ATI ATP8500.1
Owner’s Manual Addendum
For those who have purchased an ATP8500.1 preamp/processor, or who have upgraded their ATP8500
to “.1” status.
All of the inputs, outputs, and controls found on the ATP8500 remain unchanged on the ATP8500.1. The
main difference between the two versions is the addition of many useful new surround-sound modes in the
ATP8500.1, and a few minor changes to the onscreen menu system.
ATP8500.1 Surround Modes
The original ATP8500 offers a selection of four sound modes (besides Dolby Digital and DTS): stereo,
mono, Pro Logic, and music. The ATP8500.1 offers far more, giving you many additional options for
surround-sound processing. The stereo and mono modes remain unchanged. The ATP8500.1’s new modes
include:
Dolby Digital EX®
Dolby Digital EX is the “6.1-channel” version of Dolby Digital 5.1. It decodes an additional surround
channel, which feeds one or two speakers positioned in the back of your room. (Your existing surround
speakers should be placed to the sides of your favorite listening position.) This mode gives you more
realistic “fly-over” effects, such as when spaceships in sci-fi movies appear to pass overhead as the sound
moves from the back of your room to the front. It also creates a more realistic sense of ambience, in scenes
featuring wind noise, rain sounds, etc.
When you activate the right back and left back channels through the ATP8500.1’s speaker size menu, the
ATP8500.1 automatically processes all Dolby Digital 5.1 signals in Dolby Digital EX. Dolby Digital EX
works best with movies specifically encoded for EX; a list of these movies can be found at
www.dolby.com. However, Dolby Digital EX processing is designed to work well with almost any material
encoded in standard Dolby Digital 5.1.
DTS-ES Matrix®
DTS-ES Matrix works almost exactly like Dolby Digital EX, with one important difference: The
processing is activated automatically by a digital “flag” encoded on DTS-ES Matrix soundtracks. Non-ES-
encoded DTS material will be reproduced in 5.1 channels.
For information on ES Matrix-encoded movies, visit www.dtsonline.com.
DTS ES-Discrete®
Like DTS-ES Matrix, ES Discrete adds a sixth, back-surround channel that can be reproduced using one or
two additional surround speakers. However, unlike ES Matrix and Dolby Digital EX, the extra channel in
ES Discrete is not derived using matrix decoding. Instead, it is a fully discrete channel, and therefore offers
the potential for more dramatic effects than either ES Matrix or Dolby Digital EX can produce. As with ES
Matrix, the ATP8500.1 automatically activates the ES Discrete mode when it encounters the digital “flag”
included in all ES Discrete soundtracks.
ES Discrete is currently available only on DVD. For information on ES Discrete DVDs, visit
www.dtsonline.com.
Dolby Pro Logic II®
Pro Logic II derives 5.1-channel surround sound from any stereo material, including stereo CDs, FM
broadcasts, satellite and cable TV, VHS stereo VCRs, and DVDs encoded in two-channel Dolby Digital or
PCM digital. It works with ordinary stereo material, and material encoded in Dolby Surround (such as VHS
tapes).