Binaura’s Model B102 Sound System comes with an easy to follow Instruction Manual. Most everyone can set up and enjoy the system in less than 10 minutes. In addition to the basic features, the Binaura system comes with several subtle features that can further enhance your movie watching and music listening enjoyment. To help experiment with these subtle features, we prepared this list of suggestions.

  • Did I place the main speaker correctly?
  • Does the height of main spaker matter?
  • How do I optimize when watching a DVD movie?
  • How do I optimize when listneing to a music CD
  • How do I optimize when watching TV?
  • How do I optimize when watching VCR?
  • When do I use Coaxial and Optical input?

Did I place the main speaker correctly?
For any of our features to work effectively, the main speaker must be placed correctly. If you follow the speaker placement procedures described in Page 7 of our Installation Manual, your main speaker is most likely optimized. The most important thing is to have as much open space as possible on both sides of the main speaker. If your room is small, you may want to sit closer to the main speaker. The distance between the listener and the main speaker should be less than half the distance between the sidewalls. For example, if the distance between the sidewalls is 12 feet wide and the main speaker is placed in the midpoint, the listener should be sitting within 6 feet from the main speaker. Please keep in mind that the Binaura system does not depend on the sound wave reflection from the surrounding walls to create surround sound. The bigger the room, the greater the sound field it creates.

Does the height of main speaker matter?
The height will not affect the stereo or surround image. However, it is recommended to keep it at the listener's ear level or lower. At this height, the sound comes from the height of your TV screen. The main speaker is designed to be optimized when placed under the flat panel screen as depicted on the gift box. In such placement, the sound appears s to come exactly from the center of the flat panel screen. When the main speaker is placed on top of a TV, and the TV is positioned at or above the listener's ear level, it help s to tilt the main speaker down so that the sound wave comes s lightly downward.

How do I optimize when watching a DVD movie?
Your DVD player must be connected to the Binaura system by the coaxial cable included in the accessory kit. The coaxial (or digital) output on your DVD player is marked “COAX”, “SPDIF” or “DIGITAL AUDIO”. Do not use the 2-channel analog audio output on your DVD player. This will not give the surround effects and often has poor sound quality. If you do not get any sound or have problem locating coaxial (or digital) output, please refer to the Advanced Trouble Shooting Guide. Most DVD movies provide two audio source s. 5.1-channel audio source and 2-channel audio source (often referred as Dolby Digital Audio). Most newer DVD movies set default at Dolby 5.1-channel. You can also select DTS 5.1 -channel from the root menu of your DVD player. For details of the root menu, please refer to your DVD Operating Manual.

When you watch a movie in 5.1-channel audio (Dolby or DTS), you have only one optimization to consider. If clearer dialogues are desired, increase the Center Channel Speaker volume by using the Remote Control. If you set the Center Channel Speaker volume at +6, you emphasize the dialogues twice as much compared to the background sounds. For action movies, we recommend that the Center Channel Speaker volume be set at zero.

If your movie comes in 2-channel sound track, the Binaura system automatically selects the BINAURA STEREO mode. Non-English movies are often available only in 2-channel sound track. If this is the case, you can try other modes to enhance your listening pleasure. In addition to increasing the Center Channel Speaker volume to emphasize the dialogues, you can also try BINAURA VOCAL or DOLBY Pro-Logic modes. These modes can be selected by repeatedly pushing STEREO MODE button of the Remote Control.

  • BINAURA STEREO: Audio track is optimized for balanced stereo images and dialogues. Increase the Center Channel Speaker volume to enhance the dialogues.
  • BINAURA VOCAL: Monophonic (non-stereo) portions of the sound are enhanced. Majority of dialogues in movies are monophonic. Increasing the Center Channel Speaker volume to +10 for clear and easy to understand dialogues. The background stereo images will not be affected. If you watch an old movie re -re corded on DVD, BINAURA VOCAL mode can help to restore the original dialogues.
  • DOLBY Pro-Logic: Sound track will not be processed by Binaura. For some movies, this mode may better enhance the dialogues.

How do I optimize when listening to a music CD?
Play any music CDs on your DVD player. The Binaura system offers many playback modes to optimize the reproduction of original recordings. You may notice for the first time, how good some of your CDs can sound. When a music CD is played, “BINAURA STEREO” mode is selected. BINAURA STEREO mode is the default setting for music CD. You can also select other modes depending on the type of music you are playing.

