Harman-Kardon AVR1550 User Manual
AVR1550 Audio/VideoReceiver
OWNER’S MANUAL
Power for the Digital Revolution
®
™
Table of Contents
3 Introduction
4 Safety Information
4 Unpacking
5 Front Panel Controls
7 Front Panel Information Display
8 Rear Panel Connections
9 Remote Control Functions
11 Installation and Connections
11 Audio Equipment Connections
11 Video Equipment Connections
12 SCART A/V Connections
13 Speaker Selection and Placement
14 System Configuration
14 First Turn On
14 Settings to be Made
With Each Input Used
14 Input Setup
14 Speaker Setup
14 Surround Setup
16 Making Settings independent of
selected Input
16 Delay Settings
17 Night Mode Settings
17 Output Level Adjustment
19 Operation
19 Basic Operation
19 Source Selection
19 Controls and Use of Headphones
20 Surround Mode Chart
21 Surround Mode Selection
21 Digital Audio Playback
22 Selecting a Digital Source
22 Digital Status Indicators
22 Night Mode
23 Tape Recording
23 Output Level Trim Adjustment
23 Display Brigthness
23 Memory Backup
24 Tuner Operation
24 RDS Operation
26 Function List
27 Troubleshooting Guide
27 Processor Reset
28 Technical Specifications
Declaration of Conformity
We,Harman Consumer International
2, route de Tours
72500 Château-du-Loir,
FRANCE
declare in own responsibility, that the product described
in this owner’s manual is in compliance with technical
standards:
EN 55013/6.1990
EN 55020/12.1994
EN 60065:1993
EN 61000-3-2/4.1995
Carsten Olesen
Harman Kardon Europe A/S
09/02
2 TABLE OF CONTENTS
Typographical 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
– (number in a circle) indicates a rear-panel connection
0
– (number in an oval) indicates a button or indicator on the remote
A
– (letter in a square) indicates an indicator in the front-panel display
Introduction
Thank you for choosing Harman Kardon!
With the purchase of a Harman Kardon
AVR 1550 you are about to begin many years of
listening enjoyment. The AVR 1550 has been
custom designed to provide all the excitement
and detail of movie sound tracks and every
nuance of musical selections.With onboard
Dolby* Digital and DTS
†
decoding, the AVR 1550
delivers six discrete channels of audio that take
advantage of the digital sound tracks from the
latest DVD and LD releases and Digital Television
broadcasts.
To obtain the maximum enjoyment from your
new receiver, we urge you to take the time 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 AVR 1550
is able to deliver.
If you have any questions about this product, its
installation or its operation, please contact your
dealer. He is your best local source of information.
Description and Features
The AVR 1550 is among the most versatile and
multi-featured A/V receivers available, incorporating a wide range of listening options.In addition to Dolby Digital and DTS decoding for digital sources, a broad choice of analog surround
modes are available for use with sources such
as CD,VCR,TV broadcasts and the AVR’s own
FM/AM tuner.
In addition to providing a wide range of listening
options, the AVR 1550 is easy to configure so
that it provides the best results with your
speakers and specific listening-room
environment.
For the ultimate in flexibility, the AVR 1550
features connections for three video devices,
partially with both composite and S-Video
inputs.
Two additional audio inputs are available, and a
total of two digital inputs make the AVR 1550
capable of handling all the latest digital audio
sources.A coax digital output is available for
direct connection to digital recorders.
The AVR 1550’s powerful amplifier uses
traditional Harman Kardon high-current design
technologies to meet the wide dynamic range of
any program selection.
Harman Kardon invented the high-fidelity receiver more than forty-seven years ago.With stateof-the-art circuitry and time-honored circuit
designs, the AVR 1550 is one of the finest
receivers ever offered by Harman Kardon within
its price range.
