AVR55 OM Harman Kardon AVR 55 Receiver Owner’s Manual OM4 98

User Manual: Harman Kardon AVR 55 Receiver Owner’s Manual Troubleshoot Harman Kardon AVR 55 Receiver |

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Harman Kardon

AVR55

Audio/VideoReceiver

Owner’s Manual

VID 1 REC. SPK. MODE SURR.OFFVID 2SURR. MODE NIGHT

Volume

Contour

Bass Treble Balance

DVD VID 1DIGITAL

Subwoofer Level

Surround Level

Center Level

PHONO TV

VIDEO 2

R VideoLMaxMinMaxMin L Audio R

RF COAX OPT

FRT/REAR DIGITAL INPUT

TAL

URCE

2

D

EC

Owner’s Manual

AVR55 Audio/Video Receiver

Table of Contents

Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

Safety Information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2–3

Unpacking. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3

Front Panel Controls. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4–6

Front Panel Information Display . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7

Rear Panel Connections. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8–9

Remote Control Functions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10–12

Installation and Setup . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13–14

Remote Control Programming and Operation . . . 15–16

System Configuration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17–21

Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22–26

Source Selection . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

TV Auto-On . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23

Surround Mode Selection. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23–24

Dolby Digital. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

Night Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24

PCM Audio Playback. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25

Tuner Operation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25–26

Tape Recording . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26

Troubleshooting Guide . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

Technical Specifications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

©1998 Harman Kardon, Incorporated

250 Crossways Park Drive

Woodbury, NY 11797

Congratulations!With the purchase

of a Harman Kardon AVR55 you are

about to begin many years of listening

enjoyment. The AVR55 has been custom

designed to provide all the excitement

and detail of movie sound tracks and

every subtle nuance of musical selec-

tions. With on-board Dolby*Digital

Decoding, the AVR55 delivers six discrete

channels of audio that take advantage of

the digital sound tracks from the latest

DVD and LV releases as well as future

HDTV broadcasts.

While complex digital systems are hard

at work within the AVR55 to make all of

this happen, hookup and operation are

simple. Color-keyed connections and a

comprehensive learning remote control

make the AVR55 easy to use. To obtain

the maximum enjoyment from your

new receiver we urge you to take a few

minutes to read through this manual.

This will ensure that connections to

speakers, source playback units and other

external devices are made properly. In

addition, a few minutes spent learning

the functions of the various controls will

enable you to take advantage of all the

power the AVR55 is able to deliver.

If you have any questions about this

product, its installation or operation,

please contact your retailer or custom

installer. They are your best local source

of information.

Introduction

4

Description and Features

The AVR55 is a full-featured A/V receiver,

incorporating a wide variety of listening

options. In addition to Dolby Digital

decoding, Dolby Pro Logic*and Dolby 3

Stereo are available for compatibility with

the tens of thousands of movies and tele-

vision programs encoded with analog

surround information. A choice of Hall,

Theater, Church and Stadium modes is

also available for use with both encoded

sources and traditional two-channel

stereo recordings.

A total of four audio/video inputs, as

well as four additional audio only inputs

including a phono input and an FM

stereo/FM/AM tuner are available for the

utmost flexibility. Front panel AV inputs

simplify connections to video games or

camcorders.

The AVR55’s powerful amplifier uses

traditional Harman Kardon High-Current

design philosophies to meet the wide

dynamic range of any program selection.

Harman Kardon invented the high-

fidelity receiver over forty-five years ago.

With state-of-the-art features and time-

honored circuit designs, the AVR55 is one

of the finest receivers ever offered by

Harman Kardon.

■On-Board Dolby Digital Decoding

■Coax, Optical or RF Digital Inputs

■Six Analog Surround Modes

■Learning Remote Control

■Composite Video Switching

■Preamp Output for ALL Channels

Permits Ease of Expansion

■Phono Input

Safety Information

Important Safety Information

Verify Line Voltage Before Use

YourAVR55hasbeendesignedforuse

with120-voltACcurrent.Connectiontoa

linevoltageotherthanthatforwhichit

isintendedcancreateasafetyandfire

hazard,andmaydamagetheunit.

If you have any questions about the volt-

age requirements for your specific model,

or about the line voltage in your area,

contact your selling dealer before plug-

ging the unit into a wall outlet.

Do Not Use Extension Cords

To avoid safety hazards, use only the

power cord attached to your unit. We do

not recommend that extension cords be

used with this product. As with all electri-

cal devices, do not run power cords under

rugs or carpets or place heavy objects on

them. Damaged power cords should be

replaced immediately with cords meeting

factory specifications.

Handle the AC Power Cord Gently

When disconnecting the power cord from

an AC outlet, always pull the plug, never

pull the cord. If you do not intend to use

the unit for any considerable length of

time, disconnect the plug from the AC

outlet.

Do Not Open The Cabinet

There are no user-serviceable compo-

nents inside this product. Opening the

cabinet may present a shock hazard, and

any modification to the product will void

your guarantee. If water or any metal

object such as a paper clip, wire or a

staple accidentally falls inside the unit,

disconnect it from the AC power source

immediately, and consult an authorized

service station.

CATV or Antenna Grounding

If an outside antenna or cable system is

connected to this product, be certain that

it is grounded so as to provide some pro-

tection against voltage surges and static

charges. Section 810 of the National

Electrical Code, ANSI/NFPA No. 70-1984,

provides information with respect to

proper grounding of the mast and sup-

porting structure, grounding of the lead-

in wire to an antenna discharge unit,

size of grounding conductors, location of

antenna discharge unit, connection to

grounding electrodes and requirements

of the grounding electrode.

NOTE TO CATV SYSTEM INSTALLER:

Thisreminderisprovidedtocallthe

CATV(CableTV)systeminstaller’satten-

tiontoarticle820-40oftheNEC that

providesguidelinesforpropergrounding

and,inparticular,specifiesthatthecable

groundshallbeconnectedtotheground-

ingsystemofthebuilding,asclose tothe

pointofcableentryaspossible.

Installation Location

■To assure proper operation, and to

avoid the potential for safety hazards,

place the unit on a firm and level sur-

face. When placing the unit on a shelf,

be certain that the shelf and any

mounting hardware can support the

weight of the product.

■Make certain that proper space is pro-

vided both above and below the unit

for ventilation. If this product will be

installed in a cabinet or other enclosed

area, make certain that there is suffi-

cient air movement within the cabinet.

Under some circumstances a fan may

be required.

■Do not place the unit directly on a

carpeted surface.

■Avoid installation in extremely hot or

cold locations, or an area that is

exposed to direct sunlight or heating

equipment.

■Avoid moist or humid locations.

■Do not obstruct the ventilation slots on

the top of the unit, or place objects

directly over them.

5

CAUTION:

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK, DO NOT REMOVE

COVER (OR BACK). NO USER-SERVICEABLE PARTS INSIDE. REFER

SERVICING TO QUALIFIED SERVICE PERSONNEL.

WARNING:

TO REDUCE THE RISK OF FIRE OR ELECTRIC SHOCK,

DO NOT EXPOSE THIS APPLIANCE TO RAIN OR MOISTURE.

CAUTION:

TO PREVENT ELECTRIC SHOCK, MATCH WIDE

BLADE OF PLUG TO WIDE SLOT, FULLY INSERT.

ATTENTION:

POUR EVITER LES CHOCS ELECTRIQUES, INRODUIRE LA

LAME LA PLUS LARGE DE LA FICHE DANS LA BORNE CORRESPONDANTE DE

LA PRISE ET POUSSER JUSQU'AU FOND.

The lightning flash with arrowhead

symbol, within an equilateral triangle, is

intended to alert the user to the

presence of uninsulated “dangerous voltage”

within the product’s enclosure that may be of

sufficient magnitude to consittute a risk of

electric shock to persons.

The exclamation point within an

equilateral triangle is intended to

alert the user to the presence of

important operating and maintenance

(servicing) instructions in the literature

accompanying the appliance.

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

Safety Information

Cleaning

When the unit gets dirty, wipe it with a

clean, soft, dry cloth. If necessary, wipe it

with a soft cloth dampened with mild

soapy water, then a fresh cloth with clean

water. Wipe dry immediately with a dry

cloth. NEVER use benzene, aerosol

cleaners, thinner, alcohol or any other

volatile cleaning agent. Do not use

abrasive cleaners, as they may damage

the finish of metal parts. Avoid spraying

insecticide near the unit.

Moving The Unit

Before moving the unit, be certain to dis-

connect any interconnection cords with

other components, and make certain

that you disconnect the unit from the AC

outlet.

Important information for the user

NOTE:This equipment has been tested

and found to comply with the limits for

a Class-B digital device, pursuant to Part

15 of the FCC Rules. The limits are

designed to provide reasonable protection

against harmful interference in a

residential installation. This equipment

generates, uses and can radiate radio

frequency energy and, if not installed and

used in accordance with the instructions,

may cause harmful interference to radio

communication. However, there is no

guarantee that harmful interference will

not occur in a particular installation.

If this equipment does cause harmful

interference to radio or television recep-

tion, which can be determined by turning

the equipment off and on, the user

is encouraged to try to correct the inter-

ference by one or more of the following

measures:

■Reorient or relocate the receiving

antenna.

■Increase the separation between the

equipment and receiver.

■Connect the equipment into an outlet

on a circuit different from that to

which the receiver is connected.

■Consult the dealer or an experienced

radio/TV technician for help.

ThisdevicecomplieswithPart15ofthe

FCCRules.Operationissubjecttothe

followingtwoconditions:(1)thisdevice

maynotcauseharmfulinterference,and

(2) this device must acceptinterference

received,includinginterferencethatmay

causeundesiredoperation.

NOTE:Changes or modifications may

cause this unit to fail to comply with

Part 15 of the FCC Rules and may void

the user’s authority to operate the

equipment.

Unpacking

The carton and shipping materials used

to protect your new receiver during ship-

ment were specially designed to cushion

it from shock and vibration. We suggest

that you save the carton and packing

materials for use in shipping if you move,

or should the unit ever need repair.

To minimize the size of the carton in

storage, you may wish to flatten it. This

is done by carefully slitting the tape

seams on the bottom and collapsing the

carton down to a more two-dimensional

appearance. Other cardboard inserts may

be stored in the same manner. Packing

materials that cannot be collapsed

should be saved along with the carton in

a plastic bag.

