Summary of the content on the page No. 1
AVR254om.qxd 3/28/08 12:45 PM Page 1
AVR 254
AUDIO/VIDEO RECEIVER
OWNER’S MANUAL
Summary of the content on the page No. 2
AVR254om.qxd 3/28/08 12:45 PM Page 2 SAFETY INFORMATION Important Safety Instructions 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. The A/V receiver’s cabinet may be cleaned by gently wiping with a soft cotton or microfiber cloth. Do not use water or any liquid cleaners. 7. Do not block any of the ventilation openings. Install in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions. 8. Do not
Summary of the content on the page No. 3
AVR254om.qxd 3/28/08 12:45 PM Page 3 SAFETY INFORMATION unit’s feet may leave marks on certain wood or veneer materials. Use caution Important Safety Information when placing the unit on soft woods or other materials that may be damaged Verify Line Voltage Before Use by heat or heavy objects. Some surface finishes may be particularly sensitive to absorbing such marks, due to a variety of factors beyond our control, including Your AVR 254 has been designed for use with 120-volt AC current. Co
Summary of the content on the page No. 4
AVR254om.qxd 3/28/08 12:45 PM Page 4 STAPLE INVOICE HERE 4
Summary of the content on the page No. 5
AVR254om.qxd 3/28/08 12:45 PM Page 5 TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 SAFETY INFORMATION 42 ADVANCED FUNCTIONS 6 INTRODUCTION 42 Audio Processing and Surround Sound 8 FRONT-PANEL CONTROLS 42 Analog Audio Signals 11 REAR-PANEL CONNECTIONS 42 Digital Audio Signals 14 REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONS 43 Surround Modes 17 INTRODUCTION TO HOME THEATER 44 Dolby Surround Settings 18 CONNECTIONS 44 Night Mode 18 Speaker Connections 45 Manual Setup 18 Subwoofer 45 Step One – Determine Speaker Crossover 18 Connecting Sourc
Summary of the content on the page No. 6
AVR254om.qxd 3/28/08 12:45 PM Page 6 INTRODUCTION Please register your AVR 254 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. WWW.HARMANKARDON.COM ® with some of our most advanced video processing capabilities yet, and Thank you for choosing a Harman Kardon a wealth of listening and viewing options. product! To obtain the maximum enjoyment from your new re
Summary of the content on the page No. 7
AVR254om.qxd 3/28/08 12:45 PM Page 7 INTRODUCTION Audio Inputs Ease of Use ® ™ • AM/FM/XM * tuner • EzSet/EQ automated setup (microphone supplied) • Analog Audio 1 through 5 (assignable) • Full-color user interface and setup menu, generated in high-definition video • Front-panel Analog Audio (assignable) • Two-line dot-matrix front-panel display • 6-/8-Channel Analog Audio (assignable) • Color-coded connections • Stereo mini-jack (assignable) • Programmable 7-device main remote control Audio
Summary of the content on the page No. 8
AVR254om.qxd 3/28/08 12:45 PM Page 8 FRONT-PANEL CONTROLS See the Advanced Functions section for more information on surround Main Power Switch: This mechanical switch turns the power supply modes. on or off. It is usually left pressed in (On position), and cannot be turned on using the remote control. Analog Audio, Video and Digital Audio Inputs: Connect a source component that will only be used temporarily, such as a digital Standby/On Switch: This electrical switch turns the receiver on c
Summary of the content on the page No. 9
AVR254om.qxd 3/28/08 12:45 PM Page 9 9 AVR Info Message Display Speaker/Channel Remote Volume Input Indicators IR Sensor Headphone Jack/EzSet/EQ Power Resolution / Navigation Video 4 Analog Video Source Digital Microphone Indicator Modes List Audio Inputs Audio Inputs Input (Optical 3 and Audio Surround Back/ Standby/On Main Power OK / Navigation Video 4 Coaxial 3) Exit Switch Switch Effects Modes Video Inputs NOTE: To make it easier to follow the instructions throughout the manual that ref
Summary of the content on the page No. 10
AVR254om.qxd 3/28/08 12:45 PM Page 10 FRONT-PANEL CONNECTIONS Audio Effects: Press this button to directly access the Audio Effects submenu, which allows adjustment of the tone and other controls. See the Initial Setup section for more information. Video Modes: Press this button for direct access to the Video Modes submenu, which contains settings that may be used to improve the picture if necessary after you have adjusted the picture settings using the video display or TV. OK: Press this bu
Summary of the content on the page No. 11
AVR254om.qxd 3/28/08 12:45 PM Page 11 REAR-PANEL CONNECTIONS of video connection for each source. These inputs are assignable, which AM and FM Antenna Terminals: Connect the included AM means they may be paired with any analog or digital audio inputs. This and FM antennas to their respective terminals for radio reception. will be explained in more detail in subsequent sections of this manual. XM Antenna Jack: Plug in an XM Connect and Play or Mini Tuner NOTE: The Video 2 inputs are associate
