Harman-Kardon AVR 7550HD manual

A V R 7 550HD AUDIO/VIDEO RECEIVER O WN ER’S M ANUAL AVR 7550HD OM cover.qxd 2/25/09 10:44 AM Page 3[...]

IMPORT ANT SAFETY INSTRUCTIONS 1. Read these instructions. 2. Keep these instructions. 3. Heed all warnings. 4. Follow all instructions. 5. Do not use this apparatus near wa ter . 6. The A/V receiver’ s cabinet may be c leaned by gently wiping with a soft cotton or microfiber cloth. Do not use water or any liquid cleaners. 7. Do not block any of [...]

3 SAFE T Y INFORMA TION IMPORT ANT SAFETY INFORMA TION V erify Line V oltage Before Use Y our A VR 7550HD has been designed for use with 120-volt AC current. Connection to a line voltage other than that for which it is intended can create a safety and fire hazard and may damage the unit. If you have any questions about the volta ge requirements for[...]

4 T ABLE OF CONTENTS 2 SAFETY INFORMA TION 5 INTRODUCTION 7 FRONT - P ANEL CONTROL S 9 REAR - P ANEL CONNECTIONS 12 MAIN REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONS 15 ZONE 2 REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONS 17 INTRODUCTION TO HOME THEA TER 18 CONNECTIONS 18 Speaker Connections 18 Subwoofer 18 Connecting Source Devices to the AVR 18 Audio Connections 18 Digital Audio 19 Anal[...]

5 INTRODUCTION Please register your A VR 7550HD at www .harmankardon.com. NOTE: Y ou’ll need the product’ s serial number . At the same time, you can choose to be notified about new products and/or special promotions. Thank you for choosing a Harman Kardon ® product! For more than fifty years, the Harman Kardon ® mission has been to share a p[...]

6 INTRODUCTION Audio Inputs • AM/FM/XM ® * tuner • Analog Audio 1 through 5 • Front-panel Analog Audio • 6-/8-Channel Analog Audio Audio/Video Inputs • Three Analog Video • Front-panel Analog Video • Three Component Video 100MHz • Four HDMI ™ (V .1.3a with Deep Color ) • Faroudja DCDi Cinema ™ video processing  T ranscodes[...]

7 FRONT - P ANEL CONTROL S USB Re s olution Navigation Video Mode s Ez S et/E Q II Microphone Input Back/Exit OK Headphone Jack Digital Audio Input s (Optical and C oaxial Front) U S B Port Video Input s ( S - and C ompo s ite Front) Analog Audio Front Input s S ource Li s t S urround Mode s Audio Effect s Menu AV R S etting s Main Power S witch S [...]

8 FRONT - P ANEL CONTROL S Power Indicator: This LED has three possible modes: • Main Power Of f: When the AVR is unplugged or the Main Power Switch is off, this LED is off. • Standby: Amber indicates tha t the AVR is ready to be turned on. • On: When the AVR is turned on, this LED turns white. NOTE: If the PROTECT message ever a ppears, turn[...]

9 REAR - P ANEL CONNECTIONS MODEL NO A VR 7550 HD NORTHRIDGE CALIFORNIA, USA MADE IN CHINA Class 2 ovided the audio output power exceeds 10W per channel under normal operating conditions or the apparatus is intended to be installed or interconnected in the field by a skilled person. PRE OUT FL FR SL SR CENTER SBL SBR A-BUS SUBWOOFER 1 SURR. RIGHT S[...]

10 REAR - P ANEL CONNECTIONS 6-/8-Channel Inputs: Connect the multichannel analog audio outputs of a non-HDMI player (DVD-Audio, SACD ™ , Blu-ray Disc ™ or HD-DVD, or an y other external decoder) to these jacks. Coaxial 1/2/3 and Optical 1/2/3 Digital Audio Inputs: If a source has a compatible digital audio output, and if you are not using an H[...]