If you do not wish to save the packaging

materials, please note that the carton

and other sections of the shipping protec-

tion are recyclable. Please respect the

environment and discard those materials

at a local recycling center.

Typographic Conventions

In order to help you use this manual

with the remote control, front panel

controls and rear panel connections,

certain conventions have been used.

EXAMPLE – (bold type) indicates a

specific remote control or front panel

button, or rear panel connection jack

EXAMPLE – (OCR type) indicates a

message that is visible on the front panel

information display

1– (number in a square) indicates a

specific front panel control

a– (number in an oval) indicates a

button or indicator on the remote

¡– (number in a circle) indicates a

rear panel connection

A– (letter in a square) indicates an

indicator in the front panel display

6

Front Panel Controls

7

1Main Power Switch

2System Power Control

3Power Indicator

4Memo Button

5Headphone Jack

6FM Mode

7Speaker Switch

8AM/FM

9Tuning Button

)CD

!Tape 1/Monitor

@Tape 2

#Phono

$TV

%DVD Input

^Vid 1

&Vid 1 Rec

*Vid 2

(Vid 2 Front/Rear

ÓSpeaker Mode Selector

ÔSurround Off

Bass Control

ÒSurround Mode

ÚTreble Control

ÛDigital Mode Selector

ÙBalance Control

ıDigital Input Selector

ˆNight Mode

˜Video 2 Inputs

¯Contour

˘Volume Control

¸Subwoofer Level Adjust

33

Center Level Adjust

34

Surround Level Adjust

35

Information Display

36

Remote Sensor Window

37

Numeric Keys

67890

AVR 55

Speaker

Headphones

TUNE VID 1 REC.

12345

SPK. MODE SURR.OFFFRT/REARVID 2SURR. MODE NIGHT

Volume

Contour

Bass Treble Balance

MEMO DVD VID 1DIGITAL INPUT

DIGITAL

Subwoofer Level

Surround Level

Center Level

FM MODE AM/FM CD T MON

•PHONO TV

VIDEO 2

R VideoLMaxMinMaxMin L Audio R

Power

RF COAX OPT

T 2

•

DIGITAL HALLTHEATER STADIUM CHURCH SLEEP

SOURCE

VID 2

DVD

TV

PRO LOGIC

VID 1 REC CONTOUR STEREO TUNED AUTO MEMORY PRESET

T MON

•

3 STEREO

-

˘¯

ˆÚ4)@$^*Ó68 Ù2

˜ıÛ57 9#%&(ÔÒ!13

¸

Front Panel Controls

8

1Main Power Switch: Press this

button to apply power to the AVR55.

When the switch is pressed the unit

is placed in a Standby mode, as

indicated by the amber LED 3sur-

rounding the System Power control

2. This button MUST be pressed in

to operate the unit. To turn the unit

off and prevent the use of the remote

control, this switch should be

pressed until it pops out to extend

from the front panel so that the word

“OFF” may be read at the top of

the switch.

NOTE: In normal operation this

switch may be left in the “ON”

position.

2System Power Control: When

the Main Power Switch 1is “ON,”

press this button to turn on the

AVR55, press it again to turn the unit

off. Note that the Power Indicator

surrounding the switch 3will turn

green when the unit is on.

3Power Indicator: This LED will

illuminate in amber when the unit is

in the Standby mode, to signal that

the unit is ready to be turned on.

When the unit is in operation the

indicator will turn green.

4Memo Button: This button is

used to enter settings for speaker

modes and tuner presets after

making the appropriate selection.

5Headphone Jack: This jack may

be used to listen to the AVR55’s out-

put through a pair of headphones.

Be certain that the headphones

have a standard 1⁄4" stereo phone

plug.

6FM Mode: Press this button to

select the stereo or mono mode for

FM tuning. In the STEREO mode a

STEREO indicator will illuminate in

the information display, and stereo

reception will be provided when sta-

tions are transmitting stereo signals.

In the MONO mode the left and right

signals from stereo broadcasts will

be mixed together and reproduced

through all channels. Select MONO

for better reception of weak signals.

7Speaker Switch: For normal

operation this switch is pressed in

and sound is heard through all

speakers. To silence the speakers,

push the button once until it is in the

“out” position. When the speakers

are turned off, sound will continue to

be heard through the headphone

jack.

8AM/FM: Press this button to

select the tuner as the AVR55’s input

source. When it is first pressed the

last station tuned will appear. Press

it again to change between AM and

FM bands.

9Tuning Button: Press the left

side of the button to tune lower

frequency stations and the right side

of the button to tune higher frequency

stations. When a station with a strong

frequency is tuned, the TUNED

indicator will illuminate in the

Information Display

35

. A brief

(1/2 second) press of the button will

manually tune to the next frequency

increment, while pressing and hold-

ing the button for a longer period will

automatically tune to the next station

with a signal strong enough for

acceptable reception.

)CD: Press this button to select

the device connected to the CD

Input jacks das the listening

source.

!Tape1/Monitor: Press this button

to select the device connected to

the Tape 1 Play jacks ⁄as the lis-

tening source. The T-Mon indicator

Kwill illuminate to indicate that the

Tape Monitor has been selected,

while the name of the input being

monitored will be displayed in the

Main Information Display F.

@Tape 2: Press this button to

select the device connected to the

Tape 2 Play jacks ªas the listening

source.

#Phono: Press this button to

select the Phono Input eas the

listening source.

$TV: Press this button to select the

device connected to the TV/Aux

jacks ¤as the listening and viewing

source.

%DVD Input: Press this button to

select the device connected to the

DVD Play jacks ‹as the listening

and viewing source.

^Vid 1: Press this button to

select the device connected to the

Video 1 In jacks °as the listening

and viewing source.

&Vid 1 Rec: Press this button

to select the device that will be

recorded by the device connected

to the Video 1 Out jacks ›. The

selected source is shown in the

Vid 1 Source indicators Ain the

Information Display

35

. Note that

this recording will take place even

if another source is selected for

listening through the system.

Front Panel Controls

*Vid 2: Press this button to select

the device connected to the Video 2

Play jacks ·as the listening and

viewing source.

(Vid 2 Front/Rear: Press this

button to choose either the rear

panel Video 2 Play jacks ·or the

front panel Video 2 Inputs ˜as the

input source. When the red light

above the button is illuminated, the

front panel jacks are selected.

ÓSpeaker Mode Selector: Press

this button to configure the AVR55

for the type of speakers used in your

system. See page 18 for details on

using this button.

ÔSurround Off: Press this button

to turn the surround modes off to

listen to a source in traditional two-

channel stereo from the front

left/right speakers only.

Bass Control: Turn this control to

modify the low frequency output of

the left/right channels by as much as

±10dB. Set this control to a suitable

position for your taste and room

acoustics.

ÒSurround Mode: Press this

button to select one of the analog

surround processing modes (Dolby

Pro Logic, Dolby 3 Stereo, Theater,

Hall, Stadium and Church) for a

listening session.

ÚTreble Control: Turn this control

to modify the high frequency output

of the left/right channels by as much

as ±10dB. Set this control to a

suitable position for your taste and

room acoustics.

ÛDigital Mode Selector: Press

this button to listen to a source when

a Dolby Digital (AC-3*) signal is

present.

NOTE: Dolby Digital may only be

used with the TV, DVD, Vid 1 and

Vid 2 inputs.

ÙBalance Control: Turn this

control to change the relative volume

for the front left/right channels.

NOTE: For proper operation of the

surround modes this control should

be at the midpoint, or “12 o’clock”

position.

ıDigital Input Selector: When the

Digital Mode Selector Ûhas been

pressed, this button is used to select

the type of digital input to be used.

NOTE: The coax or optical inputs

may be selected with the CD, TV,

DVD, Vid 1 and Vid 2 inputs. The

RF input may be used in conjunction

with the Vid 1 or Vid 2 input only.

ˆNight Mode: Press this button

to activate the “Night” mode, pre-

venting a loud playback when the

digital modes are in use.

˜Video 2 Inputs: These jacks may

be used to temporarily connect an

audio/video source such as a video

game or camcorder to the AVR55.

To select these jacks as the input,

press the Vid 2 Front/Rear button

(until the red LED above that

button is illuminated.

¯Contour: Press this button when

listening at low levels to activate

special circuits that compensate

for the response of the human ear

at lower volumes. The Contour

Indicator Mwill illuminate to remind

you when this circuit is ON. In the

OFF position the AVR55 will provide

flat frequency response.

˘Volume Control: Turn the knob

clockwise to increase volume,

counterclockwise to decrease the

volume.

¸Subwoofer Level Adjust:

Press these buttons to raise or lower

the output to the subwoofer channel.

These buttons should be used dur-

ing normal listening sessions for

touch-up adjustments, not when the

test signal is being used for major

system alignment.

33

Center Level Adjust: Press

these buttons to raise or lower the

output to the center channel. These

buttons should be used during

normal listening sessions for touch-

up adjustments, not when the test

signal is being used for major

system alignment.

34

Surround Level Adjust:

Press these buttons to raise or lower

the output to the surround channels.

These buttons should be used dur-

ing normal listening sessions for

touch-up adjustments, not when the

test signal is being used for major

system alignment.

35

Information Display: This dis-

play delivers messages and status

indications to help you operate the

receiver. See page 7 for a complete

explanation of the display.

36

Remote Sensor Window: The

sensor behind this window receives

infrared signals from the remote con-

trol. Aim the remote at this area and

do not block or cover it unless an

external remote sensor is installed.

37

Numeric Keys: Press these

buttons to enter or recall stations

entered to the tuner’s preset memory.

See page 25 for complete information

on using the tuner and the preset

memories.

9

Front Panel Information Display

10

DIGITAL HALLTHEATER STADIUM CHURCH SLEEP

SOURCE

VID 2

DVD

TV

PRO LOGIC

VID 1 REC CONTOUR STEREO TUNED AUTO MEMORY PRESET

T MON

•

3 STEREO

-

F

MLKJIGH

B

ADEC

AVid 1 Record Indicators

BDolby Digital Indicator

CAnalog Dolby Surround Mode Indicators

DAnalog Surround Mode Indicators

ESleep Indicator

FMain Information Display

GPreset Indicator

HMemory Indicator

IAuto Mode In Indicator

JTuned Indicator

KT-Mon Indicator

LStereo Indicator

MContour Indicator

AVid 1 Record Indicators: A dot

appears next to one of the sources

shown in this indicator to tell you

which input has been selected as

the output to the device connected

to the Video 1 Out jacks ›. Press

the Vid 1 Rec button &to change

the source.