■ Onboard Dolby Digital and DTS
Decoding Using Crystal
®
Chip
Technology
■ Dolby Laboratory's latest ProLogic II
decoding technology
■ Multiple Digital Inputs and Outputs
■ Front-Panel Inputs for Easy Connection
to Portable Devices and the Latest
Video Game Consoles
INTRODUCTION 3
Safety Information
Important Safety Information
Verify Line Voltage Before Use
Your AVR 1550 has been designed for use with
220-240-Volt AC current. Connection to a line
voltage other than that for which it is intended
can create a safety and fire hazard and may
damage the unit.
If you have any questions about the voltage
requirements for your specific model, or about
the line voltage in your area, contact your dealer
before plugging 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 electrical devices, do not run power
cords under rugs or carpets or place heavy
objects on them. Damaged power cords should
be replaced immediately by an authorized
service depot with a cord 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 components 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.
Installation Location
■ To assure proper operation and to avoid the
potential for safety hazards, place the unit on
a firm and level surface.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 provided
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 sufficient 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.
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 disconnect
any interconnection cords with other
components, and make certain that you
disconnect the unit from the AC outlet.
Unpacking
The carton and shipping materials used to
protect your new receiver during shipment 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. 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 protection are
recyclable. Please respect the environment and
discard those materials at a local recycling
center.
4 SAFETY INFORMATION
Front Panel Controls
1
2
3
Main Power Switch
1
System Power Control
2
Power Indicator
3
Headphone Jack
4
Remote Sensor Window
5
Tone Mode
6
Surround Mode Selector
7
Tuning
8
4
5
^#
$
6
7
Tuner Band Selector
9
Preset Stations Selector
)
Input Source Selector
!
RDS Select Button
@
Channel Select Button
#
Speaker Select Button
$
Video 3 input jacks
%
Test Tone Selector
^
8
*
9
)
!
Ó
Ô
&
(
@
Selector Buttons
&
Main Information Display
*
Volume Control
(
Set Button
Ó
Digital Input Selector
Ô
Delay
%
1
Main Power Switch: Press this button to
apply power to the AVR 1550. When the switch
is pressed in, the unit is placed in a Standby
mode, as indicated by the orange LED
rounding the System Power Control
button MUST be pressed in to operate the unit.
To turn the unit off completely and prevent the
use of the remote control, this switch should be
pressed until it pops out from the front panel
so that the word “OFF” may be read at the top
of the switch.
NOTE:This switch is normally left in the “ON”
position.
3
2
sur-
. This
2
System Power Control:When the Main
Power Switch
turn on the AVR 1550; press it again to turn the
unit off (to Standby). Note that the Power
Indicator surrounding the switch
green when the unit is on.
3
Power Indicator: This LED will be illumi-
nated in orange 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.
4
Headphone Jack: This jack may be used to
listen to the AVR 1550’s output through a pair
of headphones. Be certain that the headphones
have a standard 6.3 mm stereo phone plug.
Note that the speakers will automatically be
turned off when the headphones are connected.
1
is “ON,”press this button to
3
will turn
5
Remote Sensor Window:The sensor
behind this window receives infrared signals
from the remote control. Aim the remote at this
area and do not block or cover it unless an
external remote sensor is installed.
6
Tone Mode: Pressing this button activates
the menu for setting the Bass and Treble
controls.
FRONT PANEL CONTROLS 5
Front Panel Controls
7
Surround Mode Selector: Press this but-
ton to change the surround mode by scrolling
through the list of available modes. Note that
Dolby Digital and DTS modes can be selected
only when a digital input is used (See page 20
for more information about surround modes.)
8
Tuning Selector: 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 signal is
reached, the TUNED indicator
in the Main Information Display
(see page 24 for more information on tuning
stations).
9
Tuner Band Selector: Pressing this button
will automatically switch the AVR to the Tuner
mode. Pressing it again will switch between the
AM and FM frequency bands, holding it pressed
for some seconds will switch between stereo
and mono receiving and between automatic and
manual tuning mode (See page 24 for more
information on the tuner).
)
Preset Stations Selector: Press this but-
ton to scroll up or down through the list of stations that have been entered into the preset
memory. (See page 24 for more information on
tuner programming.)
!
Input Source Selector: Press this button
to change the input by scrolling through the list
of input sources.
