Setup
The preceding package contents descriptions should give you a good idea
of how each cable fits into your system before you get started. Go back and
read through those if you skipped Section 2. There are a great deal of ways
to use the A40 MixAmp™, and we've packed in virtually every type of cable
you'll ever need to connect to a variety of equipment. That is, except digital
audio cables - digital cables can be quite expensive depending on the type
and length, and we didn't want to make the overall price of the A40 package
higher by including an expensive item not every user needs.
That is not to say that ASTRO Gaming doesn't recommend using a digital
connection. Optical and coaxial digital audio cables carry much more accu-
rate surround information, and contain discrete data for each speaker/chan-
nel, unlike analog cables. In other words, you'll be able to hear your enemies
attempting to sneak up behind you with much greater accuracy and clarity
by going digital.
The A40 MixAmp™ is also a powerful headphone amplifier, and will natu-
rally increase background noise and hum inherently present on nearly every
analog audio path. With a digital connection, however, the background noise
floor drops to virtually zero and will give you a far better audio experience.
WARNING: Always adjust the volume of the A40 MixAmp™ to a safe level
BEFORE putting on headphones or inserting earbuds! The headphone
amplifier of the A40 MixAmp™ will increase the volume of the product that
it is connected to considerably. The A40's high-performance amplification is
welcome in noisy situations like professional gaming tournaments - but per-
manent hearing loss may occur if your headphones or earbuds are used at a
high volume for an extended period of time. Reduce the volume or discon-
tinue use of the A40 MixAmp™ immediately if you experience any discom-
fort or ringing in your ears.
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Setup
Connecting the A40 MixAmp™ to a Gaming
Console - Using a Television as your A/V Hub
Step 1 - Connect the Main Audio
The A40 MixAmp™ will give any connected equipment the benefits of Dol-
by® Surround and high-quality amplification. There are many different ways
to connect the A40 - in this section we'll tell you how to connect it using
your television as the hub of your A/V system. In other words, you don't use
a home theater receiver - if you do, then skip to the next section. We'll also
list the connections you should use, in the preferred order of quality.
1) Toslink Optical Digital - (cable not included) Connecting to the A40's rear
OPTICAL input: the Xbox 360, Sony Playstation 3, and Playstation 2 come
with optical Toslink outputs for Dolby® Digital audio, and can be simply con-
nected to your A40's OPTICAL input. The original Xbox requires an add-on
box like the Microsoft Xbox High Definition A/V Pack. The Nintendo Wii and
GameCube output only via analog signals, but both support Dolby® Pro
Logic II through the included analog cables.
Important: make sure to select 'Dolby® Digital 5.1' in your audio preferences
inside your console setup/options section. If you have PCM 2.0 selected, for
example, you will NOT get the benefit of Dolby® Digital 5.1 surround sound.
console setup - tv
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