Hear What You've Been Missing

Almost without warning, 3D HDTV has become a reality and Yamaha's new 67 Series A/V receivers (RX-V667, RX-V567, RX-V-467, RX-V367) are feature Packed and Ready for the new evolution.

3D video creates a space where the entire room is the screen, capable of transporting you right into the action. To compliment this new experience, Yamaha makes sure the HD Audio in all of their new 67 Series A/V receivers, from top to bottom, is up to the challenge of creating an aural effect just as immersive as the visual.

To that end, they've incorporated their proprietary CINEMA DSP signal processing to all models in the series, making them ready for 3D to blow you away.

While conventional multi-channel audio reproduction systems base their sound on Dolby Digital and DTS decoding, using matrix and steering technologies to create surround sound effects, Yamaha's CINEMA DSP takes the process a step further. CINEMA DSP actually creates richly realized independent sound fields, and when merged they envelope you in sound, for an extraordinary surround sound experience that is more immersive than using Dolby or DTS alone.

CINEMA DSP projects three individual sound fields into the home theater. The first is a Presence Sound Field, which uses the front speaker array (L/C/R) for dialog, effects, and music. The second and third are separate Surround Sound Fields for the left and right rear speakers. The creation of these holistic sound fields results in a powerfully realistic three-dimensional soundscape.

A wimpy sound system or no sound system at all essentially collapses the 3D visual field. According to the Consumer Electronics Association, more than half of us – 53 percent – have purchased HDTVs. Yet, less than a third – 32 percent – have yet to make the other half of a sound investment, a home theater surround sound system. Without a good sound system, you're getting only half the movie experience. Probably less, since audio provides all the emotional cues with both music and effects. Try watching a movie one day with no sound and you'll quickly realize how "flat" video is without the audio. So, just imagine trying to watch a 3D movie without a proper audio system supporting it.

A good movie soundtrack is a complex interplay of sound fields: the actors’ voices clearly fixed on screen, sound effects positioned according to where they would be if the audience was in the middle of the scene, and music that envelops the audience in a natural manner. Soundtracks are literally “designed” to make sure every sound is placed where it is most appropriate and has the most effect on the viewing audience. These sound engineers have actually been creating a 3D audio experience for decades and with 3D video, they can create more enveloping soundscapes than ever before.

A key difference between a movie theater and a home entertainment room is their overall size, and the soundtrack needs to be scaled accordingly. Another difference is in the number and positioning of the speakers. In a commercial theater, sound is designed so that it is accurately reproduced using numerous speakers embedded in the left, right and rear walls, then positioned so they emphasize the relationship between sound from the screen and from each off-screen channel, providing a more uniform soundscape for the wider and longer audience area.

The advantage of CINEMA DSP is that it not only complements but expands upon the Dolby and DTS processed sound to overcome the differences in facilities, acoustics, and dimensions between a commercial theater and home listening rooms. CINEMA DSP is capable of preserving the localization and directionality of the soundtrack as it was created by the movie sound designer, while creating a soundscape that gives the sensation of being as expansive as a commercial theater. This additional sense of spaciousness is a critical factor in obtaining the maximum amount of enjoyment when watching a 3D movie.

The integration of Yamaha's CINEMA DSP audio processing across the entire 67 Series AVRs, further complements the new 3D television technology and provides extra sonic dimension with breathtaking presence to match the engaging 3D video. The walls of your room will disappear and you'll be in the middle of your own immense 3D theater.

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