Harman-Kardon AVR 154 manual

AV R 1 5 4 AUDIO/VIDEO RECEIVER O W N ER’S M ANUAL AVR154-OM.qxd 3/11/08 11:33 AM Page 1[...]

Important 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 water . 6. The A / V receiver’s cabinet may be cleaned by gently wiping with a soft cotton or microfiber cloth. Do not use water or any liquid cleaners . 7. Do not block any [...]

3 Important Safety Information Verify Line Voltage Before Use Y our A VR 154 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 voltage requirements for your specific model, or about[...]

4 ST APLE INVOICE HERE[...]

5 2 SAFETY INFORMA TION 6 INTRODUCTION 8 FRONT -P ANEL CONTROLS 10 REAR-P ANEL CONNECTIONS 12 REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONS 15 INTRODUCTION TO HOME THEA TER 16 CONNECTIONS 16 Speaker Connections 16 Subwoofer 16 Connecting Source Devices to the A VR 17 Audio Connections 17 Digital Audio 17 Analog Audio 17 Video Connections 17 Digital Video 18 Analog Vide[...]

6 Thank you for choosing Harman Kardon! In the years since Harman Kardon invented the high-fidelity receiver , we have taken to heart the philosophy of bringing the joy of home entertainment to as many people as possible , adding performance and ease-of-use features that enhance the home entertainment experience . In the years since our first singl[...]

7 INTRODUCTION Audio Inputs • AM/FM tuner • CD • T ape • 6-Channel direct • Auxiliary mini-jack Audio/Video Inputs (With S-Video) • Video 1 • Video 2 • Video 3 • DVD • T wo 100MHz assignable component video inputs • HDMI ™ 1, 2 and 3 (switching only), version 1.3a Digital Audio Inputs • Coaxial: T wo rear -panel/one front-[...]

8 Main Power Switch: This mechanical switch turns the power supply on or off . It is usually left pressed in (On position), and cannot be turned on using the remote control. Standby/On Switch: This electrical switch turns the receiver on for playback, or leaves it in Standby mode for quick turn-on using this switch or the remote control. Power Indi[...]

9 S urround Mode T uning Pre s et S tation s S urround S elect T uner Band T uning Mode S ource S elect Headphone Jack Digital Audio Input s (Optical 3 and C oaxial 3) Video 3 Video Input s Video 3 Analog Audio Input s Power Indicator Main Power S witch S tandby/On S witch Volume Remote IR S en s or Me ss age Di s play S peaker/ C hannel Input Indi[...]

10 REAR-P ANEL CONNECTIONS AM and FM Antenna T erminals: Connect the included AM and FM antennas to their respective terminals for radio reception. Front, Center and Surround Speaker Outputs: Use two- conductor speaker wire to connect each set of terminals to the correct speaker . Remember to obser ve the correct polarity (positive and negative con[...]

11 FM Antenna CD Inputs Ta p e Outputs Ta p e Inputs AM Antenna Video 2 A/V Inputs Video 1 A/V Outputs Video 1 A/V Inputs Video Monitor Outputs DVD A/V Inputs HDMI Monitor Output HDMI Inputs (1, 2 and 3) AUX Input Component Video Inputs (1 and 2) Component Video Monitor Outputs AC Power Cord Front Speaker Outputs Surround Speaker Outputs 6-Channel [...]

12 12 REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONS The A VR 154 remote is capable of controlling up to 11 devices , including the A VR itself and a device connected to the Auxiliary Input. During the installation process , you may program the codes for each of your source components into the remote . Each time you wish to use the codes for any component, first press t[...]

13 13 IR T ran s mitter Len s Program Indicator Power On AVR S elector AM/FM Te s t T one S leep D S P S urround On- S creen Di s play C hannel Level Digital Input T uning Mode Direct S tation Entr y T uning T one Mode Night Mode T rack S kip T ran s port C ontrol s Power Off Mute Input S elector s 6 - C hannel Input S elector Volume C ontrol s TV/[...]

