MPS-5 User Manual
17
MULTI CHANNEL CONFIGURATIONS
The MPS-5 can be configured for various different applications in multi channel setups and SACD MCH
playback. As the MPS-5 is equipped with 2 internal analog outputs it can be combined with the Playback
Designs companion stereo D/A converter (MPD-5) for external analog processing of the additional channel
data from SACD MCH discs. The possible configurations are:
1.
Stereo
only playback from SACD MCH: the player will only read the LF and RF channels from SACD
MCH discs. This is the factory default configuration. The user can switch between stereo and multi
channel layers on SACD’s, but the player will only read 2 channels from the selected layer and only
send out 2 channels via the PLink output.
2.
4-channel
playback from SACD: the player reads all available channels from SACD MCH discs,
mixes the center channel into left and right front channels for output directly from its internal analog
outputs. The left and right surround channels are sent out digitally via the optical PLink (DATA) for
analog conversion by the Playback Designs companion product MPD-5. All stereo discs are played
normally with analog outputs from the player and muted outputs via the PLink output.
3.
6-channel
playback: the player reads all available channels from SACD MCH discs. While only 2
channels are available from its analog outputs (LF and RF), it sends out digital audio data for the
other 4 channels via the PLink output.
The various configurations and corresponding parameters can be set via a setup menu on the front panel:
1. In order to enable multi channel output the player needs to be set into multi channel mode (factory
default setting is stereo) by first pressing and holding the STOP key and then pressing the NEXT key
on the front panel. Each time this key combination is pressed the modes are toggled between stereo
and multi channel. In stereo mode the player will automatically select the stereo program each time a
SACD is put in. Likewise in multi channel mode the player will automatically select the multi channel
program each time a SACD is put in, provided it contains a multi channel layer.
2. By pressing and holding the CLR button on the remote a setup menu is entered that allows the user
to program several features. There are 3 menu items that pertain to the multi channel configuration.
The programming can be toggled by pressing the PLAY button on the remote. After 5 seconds of the
last button press from the user the setup menu is exited automatically and the player can be used
normally again.
Displayed Feature
Options
Explanation
CNTR MIX
ON / OFF
When set to ON, configured for multi channel playback, the
OPT ALL CH feature disabled and playing a SACD MCH
disc, the center channel is digitally mixed into LF and RF
channels (output via internal analog outputs) and left and
right surround channels are sent out via the optical PLink
output. This implements the 4-channel configuration
described above.
OPT OUT
PLINK / SONOMA
The proprietary optical output can support 2 different formats:
PlayLink (PLink) for direct connection to other Playback
Designs equipment via a single optical cable (DATA output),
or SONOMA for connection to the professional SACD
recording and editing workstation via 2 optical cables (DATA
and CLOCK).
OPT ALL CH
ON / OFF
When set to ON audio data from all channels (including L and
R) is sent out via the optical PLink output and Center channel
downmix is disabled (override). When set to off the PLink
output contains data for channels 3-6 or 5-6 depending on
the setting of the CNTR MIX feature.
All manuals and user guides at all-guides.com