BDolby Digital Indicator: This

indicator illuminates when a Dolby

Digital source has been selected.

CAnalog Dolby Surround Mode

Indicators: These indicators illumi-

nate when one of the analog (matrix)

dolby Surround modes is in use.

DAnalog Surround Mode

Indicators: These indicators illumi-

nate when one of the DSP generated

analog surround modes is in use.

ESleep Indicator: This indicator is

illuminated when the Sleep function

is in use. The number that appears

above the indicator is the number of

minutes remaining before the AVR55

will return to the Standby mode.

FMain Information Display: This

display shows messages relating to

the status, input source, surround

mode, tuner, volume level or other

aspects of unit’s operation.

GPreset Indicator: This indicator

illuminates when one of the stations

entered into the preset memory is

tuned. The number that appears

below the indicator is the preset

station’s memory.

HMemory Indicator: This flashes

after the Memo button 4uhas

been pressed to indicate that you

have five seconds to select and

enter a preset memory location for a

specific radio station.

IAuto Mode In Indicator: This

indicator illuminates when the “Auto”

mode is in use for FM tuning.

JTuned Indicator: This indicator

illuminates when a station is being

received with sufficient signal

strength to allow for acceptable

listening quality.

KT-Mon Indicator: This indicator

illuminates when the Tape Monitor

function is in use to remind you that

you are listening to the record output

of the device connected to the

Tape 1 Record jacks ‚, not to the

actual input source shown in the

Information Display.

LStereo Indicator: This indicator

illuminates when an FM station is

being tuned in stereo.

MContour Indicator: This indicator

illuminates when the Contour circuits

have been engaged by pressing the

Contour button ¯.

Rear Panel Connections

11

CENTER

PRE-OUT

REAR

PRE

OUT

FRONT

ANTENNA MAIN

IN

PRE

OUT

AM

LOOP

FM

75Ω

SUB

WOOFER

OUT

AC-3

RF/PCM

GND

COAXIAL/PCM

OPTICAL/PCM

MODEL NO.: AVR55

HARMAN KARDON

NORTHRIDGE

CALIFORNIA, U.S.A.

R

REAR SPEAKER (8Ω)

FRONT SPEAKER (8Ω)

CENTER SPEAKER (8Ω)

R

L

L

SWITCHED

~120V/60Hz

TOTAL 100W

1A MAX

AC OUTLETS

OUT

VIDEO

MON.

REMOTE

CONTROL

VIDEO 2

PLAY

IN

DVD

PLAY

TV

OUT

VIDEO 1

IN

R

L

L

R

VIDEO

TAPE 2

REC

TAPE 1

REC

TAPE 2

PLAY

TAPE 1

PLAY

CD

PHONO

LR

LR

L

SER. NO

R

AC INPUT

~120V/60HZ

3.2A

fl

‡°·abcedfghi

¡

™

£∞

§

¶

•

ª

‚¤

‹⁄

ݢ

fi

¡AM Antenna

™FM Antenna

£Center Channel Preamp Output

¢Rear Preamp Outputs

∞Subwoofer Output

§Ground Terminal

¶Optical/PCM Digital Input

•Tape 2 Rec

ªTape 2 Play

‚Tape 1 Rec

⁄Tape 1 Play

¤TV Inputs

‹DVD Input

›Video 1 Outputs

fiSpeaker Outputs

flSwitched Outlets

‡AC Power Cord

°Video 1 Inputs

·Video 2 Play Inputs

aVideo Monitor Output

bRemote Control Extension Output

cRemote Control Extension Input

dCD Input

ePhono Input

fCoax Digital Input

gAC-3 RF Input

hFront Channel Preamp Outputs

iFront Channel Main In Amp Inputs

¡AM Antenna: Connect the AM

loop antenna supplied with the

receiver to these terminals. If an

external AM antenna is used, make

connections to the AM and GND

terminals in accordance with the

instructions supplied with the

antenna.

™FM Antenna: Connect an indoor

or external FM antenna to this

terminal.

£Center Channel Preamp Output:

These jacks may be used to connect

the center channel to an optional,

external power amplifier.

¢Rear Preamp Outputs: These

jacks may be used to connect the

surround channels to an optional,

external power amplifier.

∞Subwoofer Output: Connect this

jack to the mono line level input of

an optional powered subwoofer, or

your optional external subwoofer

amplifier.

§Ground Terminal: Connect the

ground wire from a turntable to this

terminal to reduce system hum.

¶Optical/PCM Digital Input:

Connect the optical digital output of

a CD, LV or DVD player or HDTV

product to this jack.

•Tape 2 Rec: Connect the

RECORD/INPUT jacks of an audio

tape recorder to these jacks.

Rear Panel Connections

12

ªTape 2 Play: Connect the

PLAY/OUT jacks of an audio tape

recorder to these jacks.

‚Tape 1 Rec: Connect the

RECORD/INPUT jacks of an audio

tape recorder to these jacks.

⁄Tape 1 Play: Connect the

PLAY/OUT jacks of an audio tape

recorder to these jacks.

NOTE: The recorder connected to

the Tape 1/Mon jacks may be moni-

tored during a recording session by

pressing the Tape 1/Mon button

!d on the front panel or remote.

¤TV Inputs: Connect the audio

and video outputs from a TV,

Satellite receiver or other A/V source

to these jacks. The signal sent to the

video jack may also be used to trig-

ger the TV Auto On function. (See

page 23 for more information on TV

Auto On.)

‹DVD Input: Connect the com-

posite video and analog audio

outputs of a DVD player to these

jacks.

›Video 1 Outputs: Connect the

audio and video REC/IN jacks of

your main VCR to these jacks.

NOTE: The Video 1 jacks may be

used for any video source, but when

used with a VCR they will permit

dubbing from one source to another

while a separate source is being

listened to by selecting the VID 1

Rec button &.

fiSpeaker Outputs: Connect

these terminals to the input terminals

on your front left/right, center and

surround speakers.

flSwitched Outlets: These

outlets provide AC power only

when the AVR55 is turned on.

Note that the total power draw of

the products connected may not

exceed 100 watts.

‡AC Power Cord: Connect this

plug to an unswitched 115 volt

AC outlet.

°Video 1 Inputs: Connect the

audio and video PLAY/OUT jacks

of your main VCR to these jacks.

·Video 2 Play Inputs: Connect

the audio and video PLAY/OUT jacks

of a VCR, DVD, LD, Satellite system

or other video source to these jacks.

aVideo Monitor Output: Connect

this jack to the video input of a TV or

video projector to view the selected

source.

bRemote Control Extension

Output: This jack may be con-

nected to other compatible Harman

Kardon products so that they will

receive infrared commands

captured by the AVR55’s remote

sensor.

cRemote Control Extension

Input: If the AVR55’s front panel IR

sensor is blocked due to cabinet

doors or other obstructions, an

external IR sensor may be used.

Connect the output of the sensor to

this jack.

dCD Input: Connect the output of

your CD player or D/A converter to

these jacks.

ePhono Input: Connect the output

of your turntable or tone arm to

these jacks. Note that only Moving

Magnet (MM) type cartridges may

be used.

fCoax Digital Input: Connect

the coax digital output from a DVD

player, HDTV receiver, LV player or

CD player to this jack. The signal

may be either a Dolby Digital (AC-3)

signal or a standard PCM digital

source.

gAC-3 RF Input: Connect the

AC-3 RF output of an LV player

equipped for digital audio to this

jack.

NOTE: Do not connect standard

analog audio sources to these

jacks fg.

hFront Channel Preamp Outputs:

These jacks provide the output for

the front left and right channels to an

external amplifier or processor. In

normal operation, unless an external

power amplifier is used, the jumper

pins should remain connected

to the Front Main In jacks i.

iFront Channel Main In Amp

Inputs: These jacks are the input to

the AVR55’s front left/right channel

power amplifier. Unless an external

power amplifier is used for the

left/right channels, the jumper pins

should remain connected to the

Front Pre Out jacks h.

Remote Control Functions

13

*

PRESET

DISC

ON OFF

DISPLAY

/

MUTE

Source Power

DVD

TV

VID 1

VID 2

TAPE 2

SELECT

TAPE 1

CD

AM/FM

#

SKIP

TUNE/

SEARCH

VOLUME

+

_

SLEEP

AC-3

PHONO

NIGHT 123

STEREO MATRIX

DELAY 456

RF 789

TEST TONE

SPEAKER

CH SELECT

COAX

OPT 0

AVR 55

Sending

Use

Learning

Learn

P/L 3 ST

ON OFF

Main Power

PTY

MEMO CLEAR P-SCAN

AF

FM MODE

RDS DISP.

RDS DISP.

TUNE/

SEARCH

m

n

o

p

q

rs

t

u

v

w

y

`

MEMO CLEAR P-SCAN

x

z

b

c

e

g

h

i

k

l

a

d

d

f

j

aUse/Learn

bSource Power

cMain Power

dAudio Source Selectors

eVideo Source Selectors

fNight Mode

gDelay

hDigital Audio Input Selectors

iAM/FM

jSelect

kTest Tone

lChannel Select

mSpeaker Level Adjust

nMain Volume

oDisplay

pMute

qTransport Controls

rTune/Search and Fast Forward

sPreset/Disc

tChannel/Skip

uMemo

vP-Scan

wNumber Keys

xStereo Selector

yMatrix Surround Modes

zAC-3 Select

`Dolby Surround Modes

Sleep

Learning LED

Sending LED

Remote Control Functions

aUse/Learn: This switch selects

the operation mode of the remote

control. Slide it to the left for normal

operation. Slide it to the right when

the remote is being programmed.

bSource Power: Press these

buttons to control power for the last

source device selected when power

on/off commands have been pro-

grammed into the remote’s memory.

cMain Power: Press these

buttons to turn the unit on or off.

dAudio Source Selectors: Press

these buttons to select any of the

audio only sources (CD, Phono,

Tape 1, Tape 2) as the AVR55’s input.

eVideo Source Selectors: Press

these buttons to select any of the

audio/video sources (TV, DVD, Vid 1,

Vid 2) as the AVR55’s input.

fNight Mode: Press this button

to activate the “Night” mode, pre-

venting loud playback when the

digital modes are in use without

altering the dynamic range of the

output signal.

gDelay: Press this button to

change the delay time, after the

Delay function has been initiated by

first pressing the Select button j.

hDigital Audio Input Selectors:

Press one of these buttons to select

a digital audio input.

iAM/FM: Press this button to

select the AVR55’s tuner as an input

source. Pressing this button when

the tuner is in use will switch

between the AM and FM bands.

jSelect: Press this button to initi-

ate the process that changes the

delay time (see page 20).

kTest Tone: Press this button to

begin the adjustment of the output

levels. A test tone will circulate

among the speakers. Press this but-

ton to select the individual channels

for output-level adjustments (see

page 19).

lChannel Select: Press this

button to view the output level for the

surround or center channels. When

the Test Tone button khas been

pressed so that the Tone is audible,

pressing this button will change the

channel available for adjustment

(see page 19).

mSpeaker Level Adjust: When

setting the system output levels,

press these buttons to increase or

decrease the output level.

nMain Volume: These buttons

control the unit’s volume. Note

that all channels are controlled

simultaneously.

oDisplay: Press this button

to reduce the brightness of the

front panel display, or to turn it off

completely.

pMute: Press this button to tem-

porarily cut the audio output of the

receiver. Press it again to return to

the previous volume level.

qTransport Controls: These

buttons may be programmed to

control the tape or disc motion of the

last playback source selected with

the Source Selection buttons d.

