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USING THE S170
You may operate the S170 preamplifier equally from its front panel or via the S70 remote controller. Since
the remote will be the primary controller for most cases, we will focus on remote-controlled operations.
Be sure to read the section, "Front Panel Operations," below.
SELECTING SOURCES
From the S70 remote's PREAMP menu, select [@ Source]; then use the [Source up/down] keys to cycle
through all ten S170 inputs in order, beginning with the most recently selected one. Or you may use the
[CD], [Tuner], [Tapemon] (Tape Monitor), or [Ext5.1] (5.1-channel external input) keys to select directly those
sources.
NOTE THAT:
• When an audio-only source is selected, the most recently-selected video signal remains selected, until
another audio-video input is selected
• When you change sources, the OSD will, depending on the Display setup settings (above) momentarily
show information about the new input. The level of detail depends on the setting of the <Temporary disp.>
item: "Full" will show all information about the newly selected input's audio, digital, and video signals;
"Simple" will show only the new input name, and "Off" will prevent any display from appearing.
• A newly selected input's listening mode (Stereo, EARS, Dolby Digital, etc.) will revert to the mode that
was employed the last time that input was chosen, except that a multichannel digital source (Dolby
Digital or DTS) source will automatically switch to 5.1- or 6.1/7.1-channel surround, even if that input
was last used in another mode such as Stereo or EARS.
• The Ext5.1 input participates in the S170's source "rotation" like any other audio-only source. However,
since the Ext5.1 input is a "straight-through" source it does not receive bass-management, tone-
control, or any other preamp functions; signals appearing at the rear panel's EXTERNAL 5.1 INPUTS
pass directly to the corresponding six of the PREAMP ANALOG 7.1 OUTPUTS jacks with no processing
other than master-volume control. Bass-management and any other desired processing should be
performed by the multichannel external source component.
ADJUSTING THE VOLUME
Use the S70 remote's <Volume up/down> keys to adjust the "master volume" of the S170, raising or
lower all channels together.
NOTE THAT:
• A momentary keypress will change the master volume by 1 dB increments; if you hold down <Volume
up/down> the master-volume change will "run-on" until the key is released.
• The S170's OSD will show the volume setting as a line graphic relative to the reference level (the "+"
mark on the line), with a numeric display above in dB relative to the reference level. (If the <Display
setup> <Temporary disp.> item is set to "Off" the momentary volume indication will NOT appear.)
Since recordings vary considerably in overall average level, there is no imperative to listen at the reference
level or any other particular setting. A setting of -20 may sound "as loud" from one CD as -10 does from
another.
• If muting has been activated (below), increasing the master-volume via the S70 remote's [Volume
up/down] keys or the front-panel knob automatically releases the mute function; decreasing volume
retains muting.
• The S170 will power-up/return from Standby mode at whatever master volume setting was last used;
however, if the prior setting was greater than –20 dB the S170 will power up to –20 dB. This prevents
inadvertently beginning a session at excessive volume.
MUTING THE SOUND
Use the S70 remote's <Mute> key to silence all channels completely. Muting is always available, regardless
of source or listening mode selections.
NOTE THAT:
• Cycling through Standby or powering off releases muting; the S170 will always power up or return
from Standby with muting off.
• Changing input or listening-mode selections does not release muting.
• Increasing the master-volume via the S70 remote's [Volume up/down] keys or the front-panel knob
automatically releases the mute function; decreasing volume retains muting.
