SONY STR-SE491 (01) PDF Document

To ensure safe operation of your SONY STR-SE491 receiver, please follow these precautions:

On Safety:

Should any solid object or liquid fall into the cabinet, unplug the receiver and have it checked by qualified personnel before operating it any further.

On Power Sources:

• Before operating, check that the operating voltage is identical to your local power supply. The operating voltage is indicated on the nameplate at the rear of the receiver.

• The receiver is not disconnected from the AC power source (MAINS) as long as it is connected to the wall outlet, even if the receiver itself has been turned off.

• If you are not going to use the receiver for a long time, be sure to disconnect it from the wall outlet. To disconnect the AC power cord, grasp the plug itself; never pull the cord.

• One blade of the plug is wider than the other for safety and will fit into the wall outlet only one way. If you are unable to insert the plug fully into the outlet, contact your dealer.

• Should the AC power cord need to be changed, have it done at a qualified service shop only.

On Placement:

• Place the receiver in a location with adequate ventilation to prevent heat build-up and prolong its life.

• Do not place the receiver near heat sources, or in a place subject to direct sunlight, excessive dust, or mechanical shock.

• Do not place anything on top of the cabinet that might block the ventilation holes and cause malfunctions.

On Operation:

• Before connecting other components, be sure to turn off and unplug the receiver.

On Cleaning:

• Clean the cabinet, panel, and controls with a soft cloth slightly moistened with a mild detergent solution. Do not use any type of abrasive pad, scouring powder, or solvent such as alcohol or benzine.

When you unpack your SONY STR-SE491 receiver, check that you have received the following items:

• FM wire antenna (1)

• AM loop antenna (1)

• Remote commander (remote) (1) (Model: RM-PP402)

• R6 (size-AA) batteries (2)

• Operating Instructions of the remote

• Operating Instructions of CONTROL A1 II

Insert the two supplied R6 (Size AA) batteries into the RM-PP402 remote commander with the + and – terminals properly oriented in the battery compartment. When using the remote, point it at the remote sensor on the receiver.

Notes on battery use:

• Do not leave the remote in an extremely hot or humid place.

• Do not use a new battery with an old one.

• Do not expose the remote sensor to direct sunlight or lighting apparatuses, as this may cause a malfunction.

• If you don’t use the remote for an extended period, remove the batteries to avoid possible damage from battery leakage and corrosion.

Before making any connections to your SONY STR-SE491, please follow these guidelines:

• Turn off the power to all components before making any connections.

• Do not connect the AC power cords until all of the connections are completed.

• Be sure to make connections firmly to avoid hum and noise.

• When connecting an audio/video cable, be sure to match the color-coded pins to the appropriate jacks on the components: Yellow (video) to Yellow; White (left, audio) to White; and Red (right, audio) to Red.

To receive radio broadcasts, connect the supplied antennas to your SONY STR-SE491 as follows:

FM Antenna:

Connect the supplied FM wire antenna to the FM 75 OHM COAXIAL terminal. After connecting, extend the wire antenna and keep it as horizontal as possible for best reception.

AM Antenna:

Connect the supplied AM loop antenna to the AM terminals. Assemble the loop antenna and place it in a location with good reception.

Improving Reception:

• Poor FM Reception: Use a 75-ohm coaxial cable (not supplied) to connect the receiver to an outdoor FM antenna.

• Poor AM Reception: Connect a 20 to 50 ft. (6 to 15-meter) insulated wire (not supplied) to the AM antenna terminal in addition to the loop antenna. Extend the wire outdoors and keep it horizontal.

Connecting a Ground Wire:

If you connect an outdoor antenna, ground it against lightning by connecting a ground wire from the ground terminal on the receiver to an earth ground. To prevent a gas explosion, do not connect the ground wire to a gas pipe.

Use audio cords (not supplied) to connect your audio components. Match the White (L) and Red (R) plugs to the corresponding jacks.

• CD Player: Connect the LINE OUTPUT jacks of your CD player to the CD AUDIO IN jacks on the receiver.

• MD Recorder or Tape Deck: Connect the LINE OUTPUT jacks of your MD/tape deck to the MD/TAPE IN jacks on the receiver. Connect the LINE INPUT jacks of your deck to the MD/TAPE REC OUT jacks on the receiver.

