Harman Kardon AVR-3550 Service manual

AVR 3550 Audio/ VideoReceiver

OWNER’S MANUAL

AVR 3550

AM/FM

RDS

Power for the Digital Revolution

™

®

2 TABLE OF CONTENTS

3 Introduction
4 Safety Information
4 Unpacking
5 Front Panel Controls
7 Front Panel Information Display

9 Rear Panel Connections
11 Remote Control Functions
14 Installation and Connections
14 Audio Equipment Connections
14 Video Equipment Connections
15 SCART A/V Connections
16 Remote Control Extension
16 AC Power Connections
17 Speaker Selection and Placement
18 System Configuration
18 First Turn On and Use of the OSD
18 Settings to be Made

With Each Input Used

19 Input Setup
19 Surround Setup
19 Adjustments for Other Inputs
20 Making Settings independent of

selected Input

20 Speaker Setup
21 Delay Settings
22 Night Mode Settings
22 Output Level Adjustment
22 Using EzSet
23 Manual Output Level Adjustment
25 Operation
25 Basic Operation
25 Source Selection
25 Controls and Use of Headphones
26 Surround Mode Chart
27 Surround Mode Selection
27 Digital Audio Playback
28 Selecting a Digital Source
28 Digital Status Indicators
29 Night Mode
29 Tape Recording
30 Output Level Trim Adjustment
30 6-Channel Direct Input
30 Memory Backup
31 Tuner Operation
32 RDS Operation
33 Advanced Features
33 Display Brightness
33 Turn-On Volume Level
34 Semi OSD Settings
34 Full-OSD Time Out Adjustment
35 Programming the Remote
35 Programming the Remote with Codes
35 Macro Programming
36 Programmed Device Function
36 Volume Punch-Through
37 Channel Control Punch-Through
37 Transport Control Punch-Through
37 Resetting the Remote Memory
38 Function List
40 Troubleshooting Guide
40 Processor Reset
41 Technical Specifications

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

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

03/02

INTRODUCTION 3

Introduction

Thank you for choosing Harman Kardon!

With the purchase of a Harman Kardon
AVR 3550 you are about to begin many years of
listening enjoyment. The AVR 3550 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 3550
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.

While complex digital systems are hard at work
within the AVR 3550 to make all of this happen,
hookup and operation are simple. Color-keyed
connections, programmable remote control, and
on-screen menus make the AVR 3550 easy to
use.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 3550 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 3550 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. Along with the latest Dolby
ProLogic

®

II decoding technology, Dolby 3
Stereo, 5 Ch Stereo and custom Hall and Theater
modes, only Harman Kardon receivers offer Logic
7

®

to create a wider, more enveloping field envi-

ronment and more defined fly-overs and pans.

Another Harman Kardon exclusive is VMAx™,
which uses proprietary processing to create an
open, spacious sound field even when only two
front speakers are available.

In addition to providing a wide range of listening
options, the AVR 3550 is easy to configure so
that it provides the best results with your speak­ers and specific listening-room environment.
On-screen menus make it simple to enter set­tings for speakers, inputs and delay times, while
our exclusive EzSet™ remote measures a sys­tem‘s sound levels and automatically calibrates
them for perfectly balanced soundfield presenta­tion.

For the ultimate in flexibility, the AVR 3550 fea­tures connections for three video devices, all
with both composite and S-Video inputs.Two
additional audio inputs are available, and a total
of four digital inputs make the AVR 3550 capa­ble of handling all the latest digital audio
sources. Coax and optical digital outputs are
available for direct connection to digital
recorders.A video recording output, and a six­channel input make the AVR 3550 virtually
future-proof, with everything needed to accom­modate tomorrow’s new formats right on board.

The AVR 3550’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-nine years ago.With state-of­the-art circuitry and time-honored circuit
designs, the AVR 3550 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

■ Harman Kardon’s Exclusive Logic 7 and
VMAx Modes

■ Dolby Laboratory's latest ProLogic II
decoding technology.

■ Remote Automatically Sets

Output Levels for Optimum
Performance

■ Multiple Digital Inputs and Outputs

■ On-Screen Menu and Display System

■ 6-Channel direct input for use with

SACD or DVD-Audio players, other
products with internal surround
decoders or external surround
decoders.

■ Remote with Internal Codes Capability

TM

4 SAFETY INFORMATION

Safety Information

Important Safety Information

Verify Line Voltage Before Use

Your AVR 3550 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.

