Harman-kardon AVR 254 User Manual

AV R 254AUDIO/VIDEO RECEIVEROWNER’S MANUALAVR254om.qxd 3/28/08 12:45 PM Page 1

10FRONT-PANEL CONNECTIONSAudio Effects: Press this button to directly access the Audio Effectssubmenu, which allows adjustment of the tone and other c

11REAR-PANEL CONNECTIONSAM and FM Antenna Terminals: Connect the included AM and FM antennas to their respective terminals for radio reception.XM Ante

12121212REAR-PANEL CONNECTIONSAnalog 2 and 4 Outputs: Connect either of these analog audiooutputs to the analog audio inputs of a recording device. A

13131313FM Antenna XMAntenna AM AntennaS-Video 2OutputComposite 2OutputComposite 1, 2 and 3S-Video1, 2 and 3Video MonitorOutputsHDMI 1, 2 and 3AC Powe

1414REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONSThe AVR 254 remote is capable of controlling 7 devices, including theAVR itself. During the installation process, you may

15AVR Power OffAVR Power OnSource SelectorsAudio EffectsAlphanumeric KeysTeletextVolumeMuteDevice Power OnDevice Power OffSurround ModesVideo ModesOKN

1616REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONSVolume Control: Press this button to raise or lower the volume.Navigation (⁄/¤/‹/›) and OK Buttons: These buttons areused

1717INTRODUCTION TO HOME THEATERThe AVR 254 may be the first multichannel surround sound receiver you have owned. Although it has more connections and

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 dev

1919CONNECTIONSAudio ConnectionsThere are two formats for audio connections: digital and analog. Digitalaudio signals are required for listening to so

2SAFETY INFORMATIONImportant Safety Instructions1. Read these instructions.2. Keep these instructions.3. Heed all warnings.4. Follow all instructions.

2020CONNECTIONSrequired for DVD-Audio players compliant with HDMI version 1.1 or better, or HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc players that decode the digital au

Figure 14 – AM AntennaTo enjoy XM satellite radio, purchase an XM antenna module designedfor use with XM Ready devices and a subscription to the XM se

22SPEAKER PLACEMENTBefore you begin to connect cables, it is important to place your speakersin their correct locations in the room.Optimally, the spe

23SPEAKER PLACEMENTSubwoofer PlacementThe subwoofer’s location is less critical, since low-frequency sounds are omnidirectional. Placing the subwoofer

24INSTALLATIONYou are now ready to connect the various components to the receiver.Before beginning, turn off all components, including the AVR 254,and

25INSTALLATIONHDMI Connections• Choose the HDMI connection if it’s available on your source deviceand your TV. A HDMI connection carries both digital

26INSTALLATION• Connect the DVD player’s digital audio output to one of the Coaxial orOptical inputs on the AVR.If the player is capable of playing mu

27INSTALLATIONFigure 26 – Connecting a Composite or S-Video Recorder• To make two-channel digital audio recordings, connect the recorder’sdigital audi

28INSTALLATIONTo make analog audio recordings, connect the recorder’s left and rightanalog audio outputs to the Analog 2 Audio Inputs on the AVR, and

29INSTALLATIONFigure 33 – Component Video Monitor OutputsComposite/S-Video: If the video display does not have HDMI orcomponent video inputs, connect

3Important Safety InformationVerify Line Voltage Before UseYour AVR 254 has been designed for use with 120-volt AC current. Connection to a line volta

30INSTALLATIONfrom the appendix table corresponding to the device and pro-gram it into the AUX Source Selector. Similarly, the CBL/SATSource Selector

31INSTALLATIONTo control more than one source device using the Remote IR Output,connect all sources in “daisy chain” fashion, with the AVR’s Remote IR

32INSTALLATIONFigure 42 – AVR Power On and Source SelectorsNOTES:• Any time you press one of the Source Selectors on theremote (i.e., Cable/Sat, DVD,

33INITIAL SETUPBefore you begin enjoying your new receiver, a few adjustments shouldbe made to configure the AVR 254 to match your actual system.Make