Use them as you would the Play,

Stop, Pause, Record, Reverse Play

and Forward Play buttons on any

VCR, CD, cassette, DVD or LD

remote control. The Reverse Play

button fialso operates the FM

Mode function of the AVR55’s tuner.

rTune/Search and Fast

Forward: These buttons may be

programmed to have multiple

functions, which vary according to

the input device selected.

a. When the TUNER has been

selected, these buttons are used

to tune stations.

b. When CD, Tape, DVD, LD or

VCR is the input source, these

buttons act as the Fast Scan

Forward —or Fast Scan

Reverse ‚controls.

14

Remote Control Functions

sPreset/Disc: These buttons

have multiple functions, which

vary according to the input device

selected.

a. When the TUNER has been

selected, these buttons will scroll

up ·or down ‡through

the stations that have been pro-

grammed in the preset memory.

b. When CD is selected and the unit

is a CD changer, these buttons

will change to the next disc ∏or

previous disc Â.

c. When Tape 1 or Tape 2 is the

input source, and the tape

machine is a compatible Harman

Kardon dual cassette deck, these

buttons will switch between the

“A” and “B” sides.

tChannel/Skip: These buttons

have multiple functions, which

vary according to the input device

selected and the codes pro-

grammed from another remote.

a. When TV, Vid 1 or Vid 2 are

selected, they may function as

the channel up ·or channel

down ‡tuning buttons when

programmed with the codes from

another unit’s remote.

b. When CD is selected these

buttons act as forward and

reverse “Skip” buttons to move

to the next track or chapter on

the disc.

c. When a compatible Harman

Kardon cassette player has been

selected as Tape 1 or Tape 2,

these buttons move the tape

forward ·or backwards ‡to

the next selection using the Music

Scan feature.

uMemo: The memo button is

used to enter settings for the tuner’s

preset memory and when entering

speaker types. It is also used when

clearing the memory.

vP-Scan: Press this button to

automatically scan through the sta-

tions preset into the tuner memory.

Press the button again to end the

scan when the tuner stops at the

desired station.

wNumber Keys: These buttons

serve as a ten-button numeric key-

pad to enter tuner preset positions.

They are also to be used to select

channel numbers when TV has

been selected on the remote, or to

select track numbers on a CD, DVD

or LD player, depending on how the

remote has been programmed.

xStereo Selector: Press this but-

ton to turn the surround processing

off and listen to an input in traditional

two-channel (front left/right) audio.

yMatrix Surround Modes: Press

this button to select the Theater,

Hall, Stadium or Church surround

modes. Each press of the button

cycles through the four modes

(see page 23).

zAC-3 Select: Press this button to

activate the Dolby Digital mode when

an appropriate digital audio source is

present and the correct digital input

is selected (see page 24).

`Dolby Surround Modes: Press

these buttons to select the Dolby Pro

Logic or Dolby 3 Stereo modes. Use

Pro Logic when surround speakers

are installed, and Dolby 3 Stereo when

only front speakers are available.

Sleep: Press this button to

activate the sleep timer. Each press

of the button will increase the time

increment before the AVR55 goes

into the Standby mode in the

following order:

Note that the front panel display will

dim when the Sleep function is active.

Learning LED: This indicator

will illuminate when a button on the

remote is being programmed with

signals from another remote during

the “learning” mode. The light will go

out when the signal is received and

memorized.

Sending LED: This indicator

should flash any time a button is

pressed to confirm that a command

is being sent to the receiver or

another unit. If the light is dim or

does not illuminate when a button is

pressed the batteries in the remote

should be replaced.

10

min 20

min 30

min 60

min 90

min OFF

15

Installation and Setup

System Installation

After unpacking the unit, and placing it

on a solid surface capable of supporting

its weight, you will need to make the

connections to your audio and video

equipment. These steps need to be done

only when the receiver is first installed,

or when a change is made to the input

source equipment.

Audio Input and Output Connections

We recommend that you use high-quality

cables when making connections to

source equipment and recorders to

preserve the quality of the signals.

When making connections to audio

source equipment or speakers it is always

a good practice to unplug the unit from

the AC wall plug. This prevents any possi-

bility of accidentally sending audio or

transient signals to the speakers that may

damage them.

1. For playback-only audio sources, such

as a CD player, CD changer, tape deck or

phono cartridge, connect the output

jacks of the player to the appropriately

labeled inputs on the rear panel de.

NOTE:When the source device has both

fixed and variable audio outputs it is best

to use the fixed output unless you find

that the input to the receiver is so low

that the sound is noisy, or high that the

signal is distorted.

2. If a turntable is connected to the

Phono input e, connect the ground

wire from the cartridge or tone arm to

the Ground terminal§.

3. When connecting audio recording

devices such as cassette recorders, open

reel audio tape decks, DAT or MD, con-

nect the PLAY/OUT jacks of the recorder

to the Play jacks ª⁄on the AVR55.

Connect the RECORD/IN jacks on the

recorder to the Tape Rec jacks •‚

on the AVR55.

4. Connect the output of any digital

sources to be used to the appropriate

connections on the AVR55 rear panel.

The Optical and Coaxial digital inputs

¶fmay be used with either a Dolby

Digital (AC-3) source or the output of a

conventional CD or LV player’s PCM

(S/P-DIF) output. The AC-3 RF input

gmay ONLY be connected to the special

AC-3 RF output of a laser disc player.

5. Assemble the AM Loop Antenna sup-

plied with the unit as shown below.

Connect it to the AM and GND screw

terminals ¡.

6. Connect an FM antenna to the

FM (75 ohm) connection ™. The

FM antenna may be an external roof

antenna, an inside powered or wire lead

antenna, or a connection from a cable

TV system. Note that if the antenna or

connection uses 300-ohm twin lead

cable, you must use the 300-ohm to

75-ohm adapter supplied with the unit

to make the connection.

7. Connect the front, center and surround

speaker outputs fito the respective

speakers.

To assure that all the audio signals are

carried to your speakers without loss of

clarity or resolution, we suggest that you

use high-quality speaker cable. Many

brands of cable are available, and the

choice of cable may be influenced by the

distance between your speakers and this

receiver, the type of speakers you use,

personal preferences and other factors.

Your dealer or installer is a valuable

resource to consult in selecting the

proper cable.

Regardless of the brand of cable selected,

we recommend that you use a cable con-

structed of fine, multistrand copper with

a gauge of 14 or smaller. Remember that

in specifying cable, the lower the gauge

number, the thicker the cable.

Cables that are run inside walls should

have the appropriate markings to indicate

listing with UL, CSA or other appropriate

testing agency standards. Questions about

running cables inside walls should be

referred to your installer or a licensed

electrical contractor who is familiar with

the NEC and/or the applicable local

building codes in your area.

16

Installation and Setup

When connecting wires to the speakers,

be certain to observe proper polarity.

Remember to connect the “negative” or

“black” wire to the same terminal on the

receiver and the speaker. Similarly, the

“positive” or “red” wire should be con-

nected to the like terminal on the AVR55

and speaker.

NOTE:While most speaker manufacturers

adhere to an industry convention of using

black terminals for negative and red ones

for positive, some manufacturers may

vary from this configuration. To assure

proper phase, and optimal performance,

consult the identification plate on your

speaker, or the speaker’s manual to verify

polarity. If you do not know the polarity

of your speaker, ask your dealer for advice

before proceeding, or consult the speaker’s

manufacturer.

8. Connections to a subwoofer are made

via an audio connection from the

Subwoofer Output ∞to the line level

input of a subwoofer with a built-in

amplifier. If a passive subwoofer is used,

the connection first goes to a power

amplifier, which will be connected to one

or more subwoofer speakers.

Video Input and Output Connections

Video connections are made in a similar

fashion as those for audio components.

Again, the use of high-quality intercon-

nect cables is recommended to preserve

signal quality.

1. Connect your VCR’s audio and video

OUT jacks to the Video 1 In jacks °on

the rear panel. The audio and video IN

jacks on the VCR should be connected to

the Video 1 Out jacks ›on the AVR55.

2. Connect the audio and video outputs

of a satellite receiver, cable TV converter

or television set or any other video source

to the TV jacks ¤.

3. Connect the audio and video outputs

of a DVD or laser disc player to the DVD

jacks ‹.

4. Connect the Video Mon ajack on

the receiver to the video input of your

television monitor or video projector.

System and Power Connections

The AVR55 is designed for flexible use

with external control components and

power amplifiers. These connections are

easy to make during an initial installa-

tion, or at a later date should you choose

to upgrade your system.

Remote Control Extension

If the receiver is placed behind a solid or

smoked glass cabinet door, the obstruc-

tion may prevent the internal remote

sensor from receiving commands. In this

event, an optional remote sensor may be

used. Connect the output of the remote

sensor to the Remote Cont. In jack c.

If other components are also prevented

from receiving remote commands, only

one sensor is needed. They may use the

AVR55’s sensor or a remote eye to send

commands to other products by running

a connection from the Remote Cont.

Out jack bto the Remote In jack on

Harman Kardon or other compatible

equipment.

External Audio Power

Amplifier Connections

If desired, optional, external power audio

power amplifiers may be used with the

AVR55. Connections may be made by con-

necting the Preamp Outputs £¢h

of the AVR55 to the inputs of the external

amplifier. Before connecting the front

channels to an external amplifier, remove

the jumper pins connecting the Front

Channel Inputs and Outputs hi

and save them for future use.