FRONT PANEL CONTROLS 5

1

Main Power Switch: Press this button to
apply power to the AVR. When the switch is
pressed in, the unit is placed in a Standby
mode, as indicated by the orange LED

3

sur-

rounding the System Power Control

2

. This
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.

2

System Power Control: When the Main

Power Switch

1

is “ON,”press this button to
turn on the AVR; press it again to turn the unit
off (to Standby). Note that the Power
Indicator surrounding the switch

3

will turn

green when the unit is on.

3

Power Indicator: This LED will be illumi­nated 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’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.

5

Selector Buttons: When you are establish­ing the AVR’s configuration settings, use these
buttons to select from the choices available, as
shown in the Main Information Display

Ú

.

6

Tone Mode: Pressing this button enables or
disables the Balance, Bass and Treble tone con­trols.When the button is pressed so that the
words TONE IN appear in the Main

Information Display

Ú

, the settings of the

Bass

^

and Treble*controls and of the

Balance control

&

will affect the output sig-

nals.When the button is pressed so that the
words TONE OUT appear in the Main

Information Display

Ú

, the output signal
will be “flat,”without any balance, bass or treble
alteration.

Front Panel Controls

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
)

!
@
#
$
%
^
&
*
(
Ó

Ô

Ò
Ú
Û
Ù

Main Power Switch
System Power Control
Power Indicator
Headphone Jack
Selector Buttons
Tone Mode
Surround Mode Selector
Tuning
Tuner Band Selector
Preset Stations Selector

Input Source Selector
RDS Select Button
Test Tone Selector
Surround Mode Indicators
Remote Sensor Window
Bass Control
Balance Control
Treble Control
Volume Control
Set Button

Input Indicators
Delay
Digital Input Selector
Main Information Display
Channel Select Button
Speaker Select Button

4

1

3

5

7

8

9

)

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@

^

*
&

(

2

6

Ò

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AVR 3550

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Ú

Ô

Ó

RDSAM/FM

2

DTS
HDCD

PCM

MULTI3ST

DSPOSD

SL

SBL

SBR

SR

VMAx NF LOGIC 7 CMPL

II

KHz
MHz

OPT12

COAX12

ANALOG

TA

AUTORDS

TUNED ST

MEM

II

6 FRONT PANEL CONTROLS

Front Panel Controls

7

Surround Mode Selector: Press this but­ton 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 26
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

L

will illuminate

in the Main Information Display

Ú

(see
page 31 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 31 for more
information on the tuner).

)

Preset Stations Selector: Press this but­ton to scroll up or down through the list of sta­tions that have been entered into the preset
memory. (See page 31 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’s tuner. (See page 32
for more information on RDS).

#

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 22.)

$

Surround Mode Indicators: A green LED
will light in front of the surround mode that is
currently in use.

%

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.

^

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 or room acoustics.

&

Balance 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.

*

Treble 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 or room acoustics.

(

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

Ú

into the
AVR’s memory.The set button may also be used
to change the display brightness. (See page 33).

Ô

Input indicators: A green LED will light in
front of the input that is currently being used as
the source for the AVR.



Delay: Press this button to begin the
sequence of steps required to enter delay time
settings. (See page 21 for more information on
delay times.)

Ò

Digital Input Selector: When playing a
source that has a digital output, press this
button to select between the Optical



and

Coaxial



Digital inputs. (See pages

27-29 for more information on digital audio.)

Ú

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.)

Û

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 30.)

Ù

Speaker Select Button: Press this button
to begin the process of selecting the speaker
positions that are used in your listening room.
(See page 18 for more information on setup and
configuration.)

A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H

I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P

Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X

FRONT PANEL INFORMATION DISPLAY 7

Front Panel Information Display

DTS

PCM

A

K

M

R

S

Q

N

V

U

T

F

H

I

J

C

D

O

E G P L

B

X

W

3ST

OSD DSP

SL

SR

VMAx NF LOGIC 7 CMPL II

KHz

MHz

OPT12

COAX12

ANALOG

AUTORDS TA

TUNED ST

MEM

Bitstream Indicators
Optical Source Indicators
DTS Mode Indicator
Dolby Digital Indicator
Coaxial Digital Input Indicators
Dolby Pro Logic II Indicator
Analog Input Indicator
Dolby 3 Stereo Indicator

VMAx Mode Indicator
DSP Mode Indicator
Logic 7 Mode Indicators
Tuned Indicator
OSD Indicator
Main Information Display
Night Mode Indicator

Auto Indicator

Speaker/Channel Input Indicators
Preset Number/Sleep Timer
Preset Indicator
Sleep Indicator
Memory Indicator
Stereo Indicator
RDS Indicator
Traffic Program 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 indica­tors light to show when a Optical Digital Input
has been selected.