11 REAR - P ANEL CONNECTIONS Fan V ents: This area contains vents used by the A VR 7550HD’ s fan to cool the system. Maintain a clearance of at least 3 inches from the nearest surface to avoid overheating the unit. It is normal for the fan to remain off at most normal volume levels. An automatic temperature sensor turns the fan on only when it is[...]

12 MAIN REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONS AVR Power Off AVR P ower On S ource S elector s Audio Effect s Alphanumeric Key s S oft Key s Volume Mute Device Power On Device Power Off S urround Mode s Video Mode s OK Navigation Activity Menu Di s c Menu C hannel S leep S etting s T ran s port C ontrol s S ource S etting s IR T ran s mitter Len s L C D Di s pla[...]

13 MAIN REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONS The AVR 7550HD remote is capable of controlling up to 14 devices, including the AVR itself, an iPod docked in the included The Bridge II, a USB device and a Network device (see page 37 for details). During the installation process, you may program the codes for your source components into the remote. T o opera te a [...]

14 MAIN REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONS Light: Press to illuminate the buttons on the remote. Press it again to turn the back light off, or wait 10 seconds after the last button press for the light to turn off on its own. Disc Menu: While a DVD is playing, press the DVD Source Selector , then this button, to display the disc’ s menu. Soft Keys: These bu[...]

15 ZONE 2 REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONS Network USB BACK/EXIT MENU IR T ran s mitter Mute Navigation Power Off Zone S elector OK T ran s port C ontrol s Zone Indicator Volume C ontrol s Back/Exit Menu S ource S elector s S leep S etting s AVR S etting s NOTE: T o make it easier to follo w the instructions throughout the manual that refer to this illustr[...]

16 ZONE 2 REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONS The Zone 2 remote control is used in the remote zone of a multizone system with an IR receiver connected to the Zone 2 IR Input or an A-BUS device. It may be used to control the power , volume and mute functions or to select a source input for the remote zone, and to control a Harman Kardon source connected to one[...]

17 INTRODUCTION TO HOME THE A TER This introductory section will help you to familiarize yourself with some basic concepts unique to multichannel surround sound receivers, which will make setup and operation smoother . Ty pical Home Theater System A home theater typically includes an audio/video receiver , which controls the system; a disc player; [...]

18 CONNECTIONS There are different types of audio and video connections used to connect the receiver , the speakers, the video display , and the source devices. The Consumer Electronics Association has estab- lished the CEA ® color -coding standard. See T able 1. T able 1 – Connection Color Guide Speaker Connections Speaker cables carry an ampli[...]

19 CONNECTIONS of the HDMI data, minimizing the number of cable connections in your system. The AVR 7550HD implements Deep Color , which increases by an order of magnitude the shades of color that can be displayed, and the latest lossless multichannel audio forma ts, including Dolby T rueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio. NOTE: Some DVD-Audio, SACD, Blu-r[...]

20 CONNECTIONS Composite video is the basic connection most commonly available. The jack is usually color -coded yellow , and looks like an analog audio jack. Do not plug a composite video cable into an analog or coaxial digital audio jack, or vice versa. Both the chrominance (color) and luminance (intensity) components of the video signal are tran[...]

21 SPE AKER PL A CEMENT Optimally , the speakers should be placed in a circle with the listening position at its center . The speakers should be angled so that they directly face the listening position. Front Speaker Placement The center speaker is placed either on top of, below or mounted on the wall above or below the video display screen. The fr[...]

22 G ETT I N G S T A R T E D T able 2 – Source Assignment W orksheet Source Device T ype Best Video Video Input Second Composite Best Audio Audio Input Analog Audio Connection Assigned Video Input for Connection Assigned (may Input for (HDMI, DVI, Multizone (HDMI, Optical, be one digital Recording or Component, Operation Coaxial, 2-Ch plus one or[...]

23 G ETT I N G S T A R T E D • If your system-best video connection is “S-video” , or if you ha ve source devices with S-video outputs that have not been assigned to an HDMI or Component Video Input, then assign up to three devices to one of the three numbered S-video Inputs. • If your system-best video connection is “Composite Video” ,[...]