@ RDS Select Button: Press this button to dis-
play the various messages that are part of the
RDS data system of the AVR 1550’s tuner. (See
page 24 for more information on RDS).
L
will illuminate
*
#
Channel Select Button: Press this button
to begin the process of trimming the channel
output levels using an external audio source.
(For more information on output level trim
adjustment, see page 23.)
$
Speaker Select Button: Press this button
to begin the process of selecting the speaker
positions that are used in your listening room.
(See page 14 for more information on setup and
configuration.)
%
Video 3 Input Jacks: These audio/video
jacks may be used for temporary connection to
video games or portable audio/video products
such as camcorders and portable audio players.
^
Test Tone Selector: Press this button to
begin the process of adjusting the channel output levels using the internal test tone as a reference. (For more information on output level
adjustment, see page 17.)
&
Selector Buttons: When you are establish-
ing the AVR 1550’s configuration settings,use
these buttons to select from the choices available,
as shown in the Main Information Display
*
Main Information Display: This display
delivers messages and status indications to help
you operate the receiver. (See pages 7–8 for a
complete explanation of the Information
Display.)
*
(
Volume Control:Turn this knob clockwise
to increase the volume, counterclockwise to
decrease the volume. If the AVR is muted,
adjusting volume control will automatically
release the unit from the silenced condition.
Ó
Set Button: When making choices during
the setup and configuration process,press this
button to enter the desired setting as shown in
the Main Information Display
AVR 1550’s memory. The set button may also be
used to change the display brightness.
(See page 23.)
Ô
Digital Input Selector: When playing a
source that has a digital output, press this
button to select between the Optical
Coaxial
21-22 for more information on digital audio.)
sequence of steps required to enter delay time
settings. (See page 16 for more information on
delay times.)
.
Digital inputs. (See pages
Delay: Press this button to begin the
*
into the
and
6 FRONT PANEL CONTROLS
Front Panel Information Display
A
Bitstream Indicators
B
Optical Source Indicators
C
DTS Mode Indicator
D
Dolby Digital Indicator
E
Coaxial Digital Input Indicators
F
Dolby Pro Logic II Indicator
G
Analog Input Indicator
A
Bitstream™ Indicators:When the input is a
digital source, one of these indicators will light to
display the specific type of signal in use.
B
Optical Source Indicators: These indica-
tors light to show when a Optical Digital Input
has been selected.
C
DTS Mode Indicator: This indicator illumi-
nates when the DTS mode is selected.
D
Dolby Digital Indicator: This indicator
illuminates when Dolby Digital mode is selected.
E
Coaxial Digital Input Indicators: These
indicators light to show when a Coaxial Digital
Input has been selected.
F
Dolby Pro LogicII Indicator: This indica-
tor lights when the Dolby Pro Logic II mode has
been selected.
G
Analog Input Indicator: This indicator lights
when an analog input source has been selected.
H
Dolby 3 Stereo Indicator: This indicator
lights when the Dolby 3 Stereo Mode has been
selected. Only ST(Stereo) will light when
"Surround Off" has been selected. Then all
Surround Modes are turned off and the unit will
play in pure stereo mode.
I
RDS Indicator: This indicator illuminates
when the station tuned is transmitting RDS data.
H
Dolby 3 Stereo Indicator
I
RDS Indicator
J
DSP Mode Indicator
K
Traffic Program Indicator
L
Tuned Indicator
M
Main Information Display
N
Night Mode Indicator
J
DSP Mode Indicator: This indicator lights
when any of the surround modes created by
Digital Signal Processing, or DSP are in use.
These modes include Hall 1, Hall 2,Theater and
5 Channel Stereo.
K
Traffic Program Indicator:This indicator
illuminates if the RDS station tuned sometimes
transmits traffic information (see page 24 for
more information on RDS).
L
Tuned Indicator: This indicator illuminates
when a station is being received with sufficient signal strength to provide acceptable listening quality.
M
Main Information Display: This display
shows messages relating to the status, input
source, surround mode, tuner, volume level or
other aspects of unit’s operation.