C

DTS Mode Indicator: This indicator illumi­nates 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 Logic II Indicator: This indica­tor 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

VMAx Mode Indicator: This indicator illu-

minates to show that the VMAx mode is in use.
VMAx F appears when the Far Field VMAx
mode is selected; VMAx N appears when the
Near Field VMAx mode is selected. (See page 26
for a description of the VMAx Modes.)

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,
Surround Off A/D-Mode and 5 Channel Stereo.

K

Logic 7 Mode Indicators: These indicators
illuminate when the Logic 7 mode is in use.
LOGIC 7C appears for the Cinema version
of Logic 7, LOGIC 7M appears for the
Music version of Logic 7. (See page 26 for a
description of the Logic 7 Modes.)

L

Tuned Indicator: This indicator illuminates
when a station is being received with sufficient sig­nal strength to provide acceptable listening quality.

M

OSD Indicator: When the OSD system is in
use, this indicator lights to remind you that the
other indicators in this display do not function
when the On Screen Display is being used.

N 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.

O

Night Mode Indicator: This indicator
lights when the AVR 3550 is in the Night mode,
which preserves the dynamic range of digital
program material at low volume levels.

P Auto Indicator: This indicator illuminates
when the tuner’s Auto mode is in use.

Q

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. The center box lights
when a “Small” speaker is selected, and the two
outer boxes light when “Large” speakers are
selected. When none of the boxes are lit for the
center, surround or subwoofer channels, no
speaker has been selected for that position. (See
page 19 for more information on configuring
speakers.) The letters inside each of the center
boxes display active input channels. For standard
analog inputs, only the L and R will light,indicat­ing a stereo input. When a digital source is
playing, the indicators will light to display the
channels begin received at the digital input. When
the letters flash, the digital input has been inter­rupted. (See page 29 for more information on the
Channel Indicators).

R

Preset Number/Sleep Timer: When the
tuner is in use, these numbers indicate the spe­cific preset memory location in use. (See page 31
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.

8 FRONT PANEL INFORMATION DISPLAY

Front Panel Information Display

S

Preset Indicator: This indicator lights when

the tuner is in use to show that the Preset

Number/Sleep Timer

R

is showing the sta­tion’s preset memory number. (See page 31 for
more information on tuner presets).

T 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 goes into the
Standby mode. (See page 25 for more informa­tion on the Sleep function).

U

Memory Indicator: This indicator flashes
when entering presets and other information
into the tuner’s memory.

V Stereo Indicator:This indicator illuminates
when an FM station is being tuned in stereo.

W RDS Indicator: This indicator illuminates
when the station tuned is transmitting RDS data.

X Traffic Program Indicator: This indicator
illuminates if the RDS station tuned sometimes
transmits traffic information (see page 32 for
more information on RDS).

REAR PANEL CONNECTIONS 9

Rear Panel Connections

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




























Tape Inputs
Tape Outputs
Video 1 Audio Inputs
AM Antenna
Video 1 Audio Outputs
DVD Audio Inputs
FM Antenna
CD Inputs
6-Channel Direct Inputs
Digital Audio Outputs

Coaxial Digital Inputs
Subwoofer Output
Video Monitor Outputs
Front/Center Speaker Outputs
Surround Speaker Outputs
Switched AC Accessory Outlet
Unswitched AC Accessory Outlet
AC Power Cord
DVD Video Inputs
Video 1 Video Outputs

Remote IR Input
Video 2 Video Inputs
Remote IR Output
Video 1 Video Inputs
Optical Digital Inputs
Video 2 Audio 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 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.



Video 1 Audio Outputs: Connect these
jacks to the RECORD/INPUT audio jacks on
a VCR or any other Audio recorder.



DVD Audio Inputs: Connect these jacks to
the analog audio jacks on a DVD 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 ana­log output of a compact disc player or CD
changer.



6-Channel Direct Inputs: If an external
digital audio decoder is used, connect the out­puts of that decoder to these jacks.