24 INST ALL A TION Y ou are no w ready to begin installing the AVR. Before beginning to connect the various components to the receiver , turn off all devices, including the AVR 7550HD, and unplug their power cords. Don’t pl ug in any of the power cor ds u ntil yo u have fini s he d makin g all of yo u r connection s . The receiver generates heat.[...]

25 INST ALL A TION If any source devices are equipped with a compatible Remote IR Input, use a 1/8-inch mini-plug interconnect cable (not included) to connect the AVR’ s Remote IR Output to the source device’ s Remote IR Input. The AVR 7550HD outputs a “stripped carrier” IR signal through the Remote IR Output, but a full-carrier IR signal i[...]

26 INST ALL A TION STEP TWEL VE – Plug in AC Power Cords Before plugging the AVR into an unswitched electrical outlet, make sure the Main Power Switch behind the front-panel door is off, to prevent the possibility of damaging the AVR in case of a transient power surge. When pressed in, the switch is on. When pressed again to unlatch it, the switc[...]

27 INST ALL A TION 7. When a compatible code set is found, press the OK Button to program it into the Source Selector . 8. Check that other functions control the device correctly . Sometimes manufacturers use the same Power code for several models, while other codes vary . Repeat this process until you’ve pro- grammed a satisfactor y code set tha[...]

28 INST ALL A TION Use the 7 Button to move the cursor to the beginning of the name, then type over the current name using the Alphanumeric Keys. Each Alphanumeric Key has the characters available in addition to its number printed above the key . Each press of the key scrolls through the available characters. T o move to the next character , either[...]

29 INITI A L SE TUP In this section, you will configure the A VR 7550HD to ma tch your actual system. A video display must be connected to one of the video monitor outputs on the receiver . USING THE ON-SCREEN MENU SYSTEM Although it’ s possible to configure the AVR using only the remote and the front-panel messages, it is easier to use the full-[...]

30 INITI A L SE TUP As the EzSet/EQ II system tests each speaker , its position will appear on screen. If the test sweep is heard from a different speaker than the one indicated on screen, turn off the A VR and check the speaker - wire connections, then begin again. When the Speaker Detection test is completed, select the Continue option. The resul[...]

31 INITI A L SE TUP 6-/8-Channel Inputs The 6-/8-Channel Analog Audio Inputs are used when playing certain multichannel discs (DVD-Audio, Blu-ray Disc, SACD and HD-DVD) on a player that decodes the audio and outputs it via its multichannel analog audio outputs but not via its HDMI output. HDMI-Equipped Multichannel Disc Player: • Connect the play[...]

32 INITI A L SE TUP Adjust Lip Sync: Resynchronizes the audio and video signals from a source to eliminate a “lip sync” problem. Lip sync issues can occur when the video portion of a signal undergoes additional processing in either the source or the video display . The Lip Sync adjuster appears by itself, enabling you to view the video while li[...]

33 OPER A T ION Now that you ha ve installed your components and completed a basic configuration, you are read y to begin enjoying your home theater system. TURNING ON THE A VR 7550HD Flip down the Front-P anel Door and press the Main Power Switch in. The Power Indicator on the front panel will turn amber , indicating that the AVR is in Standby mod[...]

34 OPER A TION The average home audio speaker sensitivity is 88dB SPL (8 ohms, 1 watt, 1 meter). Check the sensitivity specification for your loud- speakers, found in the owner’ s manual or on the manufacturer’ s Web site. If your speakers ha ve a sensitivity rating grea ter than 88dB SPL, increase Calibration Offset by the difference between y[...]

35 OPER A TION Figure 25 – FM Radio Use the 1 / 5 Buttons or the Channel Control to tune a station (or channel for XM Radio), as displayed on the front panel and on screen. The AVR defaults to automatic tuning, meaning each press of the 1 / 5 Buttons scans through all frequencies until a station with acceptable signal strength is found. T o s wit[...]

