR V-AUX
DVD MD/TAPE CD-R TUNER CD PHONO

0 q 1 t 2

0 c 3 g

9 00.10.19, 10:14 AM

DIGITAL OUTPUT MD/ TAPE

TUNER IN (PLAY)

AUDIO R L R

AUDIO L DVD S VIDEO

VIDEO VIDEO COMPONENT DVD Y

AM ANT GND

MD/TAPE OUT (REC) D-TV /LD P B/ CB R IN (PLAY) CBL /SAT PR/ CR D-TV/LD IN VCR 1 Y MAIN MAIN OUT

SPEAKERS

PRE OUT/MAIN IN R L MAIN IN
AC OUTLETS SWITCHED 100W MAX. TOTAL

75 FM ANT

UNBAL. CD-R OUT (REC)
DVD SIGNAL GND D-TV /LD PHONO CD

PB/ CB

CENTER

IN VCR 2 /DVR

PR/ CR MONITOR OUT Y
MAIN A OR B: 6 A + B:12 CENTER :6 :6 REAR MIN. /SPEAKER MIN. /SPEAKER MIN. /SPEAKER MIN. /SPEAKER

SUB REAR CENTER WOOFER

OPTICAL COAXIAL

CD RS232C MAIN

R CBL /SAT SURROUND PB/ CB

LD RF (AC-3) COAXIAL: SELECT BY SETMENU DIGITAL INPUT
MONITOR OUT CENTER SUB WOOFER S VIDEO VIDEO

PR/ CR

REAR (SURROUND)

R REAR (SURROUND) L

w 0 q q

10 00.10.19, 10:14 AM

1.5~1.8 m

11 00.10.19, 10:28 AM

12 00.10.19, 10:28 AM

OPTICAL INPUT

OPTICAL OUTPUT

L R L R

OUTPUT

CD-R AM ANT GND

MD/TAPE OUT (REC) D-TV /LD PB/ CB
IN (PLAY) CD-R 75 FM ANT DVD SIGNAL GND D-TV /LD PHONO UNBAL. CD-R OUT (REC)

CBL /SAT

PR/ CR D-TV/LD

IN VCR 1

RS232C

COAXIAL OUTPUT

SURROUND OUTPUT

MAIN OUTPUT

GND OUTPUT
SUBWOOFER OUTPUT CENTER OUTPUT

13 00.10.19, 10:28 AM

Y PB/ CB
S VIDEO VIDEO L AUDIO R OPTICAL VIDEO AUX
OPTICAL OUT AUDIO OUT R AUDIO OUT L VIDEO OUT S VIDEO OUT

LD RF (AC-3)

COAXIAL: SELECT BY SETMENU

00.10.19, 10:28 AM

OPTICAL OUTPUT AUDIO OUTPUT
RF OUTPUT COMPONENT OUTPUT

COMPONENT OUTPUT

S VIDEO OUTPUT

VIDEO OUTPUT

IN (PLAY) CD-R 75 FM ANT DVD SIGNAL GND D-TV /LD UNBAL. CD-R OUT (REC)

CD RS232C

S VIDEO OUTPUT AUDIO OUTPUT

S VIDEO INPUT

VIDEO INPUT
S VIDEO OUTPUT COAXIAL OUTPUT AUDIO INPUT AUDIO OUTPUT

V L R O C V S

COMPONENT INPUT

15 00.10.19, 10:28 AM

16 00.10.19, 10:28 AM

SPEAKERS

MAIN OUT
MAIN A OR B: 6 MIN. /SPEAKER A + B:12 MIN. /SPEAKER CENTER : 6 MIN. /SPEAKER REAR : 6 MIN. /SPEAKER

17 00.10.19, 10:28 AM

18 00.10.19, 10:28 AM

19 00.10.19, 10:28 AM

P01 CONCERT HALL 1
INIT. DLY ROOM SIZE LIVENESS 30ms 1.0 5

20 00.10.19, 10:29 AM

21 00.10.19, 10:29 AM
SOURCE MD/TAPE DVD D-TV/LD CD-R

SILENT

VIDEO AUX

DISC PARAMETER

22 00.10.19, 10:29 AM

TEST DOLBY SUR.

