RCA RT2250 (02) PDF MANUAL

• Insert all cable plugs into their jacks firmly.

• Place audio/video cables to the sides of the receiver’s back panel instead of straight down the middle after you have connected the components.

• Try not to coil any power cables and keep them away from the audio/video cables as much as possible.

• Make sure all antennas and cables are properly grounded.

• Do not block ventilation holes in any component. Arrange the components so that air can circulate freely.

• Do not stack components directly on top of each other.

• Allow adequate ventilation when placing your components in a stand.

• Place an amplifier near the top shelf of the stand so heating air rising from it will not affect other components. If you have a satellite receiver, you should place it on the top shelf.

Video Camera/Game Machine: If you have a video camera, video game machine, or an extra VCR, connect it to the VCR 2 jack at the front of the receiver.

SAT Receiver or DVD Player (Digital Sound): You can use an optical digital connecting cord (not supplied) or a coaxial digital connecting cord (not supplied) to enjoy Dolby Digital sound quality. One optical/coaxial cable is needed for each SAT receiver/DVD player. When an optical or coaxial cable is used, no more analog cable is needed. This receiver provides one optical and one coaxial digital input. Connect your components (e.g., DVD, SAT, or CD) to the appropriate digital inputs, press SET/DEMO, and then rotate MULTI JOG to match your connection.

Dolby Digital/PCM Components: Connect components capable of outputting Dolby Digital (e.g., DVD or SAT) or standard PCM (CD) format digital signals. Read the section on “Input Signal Setting” to adjust the matching input settings.

CD Player (Optical): If your CD player has digital optical jacks, using an optical cable is preferred. Plug it into the digital input jack of the receiver. When an optical cable is used, no analog cable is needed. This receiver has one digital optical jack only, so ensure this connection does not prevent optical cable connection of other components (e.g., DVD & SAT).

S-Video Components: If your video component has an S-Video jack, you can connect it to the relevant S-Video jack on the receiver to enjoy enhanced video quality. When an S-Video cable is used, no analog video cable is needed. Match the shape of the plug and jack before inserting.

The AM and FM antennas connect to the AM and FM terminals on the system’s back panel. To connect them:

1. Uncoil the antenna wires and locate the bare ends.

2. Press down on the terminal tab to open it.

3. Insert the wire.

4. Snap the tab closed to lock the wire.

5. After connecting, extend the antennas to their full length and adjust their positioning for better reception.

NOTE: Make sure the insulation is completely removed from the ends of the antenna and speaker wires at all connection points.

At least two front speakers (left and right) are required. For better sound quality, a Center speaker, rear speakers, and a Subwoofer are preferred. Adding center and rear speakers will enhance surround effects. Adding a Subwoofer will increase bass response.

To connect the speakers:

1. Use the color-coded speaker cords (1 for each speaker).

2. Twist the stripped ends of the speaker cord about 2/3 inch (15 mm).

3. Press down on the terminal tab to open it.

4. Insert the wire.

5. Snap the tab closed.

The speaker cords and terminals are color-coded: Red/Black (Main Speakers), Blue/Black (Center Speaker), and Grey/Black (Rear Speakers). When connecting, make sure the colors of the speaker wires and terminals are matched. If the cords are reversed, the sound will be distorted and will lack bass.

For RT2250, connect the subwoofer with the audio cord (brown/black) provided.

For RT2250R, or if you want to connect your own powered subwoofer, a monaural audio cord (not supplied) is needed. Use the jack on the left back panel for connecting a powered subwoofer.

For Dolby-enhanced sound quality, five speakers are preferred: one center speaker, left and right main speakers, rear left and right speakers, and an optional subwoofer. If your front speakers are small, a subwoofer is essential for enhanced bass effects. Here are some suggestions for setup:

1. The two main speakers should be set between six and ten feet apart. Putting them any closer or farther apart may result in less satisfactory sound.

2. Try to align the center speaker and two main speakers, or set the center speaker slightly behind the left and right main speakers; otherwise, the surround effect may be less satisfactory.

3. Aim the rear speakers directly at the two main speakers, matching height to height. If the room is sparsely decorated, slightly tilt the speakers down to increase sound quality. If the room is densely decorated, face the speakers towards the rear wall at the ceiling.