N Night Mode Indicator:This indicator
lights when the AVR 1550 is in the Night mode,
which preserves the dynamic range of digital
program material at low volume levels.
O
Auto Indicator: This indicator illuminates
when the tuner’s Auto mode is in use.
P Speaker/Channel Input Indicators:These
indicators are multipurpose, indicating either the
speaker type selected for each channel or the
incoming data-signal configuration.The left,center, right, right surround and left surround speaker
indicators are composed of three boxes, while the
subwoofer is a single box. When the letters flash,
the digital input has been interrupted. (See page
18 and 27 for more information on the Channel
Indicators).
O
Auto Indicator
P
Speaker/Channel Input Indicators
Q
Preset Number/Sleep Timer
R
Preset Indicator
S
Sleep Indicator
T
Memory Indicator
U
Stereo Indicator
Q
Preset Number/Sleep Timer: When the
tuner is in use, these numbers indicate the specific preset memory location in use. (See page 24
for more information on preset stations.) When
the Sleep function is in use, these numbers show
how many minutes remain before the unit goes
into the Standby mode.
R
Preset Indicator: This indicator lights when
the tuner is in use to show that the Preset
Number/Sleep Timer
tion’s preset memory number. (See page 24 for
more information on tuner presets.)
S
Sleep Indicator: This indicator lights when
the Sleep function is in use.The numbers in the
Preset/Sleep Number Indicators will show the
minutes remaining before the AVR 1550 goes
into the Standby mode. (See page 19 for more
information on the Sleep function.)
T Memory Indicator: This indicator flashes
when entering presets and other information
into the tuner’s memory.
U
Stereo Indicator: This indicator illuminates
when an FM station is being tuned in stereo.
Q
is showing the sta-
FRONT PANEL INFORMATION DISPLAY 7
fi
Rear Panel Connections
ª
‚
fl
Tape Inputs
Tape Outputs
Video 1 Audio Inputs
AM Antenna
Video 1 Audio Outputs
Video 2 Audio Inputs
FM Antenna
⁄
¡
™
a
•
CD Inputs
Coaxial Digital Audio Outputs
Coaxial Digital Inputs
Subwoofer Output
Video Monitor Outputs
Front/Center Speaker Outputs
Surround Speaker Outputs
¶
£
°
∞
·
§
¢
b
¤
›
‹
TV Audio Inputs
Optical Digital Inputs
AC Power Cord
DVD Video Inputs
Video 1 Video Outputs
Video 1 Video Inputs
Video 2 Video Inputs
‡
Tape Inputs: Connect these jacks to the
PLAY/OUT jacks of an audio recorder.
Tape Outputs: Connect these jacks to the
RECORD/INPUT jacks of an audio recorder.
Video 1 Audio Inputs: Connect these jacks
to the PLAY/OUT audio jacks on a VCR or other
video source.
AM Antenna:Connect theAM loop antenna
supplied with the receiver to theseterminals.If an
external AMantenna is used,make connections to
the AM and GND terminals in accordance with
the instructions supplied with the antenna.
Video 1 Audio Outputs: Connect these
jacks to the RECORD/INPUT audio jacks on
a VCR or any other Audio recorder.
Video 2 Audio Inputs: Connect these jacks
to the PLAY/OUT audio jacks on a VCR or other
video source.
FM Antenna: Connect the supplied indoor or
an optional external FM antenna to this terminal.
CD Inputs: Connect these jacks to the ana-
log output of a compact disc player or CD
changer.
CoaxialDigital Audio Outputs: Connect
this jack to the matching digital input connector
on a digital recorder such as a CD-R or MiniDisc
recorder.
Coaxial Digital Inputs: Connect the coax
digital output from a DVD player. Do not connect
the RF digital output of an LD player to these
jacks.
Subwoofer Output: Connect this jack to
the line-level input of a powered subwoofer. If
an external subwoofer amplifier is used, connect
this jack to the subwoofer amplifier input.
Video Monitor Outputs: Connect these
jacks to the composite and/or S-Video input of a
TV monitor or video projector to view the output
of any video source selected by the receiver’s
video switcher.