14 14 REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONS T uning Mode: This button toggles between manual (one frequency step at a time) and automatic (seeks frequencies with acceptable signal strength) tuning mode . It also toggles between stereo and mono modes when an FM station is tuned. Memory: After you have tuned a particular radio station, press this button, then the[...]

15 15 INTRODUCTION TO HOME THEA TER The A VR 154 may be the first multichannel surround sound receiver you have owned. Although it has more connections and features than 2-channel receivers , many of the principles are similar and the new con- cepts are easy to understand. This introductory section will help you to familiarize yourself with the bas[...]

16 16 CONNECTIONS There are different types of audio and video connections used to connect the receiver to the speakers and video display , and to connect the source devices to the receiver . T o make it easier to keep them all straight, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) has established a color -coding standard. See T able 1. T able 1 – [...]

17 17 CONNECTIONS Audio Connections There are two formats for audio connections: digital and analog . Digital audio signals are required for listening to sources encoded with digital surround modes , such as Dolby Digital and DTS . The A VR 154 uses two types of digital audio connections: coaxial and optical. Either type of digital audio connection[...]

18 18 CONNECTIONS The A VR 154 will not convert analog video signals to the HDMI format, and the on-screen displays are not visible when using an HDMI source . Connect the composite or S-video monitor output (or both, depending on which video connections your sources use) to your video display to view the on-screen menus . The physical HDMI connect[...]

19 19 Before you begin to connect cables , it is important to place your speakers in their correct locations in the room. Optimally , the speakers should be placed in a circle with the listening position at its center . The distance from the listening position to the video display forms the radius of the circle . See Figure 15. The speakers should [...]

Y ou are now ready to connect your various components to your receiver . Before beginning , turn off all components , including the A VR 154, and unplug their power cords . Don’t plug any of the po wer cords back in until you have finished making all of your connections. Remember that your receiver generates heat while it is on. Select a location[...]

21 INST ALLA TION Video Connections: (choose only one , and make sure that type is available on your TV) • HDMI • S-video • Component video • Composite video NOTES: • Digital audio , HDMI and component video connections are not dedicated to any source input. When any of these physical connections are used, they must be assigned to the des[...]

22 INST ALLA TION Figure 21 – Connecting a Component-Video-Equipped Disc Player If the player is capable of playing multichannel discs , including DVD-Audio , SACD , HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc , make the following additional connection (see Figure 20): • Connect the DVD player’s 6-channel analog audio outputs to the 6-Channel Analog Audio Inputs[...]

23 INST ALLA TION • Connect the recorder’s optical digital audio output to the Optical 2 Input on the A VR (if available). • Then go to “Composite/S-Video” below to make recordings , as the A VR 154 cannot make recordings from copy-protected component video sources or digital audio (except 2-channel) sources . Figure 24 – Connecting a C[...]

24 INST ALLA TION Composite/ S-Video: If the best video connection common to both the set-top box and the TV is either S-video or composite video , follow these steps (see Figure 28): • Connect the set-top’s S-video or composite video output (use one connection only) to the corresponding Video 2 Input on the A VR. • Connect the set-top’s op[...]

25 INST ALLA TION Figure 32 – Connecting a Device to the Front-Panel Inputs Audio Components: Connect audio-only devices , such as CD players , to either the Coaxial 3 or Optical 3 Digital Audio Inputs , or the Video 3 Analog Audio Inputs (see Figure 32). If you obtain your broadcast programming from the TV , connect its audio outputs to the fron[...]

26 INST ALLA TION Figure 36 – Remote Control Battery Compartment When using the remote , remember to point the lens toward the front panel of the A VR 154. Make sure no objects , such as furniture , are blocking the remote’s path to the receiver . Bright lights , fluorescent lights and plasma video displays may interfere with the remote’s fun[...]

27 INST ALLA TION the Remote Control Function List, T able A9 in the Appendix, for each button’s functions with the various product types . Y ou may program Macros , which are preprogrammed code sequences that execute many code commands with a single button press . Y ou may also program “punch-through” codes , which allow the remote to operat[...]

