Harman-Kardon HKSB16BLK User Manual

SB 16/230

Active speaker soundbar

Owner’s Manual

SB 16/230

Table of Contents

INTRODUCTION 3

DESCRIPTION AND FEATURES 3

INCLUDED ITEMS 3

SOUNDBAR TOP-PANEL CONTROLS 4

SOUNDBAR REAR-PANEL CONTROLS AND CONNECTIONS 4

SUBWOOFER REAR-PANEL CONTROLS 5

SPEAKER PLACEMENT 6

PLACING THE SOUNDBAR ON A TABLE 6

WALL-MOUNTING THE SOUNDBAR 6

PLACING THE SUBWOOFER 6

CONNECTIONS 7

SOURCE CONNECTIONS 7

POWER CONNECTIONS 8

OPERATION 9

TURNING THE SOUNDBAR ON AND OFF 9

TURNING THE SUBWOOFER ON AND OFF 9

ADJUSTING THE SYSTEM’S VOLUME 9

MUTING THE SYSTEM 9

SOUNDBAR SURROUND MODE BUTTON 9

SOUNDBAR SRC (SOURCE) BUTTON 9

SUBWOOFER VOLUME KNOB 10

SOUNDBAR TRIM SWITCH 10

WIRELESS CODE SWITCHES 10

SUBWOOFER CROSSOVER KNOB 10

SUBWOOFER PHASE SWITCH 10

PROGRAMMING THE SOUNDBAR TO RESPOND TO YOUR TV REMOTE 11

TROUBLESHOOTING 12

SPECIFICATIONS 13

2

SB 16/230

Introduction, Description and Features, Included Items

ENGLISH

Introduction

Please register your product on our Web site at
www.harmankardon.com.

Note: You’ll need the product’s serial number.
At the same time, you can choose to be
notified about our new products and/or special
promotions.

Thank you for purchasing the harman kardon® SB 16/230 speaker system, with which
you’re about to begin many years of listening enjoyment. The SB 16/230 has been
custom-designed to provide the excitement and power of the cinema experience in your
own living room.

While sophisticated electronics and state-of-the-art speaker components are hard at work
within the SB 16/230, hookup and operation are simple.

To obtain maximum enjoyment from your new soundbar speaker system, we urge you to
take a few minutes to read through this manual. This will help ensure that the connections
you make are correct. In addition, a few minutes spent learning the functions of the various
controls will enable you to take advantage of all the power and refinement the SB 16/230
is able to deliver.

If you have any questions about this product, its installation or its operation, please con­tact your retailer or custom installer, or visit our Web site at www.harmankardon.com.

Description and Features

The SB 16/230 is a complete home theater speaker system that includes:

A video-shielded stereo soundbar speaker (the • SB 16 CTR) with two-way dual-
driver left and right speakers and built-in 25-watt x 2 stereo amplifier

A 10-inch (250mm), 100-watt wireless powered subwoofer (the • SB 15/230 SUB)

Wall-mount brackets for the soundbar •

A 6.5-foot (2m) stereo audio cable for connecting the system directly to your TV’s •
audio output.

The SB 16 CTR soundbar contains the system’s left and right speakers and stereo amplifiers,
and features digital signal processing with virtual 3D surround circuitry that creates a
complete surround-sound experience without any extra speakers or wires. You can set the
soundbar on a table in front of your TV; also, the system includes hardware that makes it
easy to mount the soundbar on the wall along with your flat-panel TV. You can program the
soundbar to respond to your TV remote’s volume, power and source commands.

The SB 15/230 SUB subwoofer receives its signal from the SB 16 CTR soundbar via wireless
technology, so you can place it anywhere in your room without having to run any wires.
Its 10-inch (250mm) woofer and built-in 100-watt amplifier deliver a movie’s impact and
excitement. Other conveniences include a volume control, a phase switch for fine-tuning
bass performance to suit your listening environment, and an efficient switching system that
senses the presence of an audio signal and automatically switches the subwoofer on.

harman kardon invented the high-fidelity receiver more than 50 years ago. With state-of­the-art features and time-honored circuit designs, the SB 16/230 system will turn your
flat-screen TV into a fun and exciting home theater.

Included Items

One SB 16 CTR soundbar speaker

One SB 15/230 SUB 10-inch (250mm) 100-watt wireless subwoofer

Two sets of wall-mount brackets for the soundbar – one shallow and one extended (for
when the optical digital audio input is being used)

Two rubber feet

One 1.5m (5-ft) optical digital audio cable

One 2m (6.5-ft) stereo audio cable

One 24V DC power supply and one AC power
cord for the SB 16CTR speaker

Important: If anything is missing, or if any part of your SB 16/230 system fails to operate
properly, contact your dealer immediately.

3

SB 16/230

Soundbar Top-Panel Controls and

Soundbar Rear-Panel Controls and Connections

Soundbar Top-Panel Controls

Power
Button

Power

Indicator

Power Button: When the soundbar is in the Standby mode (the Power Indicator is amber),
press this button to turn the SB 16/230 system on (the Power Indicator turns blue.) NOTE:
When the soundbar is in the Standby mode, it will automatically turn on whenever it detects
an audio signal at the Source 1 (analog) inputs.

When the SB 16/230 system is on:

• Momentarily press the Power button to mute the SB 16/230 system. (The Power Indicator
flashes blue.)

