AV Tuner Preamplifier Owner’s Manual ENGLISH T 163
SAFETY INFORMATION EXPLANA TION OF GRAPHICAL SYMBOLS EXPLANATION The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is intended to alert the user to the presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage” within the product’s enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a risk of electric shock to persons.
SAFETY INFORMATION ELECTRIC POWER 1 Power Sources - Connect this unit only to power sources specified in the Operating Instructions, and as marked on the unit. ENGLISH 2 Polarization - As a safety feature, some units are equipped with polarized AC power plugs which can only be inserted one way into a power outlet. If it is difficult or impossible to insert the AC power plug into an outlet, turn the plug over and try again.
TABLE OF CONTENTS TABLE OF CONTENTS Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2-3 GETTING THE MOST FROM THE NAD T 163 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5 UNPACKING AND SETUP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . What’s in the Box . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
TABLE OF CONTENTS To Adjust Channel Levels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Adjusting the Tone Controls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 27 27 27 27 28 28 28 28 28 29 29 29 29 30 30 30 30 ENGLISH Using the HTR 2 Remote Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Specifications . . . . . .
UNPACKING AND SETUP WHA T’S IN THE BOX WHAT’S Packed with your T 163 tuner preamplifier you will find: • • • • • • An AM loop antenna A FM ribbon-wire antenna with balun A removable AC cable (if you wish, any IEC-standard AC cable of suitable wattage may be substituted). The HTR 2 remote control with 4 (four) AAA batteries. The ZR 2 zone remote control with 3V CR2025 battery. This owner’s manual. Save the packaging Please save the box and all of the packaging in which your T 163 arrived.
ABOUT THE T 163 Though the T 163 is among the most technically sophisticated A/V tuner preamplifiers, we worked hard to make it one of the most musically transparent home-theater components available as well; this is what we mean by NAD’s “Music First” design philosophy. Here are just a few examples: ENGLISH • High-performance components used throughout the tuner preamplifier’s analog audio circuits maximize quality from all sources, including multichannel analog sources such as DVD-Audio and SACD.
ABOUT THE T 163 UPGRADABILITY We have made the more likely scenario of software upgrades easy to accomplish via the high speed RS-232 port on the rear panel of the T 163. Owners who register their T 163 on our international web site www.NADelectronics.com will be advised of updates. Some of these may be free of charge, and some may require royalty payments depending on the type of upgrade.
QUICKSTART In case you simply cannot wait to experience the performance of your new NAD T 163 tuner preamplifier, we provide the following “Quickstart” instructions to get you underway. The steps below connect your DVD player and multi-channel amplifier to the T 163; be sure to read “Input Setup”. PLA Y A DVD MOVIE PLAY ENGLISH • Connect the T 163’s preamplifier outputs to your multi-channel amplifier.
FRONT PANEL 1 STANDBY SWITCH: Pressing this key, or the HTR 2 remote’s [ON] button, will switch the tuner preamplifier on, making it operational, changing the amber Standby indicator to green and illuminating the VFL display. 2 STANDBY LED: Illuminates amber when the T 163 is in Standby mode; green when it is powered on; and flashes momentarily to indicate infrared commands received from the HTR 2 remote. This indicator will be steadily dark only when the main POWER switch (REAR PANEL No.
FRONT PANEL 12 TAPE MONITOR: Press to engage the Tape Monitor loop. The signal present at the rear-panel TAPE MONITOR IN jacks will be heard. Press again to release and return to the previously selected input. 13 DIGITAL AUDIO SELECTOR: Use to select digital audio input independently of video input to cycle through the T 163’s 6 digital audio inputs (OPT 1-2; Coaxial 3-6). Press repeatedly to step through the T 163’s digital audio inputs.
REAR PANEL ATTENTION! Please make all connections to your T 163 tuner preamplifier with the unit powered off or unplugged. (It is also advisable to power-down or unplug all associated components while making or breaking any signal or AC power connections.) 1 MONITOR OUT: Connect to video input of the monitor/television, using quality dual-RCA and/or S-Video cables designed for video signals.