Digital Audio Outputs: Connect these
jacks 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, HDTV receiver,
LD player, MD player or CD player to these jacks.
The signal may be either a Dolby Digital signal,
DTS signal or a standard PCM digital source. 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.

10 REAR PANEL CONNECTIONS

Rear Panel Connections



Video Monitor Outputs: Connect these
jacks to the composite and/or S-Video input of a
TV monitor or video projector to view the on­screen menus and 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 to the red (+) terminals
on the speaker and the black (–) terminals on
the AVR to the black (–) terminals on the speak­ers. (See page 14 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 to the red (+)
terminals on the speakers and the black (–) ter­minals on the AVR to the black (–) terminals on
the speakers. See page 14 for more information
on speaker polarity.



Switched AC Accessory Outlet: This out­let may be used to power any device that you
wish to have turn on when the unit is turned on
with the System Power Control switch

2

.



Unswitched AC Accessory Outlet: This
outlet may be used to power any AC device. The
power will remain on at this outlet regardless of
whether the AVR is on or off (in Standby), pro­vided that the Main Power switch

1

is on.

Note: The total power consumption of all
devices connected to the accessory outlets
should not exceed 100 watts from the

Unswitched Outlet



and 50 W from the

Switched Outlet



.



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.



Remote IR Input: If the receivers front­panel 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.



Video 2 Video Inputs: Connect these jacks
to the PLAY/OUT composite or S-Video jacks on
a second VCR or other video source.



Remote IR Output: This connection permits
the IR sensor in the receiver to serve other
remote controlled devices. Connect this jack to
the “IR IN” jack on Harman Kardon or other
compatible equipment.



Video 1 Video Inputs: Connect these jacks
to the PLAY/OUT composite or S-Video jacks on
a VCR or other video source.



Optical Digital Inputs: Connect the optical
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.



Video 2 Audio Inputs: Connect these jacks
to the PLAY/OUT audio jacks on a VCR or other
video source.

Note: Either the Video or S-Video output of any
S-Video source must be connected to the AVR,
not both in parallel, otherwise the video may be
disturbed or its performance be adversely
effected.

0
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q












REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONS 11

Remote Control Functions

Power On Button
IR Transmitter Window
Program/SPL Indicator
Power Off Button
Input Selectors
AVR Selector
AM/FM Tuner Select
EzSet Sensor Microphone
Test Button
Sleep Button
Surround Mode Selector
Night Mode
Channel Select Button

⁄/¤

Buttons

‹

Button
Set Button
Digital Select
Numeric Keys
Tuner Mode
Direct Button
Tuning Up/Down
OSD Button
Macro Buttons
Transport Controls
Skip Up/Down Buttons
RDS Select Button
Preset Up/Down
Clear Button
Memory Button
Delay/Prev. Ch.

›

Button
Speaker Select
Spare Button
Volume Up/Down
TV/Video Selector
SPL Indicator Select
6-Channel Direct Input
Mute

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 devices. See page 38-39 for a list of
these functions.

POWER

AVR

AM/FM

VCR

6 CH.

ON

OFF

SLEEP

SURR.

CH.

G

U

I

D

E

C

H

.

E

X

I

T

D

I

G

I

T

A

L

M

E

N

U

S

P

K

R

P

R

E

V

.

C

H

D

E

L

A

Y

SET

TUN-M

MEM

RDS

OSD

DIRECT

TUNING

PRESET

CLEAR

DWN

UP

TEST

NIGHT

3550

SKIP

a

bc

d

e

f

g

h

i

j

k

l

m

n

o

q

n

s

r

t

u

v

w

`

32

30

29

DVD

CD

TAPE

VID 2

TV

CBL/SAT

VID 1

SPL

1

2

3

4

7

6

5

9

0

8

M2

M3

M4

M1

28

VOL.

37

36

35

34

33

31

38

z

x

y

TM

p

12 REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONS

Remote Control Functions

IMPORTANT NOTE: The AVR 3550’s remote

may be programmed to control up to seven
devices, including the AVR 3550. 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. In addi­tion, the AVR 3550’s remote is shipped from the
factory to operate the AVR 3550 and most
Harman Kardon CD or DVD players and cassette
decks.The remote is also capable of operating a
wide variety of other products using the control
codes that are part of the remote. Before using
the remote with other products, follow the
instructions on pages 35 to program the proper
codes for the products in your system.

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 3550. (See page 38
for information about alternate functions for the
remote’s buttons.)