• Turntable: Connect the LINE OUTPUT jacks of your turntable to the PHONO AUDIO IN jacks on the receiver. If your turntable has an earth lead, connect it to the ground terminal on the receiver to prevent hum.

You can connect video components like a TV tuner or satellite receiver. You will need audio/video cables (not supplied).

TV Tuner or Satellite Receiver:

• Connect the VIDEO OUTPUT jack from your TV tuner/satellite receiver to the TV/SAT VIDEO IN jack on the SONY STR-SE491.

• Connect the AUDIO OUTPUT (L and R) jacks from your TV tuner/satellite receiver to the TV/SAT AUDIO IN (L and R) jacks on the SONY STR-SE491.

DVD Player / AC-3 Decoder (5.1 Channel Input):

To play decoded Dolby Digital AC-3 soundtracks, connect your external decoder or DVD player with a built-in decoder to the 5.1 CH/DVD jacks on the receiver.

• Use an audio cable to connect the FRONT (L/R) outputs of the decoder to the 5.1 CH/DVD FRONT IN jacks on the receiver.

• Use an audio cable to connect the REAR (L/R) outputs of the decoder to the 5.1 CH/DVD REAR IN jacks on the receiver.

• Use a monaural audio cable to connect the CENTER output of the decoder to the 5.1 CH/DVD CENTER IN jack on the receiver.

• Use a monaural audio cable to connect the WOOFER/SUBWOOFER output of the decoder to the WOOFER IN jack on the receiver.

• Use a video cable to connect the VIDEO output of the DVD player to the 5.1 CH/DVD VIDEO IN jack on the receiver.

To enjoy surround sound, you need front, center, and rear speakers, plus an active woofer. Use speaker cord (not supplied) for connections.

1. Prepare Speaker Cords: Twist the stripped ends of the speaker cord (about 2/3 inch or 15 mm).

2. Connect Speakers: Be sure to match the polarity: (+) on the speaker to (+) on the receiver, and (-) on the speaker to (-) on the receiver. If the cords are reversed, the sound will be distorted and lack bass.

• Front Speakers: Connect your left and right front speakers to the SPEAKERS FRONT A terminals.

• Additional Front Speakers: If you have a second pair of front speakers, connect them to the SPEAKERS FRONT B terminals.

• Center Speaker: Connect your center speaker to the SPEAKERS CENTER terminals.

• Rear Speakers: Connect your left and right rear (surround) speakers to the SPEAKERS REAR terminals.

3. Connect Active Woofer: Connect your active (powered) woofer to the WOOFER AUDIO OUT jack using a monaural audio cable.

Important – Avoid Short-Circuiting: Make sure the stripped ends of each speaker cord do not touch another speaker terminal or the stripped end of another speaker cord. Poor connections can damage the receiver.

Set the IMPEDANCE SELECTOR switch on the rear panel of your SONY STR-SE491 to match the nominal impedance of your front speakers. This information is usually printed on a label on the back of the speaker.

Note: Be sure to connect front speakers with a nominal impedance of 8 ohms or higher if you want to select both sets of front speakers (A+B) simultaneously.

Connect the AC power cord from the SONY STR-SE491 and your other audio/video components to a wall outlet.

Your receiver is equipped with a SWITCHED AC OUTLET. You can connect another audio component to this outlet. When you do, the receiver can supply power to that component, allowing you to turn the whole system on/off using the receiver’s power button.

Caution: Make sure the power consumption of the component connected to the receiver’s AC outlet does not exceed 120 watts. Do not connect high-wattage appliances like electric irons, fans, or TVs to this outlet.

If you are using the receiver for the first time or want to clear all customized settings, follow this procedure:

1. Turn off the receiver by pressing the I/POWER switch.

2. Press and hold the I/POWER switch for more than 4 seconds.

3. “ALL CLEAR” appears in the display, and the receiver is reset.

This procedure will reset or clear the following:

• All preset radio stations.

• All customized sound field parameters.

• All indexed names for preset stations and program sources.

• All adjustments made with the SET UP button.

• The sound field memorized for each program source.

To obtain the best Dolby Pro Logic Surround effect, you need to select the proper center mode and adjust the speaker volumes.

