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CONNECTIONS
Audio Connections
There are two formats for audio connections: digital and analog. Digital
audio signals are of higher quality, and are required for listening to
sources encoded with digital surround modes, such as Dolby Digital and
DTS. There are two types of digital audio connections: coaxial and opti-
cal. Either type of digital audio connection may be used for each source
device, but never both simultaneously for the same source. However, it’s
okay to make both analog and digital audio connections at the same
time to the same source.
NOTE
: Although HDMI cables are capable of carrying digital
audio signals, the AVR 245 is not designed to process those
signals. Therefore, if your source and video display are both
HDMI-capable, use the HDMI connections for video only. You
will need to make a separate audio connection from the source
device to the AVR 245, and you should make sure to turn the
volume on your television all the way off.
Digital Audio
Coaxial digital audio jacks are usually color-coded in orange. Although
they look similar to analog jacks, they should not be confused, and you
should not connect coaxial digital audio outputs to analog inputs or
vice versa. See Figure 4.
Figure 4 – Coaxial Digital Audio
Optical digital audio connectors are often covered by a shutter to protect
them from dust. The shutter opens as the cable is inserted. Input con-
nectors are color-coded using a black shutter, while outputs use a gray
shutter. See Figure 5.
Figure 5 – Optical Digital Audio
Due to the nature of digital signals as binary bits, they aren’t subject
to signal degradation the way analog signals are. Therefore, the quality
of coaxial and optical digital audio connections should be the same,
although it is important to limit the length of the cable. Whichever type of
connection you choose, Harman Kardon recommends that you always
select the highest quality cables available within your budget.
Analog Audio
Analog connections require two cables, one for the left channel (white)
and one for the right channel (red). These two cables are often attached
to each other for most of their length. See Figure 6.
Most sources that have digital audio jacks also have analog audio jacks,
although some older types of sources, such as tape decks, have only
analog jacks. For sources that are capable of both digital and analog
audio, you may wish to make both connections.
The analog audio connection is strongly recommended if you intend to
use the source with the multiroom system. It’s required if you will be
using the multiroom preamp outputs with an external amplifier to power
your remote speakers, as the AVR 245’s multiroom system is not capa-
ble of converting the digital signal to analog format. It’s suggested that
you also use the analog audio connections when using the surround
back/multiroom speaker outputs, in case another two-channel digital
audio source is in use in the main listening area. The AVR 245 is only
capable of processing one PCM source at a time.
If you wish to record materials from DVDs or other copy-protected
sources, you may only do so using analog connections. (Remember to
comply with all copyright laws, if you choose to make a copy for your
own personal use.)
Figure 6 – Analog Audio
Multichannel analog connections are used with advanced sources where
the digital content is copy-protected and all surround processing is per-
formed inside the source. These types of connections are usually used
with DVD-Audio, SACD, Blu-ray Disc, HD-DVD and other advanced
players. See Figure 7.
Figure 7 – Multichannel Analog Audio
Figure 8 – The Bridge
Harman Kardon receivers also include a proprietary, dedicated audio
connection called “The Bridge/DMP”. If you own an iPod with a dock
connector, you may separately purchase The Bridge and connect it to
The Bridge/DMP port on the receiver. See Figure 8. Dock your iPod
(not included) in The Bridge, and you may listen to your audio materials
through your high-performance audio system. You may even use the
AVR 245 remote to control the iPod, with navigation messages dis-
played on the front panel and on a video display connected to the AVR.
Video Connections
Although some sources produce an audio signal only (e.g., CD player,
tape deck), many sources output both audio and video signals (e.g.,
DVD player, cable television box, HDTV tuner, satellite box, VCR, DVR).
In addition to the audio connection, you will need to connect one type of
video connection for each source (never more than one at the same
time for any source).
Multichannel
analog audio
cable (R
C
A)
Front
S
urround
C
enter
S
ubwoofer
L
R
Analog audio
cable (R
C
A)
Optical
Optical digital
audio cable
C
oaxial
C
oaxial digital
audio cable
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