28 INITIAL SETUP Before you begin enjoying your new receiver , a few adjustments should be made to configure the A VR 154 to match your actual system. Make sure that you have connected a video display to either the S-video or composite video monitor output on the receiver . When you tur n on your display and the A VR, you should see a blue screen. [...]

With proper bass management, the A VR 154 divides the source signal at a crossover point. All information above the crossover point is played through the satellite speaker (front left/right, center or surround left/right), and all information below the crossover point is played through the subwoofer . This enables each loudspeaker in your system to[...]

30 INITIAL SETUP LEFT/RIGHT : This line tells the AVR 154 the capabilities of your front left and right speakers . Use the ‹ / › Buttons to select either SMALL or LARGE for these speakers . CENTER: Move the cursor to the line for the center speaker , and use the ‹ / › Buttons to select a setting for this speaker . NOTE: If the receiver is c[...]

31 INITIAL SETUP Setting the Speaker Crossover menu correctly ensures that your speakers sound their best. Although you could skip this step the first time you use the receiver , we recommend that you take the few extra minutes to enter the correct crossover settings . Select from seven possible settings: 40Hz, 60Hz, 80Hz, 100Hz, 120Hz, 150Hz or 20[...]

32 INITIAL SETUP sound equally loud at the listening position is a critical step in the setup process . Sit in the listening position, and eliminate external noises for the few minutes needed to calibrate the output levels . Y ou may use a handheld SPL meter (available at most electronics stores) set to the C-W eighting , Slow scale , or you may ca[...]

33 INITIAL SETUP NOTE: Setting the channel levels while one surround mode is active does not carry over to other modes . After you have set the levels satisfactorily in one mode , note the results and change to other surround modes . For those modes that don’t reflect your level settings , either copy the settings you obtained as a short cut, or [...]

34 OPERA TION Now that you have installed your system components and completed at least a basic configuration of your receiver , you are ready to begin enjoying your home theater system. T urning On the AVR 154 Gently press the Master Power Switch until the word OFF is no longer visible . The Power Indicator above the two power switches should ligh[...]

35 OPERA TION If you wish to return the tone controls to 0, or “flat” response , press the ⁄ / ¤ Buttons , until the TONE OUT message appears , which preser ves any changes you have made to the bass or treble settings for later use . T o reactivate your changes , the tone control must again be set to TONE IN . The display will return to norm[...]

36 OPERA TION The COMPONENT IN line of the Input Setup menu indicates which of the two component video inputs on the A VR 154 is assigned to each source . The default assignments are indicated in T able A2 in the Appendix. As shown, various sources share the component video input assignments , but only one source may be physically connected at a ti[...]

37 OPERA TION 3. Press the T uner Input Selector (marked AM/FM) on the remote . Press this button again to switch bands . Figure 58 – T uner Input Selection Radio stations may be selected in one of four ways (see Figure 59): 1. If you know the frequency number , enter it directly by first pressing the Direct Button on the remote , and then using [...]

Selecting a Surround Mode Surround mode selection can be as simple or sophisticated as your individual system and tastes . Feel free to experiment with the many available surround modes on the A VR 154, and you may find a few that become your favorites for certain sources or program types . Although more detailed information on surround modes may b[...]

Much of the A VR 154’s performance is handled automatically , with little intervention required on your part. However , the AVR 154 is a sophisticated component, and is capable of being customized to suit your particular system and your tastes . In this section we describe some of the more advanced adjustments available on the A VR 154. Y ou may [...]

40 ADV ANCED FUNCTIONS NOTE: The 6.1-channel signals – Dolby Digital EX and DTS-ES Matrix and Discrete – each include a flag meant to signal the receiver to decode the surround back channel. Since the A VR 154 is only capable of processing and playing 5.1 channels , the indications EX-OFF or ES-OFF , as appropriate , will always appear for 6.1-[...]

Figure 65 – Dolby Surround Menu Screen CENTER WIDTH: This setting affects how vocals sound through the three front speakers . A higher number (up to 7) focuses the vocal information tightly on the center channel. Lower numbers broaden the vocal soundstage across the three speakers . DIMENSION: This setting affects the depth of the surround presen[...]