REAR PANEL 9 AUTO TRIGGER SWITCH: When in the AUTO position, forces the T 163 to turn on only when a trigger signal is present at the trigger input. When in the OFF position, the trigger inputs are disabled. 11 MS OUT (MULTISOURCE OUT): Connect this pre-amp and composite video output to other zones using high-quality patch cables to reduce noise pickup over long distance runs.
CONNECTING THE T 163 TO A MULTI-CHANNEL AMPLIFIER Below is an example of the T 163 and a multi-channel amplifier configuration.
SETTING UP THE T 163 GETTING ST AR TED STAR ARTED ENGLISH Before you make the first connection to your T 163, you should have the arrangement of your listening room/ home theater components and furniture mapped out, at least initially. Unfortunately, a discussion of the vital questions of loudspeaker placement and listening/viewing positions is beyond our scope here.
ABOUT THE ON-SCREEN DISPLAYS (OSD) AND FRONT-PANEL READOUT The T 163 tuner preamplifier employs a simple, self-explanatory system of on-screen display "menus" that will appear on the connected video monitor/TV. These are required during the setup process (and are useful in day-to-day operation), so be sure to connect the monitor/TV before proceeding with setup.
ABOUT THE ON-SCREEN DISPLAYS (OSD) AND FRONT-PANEL READOUT SPEAKER SETUP ENGLISH Every surround-sound system requires "bass-management" to direct low-frequency content from any or all channels to the speakers best able to reproduce it. For this function to operate correctly, it is important that you correctly identify your speakers' capabilities. We use the terms "Small" and "Large" (and "Off"), but note that physical size may be irrelevant.
ABOUT THE ON-SCREEN DISPLAYS (OSD) AND FRONT-PANEL READOUT CHANNEL-BALANCE (TEST) SETUP Adjusting the relative balance of your system's loudspeakers ensures that surround-sound recordings, whether music or film, will present the balance of effects, music, and dialog that the artists intended. Additionally, if your system incorporates a subwoofer it establishes a correct relationship between the volume of the subwoofer and the other speakers, and thus of low-frequencies (bass) to other sonic elements.
ABOUT THE ON-SCREEN DISPLAYS (OSD) AND FRONT-PANEL READOUT CREATING AND USING PRESETS ENGLISH The T 163’s simple but powerfully flexible system of “Presets” allows you to customize virtually every aspect of your audio-video playback, and recall them with a single key-press. Every parameter of T 163 operation that is available from the main menu — input settings, level settings, delay settings, speaker settings, and listening mode selection and adjustments — is stored, together, as a single Preset.
USING THE T 163 You may operate the T 163 tuner preamplifier from its front panel or via the HTR 2 remote control. Since the remote will be the primary controller for most cases, we will focus on remote-controlled operations. Be sure also to read the section, "Front Panel" above.
USING THE T 163 SELECTING THE RADIO Press the AM/FM key on the T 163 front panel, the HTR 2’s orange [TUNER] (the numeric 9 key), or the yellow [AM] and [FM] keys to select the tuner preamplifier’s radio mode. Each subsequent press of either key will toggle the unit between its FM and AM bands. ENGLISH TUNING ST ATIONS STA Press SEARCH on the front panel momentarily to step up or down between FM or AM frequencies.
USING THE T 163 ABOUT DTS AND DOLBY DIGIT AL SURROUND MODES DIGITAL DTS DIGIT AL SURROUND DIGITAL The Digital Theater System Digital Surround (simply called DTS) is a multichannel digital signal format that can process higher data rates than with Dolby Digital. Although both Dolby Digital and DTS are 5.1 channel media formats, discs bearing the “DTS” symbol are thought to provide better sound quality due to the lower audio compression required.
USING THE T 163 DOLBY PRO LOGIC Dolby Pro Logic is a surround format consisting of four channels (front right, centre, front left and surround. Media sources with the “Dolby Surround” feature produce a theatre–like surround sound. The surround channel is monophonic, but it is reproduced in both surround speakers. ENGLISH DOLBY PRO LOGIC II SURROUND This mode applies conventional 2-channel signals such as digital PCM or analog stereo signals as well as Dolby Surround signals, etc.