AC Power Connections

This unit is equipped with two accessory

AC outlets. They may be used to power

accessory devices, but they should not be

used with high-current draw equipment

such as power amplifiers. Their total

power draw may not exceed 100 watts.

These Outlets flwill receive power

only when the unit is on. These recom-

mended for devices that have no power

switch, or a mechanical power switch

that may be left in the “ON” position.

NOTE:Devices with electronic power

switches may only go into a Standby

mode when plugged in here.

Finally, when all connections are com-

plete, plug the AC Power Cord ‡into

a non-switched120-volt AC wall outlet.

You’re almost ready to enjoy the AVR55!

17

Remote Control Programming and Operation

Thisproductisequippedwithapowerful

remotecontrol.Assupplied,itwilloperate

thereceiver,aswellasmostCDplayers

andtapedecksmanufacturedbyHarman

Kardon.Ifyourequipmentrequiresdiffer-

entcodes,itmaybeprogrammedtocopy

thecodesfrommostinfraredremotes.

Loading Batteries

Thelifeofthebatteriesfortheremote

controlisaboutoneyearinnormaloper-

ation.IftheamberSending indi-

catordoesnotflashwhenremotebuttons

arepushed,thatisanindicationthatthe

batteriesneedtobereplaced.

To change the batteries:

1. Remove the back cover by sliding it in

the direction of the arrows.

2. Remove the old batteries and insert

fresh AAA type cells. Be certain to observe

the correct polarity by noting the (+)

and (–) marks on both the inside of the

case and on the battery cells. It is recom-

mended that both batteries be changed at

the same time.

3. Close the cover until it clicks shut.

NOTE:It is important that the batteries

be replaced within ten minutes after the

old batteries are removed to avoid losing

any remote codes that have been pro-

grammed into the remote’s memory.

Remote Control Range

The remote will operate at a range of up

to 15 feet from the unit, when the batter-

ies are fully charged. The remote will

also operate at an angle of up to 30° to

either side of the unit.

Always point the remote transmitter at

the front of the unit when issuing com-

mands. If you find that remote com-

mands are not being received by the

remote, it may be necessary to use a

remote IR sensor.

Remote Programming

Programmable Keys

Many of the buttons on the remote

control may be user programmed to new

functions to operate virtually any compo-

nent in your system. Eleven CANNOT be

programmed with a new code, as they

control high-level functions of the

AVR55. These keys are Main Power ON,

Main Power OFF, and the source

input keys: TV, DVD, VID 1, VID 2,

Phono, CD, Tape 1, Tape 2 .

Programmable keys are divided into two

groups. Some keys may be programmed

with a separate function for each of the

inputs. Thus, these keys may change

their code when the input source is

changed. (e.g., The Play key may trans-

mit a different code when CD is selected

as opposed to when VCR is selected.)

The keys that may be programmed with

multiple codes are the following:

All Numeric Keys (0– 9)

Forward Play fl

Source Power On

Reverse Play fi

Source Power Off

Stop Í

Preset Disc ∏

Record Î

Preset Disc Â

Pause ±

Channel/Skip ·

Channel/Skip ‡

Tune/Search —

Memo

Tune/Search ‚

P-Scan

18

Remote Control Programming and Operation

All other keys may only be programmed

with one remote code. The code

contained in these keys remains the

same regardless of the source selection.

WARNING: These keys transmit codes

that are vital to the operation of the

product. It is not recommended that they

be programmed with alternative codes,

as it may then be impossible to operate

certain functions of the receiver.

Night

Delay

RF

Opt

Coax

Select

All Mode Selectors

*

#

Display

Speaker ⁄¤

CH Select

Volume ⁄¤

Test Tone

Mute

To programtheremote,followthesesteps.

Notethatitisnotnecessarytoprogram

allkeys,onlythosethatarerequiredto

operatethesubjectdevice.Keysnot

programmedwillretainthecodes

preprogrammedatthefactory.

1. Slide Use/Learn aswitch at the

top left corner of the remote to the right

so that it is next to Learn.

2. If one of the multifunction buttons

is being programmed press the source

button (e.g. CD, VID1) you wish to

have this function associated with. If you

are programming a single function key,

proceed to the next step.

3. Press the button on the remote that is

to be programmed. Note that the

LearningLED will illuminate.

4. Place the remote head to head with the

remote control whose function is being

learned. The two remotes should be no

more than 8 inches apart.

5. Press and hold the button on the

remote corresponding to the function

to be memorized until the Learning

LED starts to blink. When the LED goes

out, release the button on the transmit-

ting remote. The function code has been

successfully captured by the remote.

NOTE:If both LEDs flash during a pro-

gramming operation, it indicates that

the remote’s memory is full or that the

remote codes from the transmitting

remote are not compatible with the unit’s

signal format.

6.Continuetoprogramanyadditional

remotecommandsrequiredusingsteps

2through5.Whenyouhavefinished

programmingtheremote,slidethe

Use/Learn switchtotheleftsothatit

isintheUse position.

Clearing the Remote Memory

In normal operation, codes for a new

device may be programmed “over” the

codes that have been previously pro-

grammed into the remote. It is also pos-

sible to clear the memory for individual

keys, or for the entire remote. When a

memory position is cleared, the remote

will return to the original factory preset

command.

To clear the memory for a specific indi-

vidual key location, put the Use/Learn

switch in the Learn position. Press the

Main Power Off cbutton and the

button to be cleared at the same time.

Both the Sending and Learning indi-

cators will light momentarily. When the

lights go out, the memory has been

cleared of the user programmed code

and returned to the factory preset. Return

the Use/Learn aswitch to the Use

position when you are finished.

To clear the remote’s entire memory

and return all keys to their factory preset

commands, first put the Use/Learn a

switch in the Learn position. Then press

the Main Power On button cand

confirm that the Learningindicator

has illuminated. While continuing

to press the Main Power On button,

press and hold the Main Power Off

cbutton until the Learn indicator

goes off for about 3 seconds. It will then

blink twice. Then release the two buttons.

This indicates that the memory has been

cleared of any user programmed com-

mands and that the original commands

have been restored. Slide the Use/Learn

switch aback to the Use position to

return the remote to normal operation.

19

System Configuration

After completing all audio, video and

system connections, there are a few con-

figuration adjustments that must be

made. A few minutes spent to correctly

configure and calibrate the unit will

greatly add to your listening experience.

Speaker Selection

The placement of speakers in a multi-

channel home theater system can have

a noticeable impact on the quality of

sound reproduced.

No matter which type or brand of speakers

is used, the same model or brand of

speaker should be used for the front left,

center and right speakers. This creates a

seamless front soundstage, and elimi-

nates the possibility of distracting sonic

disturbances that occur when a sound

moves across mismatched front channel

speakers.

Speaker Placement

Depending on the type of center channel

speaker in use and your viewing device,

place the center speaker directly above or

below your TV or in the center behind a

perforated front projection screen.

Once the center channel speaker is

installed, position the left and right front

speakers so that they are as far away

from one another as the center channel

speaker is from the preferred listening

position. Ideally, the front channel

speakers should be placed so that their

tweeters are no more than 24" off center

from the tweeter in the center channel

speaker.

Depending on the specifics of your

room acoustics and the type of speakers

in use, you may find that imaging is

improved by moving the front left and

right speakers slightly forward of the

center channel speaker. If possible, adjust

all front loudspeakers so that they are

aimed at ear height when you are seated

in the listening position.

Using these guidelines, you’ll find that it

takes some experimentation to find the

correct location for the front speakers in

your particular installation. Don’t be

afraid to move things around until the

system sounds correct. Optimize your

speakers so that pans across the front of

the room sound smooth, and that sounds

from all speakers appear to arrive at the

listening position at the same time with-

out delay from the center speaker as

opposed to the left and right speakers.

Surround speakers should be placed on

the side walls of the room, at or slightly

behind the listening position. The center

of the speaker should face into the room.

The speakers should be located so that

the bottom of the cabinet is at least two

feet higher than the listeners’ ears when

in the desired area.

If side wall mounting is not practical, the

speakers may be placed on a rear wall,

behind the listening position. Again, they

should be located so that the bottom of

the cabinet is at least two feet higher

than the listeners’ ears. The speakers

should be no more than six feet behind

the rear of the seating area.

Subwoofers produce non-directional

sound, so they may be placed almost

anywhere in a room. Subwoofer place-

ment is highly influenced by room size

and shape, and the type of subwoofer

used. Follow the instructions of the sub-

woofer’s manufacturer, or experiment

with the best location for a subwoofer in

your listening room.

20

Right Front

Speaker

Left Front

Speaker

No more

than 24″

Center Front Speaker

A) Front Channel Speaker Installation

with Direct-View TV Sets or Rear-Screen

Projectors

Center Front

Speaker

Optional Rear Wall Mounting

TV or Projection Screen

Right Front

Speaker

Left Front

Speaker

No more than 6 feet

when rear-mounted

speakers are used

At least 2 feet

At least 6 inches from ceiling

B) The distance between the left and right

speakers should be equal to the distance

from the seating position to the viewing

screen. You may also experiment with

placing the left and right speakers slightly

forward of the center speaker.

System Configuration

21

System Configuration

Once the speakers have been placed

in their proper positions and connected

to the AVR55, the final steps in the instal-

lation process involve configuration of

the unit for the specific speaker types

in use and the balancing of speaker

output levels.

Before proceeding, check to make

certain that all connections are secure

and follow these steps:

1. Plug the unit into an unswitched AC

outlet and press the Main Power

button 1until it is flush with the

front panel. Note that the Power

Indicator 3will turn amber.

2. Install the supplied AAA batteries in the

remote control, as shown on page 15.

3. Press the System Power Control

2on the front panel or the Main

Power On button con the remote

and note that the Power Indicator

3will turn green.

Bass Management

The settings made during the speaker

configuration process will determine

which speakers receive low-frequency

information, which are those sounds

below 100Hz. If a subwoofer is installed,

it will receive low-frequency information,

and none will be sent to the front

left/right speakers. If you do NOT have

full-range front speakers, it is important

that “YES” be selected as the subwoofer

setting option to prevent damage to your

front speakers.

Speaker Configuration

The next few steps tell the AVR55 which

type of speakers are installed. This, in

turn, configures the bass management

system so that low-frequency sounds are

directed to the proper speaker location.