Make sure you connect all your other electronic components and the speakers before plugging your receiver into the outlet. Plug the power cord in the wall outlet, matching the wide blade of the plug with the wide slot in the outlet. Be sure to insert the plug completely.

To listen privately, use the PHONES jack on the receiver. Make sure you turn down the volume before you put on the headphones. Increase the volume to the desired level after headphones are in place.

Once headphones are connected, “HEADPHONE DOWNMIX 2 CHANNEL” will scroll on the display.

Right after you have plugged in the power, a demo message will appear in the display. It will also be displayed if you press the SET/DEMO at STANDBY mode or press a source button (like CD) but then leave all buttons untouched for 30 seconds. To restore to normal status, press SET/DEMO again to return to STANDBY mode.

You can always restore all settings back to their original state. When the receiver is in STANDBY mode, press the following buttons in sequence:

STADIUM ➝ NIGHT ➝ DSP OFF ➝ CLUB

This will restore everything, like preset radio station frequencies and speaker settings, back to the state it was in when you first used it.

Note: As you turn on the receiver after a reset, it will first enter TUNER mode and show a frequency of 87.5MHz.

1. STANDBY: To turn the unit on/off. When the system is turned on, it will go to the mode it was in before power off.

2. MUTE: To mute all audio outputs.

3. PHONES: Plug your headphones (not supplied) in for private enjoyment. Speakers will be off when phones are inserted.

4. Source Buttons (CD, SAT, etc.): To select the sound source. In standby mode, they are also One Touch Power On keys to turn on the receiver directly to the selected source mode.

5. Display: To display the current status of the receiver.

6. Sound Control: Adjusts volume, treble, bass, and balance. Turn the large central knob for VOLUME. Press TREBLE or BASS and turn the knob. To change individual speaker volume, press LEVEL repeatedly to select the speaker, then turn the knob.

7. DSP & NIGHT mode: Press the corresponding button (STADIUM/CONCERT/THEATER/ARENA/CHURCH/CLUB/OFF) to select a DSP mode. Press NIGHT for enjoyment at night.

8. MULTI JOG, SET/DEMO: Pressing SET/DEMO repeatedly toggles among Audio Source (for DVD, SAT & CD), SLEEP mode, and DIM selection. In SLEEP mode, you can set the receiver to turn off after 30, 60, 90, or 120 minutes. In DIM selection, rotate the knob to set display brightness. Use the MULTI JOG knob for speaker setup and preset radio station selection.

9. TUNING: Press to select tuner frequencies manually.

10. P. SCAN (Preset Scan): Press for about 2 seconds to automatically start scanning and presetting tuner stations.

11. SURR. MODE: Press repeatedly to select the surround mode you want.

12. 6 CH (6 Channels): Press to select the input connected to an external 6-Channel decoder. Press again to return to the most recently selected source mode.

13. TEST/SET UP: Press briefly to generate a test tone in the speakers one by one to adjust individual speaker volume. Press for two seconds to enter setup mode for speakers and subwoofers. Rotate the MULTI JOG to choose options.

14. PRESET EQ: Press repeatedly to select the EQ mode (music style): CLASSIC, POP, ROCK, JAZZ, VOCAL, or FLAT.

15. BYPASS: Press to cut sound output from center, surround & subwoofer speakers.

16. VCR2: For convenient use of your digital camera, family game machines, second VCR, etc. If your video component has S-Video output, you can use the S-Video jack for enhanced video quality.

1. ON/OFF: To turn on or off the receiver and other auxiliary components.

2. Source Buttons: To turn on and select various audio/video sources. You can also enter the 6 Channels direct input mode by pressing DVD-6CH.

3. CH+, CH- (Channel Buttons): To select programmed stations (in TUNER mode).

4. VOL (Volume Buttons): To adjust the volume.

5. MUTE: To mute all audio outputs.

6. Adjustment Buttons: Press AUDIO to activate the control. Then, upon pressing OK, the display will toggle among Preset EQ (Stereo only), SLEEP Mode & DIM Mode. When the display shows the desired setup, use the left and right arrow buttons beside OK to make changes, then press OK to finalize your choice.

7. Number Buttons: To access a pre-set station directly (in TUNER mode).

8. MENU: Press to store a desired frequency in memory. The word MEMORY will flash. Input your desired channel number while it’s flashing to store the frequency.