34INITIAL SETUPFigure 45 – Plug EzSet/EQ microphone into receiver.Step Three – Make sure that the AVR 254 and the video display areturned on. Press th

Step Five – During the next portion of the test, the EzSet/EQ procedureequalizes the AVR 254’s audio circuitry to compensate for the specificroom char

36INITIAL SETUPAudio Input from source: Select this line to assign the correct analogor digital audio input to the source. Refer to Table A5 in the ap

37INITIAL SETUPEurope and elsewhere. The AVR 254 is capable of detecting PAL video sources and converting them to the NTSC format for display onAmeric

38OPERATIONNow that you have installed your system components and completed a basic configuration of your receiver, you are ready to begin enjoyingyou

39OPERATIONThe DOLBY H:BYPASS message indicates that Dolby Headphone surround processing is in the default bypass mode, which delivers aconventional 2

4STAPLE INVOICE HEREAVR254om.qxd 3/28/08 12:45 PM Page 4

40OPERATIONTo tune a preset station, press the ‹/›Buttons or the ChannelControl, or press the Menu Button to view the list of programmed pre-sets and

41OPERATION2. Only PCM digital audio signals are available for recording.Proprietary formats such as Dolby Digital and DTS may notbe recorded using th

42ADVANCED FUNCTIONSMuch of the AVR 254’s performance is handled automatically, with littleintervention required on your part. However, the AVR 254 is

43ADVANCED FUNCTIONSThe second number indicates whether any surround channels are present:“0” indicates that no surround information is present.“1” in

44ADVANCED FUNCTIONSWhen in doubt, check the jacket of your DVD for more information onwhich surround modes are available on the disc. Usually, noness

45ADVANCED FUNCTIONSManual SetupThe AVR 254 is flexibly designed to be used with almost any loud-speakers available. The flexibility comes from the AV

46ADVANCED FUNCTIONSNOTE: All of the speaker setup submenus include the Exit andBack options as shown at the bottom of Figure 58. To return to a previ

47ADVANCED FUNCTIONSplayed through the front left and right speakers and the speciallow-frequency effects (LFE) channel information.LFE: This setting

4848ADVANCED FUNCTIONSThe best method of setting the output levels is by running the EzSet/EQprocess, as described in the Initial Setup section. If an

• Half: Applies moderate compression.• Full: Applies the most compression.When you have finished making adjustments in the Audio Effects menu,press th

52 SAFETY INFORMATION6 INTRODUCTION8 FRONT-PANEL CONTROLS11 REAR-PANEL CONNECTIONS14 REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONS17 INTRODUCTION TO HOME THEATER18 CONNECT

50blocks, change the MPEG Noise Reduction setting from its default of Off to the Low, Medium or High setting to improve the picture.Cross Color Suppre

51ADVANCED FUNCTIONScomplex, and require proper training and experience to avoid worseningthe situation. Therefore, it is recommended that if you are

52Volume: The volume is controlled separately for the remote zone.To operate the multizone system using the remote, slide the Zone SelectSwitch at the

53ADVANCED FUNCTIONSAdvanced Remote Control FunctionsThe AVR 254 remote control not only operates the AVR 254, but it alsoserves as a universal remote

5454ADVANCED FUNCTIONS• The RS-232 Reset Button on the rear panel of the AVR 254does not perform a system reset. DO NOT press the RS-232Reset Button.T

55SYMPTOM CAUSE SOLUTIONUnit does not function when Main • No AC Power • Make certain AC power cord is plugged into Power Switch is pushed a live outl

5656APPENDIXAppendix – Default settings, worksheets, remote product codesTable A1 – Recommended Source Component ConnectionsDevice Type AVR 254 Source

57APPENDIXTable A3 – Speaker/Channel Setting Defaults Audio Input All Digital and 2-Channel Analog Audio Inputs 6-/8-Channel Analog Audio Inputs* Your

5858APPENDIXTable A6 – Audio Effects SettingsDefault Cable/Sat DVD Media Server Radio TV Game AUXTone Control OffTreble 0dBBass 0dBLFE Trim OffNight M

