HKTS 18
HOME THEATER SPEAKER SYSTEM
OWNER’S MANUAL
HKTS 18 HOME THEATER SPEAKER SYSTEM
3Safety Information
4Introduction
4Included
5SUB-TS18 Subwoofer Amplifier Panel Controls and Connections
7Speaker Placement
7Color-Coding System
8Mounting Options
9Speaker Connections
9Speaker-Level Connection Guide
10Dolby Digital or DTS (or Other Digital Surround Mode) Connection
11Dolby Pro Logic (Non-Digital) – Line Level
12Dolby Pro Logic (Non-Digital) – Speaker Level
13Operation
13 Volume
13Additional Bass Adjustments
14Troubleshooting
15HKTS 18 Specifications
Please register your product on our Web site at www.harmankardon.com. Note: You’ll need the serial number of your new home theater speaker system. At the same time, you can choose to be notified about our new products and/or special promotions.
Typographical Conventions
In order to help you use this manual, certain conventions have been used.
EXAMPLE – (bold type) indicates a specific control or rear-panel connection on the SUB-TS18 subwoofer
EXAMPLE – (OCR type) indicates a control or switch position on the SUB-TS18 subwoofer
¡ – (number in a circle) indicates a rear-panel control or connection on the SUB-TS18 subwoofer
2 TABLE OF CONTENTS
SAFETY INFORMATION
Read First! Important Safety Precautions!
1.Read these instructions.
2.Keep these instructions.
3.Heed all warnings.
4.Follow all instructions.
5.Do not use this apparatus near water.
6.Clean only with a dry cloth.
7.Do not block any ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
8.Do not install near any heat sources such as radiators, heat registers, stoves or other apparatus (including amplifiers) that produce heat.
9.Do not defeat the safety purpose of the polarized or grounding-type plug. A polarized plug has two blades with one wider than the other. A groundingtype plug has two blades and a third grounding prong. The wide blade or the third prong is provided for your safety. If the provided plug does not fit into your outlet, consult an electrician for replacement of the obsolete outlet.
10.Protect the power cord from being walked on or pinched, particularly at plugs, convenience receptacles and the point where they exit from the apparatus.
11.Only use attachments/accessories specified by the manufacturer.
12.Use only with the cart, stand, tripod, bracket or table specified by the manufacturer or sold with
the apparatus. When a cart is used, use caution when moving the cart/apparatus combination to avoid injury from tip-over.
13.Unplug this apparatus during lightning storms or when unused for long periods of time.
14.Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel. Servicing is required when the apparatus has been damaged in any way, such as power-supply cord or plug is damaged, liquid has been spilled or objects have fallen into the apparatus, the apparatus has been exposed to rain or moisture, does not operate normally, or has been dropped.
15.Do not use attachments not recommended by the product manufacturer, as they may cause hazards.
16.This product should be operated only from the type of power source indicated on the marking label. If you are not sure of the type of power supply to your home, consult your product dealer or local power company. For products intended
to operate from battery power, or other sources, refer to the operating instructions.
17.If an outside antenna or cable system is connected to the product, be sure the antenna or cable system is grounded so as to provide some protection against voltage surges and built-up static charges. Article 810 of the National Electrical Code, ANSI/NFPA 70, provides information with regard to proper grounding of the mast and supporting 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 for the grounding electrode. See Figure A.
18.An outside antenna system should not be located in the vicinity of overhead power lines or other electric light or power circuits, or where it can fall into such power lines or circuits. When installing an outside antenna system, extreme care should be taken to keep from touching such power lines or circuits, as contact with them might be fatal.
Figure A.
Example of Antenna Grounding as per
National Electrical Code ANSI/NFPA 70
19.Do not overload wall outlets, extension cords, or integral convenience receptacles, as this can result in a risk of fire or electric shock.
20.Never push objects of any kind into this product through openings, as they may touch dangerous voltage points or short-out parts that could result in a fire or electric shock. Never spill liquid of any kind on the product.
21.The apparatus shall not be exposed to dripping or splashing, and no objects filled with liquids, such as vases, shall be placed on the apparatus.
22.Do not attempt to service this product yourself, as opening or removing covers may expose you to dangerous voltage or other hazards. Refer all servicing to qualified service personnel.
23.When replacement parts are required, be sure the service technician has used replacement parts specified by the manufacturer or that have the same characteristics as the original part. Unauthorized substitutions may result in fire, electric shock or other hazards.
24.Upon completion of any service or repairs to this product, ask the service technician to perform safety checks to determine that the product is in proper operating condition.
25.The product should be mounted to a wall or ceiling only as recommended by the manufacturer.