9. Operation Buttons: In TUNER mode, press REVERSE and FORWARD to tune the radio frequency. PLAY, RECORD, STOP, and PAUSE are for controlling other components (like CD, TV, DVD, TAPE).

10. DIGITAL: Select how your audio/video components are connected to the receiver – Analog, Optical, or Coaxial.

11. LEVEL: Press to adjust the volume of an individual speaker. Press repeatedly to toggle among different channels (Left main, Right main, Center, Left surround, Right surround, and/or Subwoofer). Use the left and right arrow buttons beside OK for adjustment.

12. SURR (Surround Sound Control): Press to change the surround sound settings. The display will toggle among DOLBY DIGITAL, DOLBY PRO LOGIC, DOLBY 3 STEREO, STEREO and DSP modes.

Note: The remote buttons GO BACK DISK, GUIDE RDM-PTY, INFO RDS, CLEAR, INPUT SEEK & ANT FMS do not work with the receiver.

1. Select TUNER.

2. Tune to your favorite station.

3. Adjust volume.

4. Set preset EQ if needed.

5. Set surround mode if needed.

You can keep pressing one of the TUNING buttons on the unit or the REVERSE/FORWARD buttons on the remote for a second, and the receiver will search for the next available station for you.

Storing Stations:

1. Set to the desired frequency using the receiver or remote control.

2. Press MENU on the remote control. The flashing word MEMORY in red will appear on the display.

3. While the word MEMORY is still flashing, input your desired channel number, and the frequency will be stored. You can store up to 30 stations.

Recalling Stations:

After storing stations, you can rotate the MULTI JOG on the receiver or press the CH+ or CH- buttons on the remote to select the preset stations directly.

Note: The CH+ and CH- buttons respond only in TUNER mode.

1. Connect the DVD, CD, or VCR player with the receiver.

2. Select DVD, CD, or VCR according to the source connected.

3. Turn on the connected player and start playback.

4. Set Preset EQ if needed.

5. Set Surround Mode if needed.

6. Set Night Mode if needed.

7. Adjust Volume.

This is not necessary for recent RCA & Proscan models. For other components:

1. Turn on the component to be programmed.

2. Look up the brand and corresponding code number in the code list.

3. While keeping the corresponding Source Button (like VCR1, VCR2, TV, DVD) on the remote pressed, enter the code from the code list through the Number Buttons.

4. Release the component button, then press ON-OFF to see if the component will be turned off.

5. If this does not work, repeat steps 3 and 4 by trying to use the next code (if available) listed for the brand of your component until the component responds to the remote command.

Tips:

• Once your component is encoded, you can press ON/OFF on the remote once to turn off the component and then quickly a second time to turn off the receiver. To only turn off the receiver, select FM/AM while the unit is ON before pressing ON/OFF.

• This remote may not operate all models of the brands shown.

• If batteries are removed from the remote, all memory will be lost and you will need to re-enter all previously programmed codes.

• The buttons on the remote may not work correspondingly with those on other component brands. Experiment to see which buttons work. If only a few functions operate, check if another code set will work with more buttons.

Dolby Pro Logic and Dolby 3 Stereo: This surround system reproduces theater-like sound from Dolby-encoded software. The Pro Logic mode uses a built-in circuit to steer Left, Center, Right, and Surround channel audio signals to all five speakers and an optional subwoofer. It is suitable for sources like TV and VCR. The 3 Stereo mode redirects Surround signals to the front left and right speakers when only front and center speakers are used.

5.1 ch Input for Dolby Digital: This mode lets you enjoy full digital surround from software in the Dolby Digital format, providing better sound quality than conventional Dolby Surround. When a Dolby Digital movie soundtrack is made, sound effects are mixed into six separate digital audio channels. The receiver decodes this stream back into six audio channels for playback. This mode is optimal for DVD and SAT sources.

Stereo: This mode uses the two main channel outputs from the front speakers. Use this mode if you have only connected the front speakers.

These digital sound effects resemble sounds in real environments like a Stadium, Concert, Theater, Arena, Church, or Club. DSP automatically converts analog audio signals to digital ones, allowing you to adjust the sound without degrading its quality. Different modes provide different feelings of size and type of listening environment.