USING THE T 163 • Enhanced-Stereo 2 (ST2) All recordings reproduced in stereo via the surround speakers only (plus subwoofer, if any), assuming these are configured in the current . ST2 can prove useful in certain late-night or very low-volume listening situations. The following Surround Sound Modes require a specially encoded signal that must be present in digital format to be decoded by the T 163.
USING THE T 163 ADJUSTING LISTENING MODES Several of the T 163’s listening modes have one or more selectable variations and adjustable parameters you can modify to suit you system, the recording, or your personal preferences. ENGLISH Use the HTR 2 remote's [Surr. Mode] key, or the front panel SURROUND MODE key, to select the Listening Mode you wish to display and listen to; this will display on the T 163’s VFL Display.
USING THE T 163 SURROUND SOUND CHANNEL CHART The following table shows which channels work when a particular mode is selected: X= Speaker channel available. X* X** Only if selected in Speaker Setup Menu. Must be selected to access this Mode. X*** LFE Must have both Back Surround speakers selected. Low Frequency Effects are not present on all films. Finally, make sure all the speaker terminals are tightened particularly if using banana plugs.
USING THE HTR 2 REMOTE CONTROL SPECIFICA TIONS SPECIFICATIONS Controls up to 8 devices. 44 function keys. Learns up to 352 commands. Records up to 44 macros with a maximum of 64 commands each. Configurable punch-through. Key illumination with programmable timeout. Upgradable. Contains pre-programmed library of NAD remote codes. ENGLISH • • • • • • • • The NAD HTR 2 is ready to operate the T 163 tuner preamplifier right out of the box, but it is really eight remotes in one.
USING THE HTR 2 REMOTE CONTROL PUNCH-THROUGH The HTR 2’s “punch-through” function allows you to retain a function key from one Device Select “page” on another, so that, for example, the AMP [SURR MODE] function might still control the T 163 when the DVD Device Selector page is active NOTE: The HTR 2’s [VOL] keys are pre-programmed as “punched-through” for all Device Select pages: [VOL] will operate the T 163’s master-volume regardless of the currently selected device. The [SURR.
USING THE HTR 2 REMOTE CONTROL KEY -ILLUMINA TION TIMEOUT KEY-ILLUMINA -ILLUMINATION The HTR 2’s key-illumination can be set to remain lit for 0-9 seconds. The default value is 2 seconds. ENGLISH To set the illumination timeout, simultaneously press-and-hold for 3 seconds both the HTR 2’s [DISP] and the [0-9] key, with the digit corresponding to the desired timeout duration; the Learn LED will flash twice to confirm the new setting. When set to zero, the illumination will not turn on at all.
USING THE HTR 2 REMOTE CONTROL Search Mode If none of the codes from the table, when entered, turns on the component, and if you are quite sure you have followed the above procedure completely and carefully, you may want to try the “search” method as follows: Enter Library Mode by simultaneously pressing-and-holding for 3 seconds both the desired Device Selector key and the [A/V PRESET] key, until the Learn LED turns green.
TROUBLESHOOTING POSSIBLE CAUSE(S) AC power unplugged Power not switched on Outlet is unpowered Tape Monitor is engaged POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS(S) NO SOUND FROM ALL CHANNELS • • • • NO SOUND FROM SOME CHANNELS • Faulty/missing cables • channel (s) set to "None" • Power-amp or speaker-connections faulty • Check cables • Check menu • Check power amp, cabling, and speakers NO SOUND FROM SURROUND CHANNELS • No surround listening mode is engaged • Surround-channels set to
SPECIFICATIONS AV TUNER PREAMPLIFIER T 163 Decoding Formats Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II, DTS-ES, NEO:6, Dolby EX Sampling Rates 32 kHz, 44.1 kHz, 48 kHz, 96 kHz (PCM) PRE-AMP SECTION Input sensitivity and impedance 400mV / 50k ohms IM distortion 0.08% Total harmonic distortion 0.
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