1. Press the front panel Surround

Mode button Òuntil DOLBY PRO

LOGIC appears as the Surround mode.

2. Press and hold the Speaker Mode

Selector Óuntil the word CENTER

appears in the Information Display F.

The word LARGE, SMALL or NONE

will also appear, and blink to indicate the

current setting. Release the button for a

second, and while the current choice is still

blinking in the display, press the Speaker

Mode Selector Óagain until the word

describing the type of center speaker

installed in your system appears.

•Select LARGE if your center channel

speaker is a traditional full-range

speaker capable of reproducing

frequencies below 100Hz.

•Select SMALL if your center channel

speaker is a smaller “satellite” type

speaker not capable of extended bass

response or reproducing frequencies

below 100Hz.

•Select NONE if no center channel

speaker is installed.

3. Once you have made your selection,

immediately press the Memo button 4

while the display is still blinking. Note

that the speaker selection will change to

SUBWOOFER. The word Yes or NO

will blink indicating the current setting.

4. Press the Speaker Mode Selector

Óagain until the appropriate selection

is made.

•Select YES if a subwoofer is installed.

When YES is selected all low-frequency

information will be sent to the sub-

woofer, and the front, center and

surround speakers will only receive

audio information above 100Hz.

•Select NO if no subwoofer is present.

When NO is selected the front left/right

and surround speakers will receive a

full-range signal, and the feed to the

center speaker will be based on the

selection mode in the previous step.

5. While your choice is blinking in the

display, press the Memo button 4to

enter the selection. The display will stop

blinking to indicate that the setting is

entered and then return to normal.

NOTES:

•In order to enter the speaker configura-

tion, the Speaker Switch 7must be

in the “in” position.

•In order to enter information for the

center speaker, the AVR55 must be in

the Dolby Pro Logic or Dolby 3 Stereo

mode. To select either of these modes,

press the front panel Surround

Mode Selector Òor one of the

Dolby Surround Mode buttons `

on the remote.

System Configuration

22

Speaker Output Adjustments

Adjustments and calibration of the

speaker output levels is important to

proper surround operation. During this

process, the unit is adjusted so that the

output levels from each channel have

a reference level that is as close to one

another as possible. A small amount of

time spent to properly calibrate the

AVR55’s output levels will enable the

unit to deliver all the performance it is

capable of within the environment of

your specific listening room.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Many listeners

are often confused aboutthe operation

of the rear (surround)channels. While

someassumethatsoundshouldalways

becomingfromeachspeaker,mostofthe

timetherewillbelittleornosoundin

thesurroundchannels.Thisisbecause

theyareonlyusedwhenamoviedirector

orsoundmixerspecificallyplacessound

there to create ambiance,an effect or to

continue action from the front of the

room to the rear. Whenthe output levels

are properly set itis normal forrear/

surround speakers to operate only

occasionally.Artificiallyincreasingthe

volumetotherearspeakersmaydestroy

theillusionofanenvelopingsoundfield

thatduplicatesthewayyouhearsound

inamovietheaterorconcerthall.

Before beginning the adjustment process

make certain that all speaker connections

have be properly made. The system

volume should be set to the level that

you will use during a typical listening

session. Finally, make certain that the

Balance Control Ùis set to the center

“12 o’clock” position.

1. Press the Test Tone button k

on the remote to begin the adjustment

process. A test noise will circulate from

one speaker channel to the next, as indi-

cated in the Information Display F.

2. Take a minute to listen to the test

noise from each speaker as the location

indicated in the display changes. Check

to make certain that, for example, when

the display reads TEST-FRONT L,

that the test noise is coming from the

front left speaker. If the test tone’s loca-

tion does not match the display for any

channel, press the Test Tone button

kto end the adjustment and turn

the unit off using the Main Power

Switch 1. Check all connections to

maker certain the Speaker Outputs

fiare connected to the proper speaker.

Installation Hint:While the test tone is

circulating among the channels, make

a note if it sounds reasonably equal in

volume, or if one channel or more

channels seems significantly louder than

the others.

3. When you have verified that all

channels are properly connected, press

the Channel Select button lto

begin the adjustment process.

4. When the Channel Select button

lis pressed, the test tone will stop

circulating and will be heard in the front

left channel only. Use the Volume

Controls ˘nto adjust the test noise

so that it approximates a normal listening

level. If you are using a sound pressure

level meter to calibrate the system, set the

volume level so that the meter reads 75dB,

C-Weighting, Slow.

5. Press the Channel Select button l

again, and note that the test tone will

move to the center channel, as indicated

by the TEST-CENTER indication in the

Information Display. Use the Speaker

Level Adjust buttons mto raise or

lower the sound level so that it is equal to

the level just established in the front left

channel. DO NOT use the Volume

Controls ˘nfor this adjustment, as

they control the main system level, not the

individual channel outputs. As the adjust-

ments are made, the display will indicate

the positive or negative offset from the

reference level set in the previous step as

CENTER : +2 DB. When the adjust-

ment is complete, press the Channel

Select button lagain to move to the

next channel.

System Configuration

23

6. The test tone will now be heard

through the front right speaker. Once

again, first listen to the test noise to

determine if it is louder or softer than the

previous two channels. If an adjustment

is required, use the Speaker Level

Adjust buttons muntil the level is

matched. In this case, the offset level for

both front channels will be shown in the

display, such as FL0FR+0. Only

the FR indication will change, as only

the front right channel is being adjusted

at this time. When the level is equal to

the front left and center channels, press

the Channel Select button lto

move to the next channel.

7. The test tone will now be heard from

the right rear (surround) channel.

Follow the instructions shown in the pre-

vious step until the volume level for this

channel is equal to the others. Press the

Channel Select button lafter you

have finished with the right rear to move

to the final channel.

8. Adjust the output from the left rear

(surround) channel as shown in the pre-

vious steps. Remember, the goal is to

have the sound level equal to all previous

channels, using the Speaker Level

Adjust buttons mto make any needed

changes.

9. At this point, you should make a final

check on the adjustments. Press the

Channel Select button lquickly so

that you circulate the test noise among

all the channels. Make a note of which

channels need fine adjustments to raise

or lower their level so that they are

brought into line with the others. When

an adjustment is needed, simply stop

pressing the button and make the level

change using the Speaker Level

Adjust buttons m.

10. When you are satisfied that all

channels have the same output level,

press the Test Tone button ito

return the AVR55 to normal operation.

Delay Settings

Oneaspectofthesurroundmodesis the

delayofaudiosignalsbetweenthefront

speakersandtherearspeakers.Each

surroundmodeisfactorypresetwitha

specificdelaytime,butitispossible to

individuallyadjustthedelaytimingto

customtailorthesoundtoyourindivid-

ualtasteandtheacousticconditionsin

yourlisteningroomorhometheater.

Thefactorysettingisappropriatefor

mostrooms,butsomeinstallations

createanuncommondistancebetween

thefrontandsurroundspeakersthatmay

causethearrivaloffrontchannelsounds

tobecomedisconnectedfromsurround

channelsounds.

To resynchronizethefrontandsurround

channels,followthesesteps:

1.Measurethedistancefromthe

listening/viewingpositiontothe

frontspeakers.

2.Measurethedistancefromthe

listening/viewingpositiontothe

surroundspeakers.

3.Subtractthedistancetothe

surroundspeakersfromthedistance

tothefrontspeakers.

a. When setting the delay time for

the Dolby Digital surround mode,

the optimal delay time is the result-

ing figure. For example, if the front

speakers are ten feet away and the

surround speakers are five feet

away, the optimal delay time is

figured as 10-5=5. Thus, in this

example, the delay should be set at

five milliseconds.

b. When setting the delay time for

the analog Pro Logic mode, take

the result of the subtraction and

add 15 to obtain the optimal delay

time. For example, if the front

speakers are ten feet away and the

surround speakers are five feet

away, the optimal delay time is

figured as 10-5+15=20. Thus in

this example, the delay should be

set at twenty milliseconds.

System Configuration

With the correct delay time figures for

your listening room calculated, first make

certain that the unit is in the Dolby Pro

Logic mode by pressing the Surround

Mode button Òor Dolby Surround

Mode buttons `until the Pro Logic

indicator Cis illuminated.

Press the Select button jto begin the

adjustment process. The Information

Display Fwill show the current delay

setting, such as REAR - 15mS. If

adjustment is required, immediately

press the Delay button gon the

remote to change the setting until it is

closest to the desired time. Within five

seconds the display will return to normal

readout and the setting will be entered.

The Dolby Digital mode also provides a

separate setting for the center channel

delay mode, since the discrete nature

of Dolby Digital signals makes the

location of the center channel speaker

more critical. To set the delay for the

center channel, measure the distance

from the preferred listening position in

the center of the room to both the center

channel speaker and either the left or

right speaker.

If the distances are equal, no further

adjustment is required, and the center

delay should be set to zero. If the

distance to the front speakers is greater

than the distance to the center speaker

you may wish to reposition the speakers

by moving the front left/right speakers

closer to the listening position or the

center speaker further away from the

listening position.

If repositioning of the speakers is not

possible, adjust the center delay time

so that you add one millisecond of center

channel delay for each foot that the dis-

tance to the center speaker lags behind

the front speakers. For example, if the

front left/right speakers are each 10 feet

from the listening position and the center

channel speaker is 8 feet away, the delay

is figured as 10-8=2, suggesting an

optimal center delay of 2 milliseconds.

To change the delay settings for Dolby

Digital operation, first calculate the

correct timings as outlined above. Next,

make certain that the AVR55 is in the

Dolby Digital mode by pressing the

Dolby Digital/AC-3 button Ûzon

the front panel or remote. Make certain

that the Dolby Digital Indicator B

is illuminated.

Press the Select button jand note

that the Information Display Fwill

show the settings for both the center and

rear/surround delay as

C-0mS R-10mS.

The center channel delay figure will

blink, indicating that you may change

the setting.

Press the Delay button gto change

the center delay time to the desired

setting. When the appropriate number

is shown press the Select button j

once so that the number for rear/

surround delay time on the right side

of the display blinks.

Use the Delay button gto change

the rear/surround delay to the desired

setting.

When both settings are correct, press the

Select button jagain and note that

the display will stop blinking. After a few

seconds the display will return to normal

operation and the settings will be entered

to memory.