59APPENDIXTable A8 – Surround ModesDefault Cable/Sat DVD Media Server Radio TV Game AUXAuto Select Logic 7 Movie ornative digital formatVirtual Surrou

6Thank you for choosing a Harman Kardon®product!For more than fifty years, our mission has been to share our passion for music and entertainment, usin

6060APPENDIXTable A11 – Zone 2 SettingsSource Input Device Type (if changed) Your SettingsStatus OffSource Cable/SatVolume -25dBSurround Back Amps Mai

61APPENDIXSurround Mode Description Incoming Bitstream or SignalDolby Pro Logic II Variant of Dolby Pro Logic II that emphasizes use of the surround

62APPENDIXSurround Mode Description Incoming Bitstream or SignalDTS-HD DTS-HD is a new high-definition audio format that complements the • Blu-ray Dis

63Copyright (c) 2003 by Bitstream, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Bitstream Vera is a trademark of Bitstream, Inc.Permission is hereby granted, free of cha

64641 2315 16 1718 19 202122 232435 36 37 38252627 28293330 31 323445678910 1112 13 1439 40 4142 43 4445 4648 4950 51 52545347Refer to the numbered bu

65APPENDIXRadio Media ServerNo. Button Name AVR FM AM XM DVD DMC1000 TV01 AVR Power On AVR Power On AVR Power On AVR Power On AVR Power On AVR Power O

6666APPENDIXAUXNo. Button Name CBL/SAT Game CD HDTV PVD TiVO VCR01 AVR Power On AVR Power On AVR Power On AVR Power On AVR Power On AVR Power On AVR P

67TV Manufacturer/Brand Setup Code NumberAIWA 027A MARK 122 132ADMIRAL 192AKAI 123 160AMPRO 164ANAM 045 106 109 112 122AOC 122 123 128BLAUPUNKT 084BRO

6868TV Manufacturer/Brand Setup Code NumberTATUNG 063TECHNICS 181TECHWOOD 128TEKNIKA 045 069 115 123 128 132TELERENT 069TERA 156THOMSON 190 191TMK 128

69APPENDIXVCR Manufacturer/Brand Setup Code NumberAIWA 340AKAI 348 408 409 426AMPRO 376ASA 434AUDIO DYNAMICS 318 348BROKSONIC 410 447CANDLE 434 435CAN

7INTRODUCTIONAudio Inputs• AM/FM/XM®* tuner• Analog Audio 1 through 5 (assignable)• Front-panel Analog Audio (assignable)• 6-/8-Channel Analog Audio (

7070CD Manufacturer/Brand Setup Code NumberADCOM 063 069AIWA 072 111 118 156 170AKAI 050 177 184AUDIO TECHNICA 053AUDIOACCESS 125AUDIOFILE 211BSR 044C

71APPENDIXTable A18 – Remote Control Product Codes: DVDDVD Manufacturer/Brand Setup Code NumberAPEX DIGITAL 061DENON 019 051GE 003 004HARMAN KARDON 00

CBL Manufacturer/Brand Setup Code NumberSCIENTIFIC ATLANTA 183 203 221 222SEAM 121SIGNATURE 001 188SPRUCER 053 081 177 189STARCOM 002 011 163STARGATE

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75Audio SectionStereo Mode Continuous Average Power (FTC)65 Watts per channel, 20Hz–20kHz,@ <0.07% THD, both channels driven into 8 ohmsSeven-Chann

®250 Crossways Park Drive, Woodbury, New York 11797 www.harmankardon.com© 2008 Harman International Industries, Incorporated. All rights reserved.Part

8FRONT-PANEL CONTROLSMain Power Switch: This mechanical switch turns the power supplyon or off. It is usually left pressed in (On position), and canno

9ResolutionSourceListNavigationVideoModesOKBack/ExitNavigationHeadphoneJack/EzSet/EQMicrophoneInputDigitalAudio Inputs(Optical 3 andCoaxial 3)Video 4