Summary of the content on the page No. 12
AVR254om.qxd 3/28/08 12:45 PM Page 12 REAR-PANEL CONNECTIONS Analog 2 and 4 Outputs: Connect either of these analog audio RS-232 Mode: Leave this switch popped out in the Operate position outputs to the analog audio inputs of a recording device. A signal is unless the AVR 254 is being upgraded. available at these outputs whenever an analog audio source is playing. RS-232 Reset: This switch is only used during a software upgrade. However, the AVR 254 does not convert digital audio sources to a
Summary of the content on the page No. 13
AVR254om.qxd 3/28/08 12:45 PM Page 13 13 13 13 13 S-Video Composite HDMI Component AC Power FM Antenna 1, 2 and 3 1, 2 and 3 Stereo Jack 1 and 2 Cord 1, 2 and 3 Video HDMI Monitor S-Video 2 XM Monitor Component Video AM Antenna Output Outputs Antenna Output Monitor Outputs Composite 2 Output Analog 2 Remote Preamp Analog 4 Front Speaker 6-/8- Coaxial Coaxial Switched AC RS-232 RS-232 Outputs Outputs Outputs Outputs IR Input Channel Digital 1 and 2 Accessory Reset Mode Inputs Audio Dig
Summary of the content on the page No. 14
AVR254om.qxd 3/28/08 12:45 PM Page 14 REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONS The AVR 254 remote is capable of controlling 7devices, including the AVR Power On Button: Press this button to turn on the AVR. The AVR itself. During the installation process, you may program the codes Master Power Switch on the AVR 254’s front panel must first have been for each of your source components into the remote. Each time you switched on. wish to use the codes for any component, first press its Selector button. Device P
Summary of the content on the page No. 15
AVR254om.qxd 3/28/08 12:45 PM Page 15 IR Transmitter Lens AVR Power Off Device Power On AVR Power On Device Power Off Source Selectors Video Modes Audio Effects Surround Modes Alphanumeric Keys Activity Last Back/Exit Menu Navigation OK Disc Menu Teletext Channel Volume Mute Transport Controls Record Info Settings Source Settings Sleep Settings AVR Settings NOTE: To make it easier to follow the Zone Selector instructions throughout the manual that refer to this illustration, a copy of this pa
Summary of the content on the page No. 16
AVR254om.qxd 3/28/08 12:45 PM Page 16 REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONS Volume Control: Press this button to raise or lower the volume. Zone Selector: Use this switch to select whether AVR commands will affect the main listening area (Zone 1) or the remote zone of a ⁄ ¤ ‹ › Navigation ( / / / ) and OK Buttons: These buttons are multizone system (Zone 2). For normal operation, leave the switch in used to make selections within the menu system. These buttons are the Zone 1 position. also used to opera
Summary of the content on the page No. 17
AVR254om.qxd 3/28/08 12:45 PM Page 17 INTRODUCTION TO HOME THEATER The AVR 254 may be the first multichannel surround sound receiver are optional. In fact, the AVR 254 enables you to set up a 5.1-channel you have owned. Although it has more connections and features than system in your main listening area, and reassign the surround back 2-channel receivers, many of the principles are similar and the new channels for use with a multizone system, in which you use the concepts are easy to unders
Summary of the content on the page No. 18
AVR254om.qxd 3/28/08 12:45 PM Page 18 CONNECTIONS There are different types of audio and video connections used to Bare wire cables are installed as follows (see Figure 2): connect the receiver to the speakers and video display, and to connect 1. Unscrew the terminal cap until the pass-through hole in the collar is the source devices to the receiver. To make it easier to keep them all revealed. ® ) has established straight, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA a color-coding standard.
Summary of the content on the page No. 19
AVR254om.qxd 3/28/08 12:45 PM Page 19 CONNECTIONS If your video display or source device is not HDMI-capable, use one of Audio Connections the analog video connections (composite, S- or component video) and, There are two formats for audio connections: digital and analog. Digital if available on your source device, either a coaxial or optical digital audio audio signals are required for listening to sources encoded with digital connection. surround modes, such as Dolby Digital and DTS, or for
Summary of the content on the page No. 20
AVR254om.qxd 3/28/08 12:45 PM Page 20 CONNECTIONS required for DVD-Audio players compliant with HDMI version 1.1 or Composite video cable better, or HD-DVD and Blu-ray Disc players that decode the digital audio internally and output linear PCM signals in digital format. Consult the Figure 10 – Composite Video owner’s guide for your disc player for more information. S-video, or “separate” video, transmits the chrominance and luminance components using separate wires contained within a single