24

Operation

Basic Operation

Once you have completed the setup and

configuration of your new receiver, it is

simple to operate and enjoy. The follow-

ing instructions will provide the steps

needed to enjoy the AVR55:

•When using the AVR55 for the first

time, it is necessary to press the Main

Power button 1on the front panel to

turn the unit on. This places the unit in a

standby mode, as indicated by the amber

color of the Power Indicator 3. Once

the unit is in standby, you may begin a

listening session by pressing the System

Power Control 2on the front panel or

the Main Power button con the

remote. Note that the Power Indicator

3will turn green. This will turn the unit

on and return it to the input source that

was last used. The unit may also be

turned on from standby by pressing any

of the Source Selector buttons on the

remote deior front panel 8)

!@#$%^*

.

To turn the unit off at the end of a listen-

ing session simply press the System

Power Control 2on the front panel

or the Main Power Off button con

the remote. Power to any equipment

plugged into the rear panel Switched

Outlet flwill be shut off and the

Power Indicator 3will turn amber.

When the remote is used to turn the unit

“off” it is actually placing the system in a

standby mode, as indicated by the amber

color of the Power Indicator 3.

When you will be away from home for

an extended period of time it is always

a good idea to completely turn the

unit off using the front panel Main

Power Switch 1. Note that all preset

memories are lost if the unit is left

turned off with the Main Power

Switch 1for more than two weeks.

Source Selection

•To select a source at any time, press

any of the Source Selector buttons on

the remote deior front panel 8

)!@#$%^*

.

•The front panel Audio/Video

Inputs ˜may be used to connect a

device such as a video game or cam-

corder to your home entertainment

system on a temporary basis. To listen

to and view the output of the playback

unit connected to these inputs, first press

the Vid 2 Input Selector *e

,

and then press the Vid 2 Front/Rear

button (. When the front panel inputs

are selected, a red LED will illuminate

above the selector button.

•When an audio source is selected the

last video input used remains routed to

the Video 1 and Monitor Outputs ›

a. This permits simultaneous viewing

and listening to different sources.

•During a listening session you may

wish to adjust the Bass and Treble

Úcontrols to suit your listening tastes.

•At lower volume levels you may wish

to engage the Contour button ¯. This

boosts the low- and high-frequency

sounds in accordance with what are

known as the Fletcher-Munson hearing

curves to compensate for the response of

human hearing at low sound levels.

•Adjust the volume to a comfortable

level using the front panel Volume

Control ˘or remote Volume

Up/Down nbuttons.

•To temporarily silence all speaker

outputs press the Mute button p.

This will cut the output to all speakers,

but it will not effect any recording or

dubbing that may be in progress. When

the system is muted the word MUTE

will flash in the information display.

Press the Mute pbutton again to

return to normal operation.

•For private listening, plug the 1/4"

stereo phone plug from a pair of stereo

headphones into the front panel

Headphone jack 5. To cut the speaker

output when using headphones, press the

Speaker button 7so that it is in the

extended position from the front panel.

•When one of the Video inputs $%

^*eis selected the video signal for

that input will be routed to the Video

Monitor output jack aand will be view-

able on a TV monitor connected to the

AVR55. Make certain that your TV is set to

the proper input to view the signal.

•In some installations it may be desir-

able to dim or extinguish the front panel

lights. This may be done by pressing and

holding the Display button oon the

remote. The first press will dim the lights

to one half normal brightness, and a

second press will turn them totally off.

Press the button again to return the

lights to normal brightness. Note that the

Power Indicator 3will remain lit at

all times as a reminder that the unit is

turned on.

25

Operation

•To program the AVR55 for automatic

turn off, press the Sleep button on

the remote. Each press of the button will

increase the time before shut down in the

following sequence:

After a GOOD NIGHT message the sleep

time will be displayed on the right side of

the Information Display F, and it

will count down until the time

has elapsed.

When the programmed time has elapsed

the unit will automatically turn off. Note

that the front panel display will dim to

one half brightness when the Sleep func-

tion is programmed. To cancel the Sleep

function, press the Sleep button

until the information display returns to

normal brightness and the Sleep

indicator numbers disappear.

TV Auto-On

The AVR55 is capable of automatic

operation that turns it on in response to

the operation of a video source such as

the TV. This eliminates the need to man-

ually turn on the AVR55 with a separate

remote command. While this feature is

most commonly used with a TV, it may

be used with any video source such as a

satellite receiver or VCR. To use the TV

Auto-On feature follow these steps:

1. Connect the video source that will be

used to trigger the Auto-On feature to the

TV Inputs ¤.

2. Activate the feature by pressing and

holding the TV Input button $e

on the front panel or remote until the

words AUTO-OFF appear in the

Information Display F.

10

min 20

min 30

min 60

min 90

min OFF

3. Release the button, and then press it

again within 2.5 seconds until the dis-

play changes to read AUTO-ON and

then release the button.

4. The TV Auto-On feature is now engaged.

Whenever a video source is present at the

TV Inputs ¤and the AVR55 is in the

Standby mode the unit will automatically

turn on and switch to the TV input.

5. Unless another input source is selected,

the unit will automatically return to the

Standby mode approximately five min-

utes after the audio source connected to

the TV input is turned off.

NOTE:Remember that when the TV Auto

feature is engaged, the AVR55 will turn

off whenever the TV input has been

selected and the video source feeding that

input is not active. To disable this feature

follow steps 2 and 3 above, but toggle the

buttons so that the words AUTO-OFF

appear in the Information Display F.

Surround Mode Selection

One of the most important features of

the AVR55 is its ability to reproduce a full

multichannel surround sound field from

Dolby Digital sources, analog matrix

surround encoded programs, and stan-

dard stereo programs. In all a total of

seven listening modes are available on

the AVR55.

Selection of a surround mode is based

on personal taste, as well as the type of

program source material being used.

For example, motion pictures or TV pro-

grams bearing the logo of one of the

major surround encoding processes, such

as Dolby Surround, DTS†Stereo or

UltraStereo††may be played in either the

Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic or Movie

Surround depending on the source

material.

NOTE:Once a program has been

encoded with surround information, it

retains the surround matrix as long as

the program is broadcast in stereo. Thus,

movies with surround sound will carry

surround information when they are

broadcast via conventional TV stations,

cable, pay TV and satellite transmission.

In addition, a growing number of made-

for-television programs, sports broad-

casts, radio dramas and music CDs are

also recorded in surround sound. You

may obtain a list of these programs and

discs from the Dolby Laboratories web

site at www.dolby.com

Surround modes for conventional analog

audio inputs are selected by pressing the

Surround Mode button Òon the

front panel or the Matrix and Dolby

Mode buttons y`on the remote. As

described above, when a “Surround

Sound” logo is associated with the pro-

gram you are listening to, it is always

best to start with Dolby Pro Logic, or

Dolby 3-Stereo when there are no sur-

round speakers. However, you may wish

to experiment with the Theater, Hall,

Church or Stadium modes to see if you

find that sound more pleasing.

Remember, you can’t break anything by

trying a different surround mode.

When a program is not listed as carrying

intentional surround information, you

may find that Pro Logic or Dolby 3-

Stereo often delivers enveloping surround

presentations through the use of the

natural information present in all stereo

recordings.

26

Operation

To listen to a program in traditional two-

channel stereo, with only the front left

and right speakers plus the subwoofer, if

installed, press the Stereo button x

on the remote or the Surround Off

button Ôon the front panel.

Dolby Digital

Dolby Digital (also known as AC-3) is the

latest advancement in surround sound

technology, delivering up to five full-

range surround channels (left, center,

right, left surround and right surround)

plus a special dedicated Low-Frequency

Effects (LFE) channel. This represents a

major advancement over traditional

analog surround in that each surround

channel is fully discrete and capable of

full bandwidth reproduction. Dolby

Digital is available on DVD and LV discs,

and it will be a part of the new high-

definition television (HDTV) system

when digital broadcasting begins in late

1998. Dolby Digital for the home is based

on the same system used to deliver digital

audio sound tracks in movie theaters,

enabling true cinema reproduction in

your home.

To utilize the Dolby Digital mode you

must have a digital source properly

connected to the AVR55. The RF digital

output of a laser disc player should be

connected to the AC-3 RF jack gon the

rear panel. Note that this jack is for use

only with the AC-3 RF output from an LV

player and should not be connected to

any other audio, video or digital device.

Digital datastream outputs from DVD

players, HDTV receivers and CD players

should be connected to the AC-3/PCM

Optical or Coaxial inputs ¶fon the

rear panel. In order to provide a backup

signal and a source for recording, the

analog outputs provided on digital source

equipment should also be connected to

their appropriate rear panel inputs

(e.g., connect the analog stereo audio

output from a DVD to the DVD inputs ‹

on the rear panel when you connect the

digital outputs).

Dolby Digital sources must be used in

conjunction with one of the video related

inputs: DVD, TV, Vid 1 or Vid 2. Make sure

that the source is on and video is playing

before selecting a digital audio source.

Next, press the Digital Input button ı

hthat corresponds to the type of digital

input used. A red LED will light above the

data type selected, and a message will

scroll across the Information Display

Fto confirm your choice.

Finally, press the AC-3/Dolby Digital

button zÛto select Dolby Digital.

The mode name will briefly scroll

in the Information Display F,

and the Dolby Digital indicator B

will illuminate.

NOTE:If a Dolby Digital signal that

matches the selected input type is not pre-

sent, the red LED indicator above the

Digital Input button ıwill flash to

remind you of the input error. Remember,

with digital sources such as a DVD player,

the data input stops when a disc is in

Pause or a Search mode. It is normal for

the light to flash in those conditions.

Night Mode

A special feature of Dolby Digital is the

Night mode, which enables AC-3 input

sources to be played back with their full

range while reducing the minimum peak

level by 1/4 to 1/3. This prevents abruptly

loud transitions from causing distur-

bances without reducing the impact of

the digital source. The Night mode is

available only when AC-3 signals with

special data are being played.

To engage the Night mode, press the

Night button ˆfand note that the

indicator will illuminate above the

Night button on the front panel.

IMPORTANT NOTES ON

DOLBY DIGITAL PLAYBACK:

1. The AVR55 will decode digital audio

sources with a sampling frequency of

32kHz, 44.1kHz and 48kHz. Although

this will enable it to decode virtually all

DVD movies and HDTV sources, it is pos-

sible that some digital sources may not

be compatible with the AVR55.

2. The AVR55 will automatically detect

most Dolby Digital sources. It is possible,

however, that future source equipment

that could not be anticipated at this time,

may require manual surround mode

selection or analog playback.