• Hold down the Power button for three seconds to put the soundbar in the Standby

mode. (The Power Indicator turns amber.) NOTE: The subwoofer will remain on for
approximately 15 minutes after the audio signal ceases and then will automatically go
into the Standby mode.

Surround Mode Button: This button turns the SB 16/230 system’s 3D Surround processing
On and Off. The Surround Mode Indicator turns blue when 3D Surround is active and turns
white when 3D Surround is not active (normal stereo sound). See Soundbar Surround Mode
Button, on page 9, for more information.

Volume Up/Down Buttons: Press the ( – ) button to reduce the volume; press the ( + )
button to increase the volume.

Source Selector Button: This button switches between the sources connected to the Source
1 (analog) and Source 2 (digital) inputs. When Source 1 is active, the Source Indicator turns
white; when Source 2 is active, the Source Indicator turns blue.

Surround

Mode

Button

Surround

Mode

Indicator

Volume

Up/Down

Buttons

Source

Selector

Button

Source

Indicator

Soundbar Rear-Panel Controls and Connections

Wireless Code Switch: Selects between four different channels for the wireless subwoofer

signal.

IMPORTANT: Be sure to set the subwoofer’s Wireless Code switch to the same channel
that you set the soundbar’s Wireless Code switch. See Wireless Code Switches, on
page 10, for more information.

EQ Switch: This switch adjusts the soundbar’s bass for either wall or table mounting.

If you’re mounting the soundbar on a wall with the included wall-mount brackets, set
this switch to the Wall position for the most natural-sounding bass performance. If you
are placing the soundbar on a table, set the EQ switch to the Table position for the most
natural-sounding bass performance.

Trim Switch: This switch adjusts the soundbar’s input sensitivity so it will work with TVs
that have different audio signal output levels. See Soundbar Trim Switch, on page 10, for
more information.

Source 1 Connection (analog): Use the included stereo audio cable to connect the stereo
analog outputs of your TV, DVD player or cable/satellite tuner here.

Source 2 Connection (digital): If your TV, DVD player or cable/satellite tuner has a coaxial
digital output, you can connect it here.

NOTE: If you connect your TV or another component to the soundbar’s Source 1 connection,
you can connect a different component to the Source 2 connection.

Power Connection: Connect the included DC power supply here. See Power Connections,
on page 8, for more information.

IMPORTANT: Do not connect the power supply’s AC cord to an AC outlet until you
have made and verified all connections.

Power Switch: Set this switch to the On position (press the switch’s white dot) to activate

the soundbar. In normal operation, this switch will be left in the On position. See Turning
the Soundbar On and Off, on page 9, for more information.

Source 2

EQ Switch Trim Switch

Wireless Code

Switch

4

Source 1

(Analog)

Input

(Coaxial Digital)

Input

Source 2

(Optical Digital)

Input

Power

Switch

Power

Input

SB 16/230

Subwoofer Rear-Panel Controls

Crossover

Knob

Volume

Knob

Phase

Switch

Subwoofer Rear-Panel Connections

ENGLISH

Wireless

Code

Switch

Crossover Knob: This knob adjusts the subwoofer’s crossover between 50Hz and 150Hz.
The higher you set the Crossover knob, the higher in frequency the subwoofer will operate
and the more its bass will “overlap” that of the soundbar. This adjustment helps achieve
a smooth transition of bass frequencies between the subwoofer and the soundbar for a
variety of different rooms and subwoofer locations. See Subwoofer Crossover Knob, on
page 10, for more information.

Volume Knob: Use this control to balance the subwoofer’s volume with that of the soundbar.
Turn the knob clockwise to increase the subwoofer’s volume; turn it counterclockwise to
decrease the subwoofer’s volume.

Phase Switch: This switch determines whether the subwoofer driver’s piston-like action
moves in and out in phase with the speakers in the soundbar. If the subwoofer were to
play out of phase with the soundbar speakers, the sound waves from the soundbar could
cancel out some of the sound waves from the subwoofers, reducing bass performance
and sonic impact. This phenomenon depends in part on the placement of the subwoofer
and soundbar relative to each other in the room. See Subwoofer Phase Switch, on
page 10, for more information.

Wireless Code Switch: Selects between four different channels for the wireless subwoofer
signal.

IMPORTANT: Be sure to set the soundbar’s Wireless Code switch to the same channel
as you set the subwoofer’s Wireless Code switch. See Wireless Code Switches, on
page 10, for more information.

AC
Fuse

Power
Cord

Power
Switch

AC Fuse: The SB 15/230 SUB is factory-equipped with a T1AL/250V 1A – 250V AC fuse.
If the fuse ever blows:

1. Unplug the power cord from the wall.

2. Use a screwdriver to remove the blown fuse.

3. Replace the fuse with an identical T1AL/250V 1A – 250V AC fuse.

CAUTION: FOR CONTINUED PROTECTION AGAINST FIRE, REPLACE THE FUSE ONLY
WITH THE SAME TYPE AND RATING.

Power Cord: Plug this cord into an active, unswitched AC outlet. See Power Connections,

on page 8, for more information.

Power Switch: Set this switch to the On position to activate the subwoofer. In normal
operation, this switch will be left in the On position. See Turning the Subwoofer On and
Off, on page 9, for more information.

Status Indicator (on top of unit, not shown): Turns blue when the subwoofer’s power
switch is in the On position; turns amber when the subwoofer is in Standby; turns off when
the subwoofer’s Power switch is in the Off position.

5