Step 1: Select the Center Mode

1. Press SET UP on the front panel.

2. Press MENU < or > repeatedly until “CTR MODE” appears in the display.

3. Use the + or – buttons to select the center mode that matches your speaker configuration.

Step 2: Adjust the Speaker Volume

Use the test tone feature on the remote control to set the volume of your rear and center speakers to the same level as the front speakers.

1. Make sure the center mode is correctly set.

2. Press SOUND FIELD ON/OFF to turn on the sound field.

3. Press SOUND FIELD MODE +/- repeatedly to select “PRO LOGIC”.

4. Press TEST TONE on the remote. A test tone will sound from each speaker sequentially (Front Left, Center, Front Right, Rear).

5. While the test tone is playing, adjust the volume levels from your listening position:

• Use the BALANCE control on the receiver to adjust the balance of the front left and right speakers.

• Use the LEVEL CENTER +/- buttons on the remote to adjust the center speaker volume.

• Use the LEVEL REAR +/- buttons on the remote to adjust the rear speakers volume.

• Adjust until the test tone sounds the same volume from each speaker.

6. Press TEST TONE on the remote again to turn off the test tone.

The front panel of the SONY STR-SE491 has the following basic controls:

• I/O switch: Press to turn the receiver on and off.

• Function buttons (VIDEO, TV/SAT, MD/TAPE, CD, TUNER, PHONO): Press to select the component you want to listen to or watch.

• 5.1 CH/DVD button: Press to select the component connected to the 5.1 CH/DVD jacks.

• MASTER VOLUME control: Rotate to adjust the overall volume.

• MUTING button: Press to mute the sound.

• BALANCE control: Rotate to adjust the balance of the front speakers.

• SPEAKERS selector: Set to A for speakers connected to FRONT A terminals, B for speakers connected to FRONT B, A+B for both (requires 8-ohm or higher speakers), or OFF for no speaker output (e.g., when using headphones).

• PHONES jack: Connect headphones here. Set the SPEAKERS selector to OFF.

• DISPLAY button: Press repeatedly to cycle through information on the display.

You can tune in radio stations using two methods: direct tuning (if you know the frequency) or automatic tuning (scanning).

Direct Tuning:

1. Press TUNER to select the tuner function.

2. Press FM or AM to select the band.

3. Press DIRECT.

4. Use the numeric buttons (0-9) to enter the frequency of the station (e.g., 1-0-2-5-0 for FM 102.50 MHz).

Automatic Tuning (Scanning):

1. Press TUNER.

2. Press FM or AM.

3. Press TUNING + or –. The receiver will scan up or down the band and stop at the next available station. Press the button again to continue scanning.

For poor FM stereo reception: If “STEREO” flashes in the display and the sound is distorted, press the FM MODE button. This switches reception to monaural (MONO), which reduces distortion but eliminates the stereo effect.

You can store up to 30 of your favorite FM or AM stations as presets. Presets are stored under a character (A, B, or C) and a number (0-9).

1. Tune in the station you want to preset.

2. Press MEMORY. “MEMORY” appears in the display for a few seconds.

3. Before “MEMORY” disappears, press SHIFT to select a character (A, B, or C).

4. While “MEMORY” is still displayed, press a numeric button (0-9) to assign the preset number.

5. The station is now stored. Repeat steps 1-4 to preset other stations.

To tune to a preset station:

1. Press TUNER.

2. Press SHIFT to select the character (A, B, or C).

3. Press the numeric button (0-9) for the desired station.

Alternatively, you can press PRESET TUNING + or – to scan through all your preset stations.

You can enjoy surround sound by selecting one of the receiver’s pre-programmed sound fields.

1. Press SOUND FIELD ON/OFF to turn the sound field function on. The current sound field is shown in the display.

2. Press SOUND FIELD MODE +/- repeatedly to select the sound field you want.

The available sound fields for the SONY STR-SE491 are:

** When using 5.1 CH/DVD only.

Note: The receiver remembers the last sound field used for each input source (Sound Field Link).

You can adjust several parameters to customize the sound fields to your preference.