LEFT RIGHT (TEST LEFT) (TEST RIGHT)

CENTER (TEST CENTER)

LEFT SURROUND (TEST L SUR.)
RIGHT SURROUND (TEST R SUR.)
REAR CENTER (TEST R CENTER)

23 00.10.19, 10:29 AM

INPUT MODE

STANDBY PHONO

10KEY DSP

HALL 1

HALL 2

CHURCH

JAZZ CLUB
DTS MOVIE THEATER PTY HOLD EON STEREO AUTO DOLBY DIGITAL ZONE 2 NEWS INFO AFFAIRS SPORT SLEEP PRO LOGIC ENTERTAINMENT MEMORY TUNED

24 00.10.19, 10:29 AM

PROGRAM

MONO MOVIE

25 00.10.19, 10:29 AM

26 00.10.19, 10:29 AM

27 00.10.19, 10:29 AM

6.1/ES CHP/INDEX

DTS MOVIE THEATER 1 2
PS PTY RT CT PTY HOLD EON STEREO AUTO ZONE 2 NEWS INFO AFFAIRS SPORT SLEEP MEMORY TUNED

28 00.10.19, 10:29 AM

EFFECT

29 00.10.19, 10:29 AM

DIGITAL OUTPUT MD/ TAPE TUNER

UNBAL. C

DVD SIGNAL GND D-TV /LD P C

CD RS232C M

CBL /SAT S LD RF (AC-3) COAXIAL: SELECT BY SETMENU DIGITAL INPUT

30 00.10.19, 10:29 AM

INPUT INPUT MODE VOLUME

BASS TREBLE

L AUDIO R OPTICAL

TUNING MODE

AUTO/MAN'L MONO

PRESET /TUNING

DTS MOVIE THEATER PTY HOLD EON STEREO AUTO DOLBY DIGITAL ZONE 2 NEWS INFO AFFAIRS SPORT SLEEP PRO LOGIC ENTERTAINM ENTERTAINMENT MEMORY TUNED

31 00.10.19, 10:29 AM

MEMORY

MAN'L/AUTO FM

DTS MOVIE THEATER PTY HOLD EON STEREO AUTO DOLBY DIGITAL ZONE 2 ZO NEWS INFO AFFAIRS SPORT SLE SLEEP PRO LOGIC ENTERTAINMENT MEMORY TUNED

32 00.10.19, 10:29 AM

VIRTUAL VIRTUAL
DIGITAL DIGITAL PRO LOGIC PRO LOGIC DSP DSP 6.1/ES SP PCM AB
PS PTY RT CT DTS MOVIE THEATER PTY HOLD EON STEREO AUTO DTS MOVIE THEATER 1 VOLUME PTY HOLD EON DOLBY DIGITAL ZONE 2 NEWS INFO AFFAIRS SPORT DOLBY DIGITAL ZONE 2 NEWS INFO AFFAIRS SPORT SLEEP PRO LOGIC ENTERTAINMENT MEMORY TUNED SLEEP PRO LOGIC ENTERTAINMENT MEMORY

dB dB ms ms

33 00.10.19, 10:29 AM

TV INPUT

PRESET
DTS MOVIE THEATER PTY HOLD EON STEREO AUTO DTS MOVIE THEATER 1 PTY HOLD EON DOLBY DIGITAL ZONE 2 NEWS INFO AFFAIRS SPORT ZONE 2 NEWS INFO AFFAIRS SPORT SLEEP PRO LOGIC ENTERTAINMENT MEMORY TUNED SLEEP MEMORY

PTY PTY

DTS MOVIE THEATER PTY HOLD EON DOLBY DIGITAL NEWS INFO AFFAIRS SPORT AFF PRO LOGIC ENTERTAINMENT MEMORY T

CT ZONE 2 SLEEP

DTS MOVIE THEATER PTY HOLD EON STEREO AUTO DOLBY DIGITAL ZONE 2 ZON NEWS INFO AFFAIRS SPORT SLE SLEEP PRO LOGIC ENTERTAINMENT MEMORY TUNED

34 00.10.19, 10:30 AM

SOURCE DVD MD/TAPE D-TV/LD CD-R CBL/SAT VCR 1 VCR2 /DVR V-AUX TUNER CD PHONO
SOURCE MD/TAPE DVD D-TV/LD CD-R CBL/SAT VCR 1 VCR2 /DVR V-AUX TUNER CD PHONO