3. Note that not all programs recorded in

Dolby Digital contain full 5.1 channel

audio. Consult the program guide that

accompanies the DVD or Laser Disc to

determine which type of audio has been

recorded on the disc. The AVR55 will

automatically sense the type of digital

surround encoding used on an AC-3

program source and adjust to

accommodate it.

4. When a Dolby Digital source is

playing, you may not select one of the

analog surround modes.

5. It is not possible to record the output

of a Dolby Digital program.

27

Operation

6. NOTE:The design of some early DVD

players is such that you may occasionally

hear a click or pop when the player starts

after being paused or after a Search mode

is used. This is a function of the format

and does not indicate any problem with

your AVR55.

PCM Audio Playback

PCM (Pulse Code Modulation) is the

non-compressed digital audio system

used for compact discs and non-AC-3

laser discs. The digital circuits in the

AVR55 are capable of high-quality digital-

to-analog decoding, and they may be

connected directly to the digital audio

output of your CD or LV player.

Connections should be made to the

AC-3/PCM Optical or Coaxial inputs

¶fon the rear panel, using whichever

input is not occupied by an AC-3 source

such as a DVD player.

To play a PCM source, first select the

desired input using the Input

Selectors )$%^*de.

Next, choose either an Optical or Coaxial

digital source using the Digital Input

Selector hı. Finally, select any

Surround mode other than Dolby Digital.

Tuner Operation

The AVR55’s tuner is capable of tuning

AM, FM and FM Stereo broadcast stations.

Stations may be tuned manually, or they

may be stored as favorite station presets

and recalled from a 30 position memory.

Station Selection

1. Press the AM/FM button 8ito

select the tuner as an input.

2. Press the AM/FM button 8i again

to switch between AM and FM so that the

desired frequency band is selected.

3. Press the Tuning Mode button 6q

to select manual or automatic tuning.

When the AUTO indicator is illuminated

in the main information display the

tuner will only stop at those stations that

have a strong enough signal to be

received with acceptable quality.

If the AUTO indicator is NOT illumin-

ated, the tuner is in a manual mode and

will stop at each frequency increment in

the selected band.

4. To manually tune stations, press the

right side of the Tune button 9to tune

a station with a higher frequency, or the

left side to tune a station with a lower fre-

quency. When the TUNED indicator

illuminates, the station is properly tuned

and should be heard with clarity. To

automatically search for the next station

with acceptable signal strength, press

and hold the Tune button 9until the

AUTO indicator lights. Release it and the

tuner will stop when it finds a station.

When a station is weak, audio quality

will be improved by pressing the FM

Mode button 6until the STEREO

indicator Lgoes out.

5. To select stations using the remote,

press the Manual Tune ‹‹ /›› but-

tons rto select stations one at a time.

Alternatively, the Automatic Tune

‹‹ /››

buttons tmay be used to

scan only those stations with sufficient

strength for proper reception. Each press

of these buttons will advance the tuner to

the next station. For FM stereo reception

press the FM Mode button quntil the

STEREO indicator is illuminated.

NOTE:When the FM reception of a

station is weak, audio quality will be

increased by switching to mono mode

by pressing the Tuning Mode button

6quntil the STEREO indicator goes

out.

Preset Tuning

Up to 30 stations may be stored in the

AVR55’s memory for easy recall using the

front panel controls or the remote.

To enter a station to the memory, first

tune the station using the steps outlined

above. Then:

1. Press the Memo button 4uon

the front panel or remote. Note that the

MEMORY indicator will illuminate and

flash in the information display.

2. Within five seconds, press the

Numeric Buttons

37

wcorrespond-

ing to the location where you wish to

store this station’s frequency. To enter a

station to memory location “30,”press

only the 0button.

3. Repeat the process after tuning any

additional stations to be preset.

28

Operation

Recalling Preset Stations

•To manually select a station previously

entered in the preset memory, press the

Numeric Buttons

37

wcorrespond-

ing to the desired station’s location. To

select the station in location “30,” press

the 0button only.

•To manually tune through the list of

stored preset stations one by one, press

the Preset/Disc Skip buttons son

the remote.

•To automatically scan through the

stations entered in the preset memory,

press the P.Scan button von the

remote. The tuner will run through the

list of preset stations, stopping for five

seconds at each one. Press the P.Scan

button again to stop the scan at your

desired station.

Tape Recording

In normal operation, the audio or video

source selected for listening through the

AVR55 is sent to the record outputs.

This means that any program you are

watching or listening to may be recorded

simply by placing machines connected

to the outputs for Tape 1 or Tape 2

‚•in the record mode.

When a tape recorder with separate

record and playback heads is used, you

may monitor the output of the recording

by selecting the Tape 1/Monitor input

!d

. Note that the T•MON indicator

Kwill illuminate in the front panel dis-

play to remind you that you are listening

to the record playback instead of the

actual input source being recorded.

NOTE:When a Dolby Digital source is

playing, the output may not be recorded.

Video Recording

The AVR55 permits you to make a video

recording from one of the input sources

while another source is being listened to

through the unit’s main amplifiers.

To make a video recording, press the

Video 1 Record button &and

observe the indicator dot at the far left

side of the front panel Information

Display

35

. As you press the Record

button, the Video 1 Record indicator

Awill change to show which output is

being sent to the Video 1 Out jacks ›.

The output may be either the current

listening source, or one of the other video

inputs (TV, DVD, Video 2).

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please make cer-

tain that you are aware of the copyright

restrictions on any material you copy.

Unauthorized duplication of copyrighted

materials is prohibited by Federal law.

Output Level Trim Adjustment

Normal output level adjustment for the

AVR55 is established using the Test Tone,

as outlined on page 19. In some cases,

however, it may be desirable to adjust the

output levels using program material

such as a test disc, or a selection you are

familiar with.

To adjust the output levels using pro-

gram material, first set the reference

volume for the front left/right channels

using the Volume Control ˘n

. If

you wish to vary the difference between

the left and right channels, use the

Balance Control Ù.

To change the level for the channels you

wish to adjust use the appropriate front

panel level adjust control for the

Subwoofer, Center or Surround

channels ¸˝

34

.

Memory Backup

This product is equipped with a memory

backup system that preserves tuner pre-

sets and system configuration informa-

tion if the unit is accidentally unplugged

or subject to a power outage. This mem-

ory will last for approximately two weeks,

after which time all information must be

reentered.

29

Troubleshooting Guide

30

SYMPTOM

No front panel lights when power

switch is pressed

Display lights, but no sound

or picture

No sound from any speaker.

Light around power switch is red

No sound from surround or

center speakers

Unit does not respond to

remote commands

Intermittent buzzing in tuner

CAUSE

• No AC Power

• Intermittent input connections

• Mute is on

• Volume control is down

• Amplifier is in protection mode

due to possible short

• Amplifier is in protection mode

due to internal problems

• Incorrect surround mode

• Input is monaural

• Incorrect configuration

• Stereo or Mono program material

• Weak batteries in remote

• Remote is in Learn position

• Remote sensor is obscured

• Local interference

SOLUTION

• Make certain AC power cord is plugged into

a live outlet

• Check to see if outlet is switch controlled

• Make certain that all input and speaker connections

are secure

• Press Mute button

• Turn up volume control

• Check speaker-wire connections

at receiver and speaker ends for shorts

• Contact your local Harman Kardon service depot

• Select a mode other than Stereo

• There is no surround information from mono sources

• Check speaker mode

• The surround decoder may not create center or rear

channel information from non-encoded programs

• Change remote batteries

• Slide Use/Learn switch to Use

• Make certain front panel sensor is visible to remote

or connect remote sensor

• Move unit or antenna away from computers, fluorescent

lights, motors or other electrical appliances

Troubleshooting Guide

Technical Specifications

31

Audio Section

Stereo Mode

Continuous Average Power (FTC)

65 Watts per channel 20Hz–20kHz:

@ < 0.07% THD, both channels driven into 8 Ohms

Five-Channel Surround Mode

Power Per Individual Channel

Front L&R channels:

55 Watts per channel,

@ 0.07% THD, 20Hz–20kHz into 8 ohms

Center channel:

55 Watts, 20Hz–20kHz into 8 ohms

Surround channels:

55 Watts per channel, 40Hz–20kHz into 8 ohms

Input Sensitivity/Impedance

Linear (High Level) 200mV/32 Kohms

Phono 3mV/47Kohms

Signal-to-Noise Ratio (IHF-A)

Linear (CD) 95dB

Phono 73dB

Surround System Adjacent Channel Separation

Analog Decoding (Pro Logic, etc.) 40dB

Dolby Digital (AC-3) 55dB

Frequency Response

@ 1W (+0, –3dB) 8Hz–100kHz

High Instantaneous

Current Capability (HCC) ±35 Amps

Transient Intermodulation

Distortion (TIM) Unmeasurable

Rise Time 16µsec

Slew Rate 40 V/µsec

FM Tuner Section

Frequency Range 87.5–108 MHz

Usable Sensitivity IHF 1.3 µV/14.2dBf

Signal-to-Noise Ratio Mono/Stereo 70/68dB

Distortion Mono/Stereo 0.3/0.5%

Stereo Separation 1kHz, 40dB

Selectivity ±400kHz 65dB

Image Rejection 98MHz 65dB

Tuner Output Level 1kHz, ±75kHz Dev 500mV

AM Tuner Section

Frequency Range 520–1710kHz

Signal-to-Noise Ratio 45dB

Usable Sensitivity Loop 500µV

Distortion 1kHz, 50% Mod 0.8%

Selectivity ±9kHz, 25dB

General

Power Requirement AC 120V 60Hz

Power Consumption 60W idle, 325W maximum

(2 channels driven)

Dimension (Max)

Width 17.4 inches (440 mm)

Height 6.3 inches (160 mm)

Depth 16.0 inches (406 mm)

Weight 32.6 lbs. (14.8 kg)

Depth measurement includes knobs, buttons and terminal connections.

All features and specifications are subject to change without notice.

*Trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.

†DTS is a trademark of Digital Theater Systems.

††UltraStereo is a trademark of UltraStereo Corp.

Staple or clip original invoice here. ▼

67890

AVR 55

Speaker

Headphones

TUNE

12345

MEMO FM MODE AM/FM CD T MON

•

Power

T 2

•

DIGIT

SOU

VID

DVD

TV

VID 1 RE

Printed in Korea Part #1111-AVR55REVOM

5707046840021