Front/Center Speaker Outputs: Connect
these outputs to the matching + or – terminals
on your front/center speakers.When making
speaker connections,always make certain to
maintain correct polarity by connecting the red
(+) terminals on the AVR 1550 to the red (+)
terminals on the speaker and the black (–) terminals on the AVR 1550 to the black (–) terminals on the speakers.(See page 11 for more
information on speaker polarity.)
Surround Speaker Outputs: Connect
these outputs to the matching + or – terminals
on your left and right surround speakers.When
making speaker connections always make certain to maintain correct polarity by connecting
the red (+) terminals on the AVR 1550 to the
red (+) terminals on the speakers and the black
(–) terminals on the AVR 1550 to the black (–)
terminals on the speakers.See page 11 for more
information on speaker polarity.
TV Audio Inputs: Connect these jacks to
the Audio Out jacks on a TV or other video
source.
Optical Digital Inputs: Connect the opti-
cal digital output from a DVD player, HDTV
receiver, LD player,MD player or CD player to
these jacks.The signal may be either a Dolby
Digital signal, a DTS signal or a standard PCM
digital source.
AC Power Cord: Connect the AC plug to an
unswitched AC wall output.
DVD Video Inputs: Connect these jacks to
the composite or S-Video output jacks on a DVD
player or other video source.
Video 1 Video Outputs: Connect these
jacks to the RECORD/INPUT composite or
S-Video jack on a VCR.
Video 1 Video Inputs: Connect these jacks
to the PLAY/OUT composite or S-Video jacks on
a VCR or other video source.
Video 2 Video Inputs: Connect these jacks
to the PLAY/OUT composite jacks on a second
VCR or other video source.
8 REAR PANEL CONNECTIONS
Remote Control Functions
0
Power On Button
1
IR Transmitter Window
2
Mute
3
Power Off Button
4
Input Selectors
5
AVR Selector
6
AM/FM Tuner Select
7
Test Button
8
Sleep Button
9
Surround Mode Selector
A
Night Mode
B
Channel Select Button
⁄/¤
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
Buttons
‹
Button
Enter Button
Digital Select/Direct Button
Numeric Keys
Tuner Mode
Volume Up/Down
Tuning Up/Down
Speaker Select
Transport Controls
›
Button
RDS Select Button
Preset Up/Down
Clear Button
Memory Button
Delay
a
g
t
u
n
f
v
`
m
b
d
e
y
r
s
o
w
NOTE:The function names shown here are each
button’s feature when used with the AVR. Most
buttons have additional functions when used
with other Harman Kardon devices.
See page 26 for a list of these functions.
IMPORTANT NOTE: The AVR 1550’s remote is
shipped from the factory to operate the
AVR 1550 and most Harman Kardon CD or DVD
players and cassette decks.
Before using the remote, it is important to
remember to press the Input Selector button
4
that corresponds to the unit you wish to
operate.
It is also important to remember that many of
the buttons on the remote take on different
functions, depending on the product selected
using the Input Selectors.The descriptions
shown here primarily detail the functions of the
remote when it is used to operate the
AVR 1550. (See page 26 for information about
alternate functions for the remote’s buttons.)
j
p
q
x
AVR 1550
0
Power On Button: Press this button to
turn on the power.
1
IR Transmitter Window: Point this
window towards the AVR 1550 when pressing
buttons on the remote to make certain that
infrared commands are properly received.
2
Mute: Press this button to momentarily
silence the AVR 1550 or TV set being controlled,
depending on which device has been selected.
l
7
k
8
c
z
3
Power Off Button: Press this button to
place the AVR 1550 in the Standby mode.
4
Input Selectors: Pressing one of these
buttons will perform three actions at the same
time. First,if the AVR is not turned on, this will
power up the unit. Next, it will select the source
shown on the button as the input to the AVR.
Finally, it will change the remote control so that
it controls the compatible Harman Kardon product selected. After pressing one of these buttons
you must press the AVR Selector button
5
REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONS 9
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