36 OPER A TION For traffic and weather channels, the current city’ s name will appear instead of the channel name, and the local wea ther and temperature will be displayed on screen. T o store a channel in one of the 40 preset loca tions: 1. T une to the desired channel and press the OK Button. T wo dashes will flash. 2. Use the Alphanumeric Keys[...]

37 OPER A TION NOTES ON NETWORK SETUP: • It is recommended that the AVR be connected to a home-network router so that it can directly access the Internet for Internet Radio, or access a PC on the network for playback of content stored on the PC (see the Network Playback section below). • If you are unable to connect to the Internet, tr y adjust[...]

38 OPER A TION Press the Menu Button to view the slide-in menu: Music: Naviga tes the audio materials stored on the iPod. Photo/Manual: Select this line to view still images stored on a photo-capable iPod. The system will switch to iPod Manual Mode, and control will shift to the iPod. Use the screen and controls on the iPod. The A VR remote may als[...]

39 OPER A TION • T o resume a paused slideshow, press the Pause Button. Pressing the Play Button begins audio playback. • T o play an audio track stored on the iPod, adjust the slideshow settings on the iPod. • T o skip to the next or previous photo on the iPod, press the Next or Previous T ransport Control. • It is not possible to skip to [...]

40 AD V ANCED FUNCTIONS Much of the AVR 7550HD’ s performance is handled automatically , with little intervention required on your part. The A VR 7550HD is capable of being customized to suit your system and your tastes. In this section, some of the more advanced adjustments available are described. AUDIO PROCESSING AND SURROUND SOUND Audio signa[...]

41 AD V ANCED FUNCTIONS The first number indicates the number of front channels in the signal: “1” represents a monophonic recording, usually an older program that has been digitally remastered or , more rarely , a modern program for which the director has chosen a special effect. “2” indicates the presence of the left and right channels, b[...]

42 AD V ANCED FUNCTIONS are unable to run EzSet/EQ II calibration, or if you wish to make further adjustments, use the Manual Speaker Setup on-screen menus. Before beginning, place your loudspeakers as explained in the Speaker Placement section, and connect them to the A VR. Consult the owner’ s guide for the speakers or the manufacturer’ s Web[...]

43 AD V ANCED FUNCTIONS easier than ever , since an external power amplifier is not required. Select the Zone 2 option at this line, and connect the Surround Back Speaker Outputs to loudspeakers located in the remote room. The main room will be configured automatically for up to 5.1 channels. See the Multizone Operation section for more information[...]

44 AD V ANCED FUNCTIONS STEP FOUR – Setting Channel Output Levels Manually For a conventional 2-channel receiver , the balance control affects the stereo imaging by adjusting the relative loudness of the left and right channels. With up to seven main channels, plus a subwoofer , ima ging becomes both more critical and more complex. The goal is to[...]

45 AD V ANCED FUNCTIONS VIDEO ADJUSTMENTS The AVR 7550HD uses leading-edge F aroudja DCDi Cinema video processing technology . Incoming video is upscaled to 1080p (1080i with component video outputs) for outstanding video quality , even with analog video sources. The Faroudja DCDi Cinema Dual 3D comb filters and 10-bit video processing eliminate th[...]

46 AD V ANCED FUNCTIONS Noise Reduction: Adjust this setting to Low , Medium or High to filter out signal noise, or turn it off. MPEG Noise Reduction: This setting is designed to address two specific types of video distortion, mosquito noise and blocking artifacts. If you see haziness or shimmering around the edges of objects or the scrolling credi[...]

47 AD V ANCED FUNCTIONS Sharpness Adjustment Contrary to intuition, the picture will appear sharper and c learer with the sharpness backed off from the maximum setting. Reduce the sharpness setting on your television, and the setting on the AVR 7550HD, if necessar y , to minimize the appearance of any white lines between the bars in the gray scale [...]

48 AD V ANCED FUNCTIONS General A VR Settings Network Settings: When the AVR is connected to a home network router using the Network Jack, you may play shared content stored on a PC or other device connected to the network, and you may enjoy Internet Radio streams when the network is connected to the Internet. If you are having difficulty accessing[...]