35 00.10.19, 10:30 AM

2,5 3,4
1 SPEAKER SET 1A CENTER SP 1B MAIN SP 1C REAR L/R SP 1D REAR CT SP 1E LFE/BASS OUT 1F MAIN LEVEL LOW FRQ TEST
L/R BALANCE HP TONE CTRL CENTER GEQ INPUT RENAME I/O ASSIGNMENT INPUT MODE PARAM. INI

SET MENU 1/4

1 SPEAKER SET 2 LOW FRQ TEST 3 L/R BALANCE 4 HP TONE CTRL / :Up/Down /+ Enter
10 DOLBY D. SET 10A LFE LEVEL 10B D-RANGE 11 DTS LFE LEVEL 12 6.1/ES AUTO 13 SP DELAY TIME 14 DISPLAY SET 15 MEMORY GUARD

2 LOW FRQ TEST

TEST TONE OFF OUTPUT MAIN L/R FRQ 88Hz

36 00.10.19, 10:30 AM

TEST TONE OFF OUTPUT MAIN L/R FRQ 88Hz
TEST TONE ON OUTPUT MAIN L/R FRQ 88Hz

1A CENTER SP

LRG SML NONE

37 00.10.19, 10:30 AM

1C REAR L/R SP

1B MAIN SP

38 00.10.19, 10:30 AM

1E LFE/BASS OUT

1D REAR CT SP

SWFR MAIN BOTH

39 00.10.19, 10:30 AM

1F MAIN LEVEL

Normal

40 00.10.19, 10:30 AM

41 00.10.19, 10:30 AM

H-LEVEL CUT 0.0 1.0

1.0 0.0 L-LEVEL BST

42 00.10.19, 10:30 AM

C L C R

43 00.10.19, 10:30 AM

44 00.10.19, 10:30 AM

45 00.10.19, 10:30 AM

DIGITAL PRO LOGIC PRO LOGIC DSP 6.1/ES 6.1/ES SP PCM AB PCM
DTS MOVIE THEATER PTYPS EON STEREO AUTO HOLD PTY RT CT VOLUME DTS MOVIE THEATER 1 DOLBY DIGITAL ZONE 2 NEWS INFO AFFAIRS SPORT DOLBY DIGITAL SLEEP 2 ZONE PRO LOGIC ENTERTAINMENT MEMORY TUNED PRO LOGIC ENTERTAINMENT
D-TV/LD CBL/SAT VCR 1 VCR2/DVR dB ms V-AUX dB

46 00.10.19, 10:30 AM

V-AUX TUNER MD/TAPE CD-R CD

ENTER TITLE

SOURCE DISPLAY SELECT MENU SOUND ENTER

DISPLAY MENU SOUND

PAUSE PLAY SEARCH
10KEY DSP HALL 1 POWER HALL 2
REC STOP PAUSE CHURCH JAZZ CLUB
ENTERTV STADIUM HALL 1 TAINMENT HALL 2 SPORTS CHURCH