Adjusting Speaker Volume (REAR/CENTER):

1. Press SUR.

2. Press MENU to select “REAR xxdB” or “CENTER xxdB.”

3. Press +/- to adjust the volume level from -15 dB to +10 dB.

Adjusting Tone (BASS/TREBLE):

1. Press BASS/TREBLE.

2. Press MENU to select “BASS xxdB” or “TREBLE xxdB.”

3. Press +/- to adjust the tone level from -10 dB to +10 dB.

4. Press TONE to turn the tone adjustment on (TONE indicator lights up).

Changing Delay Time (PRO LOGIC Sound Field only):

1. Start playing a Dolby Surround encoded source.

2. Press SUR.

3. Press MENU to select “DELAY xxms.”

4. Press +/- to change the delay time (15, 20, or 30 ms).

Changing Effect Level (all sound fields except PRO LOGIC):

1. Press SUR.

2. Press MENU to select “EFFECT xx.”

3. Press +/- to change the effect level (six levels available).

To Reset Customized Sound Fields:

1. Turn off the receiver.

2. Hold down SOUND FIELD ON/OFF and press I/POWER. “SUR CLEAR” appears in the display, and all sound fields are reset.

You can enter a name of up to 8 characters (e.g., “VHS”) for preset stations and program sources. This name will appear in the display when selected.

1. Select the preset station or program source you want to name.

2. Press NAME. A cursor blinks in the display.

3. Use the + or – buttons to select the first character.

4. Press MENU < or > to move the cursor to the next position.

5. Repeat steps 3 and 4 to enter up to 8 characters.

6. Press ENTER to store the name.

To make a correction: Press MENU < or > repeatedly until the character you want to change is blinking, then use + or – to select the correct character.

To clear a program source name: Press NAME, then press the same program source button again. Press ENTER to delete the name (this does not work for the TUNER).

The receiver allows you to record from a playback component to a recording component.

Recording on a MiniDisc or Audio Tape:

1. Press one of the function buttons (e.g., CD, TUNER) to select the program source you want to record from.

2. Set the playback component to be ready for playing (e.g., insert a CD into the CD player).

3. Insert a blank disc or tape into your recording deck (connected to the MD/TAPE jacks) and adjust the recording level if necessary.

4. Start recording on the recording deck, and then start playing the source component.

Recording on a Video Tape:

1. Press TV/SAT to select the program source.

2. Set the component to be ready for playing (e.g., turn on the TV and TV tuner).

3. Insert a blank video tape into the VCR for recording.

4. Start recording on the VCR.

Note: You cannot record the audio and video signal during 5.1 CH/DVD mode.

You can set the receiver to turn off automatically after a specified time using the remote control.

1. While the receiver is on, press the SLEEP button on the remote.

2. Each time you press SLEEP, the time until shutdown changes in the following sequence: 2:00:00 -> 1:30:00 -> 1:00:00 -> 0:30:00 -> OFF.

After you set the time, the display dims.

To freely specify the time:

Press SLEEP on the remote first, then specify the time you want using the cursor buttons (up or down). The sleep time changes in 1-minute intervals. You can specify up to 5 hours.

To check the remaining time:

Press SLEEP on the remote again. The remaining time appears in the display.

If there’s no sound or only a very low-level sound, check the following:

• Check that the speakers and components are connected securely.

• Make sure you select the correct component on the receiver.

• Make sure you set the SPEAKERS selector correctly (e.g., to A or B).

• Press the MUTING button if the MUTING indicator is on.

• If “PROTECTOR” is flashing, a short circuit has activated the protective device. Turn off the receiver, eliminate the short-circuit problem (check speaker wiring), and turn the power on again.

If you hear severe hum or noise, try these solutions:

• Check that speakers and components are connected securely.

• Check that connecting cords are away from a transformer or motor, and at least 3 meters (10 feet) away from a TV set or fluorescent light.

• Move your TV away from the audio components.

• Make sure you connect a ground wire from your turntable to the ground terminal.

• The plugs and jacks may be dirty. Wipe them with a cloth slightly moistened with alcohol.

If you are unable to tune in radio stations, check the following points:

• Check that the AM and FM antennas are connected securely. Adjust the antennas and connect an outdoor antenna if necessary.

• The signal strength of the station may be too weak for automatic tuning. Try using direct tuning to enter the frequency manually.

• If you are trying to scan preset stations, check that stations have been preset. If the receiver was unplugged for an extended period, the presets may have been cleared.

If the remote control does not function, please check the following:

• Point the remote at the remote sensor on the front of the receiver.

• Remove any obstacles in the path between the remote and the receiver.

• Replace both batteries in the remote with new ones if they are weak.

• Make sure you select the correct function on the remote for the component you are trying to control.