  • BINARUA STEREO: Majority of music CDs (particularly more recent recordings) are best played in this mode. If you are playing non-vocal music, such as jazz, rock and classic, set the Center Channel Speaker volume at -10 . You will enjoy a wide stage stereo sound. If you desire background music only, you may find it more pleasant to set the Center Channel Speaker volume at +10.
  • BINAURA VOCAL: If you find the reverb (or echo) too strong in a song, select BINAURA VOCAL mode by pressing the STEREO MODE button twice. You will notice that the singer's voice becomes highly focused. You can further enhance the signer's voice by increasing the Center Channel Speaker volume to +10.

How do I optimize when watching TV?
There are several ways of listening to TV sound if you have cable TV or HDTV tuner.

Rooftop antenna or cable to the VHF/UHF input of the TV: Connect 2-channel audio output of your TV to the Binaura system's TV input. As demonstrated in our Quick Setup Guide, this is the most basic way of connecting the TV sound to the Binaura system. To select TV input, simply push “TV” button of the Remote Control. When TV input is selected in this way, all volume settings get reset to the default (+25 for the master volume and 0 for Base and Center. The default STEREO MODE setting for TV is in BINAURA VOCAL. This is because most of the TV programs are broadcasted in monophonic. Increase the Center Channel Speaker volume to enhance the dialogues. For music or non-conversational programs, you can select other stereo mode s by pressing the STEREO MODE button on the Remote Control. By pressing the button successively, the system cycle s through BINAURA VOCAL, DOLBY PRO-LOGIC, BINAURA STEREO and back to BINAURA VOCAL. In all stereo modes, you can enhance the dialogues by increasing Center Channel Speaker volume.

Cable or Direct TV set-top box connection: You have three ways of connecting your TV to the Binaura system.

  1. This is the simplest. Connect the RF output of the set-top box to the VHF/UHF input of TV. Follow the instruction for rooftop antenna or cable connection for the STEREO MODE operation.
  2. Use 2-channel audio output of the set-top box. Caution is necessary here. For the most TV sets, if the audio is brought in through the 2-channel audio inputs, no audio output becomes available. In technical terms, no audio output from TV is available if the built-in TV tuner is not used to generate the audio. So, be sure to connect the set-top box output directly to the Binaura system's TV input. Follow the instruction for Rooftop antenna or cable connection for the STEREO MODE operation.
  3. Use SPDIF (coax) or OPICAL output (digital audio out) of the set-top box. In this case, the output should be connected to either COAX or OPTICAL input of the Binaura system and the source selection must be made accordingly. If you use digital audio out from the set-top box, you may notice that for network channels no audio is available. In this connection, the audio is available only for those channels that are broadcasted in digital audio. The real benefit of using digital audio connection is that some cable channels (such as HBO) are broadcasted in 5.1-ch audio and in this case, you can enjoy the Binaura surround sound. For digital audio reception, the use of STEREO MODE is identical to that of DVD input. Please refer to “How do I optimize when watching a DVD movie?” section for the Center Channel volume settings. If you have a HDTV tuner, a SPDIF (COAXIAL) or OPTICAL output should be available. In this case, connect the digital audio output form the tuner to Binaura system. Select the corresponding input by cycling through the SOURCE selection. For digital audio reception, the use of STEREO MODE is identical to that of DVD input. Please refer to “How do I optimize when watching a DVD movie?” section for the Center Channel Speaker volume settings.

How do I optimize when watching VCR?
For VCR, a conventional 2-channel (analog) audio connection is used. The default setting for VCR input is BINAURA STEREO. It can be changed from BINAURA STEREO to either BINAURA VOCAL or DOLBY Pro-Logic. Press the S TEREO MODE button of the Remote Control to select. Please refer to “ How do I optimize when watching a DVD movie? ” section for the Center Channel Speaker volume settings.

When do I use COAXIAL and OPTICAL inputs?
The COAXIAL and OPTICAL inputs are for connecting digital audio from almost any devices that has digital audio output. For COAXIAL (also known as S/PDIF or Digital Audio) connection, use any single wire RCA to RCA plug. For OPTICAL connection, use an optical cable also known as TOSLINK cable. The examples of devices commonly connected by digital audio are DVD/CD player, cable/Direct TV set-top box, HDTV tuner output, TiVo, Digital VCR and Video games. To optimize the system settings while using COAXIAL or OPTICAL input, please refer to “ How do I optimize when watching a DVD movie? ” section for the Center Channel Speaker volume settings.