SAFETY INFORMATION 3
INTRODUCTION
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the Harman Kardon® HKTS 18, with which you’re about to begin many years of listening enjoyment. The HKTS 18 has been custom-designed to provide all the excitement and power of the cinema experience in your own living room. To obtain maximum enjoyment from your new home theater speaker system, we urge you to take a few minutes to read through this manual. This will ensure that connections to your receiver or preamp/processor and amplifier or other external devices are made properly. In addition, a few minutes spent learning the functions of the controls will enhance the HKTS 18’s performance.
If you have any questions about this product, its installation or its operation, please contact your dealer, the best local source of information, or visit our Web site at www.harmankardon.com.
Description and Features
The HKTS 18 is a six-piece home theater speaker system that includes a 10-inch, 200-watt, bass-reflex powered subwoofer; four identical, two-way, dual-midrange satellite speakers for use in the left and right front and rear speaker positions; a voice-matched, dedicated, dual-driver center speaker; shelf stands and wall-mount brackets for the four satellites; and all of the speaker cables you need to connect your speakers to your receiver or preamp/ processor and amplifier. The speaker cables and speakers are all color-coded to conform to the CEA® standard, simplifying setup, especially when the system is used with a Harman Kardon receiver.
The HKTS 18 subwoofer is easy to connect to your system, since it’s equipped with a subwoofer input for use with equipment that has a dedicated subwoofer low-frequency output. It also includes stereo speaker-level inputs and outputs for connection to older receivers and processors that do not have a line-level subwoofer output. Other conve-
niences include a level control, an external trigger input for automatic turn-on when connected to a compatible product, a highcut (low-pass) filter switch and a phase switch for fine-tuning bass response to suit your listening environment and taste, and audio-sense auto turn-on, which senses the presence of an audio signal and automatically switches the unit from Standby mode to Active mode.
Shelf stands and wall-mount brackets are included for the satellite speakers, and optional HTFS 2 floor stands are available separately from your Harman Kardon dealer. Harman Kardon invented the high-fidelity receiver more than fifty years ago. With state-of-the-art features and time-honored circuit designs, the HKTS 18 is a perfect complement to a Harman Kardon receiver or any home theater system.
■Complete home theater speaker system
■Identical dual-midrange configuration for satellites and center provides seamless pans
■Speakers are magnetically shielded for placement near video monitors
■Fully color-coded cables and connections simplify setup
■Both lineand speaker-level inputs for use with most audio components
■Subwoofer input offers superiorquality bass reproduction when used with any digital audio system that incorporates bass management or programmable crossovers
■Auto turn-on using trigger input or audio-sense
Included
One center channel speaker
One powered subwoofer
•Four satellites for left, right and surrounds, with color-key stickers, mounted on shelf stands
•Four leatherette coasters
Four wall-mount brackets
One 15' RCA cable for connection to subwoofer (purple)
One 15' mini-plug cable for use with external trigger input (black)
Three 20' speaker cables for connection to front satellites (red and white) and to center speaker (green)
Two 40' speaker cables for connection from receiver to rear satellites (gray and blue)
4 INTRODUCTION
SUB-TS18 SUBWOOFER AMPLIFIER PANEL CONTROLS AND CONNECTIONS
¡ Subwoofer-Level Control
™ High-Cut (Low-Pass) Filter Switch
£ External Trigger Input
¢ Audio-Sense On/Off Switch
¡ Subwoofer-Level Control: Volume may be adjusted using the SubwooferLevel Control. Turn the control clockwise to increase the SUB-TS18’s volume, or counterclockwise to decrease it.
™ High-Cut (Low-Pass) Filter Switch:
Placing this switch in the ON position activates circuitry that cuts out all audio input signals above 120Hz, allowing the SUB-TS18 to focus its power on reproducing the lowfrequency portion of the signal, avoiding
∞ Phase Switch
§ Line-Level Subwoofer (SUB) Input
¶ Line-Level Full-Range Inputs
• Speaker-Level Outputs
inefficiency and distortion. Engage this filter when using the Speaker-Level Inputs ª, or when using the Line-Level Full-Range Inputs ¶, unless your receiver or processor processes its line-level output using a lowpass filter. The filter has no effect when the
SUB Input § is used.
£ External Trigger Input: Use the supplied mini-plug cable to connect the trigger output of another product to this jack. When a trigger signal between 3 and 30 volts (AC
ª Speaker-Level Inputs
‚ Master Power Switch
⁄ AC Power Cord
or DC) is detected, the SUB-TS18 amplifier will turn on, even when the audio-sense feature has been activated by placing the
Audio-Sense On/Off Switch ¢ in the
AUTO position. The amplifier will remain on for about 10 –15 minutes without a trigger signal.
¢ Audio-Sense On/Off Switch: When placed in the AUTO position, and when the
Master Power Switch ‚is turned on, the SUB-TS18 will automatically turn itself on or
SUB-TS18 SUBWOOFER AMPLIFIER PANEL CONTROLS AND CONNECTIONS 5