42 ADV ANCED FUNCTIONS T able 2 – Surround Modes Surround Mode Description Incoming Bitstream or Signal Dolby Digital Provides up to five separate main audio channels and a dedicated • Dolby Digital 1/0/.0 or .1, 2/0/.0 or .1, low-frequency effects (LFE) channel. May be encoded for Night mode , 3/0/.0 or .1, 2/1/.0 or .1, 2/2/.0 or .1, which al[...]

43 ADV ANCED FUNCTIONS Surround Mode Description Incoming Bitstream or Signal DTS Stereo Delivers a 2-channel downmix of DTS Digital materials , or presents • DTS 1/0/.0 or .1, 2/0/.0 or .1, 3/0/.0 or .1, a matrix-encoded surround presentation. 3/1/.0 or .1, 2/2/.0 or .1, 3/2/.0 or .1 • DTS 96/24 • DTS-ES Matrix • DTS-ES Discrete DTS Neo:6 [...]

44 ADV ANCED FUNCTIONS up only when a button is pressed or a remote command is received, and going dark again 5 seconds after the last command. The VFD F ADE TIME OUT feature also causes the display to light up only when a button is pressed or a change in the incoming signal is detected, but the display immediately begins to fade to dark. This sett[...]

45 ADV ANCED FUNCTIONS For example , if you wish to watch your TV (programmed into the Video 3 Button) while changing channels using your cable box (Video 2), first press and hold the Video 3 Button until the LED flashes . Then press the V olume Down Button, followed by the Video 2 Button. T o undo punch-through programming, follow the same steps a[...]

46 46 TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE SYMPTOM CAUSE SOLUTION Unit does not function when Main • No AC power • Make certain AC power cord is plugged into Power Switch is pushed a live outlet • Check whether outlet is switch-controlled Display lights , but no sound • Intermittent input connections • Make certain that all input and speaker connections[...]

47 47 APPENDIX Device T ype AVR 154 Source Input Audio Connections Video Connections VCR, DVR, PVR, Video 1 • Video 1 Analog (inputs and outputs) • One of Component Video 2, Video 1 S-Video TiV o or other and or Video 1 Composite Video Input audio/video recorder • Any one available coaxial or optical • For recording , use Video 1 S-Video or[...]

48 48 Appendix – Default settings, worksheets, remote product codes T able A2 – Source Input Setting Defaults Source DVD HDMI 1 HDMI 2 HDMI 3 Video 1 Video 2 Video 3 AUX CD T ape T uner 6-Channel Title INT . TUNER Component Comp V 1 Comp V 1 Comp V 2 Comp V 2 Comp V 2 Comp V 2 Comp V 2 Comp V 1 Comp V 1 Comp V 1 Comp V 1 Comp V 1 Video Input Au[...]

49 49 APPENDIX T able A5 – Source Input Settings Source DVD HDMI 1 HDMI 2 HDMI 3 Video 1 Video 2 Video 3 AUX CD T ape T uner 6-Channel Title INT . TUNER Video Input Component Video Input Audio Input Dedicated Dedicated Dedicated Auto Poll N/A N/A N/A Surround Mode N/A T able A6 – Speaker/Channel Settings Source DVD HDMI 1 HDMI 2 Video 1 Video 2[...]

50 1 3 6 9 16 19 22 25 31 34 2 5 8 18 21 24 27 29 33 47 10 11 12 13 14 15 17 20 23 26 28 30 32 35 37 36 38 40 39 41 42 44 43 45 46 48 47 49 50 52 51 54 55 56 58 57 59 60 61 53 62 64 65 66 68 67 69 70 71 63 Refer to the numbered buttons in this image when using the Function List. Figure 67 – Remote Control Function List Reference T able A7 – Rem[...]

51 No. Button Name AVR Function DVD CD/CD-R T ape VCR (VID1) TiV o (VID1) DMC (VID1/ CBL (VID2) SA T (VID2) TV (VID3) HDMI 1/2/3 HDMI 1/2/3) 1 Power On Power On Power On P ower On Power On Power On/Off Power On Power On Power On Power On Power On 2 Power Off Power Off Power Off Power Off Power Off TV Power Power Off P ower Off Power Off Power Off P[...]

