This feature is available for Dolby Digital only. It compresses the inherently dynamic digital sound so that the quiet and loud passages are not quite as different in sound levels as they ordinarily are. This feature allows the user to watch movies and listen to dialogue at toned-down levels so as not to disturb others by the loud sound effects that may be present. The Late Night indicator (26) illuminates when this feature is active.
8. Test
Press this button to activate the Test Tone mode. The relative timing of sounds coming from the center and/or surround speakers compared to the front-left and front-right speakers can be adjusted. The first press of this button allows adjustment of the center channel, all the way from the default setting of 0 ms (milliseconds), which means no delay (all status bars off), to a maximum of 5 ms (5 status bars on). The indicators C (28) and DLY (30) will be on. The second press of the Delay button allows adjustments of the surround speakers; indicators LS (28) and RS (28) and DLY (30) will be on. The delay can be adjusted from zero (all status bars off) to 15 ms (all status bars on) in 5.1 Channel Dolby Digital and from 15 ms (all status bars off) to 30 ms (all status bars on) in Dolby Pro Logic (there is an inherent and fixed 15 ms of delay added in the �matrixed� Dolby Pro Logic to recreate the proper surround effect). The center and surround delay adjustments can be done from either Dolby Digital or Dolby Pro Logic �matrixed� modes. There are no separate delay adjustments for the individual modes of operation. During adjustments, the audio mutes momentarily every time the Adjustment +/� button (11) is pressed. Please note that the status-bar indicator (27) will not display unless Adjustment +/� buttons are pressed. Also, while the status-bar indicator (27) is on, channel indicators (28) and DLY (30) will not be displayed. And, if adjustments are done in a mode where a certain channel is not available, the adjustment step for that channel is skipped. For example, in Phantom mode, the center-channel delay cannot be adjusted since Phantom does not have a center channel. In Stereo, neither the center nor the surround delay can be adjusted since Stereo does not feature surround speakers or a center speaker. A third press of the Delay button will exit the ESC333 from its delay-adjustment mode.
9. Delay
4. Input
This control is available on both the front panel and the remote control. It allows manual selection when the user repeatedly presses and releases the button for any of the ESC333�s four inputs. The ESC333 features an Automatic Digital Input Selection feature that automatically switches the ESC333 to the source connected to one of its two digital inputs as soon as that device is powered on. Please read the section on page 3 to thoroughly familiarize yourself with the conveniences and conditions of using the Automatic Digital Input Selection feature. The Input switch is also used when the source connected to the ESC333�s analog input is not the analog source that was listened to the last time the ESC333 was on (and hence the Automatic Turn-On feature is not available). The Input switch also turns on the ESC333 when pressed (see item 1 earlier in this section). Whenever a specific input is selected either manually or automatically, its indicator (14, 15, 16 or 17) on the ESC333�s front panel will be illuminated.
5. Surround Mode
Pressing and releasing this button allows the selection of different listening modes. Surround (18), Phantom (19) and 3-Stereo (20) are available listening options for Dolby Digital and Dolby Pro Logic. Stereo (21) bypasses the surround processing and outputs sound through the right and left-front speakers only. In Surround mode, all five satellites and the sub-woofer will play. In Phantom mode, all speakers except the center channel will play. In 3-Stereo, all speakers except for the two surround speakers will be active. Press (+) on the remote control or the front panel to raise the system�s volume. Press (-) on the remote control or the front panel to lower the system�s volume. The volume setting is indicated on the status-bar indicator (27).
10. Level
6. Volume
7. 0 dB
Press this button to reset the Center, Surround, Balance, Treble and Bass controls to their default positions.
The relative level of sounds coming from each of the ESC333�s speakers can be adjusted while listening to program material on the ESC333. Repeated pressing and releasing of the Level button allows access to each channel. The display will indicate LVL (29), and the channel indicators (28) LF (Left Front), C (Center), RF (Right Front), LS (Left Surround), RS (Right Surround) and SUB (sub-woofer) will illuminate to indicate the active speaker. The level for the selected channel can then be changed using the Adjustment +/� buttons (11). Levels set in one mode will stay valid for all other modes and are not independent. Please note that the status-bar indicator (27)