6.1/ES

MOVIE MOVIE /DTS ENTERTHEATER 1 ROCK THEATER 2 SUR. CONCERT STADIUM TAINMENT

0 6.1/ES

+10 MONO MOVIE
+100 MOVIE MOVIE THEATER 1 THEATER 2
MUTE EFFECT TV INPUT TV MUTE
CHP/INDEX TV INPUT TV MUTE CH

A/B/C/D/E PRESET VOLUME

TV VOL DISC

47 00.10.19, 10:30 AM

SOURCE

48 00.10.19, 10:30 AM

49 00.10.19, 10:30 AM

50 00.10.19, 10:30 AM

51 00.10.19, 10:30 AM

52 00.10.19, 10:30 AM

D-TV/LD CBL/SAT VCR 1 VCR 2/DVR DVD 6CH INPUT

SOURCE DISPLAY SELECT

TITLE ENTER SOURCE DISPLAY SELECT MENU SOUND

53 00.10.19, 10:30 AM

D-TV/LD CBL/SAT VCR 1 VCR 2/DVR DVD

54 00.10.19, 10:31 AM

V-AUX TUNER MD/TAPE CD-R CD D-TV/LD CBL/SAT VCR 1 VCR 2/DVR DVD

D-TV/LD CBL/SAT VCR 1

TRANSMIT RE-NAME

V-AUX TUNER MD/TAPE

ENTER 6CH INPUT

CD-R PHONO

55 00.10.19, 10:31 AM

POWER STANDBY PHONO

00.10.19, 10:31 AM

SYSTEM SYSTEM

57 00.10.19, 10:31 AM

58 00.10.19, 10:31 AM

RE-NAME

59 00.10.19, 10:31 AM

CLEAR CLEAR

60 00.10.19, 10:31 AM

61 00.10.19, 10:31 AM

62 00.10.19, 10:31 AM

63 00.10.19, 10:31 AM

64 00.10.19, 10:31 AM

65 00.10.19, 10:31 AM

66 00.10.19, 10:32 AM

ON SCREEN

P05 ROCK CONCERT

INIT.DLY LIVENESS REV.TIME REV.DELAY REV.LEVEL 15ms 5 1.6s 100ms 7%

67 00.10.19, 10:32 AM

INT. DLY

68 00.10.19, 10:32 AM

69 00.10.19, 10:32 AM

REV. TIME

70 00.10.19, 10:32 AM

(dB) 60 dB

REV. DELAY

REV TIME

REV. LEVEL

s s s s

71 00.10.19, 10:32 AM

72 00.10.19, 10:32 AM

73 00.10.19, 10:32 AM

74 00.10.19, 10:32 AM

75 00.10.19, 10:32 AM

76 1.9.5, 5:28 PM

Printed in Malaysia ID V641360-3

1.9.5, 5:13 PM

k n l h k n

V647500

034 EHC 20 Yamaha DSP-Z9

5/4/04

9:52 am

Page 74

>>Reviews Amplifier

Yamaha DSP-Z9

Yamahas latest amplifier weighs 30kg and features everything. Alan Sircoms impressed, but his osteopath disagrees
TS HARD TO SEE THE YELLOW FRONT panel display of the 3,300 Yamaha DSP-Z9. Not because it is especially dim or confusing but simply because the DSP-Z9 is so massive light cannot escape its clutches. Leave an unconnected cable or DVD near this amplifier and the next morning you will find it gently orbiting the Z9. Its also super-powerful; theres so much digital smarts inside the Z9, perhaps it should be renamed HAL. And the beauty of the digital smarts entailed within the Z9 is that for once it does not mean that you have a complex installation job on your hands. The amplifier features a microphone setup (called YPAO, or Yamaha Parametric Room Acoustic Optimiser) that optimises distance, level,
What we like about this amplifier A spec sheet to die for, yet simple to use Delving through its processing is addictive A sound quality that lives up to the price What we dont like about this amplifier Its very, very heavy Need a lot of speakers to get the best from it The jealous looks from your friends
channel balance and tonal balance for the speakers, as well as discovering the size and number of speakers used automatically. While similar in some respects (equalisation, for example), rival amplifiers like Pioneers VSA-AX10 cannot compete in terms of channels and power delivery. And its here that the reason for the YPAO system becomes clear. The Z9 is a 9.1-channel amp that delivers a total of just over 2.25kW to these channels. If you use the DSP-Z9 to its limits, you will have a lot of speakers in the cinema room. Granted, the front effects speakers neednt be large (Yamahas own tiny 80 NS-E103s are ideal for the purpose), but the number of speakers (and wires) may require considerable arbitration between the cinema and domestic management. The Yamaha sports every possible feature you could ask for on a home cinema system. Like all good flagships of the last few months, the Z9 has an i.Link connection for two-way digital communications between player and amplifier, as well as shifting the DVD-Audio and SACD processing to within the amplifier instead of the player. Custom installers also have digital access to the Z9 with a RS232C port.
One of the smarter options is the inclusion of healthy video processing alongside the audio decoding. Theres a Faroudja DCDi processing circuit, allowing progressive scan images, as well as digital component video up-conversion and noise shaped video processing. In short, this means the Yamaha does its best to upgrade even most basic composite video pictures to progressive scan component video output, cleaning up the picture in the process. And then theres Yamahas sophisticated DSP decoding chipset. Every channel features 192kHz, 24bit digital conversion. This is coupled to no less than 79 variations on the 55 surround sound programmes (including headphone and late night modes). With so many speakers deployed around the room, the Z9 requires the very latest Dolby and DTS modes, and the Yamaha sports Pro-Logic IIx, and DTS Neo: 6 to bring stereo soundtracks up to 7.1 channel standing. It also features Dolby Digital/Digital EX and DTS/DTS ES, and even THX Ultra 2 processing. THX Ultra 2 is a new feature of Yamahas flagship. This is a lot of processing, which can potentially damage the more sensitive and purist