52 52 No. Button Name AVR Function DVD CD/CD-R T ape VCR (VID1) TiV o ( VID1) DMC ( VID1/ CBL ( VID2) SA T ( VID2) T V ( VID3) HDMI 1/2/3 HDMI 1/2/3) 44 Memory Memor y Audio or Playlist Time Source (DMC250 only) 45 T uning Up T uning Up Next Chapter T rack Direct Cancel PPV Cancel Sleep 46 Direct Direct T uner Entry Angle Random Play Angle F A V F [...]

53 APPENDIX TV Manufacturer/Brand Setup Code Number AIWA 027 A MARK 122 132 ADMIRAL 192 AKAI 123 160 AMPRO 164 ANAM 045 106 109 112 122 AOC 122 123 128 BLAUPUNKT 084 BROKSONIC 205 206 CANDLE 123 128 CAPEHART 059 CENTURION 123 171 CENTRONIC 045 CITIZEN 045 123 128 132 CLASSIC 045 CONCERTO 128 CONTEC 045 CORANDO 172 CORONADO 132 CRAIG 045 157 158 159[...]

54 54 APPENDIX TV Manufacturer/Brand Setup Code Number TECHWOOD 128 TEKNIKA 045 069 115 123 128 132 TELERENT 069 TERA 156 THOMSON 190 191 TMK 128 TOSHIBA 063 129 202 TOTEVISION 132 VIDEO CONCEPTS 160 VIDTECH 128 WARDS 069 128 132 148 Y AMAHA 123 128 YORK 128 YUPITERU 045 ZENITH 069 090 ZONDA 122 VCR Manufacturer/Brand Setup Code Number AIWA 040 AKA[...]

55 55 CD Manufacturer/Brand Setup Code Number ADCOM 063 069 AIWA 072 111 118 156 170 AKAI 050 177 184 AUDIO TECHNICA 053 AUDIOACCESS 125 AUDIOFILE 211 BSR 044 CALIFORNIA AUDIO 109 CAPETRONIC 070 CARRERA 087 CARVER 136 140 141 143 144 154 185 186 CASIO 117 166 CLARINETTE 166 DENON 187 188 213 EMERSON 052 093 108 FISHER 055 095 FRABA 117 FUNAI 126 GE[...]

56 56 SA T Manufacturer/Brand Setup Code Number ALPHAST AR 472 ALPHAST AR DBS 450 ALPHAST AR DSR 442 BIRDVIEW 425 CHANNEL MASTER 320 321 325 361 CHAP ARRAL 315 316 451 CITOH 360 DRAKE 313 317 318 413 481 DX ANTENNA 331 352 379 483 ECHOST AR 395 397 452 453 463 477 478 484 485 ELECTRO HOME 392 FUJITSU 324 329 334 GENERAL INSTRUMENT 303 311 323 365 4[...]

57 T able A16 – continued APPENDIX CBL Manufacturer/Brand Setup Code Number SIGNA TURE 001 188 SPRUCER 053 081 177 189 ST ARCOM 002 011 163 ST ARGA TE 120 T ANDY 024 TELECAP A TION 028 TEXSCAN 036 TFC 122 TIMELESS 123 TOCOM 170 205 UNITED CABLE 011 UNIVERSAL 033 034 039 042 113 VIDEOWA Y 124 211 VIEWST AR 019 025 086 089 190 ZENITH 065 125 211 21[...]

58 58 A VR 154 TECHNICAL SPECIFICA TIONS Audio Section Stereo Mode Continuous Average Power (FTC) 40 Watts per channel, 20Hz–20kHz, @ <0.07% THD , both channels driven into 8 ohms Five-Channel Surround Modes Power per Individual Channel Front L&R channels: 30 Watts per channel @ <0.07% THD , 20Hz–20kHz into 8 ohms Center channel: 30 W[...]

59 NOTES[...]

250 Crossways Park Drive , W oodbury , New Y ork 11797 www .harmankardon.com © 2008 Harman International Industries , Incorporated. All rights reserved. Part No . CQX1A1309Z[...]