0

Power On Button: Press this button to
turn on the power to a device selected by pressing
one of the Input Selectors

4

.

1

IR Transmitter Window: Point this window
towards the AVR 3550 when pressing buttons on
the remote to make certain that infrared com­mands are properly received.

2

Program/SPL Indicator: This three-color
indicator is used to guide you through the
process of programming the remote and it is also
used as a level indicator when using the remote’s
EzSet capabilities. (See page 22 for more infor­mation on setting output levels, and see page 35
for information on programming the remote.)

3

Power Off Button: Press this button to
place the AVR or a selected device unit 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 device selected. After pressing one
of these buttons you must press the AVR
Selector button

5

again to operate the

AVR’s functions with the remote.

5

AVR Selector: Pressing this button will
switch the remote so that it will operate the AVR’s
functions. If the AVR is in the Standby mode, it will
also turn the AVR on.

6

AM/FM Tuner Select: Press this button to
select the AVR’s tuner as the listening choice.
Pressing this button when the tuner is in use will
select between the AM and FM bands.

7

EzSetSensor Microphone: The sensor
microphone for the EzSet microphone is behind
these slots.When using the remote to calibrate
speaker output levels using EzSet, be sure that
you do not hold the remote in a way that covers
these slots. (See page 22 for more information
on using EzSet).

8

Test Tone: Press this button to begin the
sequence used to calibrate the AVR’s output lev­els. (See page 22 for more information on
calibrating the AVR.)

9

Sleep Button: Press this button to place
the unit in the Sleep mode.After the time shown
in the display, the AVR will automatically go into
the Standby mode. Each press of the button
changes the time until turn-off in the following
order:

Hold the button pressed for two seconds to turn
off the Sleep mode setting.
Note that this button is also used to change
channels on your TV, VCR and SAT receiver when
selected.

A

Surround Mode Selector: Press this
button to begin the process of changing
the surround mode. After the button has
been pressed, use the

⁄/¤

buttons Dto
select the desired surround mode (See page 26
for more information). Note that this button is
also used to tune channels when the TV, VCR
and SAT receiver is selected using the Input

Selector

4

.

B

Night Mode: Press this button to activate
the Night mode.This mode is available only with
Dolby Digital encoded digital sources, and it pre­serves dialog (center channel) intelligibilty at low
volume levels (See page 29 for more informa­tion).

C

Channel Select Button: This button is
used to start the process of setting the AVR’s out­put levels with an external source. Once this button
is pressed, use the

⁄/¤

buttonsDto select the

channel being adjusted, then press the Set button

F

, followed by the

⁄/¤

buttons again, to
change the level setting. (See page 30 for more
information.)

D

⁄/¤

Buttons: These are multi-purpose
buttons. They will be used most frequently to select
a surround mode.To change the surround mode,
first press the SURR/CH

¤

buttonA. Next
press these buttons to scroll up or down through
the list of surround modes that appear in the Main

Information Display

Ú

. These buttons are also
used to increase or decrease output levels when
configuring the unit with either the internal test
tone or an external source.They are also used to
enter delay time settings after the Delay button



has been pressed.

When the AVR 3550 remote is being programmed
for the codes of another device, these buttons are
also used in the “Auto Search” process (See page
35 for more information on programming the
remote.)

E‹Button: This button is used to change
the menu selection or setting during some of the
setup procedures for the AVR.

F

Set Button: This button is used to enter
settings into the AVR’s memory. It is also used in
the setup procedures for delay time, speaker
configuration and channel output level adjust­ment.

G

Digital Select: Press this button to assign
one of the digital inputs



to a source. (See
page 28 for more information on using digital
inputs.)

H

Numeric Keys: These buttons serve as a
ten-button numeric keypad to enter tuner preset
positions.They are also used to select channel
numbers when TV, VCR or Sat receiver 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.

I

Tuner Mode: Press this button when the
tuner is in use to select between automatic tun­ing and manual tuning. When the button is
pressed so that the AUTO indicator

P

goes

out, pressing the Tuning buttons

K8will

move the frequency up or down in single-step
increments.When the FM band is in use and the
AUTO indicator

P

is on, pressing this button
will change to monaural reception making even
week stations audible. (See page 31 for more
information.)

90

min80min70min60min50min

40

min

30

min20min10min

OFF

REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONS 13

J

Direct Button: Press this button when the
tuner is in use to start the sequence for direct
entry of a station’s frequency. After pressing the
button simply press the proper Numeric Keys

H

to select a station (See page 31 for more

information on the tuner).