ESSENTIAL HI-FI & HOME CINEMA

9:53 am

Page 75
Key Features 9.1 channels 7 x 300W RMS for main 7 amps, 2 x 90W for front effects Dolby Digital/Digital EX. DTS/DTS ES, Dolby Pro-Logic IIx, DTS Neo:surround programmes (79 variations) Connections 7 x pairs AV and 5 audio-only phono input 3 x pairs AV and audio-only phono output MM phono input 8 x phono direct input 14 x pre-amp phono output 7 x optical, 4 x coaxial digital input 3 x optical digital output
THX Ultra 2 approved YPAO automatic setup i.Link compatible Faroudja DCDi progressive scan and video up-scaling Separate signal paths for different sources Zone 2 coaxial digital output 2 x i.Link connector 6 x component video input 2 x component video output 7 x composite/S-video input 2 x monitor composite/S-video output Zone 2 composite/S-video output IR trigger input, RS232C input 11 x pairs multi-way speaker terminals: IEC mains input Dimensions 435(w) x 211(h) x 471(d)mm
Audio phono inputs/outputs

Speaker terminals

Yamahas most highly-specified amplifier to date

Component video in/out

Digital audio in/out
S-video & composite in/out

i.Link sockets

Control sockets
stereo sound so, cleverly, Yamaha has four discrete signal paths to handle sensitivities of the selected sound format, switching out all video and DSP modes for the Pure Direct mode, for example. One of the nice touches in the Yamaha box is the second remote. The main remote control a big black sea of buttons is useful for fine-tuning the setup of the Z9, but confusing and potentially problematic for day-to-day use. Shrewdly, Yamaha include a smaller, less complex granny remote with all the control needed to use the Yamaha in daily use. Like the automated setup, Yamaha is not the first company to think of this, but where the Z9 scores is that it includes everything others have thought of. This is only scratching the surface of the Z9s features, but its not our fault. Even the brief info sheet on the Yamaha website runs to 14 pages. Functionality-wise, the Yamaha is surprisingly easy to use. The auto-setup makes installation easy, the graphical user interface allows modification and shaping of that installation and the granny remote allows the amplifier to be used easily from day-today. This means you hardly need to use the manual aside from plugging one component to another,

a good thing because it is necessarily complex. Once installed and set up, the amplifier is extremely easy to drive and for most people behaves as if you had designed the interface personally. Sonically, the Z9 is shockingly good. Sound is typically Yamaha; dark, warm and satisfying. Yet its also supremely powerful; its as if the speakers are suddenly bigger, more accurate and capable of delivering more sound than before. All this and subtlety, too. Sounds move around the room with the sort of seamless integration that usually implies a professional installation. Normally, we highlight the good or bad aspects of an amplifier with an illustrative passage from a DVD. That proves impossible here. Every disc you play on the Z9 illustrates how good the amplifier is. Of course, the typical demo discs Gladiator, Das Boot, Lord of the Rings sound fantastic, but so do mono discs like Citizen Kane. The Yamaha DSP-Z9 sets a new standard in home cinema amplification. You need to buy extremely expensive processor/power amplifier combinations to get a better sound, but nothing beats it in functionality of flexibility.

Verdict

Sales Web www.yamaha-audio.co.uk
EASE OF USE LOOKS FEATURES SOUND VALUE
VERDICT This is the biggest and best-specified integrated AV amplifier on the market today. Now go out and buy one.

Overall

BEST RIVALS
Denon AVC-A1SRA Pioneer VSA-AX10i-S Sony TA-DA9000ES