49 AD V ANCED FUNCTIONS your other components. The function of each button will not neces- sarily correspond to the label printed on the button. The AVR 7550HD remote is a sophisticated and versatile device that is easy to program, thanks to its menu-based system. T o access the menu, press and hold the AVR Settings Button for at least 3 seconds, u[...]

50 AD V ANCED FUNCTIONS through the available characters. T o move to the next character , either press the 3 Bu tto n, or press the next desired Alphanumeric Key . Press the OK Button when you have finished. T o execute an activity , press the Activity Button, then the Alphanumeric Key you selected as the command button in Step 4. If you selected [...]

51 AD V ANCED FUNCTIONS PROCESSOR RESET If the unit behaves erratically after a po wer surge, first turn off the Main Power Switch and unplug the AC po wer cord for at least 3 minutes. Plug the cord back in and turn the receiver on. If this doesn’t help, reset the A VR. NOTE: A system reset erases all user configurations, inc luding video resolut[...]

52 TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE SYMPTOM CAUSE SOLUTION Unit does not function when Main • No AC Power • Make certain AC power cord is plugged into a live outlet Power Switch is turned on • Check whether outlet is switch-controlled Display lights, but no sound • Intermittent input connections • Secure all input and speaker connections or picture [...]

T able A2 – Source Setting Defaults Cable/Sat DVD Media Server Radio TV Game AUX The Bridge Surround Modes (Auto Select) Logic 7 Movie Logic 7 Movie Logic 7 Music Logic 7 Movie Logic 7 Movie Logic 7 Movie Logic 7 Music Logic 7 Music Video Input HDMI 2 HDMI 1 HDMI 4 N/A Component 1 HDMI 3 Composite Front The Bridge II Audio Input HDMI 2 HDMI 1 HDM[...]

54 APPENDIX T able A3 – Speaker/Channel Setting Defaults All Digital and 2-Channel 6-/8-Channel Y our Settings Y our Settings Analog Audio Inputs Analog Audio Inputs* Position 1 Position 2 Left/Right Speakers ON ON Center Speaker ON ON Left/Right Surround Speakers ON ON Left/Right Surround Back Speakers OFF OFF Subwoofer 1 ON ON Subwoofer 2 ON ON[...]

55 APPENDIX T able A4 – Delay Setting Defaults Distance From Speaker to Y our Delay Settings Y our Delay Settings Speaker Position Listening Position Position 1 Position 2 Front Left 12 feet Center 12 feet Front Right 12 feet Surround Right 10 feet Surround Left 10 feet Surround Back Right 10 feet Surround Back Left 10 feet Subwoofer 1 12 feet Su[...]

56 APPENDIX T able A5 – continued USB Internet Radio Network Source A Source B Source C Source D Device T ype USB Drive N/A Surround Modes Video Input USB N/A Network Audio Input USB Internet Radio Network Resolution to Display Adjust Lip Sync Change Name Audio Auto Polling N/A N/A N/A Zone 2 Audio USB Internet Radio Network Zone 2 Video N/A N/A [...]

57 APPENDIX T able A7 – Video Modes Settings Default Cable/Sat DVD Media Server Radio TV Game AUX The Bridge Video Mode Of f Brightness * 50 Contrast * 50 Color * 50 Sharpness * 50 Picture Adjust Auto Fit Overscan On Noise Reduction ** Low MPEG Noise Reduction ** Low Cross Color Suppressor ** On Flesh T one Enhancement ** Off Black Level ** Off D[...]

58 APPENDIX T able A8 – Surround Modes Default Cable/Sat DVD Media Server Radio TV Game AUX The Bridge Auto Select Logic 7 Movie or native digital format Virtual Surround Dolby Virtual Speaker Reference Stereo 5 CH Stereo Movie Logic 7 Movie Music Logic 7 Music Game Logic 7 Game Center Width * 0 Dimension * 0 Panorama * Off T able A8 – continue[...]