Using Dynamic Range Compression technology, you can enjoy enhanced sound quality from Dolby Digital at night without disturbing others. While using a Dolby Digital enabled component (DVD, SAT), you can activate Night Mode by pressing the NIGHT button on the front of the receiver. This mode compresses the volume difference between normal voices and loud sounds like explosions. There are two modes (SOFT, SOFTER) to choose the extent of compression.

Input IQ is a feature that pre-selects the best surround mode for you when you turn on the unit by pressing a Source Button (like DVD, SAT, CD). The default surround modes for different components are shown in the table below. If you decide to change the surround mode, you can press the SURR MODE button.

The receiver has defaulted to convenient settings. If your connection is different from the default, you can press SET/DEMO and then rotate MULTI JOG to toggle among optical/coaxial/analog to match your connection. Your selection will be stored automatically.

Every time you press the source button, the input setting (e.g., DVD/OPTI) will be shown on the display for a few seconds.

Adjust Relative Loudness:

You can adjust the relative loudness of individual speakers by pressing the TEST/SET UP button. In Dolby modes, press the button briefly. A short noise will be heard in the speakers one by one. The speaker having the noise at that moment will be shown in the display. You can listen to that speaker and rotate the MULTI JOG to adjust the level.

Change Speaker Configurations:

Press the TEST/SET UP button until the display shows “L/R IRG”. By pressing the button repeatedly while this is showing, the display will toggle among front, center, surround, subwoofer, subwoofer phase, and speakers’ distance setup. You can then set the volume, size, or distance by rotating the MULTI JOG.

Note:

• The subwoofer selection will always be YES when the main speakers are set to small (SML).

• For the subwoofer phase setting, it will be affected by how you locate the subwoofer. Try both + and – settings and select the one that has a better bass effect.

To make the surround sound more effective and suit the acoustic conditions in your listening room, you need to input the distance of the speakers as measured from your favorite listening position. The receiver will adjust the appropriate delay compensation for you.

The receiver has defaulted to the following distances:

• Main speakers (L/R): 15 ft

• Center speaker (Cch): 15 ft

• Rear speaker (SUR): 10 ft

Speaker Icons:

The receiver shows you the speakers’ types and settings on the display with the following icons:

• L R (small boxes): Small Main Speakers

• L R (large boxes): Large Main Speakers

• C (small box): Small Center Speakers

• C (large box): Large Center Speakers

• LS RS (small boxes): Small Rear Speakers

• LS RS (large boxes): Large Rear Speakers

• LFE: Subwoofer Present

Displaying Program Formats:

When a digital source is playing, the receiver will automatically switch to the proper surround mode and indicate this on the speaker icons on the right-hand side of the display. Speaker icons show how many and which speakers you have enabled. The letters inside the speaker icons show which channel is present in the source information. For example, if the display shows all five speakers and the subwoofer enabled with letters inside, it means the digital source you played has five channels plus the LFE (Low Frequency Effect) channel.

*LFE stands for Low Frequency Effect. The indication “LFE” appears if the digital source contains LFE information, delivering bass signal to the subwoofer for more dynamic sound. If the letter is flashing, the signal is either too weak or has just gone.

Receiver/Tuner Operation

• STEREO indicator is off: Adjust the antenna.

• The signal is Mono. Severe hum or noise: The signal is too weak. Connect an external antenna.

Remote Control Operation

• The remote control does not operate the unit:

– Another function mode is selected on the remote. Press the correct Source Button.

– No batteries installed. Install the batteries, matching the + and – ends.

– The batteries are weak. Replace all batteries.

– The remote is not pointed at the remote control sensor on the main unit, or there is an obstacle between them.

– The remote control is too far from the main unit; move closer.

General

• No audio:

– Make sure the speakers are connected.

– Check the connections.

– Check the power cord connections.

– Make sure the MUTE indicator on the front panel is off.

– Make sure the digital setting (optical, coaxial, or analog) is correct.

• No audio from one channel:

– Check the speaker level setting.

– Check the speaker wire or cable connections.

• Noise is created when the TV is turned on: The TV is too close to the audio system.

• Specific instruments sound displaced: Check the connections between the receiver and the speakers if the sound does not match the video. Press the Source Button for the video source.

Disconnect the system from AC power before cleaning the exterior of the system with a soft dust cloth, or with a slightly humid chamois leather. Never use strong solvents.

Audio (RCA/Dimensia only)

Laserdisc Players