Page 2 - STAGE ONE; THX SURROUND PREAMPLIFIER; I M P O RTA N T S A F E T Y I N S T R U C T I O N S; RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK!
STAGE ONE THX SURROUND PREAMPLIFIER I M P O RTA N T S A F E T Y I N S T R U C T I O N S CAUTION: RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK! DO NOT OPEN! CAUTION! To reduce the risk of electric shock and fire, do notremove the cover or back plate of the device enclosure. There areno user serviceable parts inside. Refer...
Page 3 - Welcome to the Aragon Stage One.
Welcome to the Aragon Stage One. We designed the Stage One as a high-performance multi-channel preamp/processor that would eliminate the need for separate home theater and two-channelmusic systems. It integrates an audiophile-quality analog stereo preamplifier (based on the design of the Aragon Auru...
Page 4 - TABLE OF CONTENTS
STAGE ONE THX SURROUND PREAMPLIFIER TABLE OF CONTENTS Stage One Features Latest Digital Decoding and Post-processingTwo-channel Analog PreamplifierFull Auto Format SelectionAnalog Volume ControlIn-system Software Upgradable Design24-Bit A/D and D/A ConvertersEight-channel Analog PreamplifierCombinat...
Page 7 - Adjustable Crossover Point
1 8 2 3 4 7 6 5 F R O N T- PA N E L C O N T R O L S 7 Adjustable Crossover Point The Stage One enables you to designate each set of speakers in your system(Front, Center, Surround, and Surround Back) as either Large or Small and toadjust the crossover frequency below which bass is redirected away fr...
Page 8 - FRONT PANEL DISPLAY
FRONT-PANEL CONTROL OPERATIONS Stage Manager Control and Enter Button The Stage Manager control knob is turned clockwise and counter-clockwise tomake adjustments, and it also functions as a pushbutton in certain operations.In combination with the Enter button, it controls many of the Stage One’sfunc...
Page 9 - -Channel and 8-Channel Analog Passthrough; Dolby Pro Logic II; Dolby Digital; DTS
3.0 This indicates a three-channel signal, which normally will be reproducedthrough the left front, center, and right front output channels. If the systemcontains no center speaker, the center channel signal will be split equallybetween the left and right front output channels. 4.0 This indicates a ...
Page 12 - REMOTE CONTROL; HARD BUTTONS
REMOTE CONTROL The supplied Philips ProntoNEO ® touchscreen remote control is pre-config- ured for the Stage One. This programmable learning remote is enormouslyflexible and can be customized to operate your entire audio/video system. Theremote has its own manual, which explains its operation in ful...
Page 13 - MODES PAGE
POWER AND INPUTSELECTION There are separate power On and Off buttons for theStage One. Direct access buttons are available foreach of the eight source inputs, including the tuner.The 8 Ch In button selects the 8-channel analoginput. MODES PAGE The Modes page provides Stage One post-processing adjust...
Page 16 - INPUT CONNECTIONS; Unbalanced DB-25 Pin Assignments
STAGE ONE THX SURROUND PREAMPLIFIER 16 INPUT CONNECTIONS The Stage One allows for analog, digital, and video outputs for seven sourcesto be connected to the rear panel inputs. You also have the ability to switchthe Audio and Video signals independently of each other. For easiest opera-tion, the digi...
Page 17 - SBL SBR
SPEAKER PLACEMENT AND CONFIGURATION The number and placement of speakers is a very critical part of the function ofthe Stage One. While you can certainly use the Stage One in systems with asfew as two main left and right speakers, you will not be able to realize the fullsurround sound potential of t...
Page 19 - LEVEL SETTINGS
19 LEVEL SETTINGS The most accurate method for setting the relative levels of the speakers is touse the Stage One’s calibration signal in conjunction with a sound-pressurelevel (SPL) meter. The Level Settings menu will begin with the test signal setat a predetermined output level. THX suggests that ...
Page 20 - SPEAKER DISTANCES
20 SPEAKER DISTANCES In the Speaker Distances menu, you will enter the distance from each speakerto the listening position. This enables the Stage One’s DSP engine to setinternal delays for time alignment of the speakers in the system to within1/12th of a millisecond. Only speakers listed as present...
Page 21 - THX SETUP; Boundary-Gain Compensation
21 THX SETUP There are a number of options that you can set that will be default optionswhen THX mode is selected. Press the OK button on the remote or the front-panel Stage Manager knob to enter the THX Setup menu. Boundary-Gain Compensation If the Subwoofer is set to Ultra2 in the Speaker Configur...
Page 22 - GENERAL OPERATION
THX On/Off This menu allows you to turn off all of the THX functions on the Stage One.This would prevent any THX post-processing from taking place on any sig-nals. The default setting for the THX circuit is ON. If THX is turned to OFF, thenext time the unit is powered on, it will return to the defau...
Page 23 - STAGE ONE MODES; Movie Mode; Center Width; Panorama Mode
present, is active in Stereo Direct mode; you can turn it off by lowering itschannel volume to below –10dB. 8-CHANNEL ANALOG INPUT The Stage One provides an 8-channel analog input for use with a DVD playerthat has a built-in surround decoder or with a DVD-Audio or SACD player. Italso allows easy ada...
Page 25 - DTS ES Discrete; THX; THX Cinema Processing
25 Mono Any DTS signal can be downmixed and reproduced by the center channelof the system by pressing the Mono button. If the center channel is notpresent, the mono signal will be reproduced by the left and right frontspeakers. You can make the Stage One downmix any DTS soundtrack tostereo or mono b...
Page 26 - THX Ultra2 Cinema Mode; ADVANCED FEATURES; Level Adjustments by Mode
ASA (Advanced Speaker Array) ASA is a proprietary THX technology, which processes the sound fed to 2 sideand 2 back surround speakers to provide the optimal surround sound experi-ence. When you set up your home theater system using all eight speaker out-puts (Left, Center, Right, Surround Right, Sur...
Page 27 - ADVANCED MENUS
Separate Bass Management Settingsfor Stereo You can set up a separate bass-management scheme for Stereo mode,including a different crossover frequency. While the Stage One is in Stereomode, enter the Advanced Menu and select the SpkrConfig STEREO menu.Configure the speakers for Stereo mode as Large ...
Page 29 - WARRANTY
WARRANTY U.S. and Canada The Warranty below is valid only for sales to consumers in the UnitedStates or Canada. The manufacturer warrants this ARAGON product to be free from defects inmaterials and workmanship (subject to the terms set forth below) for a peri-od of two (2) years from the date of pur...
Page 31 - For multiple purchases, please fill out only one warranty card.; C U T A L O N G D OTT E D L I N E A N D M A I L
REGISTER ONLINE AT WWW.ARAGONELECTRONICS.COM! For multiple purchases, please fill out only one warranty card. Name: Street Address: City/State/Zip: Home Phone: Work Phone: E-mail Address: Would you like to receive the latest product updates and news via e-mail? ❑ Yes ❑ No Where did you purchase your...
Page 32 - ARAGON
Make sure to return your warranty card or register your preamplifier online at www.aragonelectronics.com so that we may keep you up-to-date on new Aragon products and promotions. As always, if you have any questions, contact your local authorized Aragon dealer. For your records: Stage One THX Surrou...