59 APPENDIX T able A10 – System Settings Feature Default Y our Settings Front -Panel Dimmer On 100% Volume Units dB Volume Default Off Volume Default Level – 25dB Unit of Measure Feet Language English HDMI Audio to TV Off Dolby Volume Calibra tion 0dB Menu T ransparency Medium Volume/Status Messages 3 seconds Menus 1 minute Setup and Slide-In M[...]

60 APPENDIX T able A 13 – Surround Modes Surround Mode Description Incoming Bitstream or Signal Dolby Digital Provides up to five separa te main audio channels and a dedicated • Dolby Digital 1/0/.0 or .1, 2/0/.0 or .1, low-frequency effects (LFE) channel. 3/0/.0 or .1, 2/1/.0 or .1, 2/2/.0 or .1, 3/2/.0 or .1 • Dolby Digital EX (played as 5.[...]

61 APPENDIX T able A 13 – continued Surround Mode Description Incoming Bitstream or Signal Dolby Pro Logic IIx An expansion of Dolby Pro Logic II that adds a surround back channel Mode Group which may be played through one or two surround back speakers. The Dolby Pro Logic IIx modes may be selected not only with Dolby Digital bit- streams, but th[...]

62 APPENDIX T able A 13 – continued Surround Mode Description Incoming Bitstream or Signal DTS-ES Matrix DTS Extended Surround adds a single surround back channel to DTS 5. 1 • DTS-ES Matrix digital surround sound. The Matrix version includes the surround back channel information “matrixed” into the left and right (side) surround channels, [...]

63 APPENDIX T able A 13 – continued Surround Mode Description Incoming Bitstream or Signal 2-Channel Stereo T urns off all surround processing and plays a pure 2-channel signal • Analog (2-channel; DSP downmix available or a downmix of a multichannel signal. The signal is digitized and bass for multichannel) management settings are applied, mak[...]

64 APPENDIX 1 2 3 4 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 30 36 38 31 39 40 41 42 28 29 32 37 33 34 35 5 10 11 12 13 14 6 7 9 8 15 16 17 43 45 44 46 47 48 49 50 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 51 Refer to the numbered buttons in Figure 38 when using the Function List. Figure 38 – Remote Control Function List Reference AVR 7550HD OM.qxd 2/25/09 11:53 AM Page 64[...]

65 APPENDIX Radio Media Server No. Button Name A VR FM AM XM DVD DMC1000 TV The Bridge 01 AVR Power On AVR Power On AVR P ower On AVR Power On AVR Power On A VR Power On AVR P ower On AVR P ower On A VR Power On 02 AVR P ower Off AVR Power Off A VR Power Off AVR P ower Off AVR P ower Off AVR Power Off A VR Power Off AVR P ower Off AVR Power Off 03 [...]

AUX No. Button Name Cable/SA T Game CD HDTV PVR TiV o VCR USB Network 01 AVR Power On AVR Power On A VR Power On AVR Power On AVR P ower On AVR P ower On AVR P ower On AVR Power On AVR Power On AVR Power O 02 AVR P ower Off A VR Power Off AVR Power Off AVR P ower Off AVR Power Off AVR P ower Off A VR Power Off A VR Power Off AVR P ower Off AVR Powe[...]

67 A VR 7550HD TECHNICAL SPECIFICA TIONS Audio Section Stereo Mode, Continuous Average Power (FTC) 100 Watts per channel, 20Hz–20kHz, @ <0.07% THD, both channels driven into 8 ohms Seven-Channel Surround Modes Power per Individual Channel Front L & R channels: 85 Watts per channel @ <0.07% THD, 20Hz–20kHz into 8 ohms Center channel: 8[...]

8500 Balboa Blvd., Northridge, CA 91329 www .harmankardon.com © 2009 Harman International Industries, Incorporated. All rights reserved. Part No. CQX1A1308Z AVR 7550HD OM cover.qxd 2/25/09 10:44 AM Page 2[...]