K

Tuning Up/Down: When the tuner is in use,
these buttons will tune up or down through the
selected frequency band. If the Tuner Mode but-
ton

I

has been pressed or the Band button

9

on the front panel was held pressed so that

the AUTO indicator

P

is illuminated, pressing
either of the buttons will cause the tuner to seek
the next station with acceptable signal strength
for quality reception. When the AUTO indicator

P

is NOT illuminated, pressing these buttons will
tune stations in single-step increments. (See page
31 for more information.)

L

OSD Button: Press this button to activate
the On Screen Display (OSD) system used to set
up or adjust the AVR’s parameters.

M

Macro Buttons: Press these buttons
to store or recall a “Macro”, which is a
pre-programmed sequence of commands
stored in the remote. (See page 35 for more
information on storing and recalling macros.)

N

Transport Buttons: These buttons do not
have any functions for the AVR, but they may be
programmed for the forward/reverse play opera­tion of a wide variety of CD or DVD players, and
audio or video- cassette recorders. (See page 35
for more information on programming the
remote.)

O

Skip Up/Down Buttons: These buttons
do not have a direct function with the
AVR 3550, but when used with a compatibly
programmed CD or DVD changer they will
change the tracks on the disc currently being
played in the changer.

P

RDS Select Button: Press this button to
display the various messages that are part of the
RDS data system of the AVR 3550’s tuner. (See
page 32 for more information on RDS).

Q

Preset Up/Down: When the tuner is in
use, press these buttons to scroll through the
stations programmed into the AVR’s memory.
When CD or DVD is selected using the Input
Selector button

4

, these buttons may func-

tion as Slow Fwd/Rev (DVD) or ”+10” (CD).



Clear Button: Press this button to clear
incorrect entries when using the remote to
directly enter a radio station’s frequency.



Memory Button: Press this button to enter
a radio station into the AVR’s preset memory. After
pressing the button the MEMORY indicator

U

will flash; you then have five seconds to enter a
preset memory location using the Numeric

Keys

H

. (See page 31 for more information.)



Delay/Prev Ch.: Press this button to begin
the process for setting the delay times used by
the AVR when processing surround sound. After
pressing this button, the delay times are entered
by pressing the Set button

F

and then using

the

⁄/¤

buttons Dto change the setting.
Press the Set button again to complete the
process. (See page 21 for more information.)

›Button: Press this button to change a set­ting or selection when configuring many of the
AVR’s settings.



Speaker Select: Press this button to
begin the process of configuring the
AVR 3550’s Bass Management System for use
with the type of speakers used in your system.
Once the button has been pressed, use the

⁄/¤

buttons Dto select the channel you

wish to set up. Press the Set button

F

and
then select the speaker type (see page 19 for
more information.)



Spare Button: This button does not have
any function for the operation of the AVR 3550,
but it can turn on/off the Multiroom system on
other Harman Kardon AV-receivers with that fea­ture and the Sub-function on DVD players.



Volume Up/Down: Press these buttons to

raise or lower the system volume.



TV/Video Button: This button does not
have a direct function on the AVR 3550, but
when used with a compatibly programmed VCR,
DVD or satellite receiver that has a “TV/Video”
function, pressing this button will switch
between the output of the player or receiver and
the external video input to that player. Consult
the Owner’s Manual for your specific player or
receiver for the details of how it implements this
function.



SPL Indicator Select: This button acti­vates the AVR 3550’s EzSet function to quickly
and accurately calibrate the AVR’s output levels.
Press and hold the button for three seconds and
then release it. Note that the Test Tone will
begin circulating, and the Program Indicator

2

will change colors. During this sequence,
EzSet will automatically adjust the output levels
for all channels until they are equal, as shown by
the Program Indicator lighting green for each
channel. (See page 22 for more information on
EzSet.)



6-Ch. Direct Input: Press this button to
select the component connected to the 6-Ch.

Direct Input



as the source



Mute: Press this button to momentarily
silence the AVR or TV set being controlled,
depending on which device has been selected.

When the AVR remote is being programmed to
operate another device, this button is pressed
with the Input Selector button

4

to begin
the programming process. (See page 35 for more
information on programming the remote.)

NOTE: As any of the remote buttons pressed is
active with the device selected, the correspon­ding Selector button

45

will briefly flash

red to confirm your selection.

Remote Control Functions