With CINEMA DSP, Yamaha has raised digital sound field processing to the state of fine art. This proprietary technology gives movies much greater impact in your home theater, affording all the realism, excitement and nuance that the director intended to convey.

44-Bit CINEMA DSP
The DSP-AZ1 utilizes a 44-bit DSP LSI, the Yamaha YSS-910. This powerful computer offers extremely precise calculation of signal data — each additional bit provides twice the resolution and half the distortion — meaning it can resolve subtle audio nuances that bring the listening experience closer to reality than to reproduction. Two YSS-910s are used, one for processing sound fields, the other for processing SILENT CINEMA, Virtual CINEMA DSP and system configurations (controlling system parameters digitally reduces noise and improves precision). Because two are used, each is able to operate at higher speeds and with greater precision. The circuitry also includes the supremely accurate.

What's more, the YSS-910 provides accurate synchronization of images and sound, known as "lip-sync." Most audio LSIs do not have the necessary speed and precision to handle this, but with the YSS-910, not only has accurate lip-sync been achieved, but its parameters can be adjusted by the user.

YSS-910 44-Bit DSP LSI

Advanced Decoding Circuitry Including Yamaha’s Exclusive YSS-938 32-Bit Floating Point Quantization LSI
The decoding circuitry performs Dolby Pro Logic II, DolbyDigital, Dolby Digital EX, DTS Digital Surround, DTS-ES, DTS-ES Matrix 6.1, DTS-ES 6.1 Discrete, DTS 96/24, and DTS Neo:6 decoding with extreme accuracy, as well as all digital sound
field processing. It also outperforms other systems in the precise synchronization of images and sound. Its low 3V power consumption minimizes digital noise. The YSS-938 is without a doubt the most powerful and sophisticated audio LSI ever created.

YSS-938 32-Bit Floating Point Quantization LSI

Tri-Field and Quad-Field CINEMA DSP
Tri-Field CINEMA DSP projects three sound fields into the home theater, resulting in a powerfully realistic three-dimensional soundscape for 5.1 channel sound. Quad-Field CINEMA DSP adds an additional rear center sound field, allowing enjoyment of 6.1-channel movie sound formats.

Optimum Space Utilization
The use of highly integrated LSIs allows an interior design that maximizes power and sound quality by positioning all the digital processors and related circuitry in one small area. This leaves most of the space open for the power amplifier components: transformers, capacitors, heat sink and so on. This means that these parts can be much larger than usual for greater power, that they can be separated for minimum chance of interference, and that circuits can be arranged in straight lines for maximum signal purity.

Wide Choice of Surround Sound Programs
The DSP-AZ1 lets users select from 42 surround programs which include a total of 62 variations. These are divided into HiFi (music) and CINEMA DSP (movie) programs. Users can choose them according to the type of music or movie they are listening to, and can also have fun experimenting with various combinations (rock music in a church, for example). What’s more, each of these programs has a number of parameters that can be “fine-tuned” to bring out the best of a CD or movie soundtrack. This capability is often cited in reviews as a distinct Yamaha advantage. In Sound & Vision’sreview of the DSP-AZ1, for example, the reviewer stated that, “with suitably subtle settings in the Village Gate mode, the (jazz) CD sounded exceptionally natural, with well-placed ambience and remarkably cohesive, three-dimensional timbres. In fact, it was among the most realistic reproductions of nightclub jazz piano that I’ve ever heard. Cool!”

Auto Priority Input Terminal Selection and Auto Decoder Selection
The DSP-AZ1 input terminals will handle any kind of input signal. According to the type of signal, terminals are selected in priority order of RF (AC-3), coaxial digital, optical digital and analog. Furthermore, according to the type of movie sound format, the proper decoder and surround sound program are automatically selected. For example, if the Movie Theater Sci-Fi program is selected and the input is a DTS-ES signal, the DTS-ES decoder is automatically engaged and the program switches to Movie Theater DTS-ES Sci-Fi.

SILENT CINEMA and Virtual CINEMA DSP
CINEMA DSP technology has enabled Yamaha to provide two additional surround sound listening options with the DSP-AZ1. A SILENT CINEMA mode offers the surround sound feeling of multi-channel music or movie sources through ordinary headphones, while Virtual CINEMA DSP lets listeners enjoy the effects of CINEMA DSP surround sound without using rear speakers.