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INTRODUCTION

Introduction

Thank you for choosing Harman Kardon!

With the purchase of a Harman Kardon 
AVR 300 you are about to begin many years of
listening enjoyment. The AVR 300 has been cus-
tom 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 300 deliv-
ers 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 300 to make all of this
happen, hookup and operation are simple.
Color-keyed connections, a programmable
remote control, and on-screen menus make the
AVR 300 easy to use. To obtain the maximum
enjoyment from your new receiver, we urge you
to take a few minutes 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 300 is
able to deliver.

If you have any questions about this product,
its installation or its operation, please contact
your retailer or custom installer. They are your
best local source of information.

Description and Features

The AVR 300 is a full-featured A/V receiver,
incorporating a wide variety of listening
options. In addition to Dolby Digital and DTS
decoding, Dolby Pro Logic* and Dolby 3
Stereo are available for compatibility with 
the tens of thousands of movies and television
programs encoded with analog surround infor-
mation. In addition, specially programmed
Theater and Hall modes are available to
enhance the enjoyment of conventional 
two-channel stereo recordings.

A total of four audio/video inputs, each with
both composite and S-Video, as well as three
additional audio-only inputs, are selected
through a learning remote control and an easy-
to-read front-panel display or on-screen graph-
ics through a TV monitor. Multiroom operation
is available with independent source and 
volume selection.

The AVR 300’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 over forty-five years ago. With state-
of-the-art circuitry and time-honored circuit
designs, the AVR 300 is one of the finest
receivers ever offered by Harman Kardon.

Onboard Dolby Digital and 
DTS Decoding

Coax and Optical Digital Inputs and
Outputs

On-Screen Displays

Programmable Remote Control

Composite and S-Video Switching

Complete Multiroom Control

6-Channel Direct Input and Preamp
Output for ALL Channels Permits Ease
of Expansion

CAUTION

RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK

DO NOT OPEN

CAUTION: To prevent electric shock,

 do not remove the grounding plug 

on the power cord, or use any plug 

or extension cord that does not have 

a grounding plug provided. 

Make certain that the 

AC outlet is properly grounded. 

Do not use an adapter plug 

with this product.

The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol, 
within an equilateral triangle, is intended to 
alert the user to the presence of uninsulated 

“dangerous voltage” within the product’s 

enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a 
risk of electric shock to persons.

The exclamation point within an equilateral 
triangle is intended to alert the user to the 
presence of important operating and 
maintenance (servicing) instructions in the 

literature accompanying the appliance.

Summary of Contents for AVR 300

Page 1: ...1 VID 2 VID 3 6 CH AM FM PRESET SCAN TUN MODE Hall 1 Hall 2 THEATER SURR OFF PRESET TUNING Phones Power R L Max Min Max Min Bass Treble Balance Volu Speaker Multi Room Dig Select Delay DIGITAL PRO LOGIC 3 STEREO Set V Video DIGITAL COAX Power for the digital revolution ...

Page 2: ...es TV 34 Setup Code Tables VCR 36 Setup Code Tables CD 36 Setup Code Tables DVD 37 Setup Code Tables DVD LD 37 Setup Code Tables CABLE 37 Setup Code Tables SAT 38 Troubleshooting Guide 38 Processor Reset 39 Technical Specifications AVR 300 Audio VideoReceiver Typographical Conventions In order to help you use this manual with the remote control front panel controls and rear panel connections certa...

Page 3: ...ally programmed Theater and Hall modes are available to enhance the enjoyment of conventional two channel stereo recordings A total of four audio video inputs each with both composite and S Video as well as three additional audio only inputs are selected through a learning remote control and an easy to read front panel display or on screen graph ics through a TV monitor Multiroom operation is avai...

Page 4: ...nstallation 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...

Page 5: ...ght channels by as much as 10dB Set this control to a suitable position for your taste or room acoustics 6 Treble Control Turn this control to modify the high frequency output of the left right chan nels by as much as 10dB Set this control to a suitable position for your taste or room acoustics 7 Balance Control Turn this control to change the relative volume for the front left right channels NOTE...

Page 6: ...is button to select the Dolby Pro Logic surround mode when listening to an analog program that is encoded with surround sound informa tion See page 21 23 for more information on surround modes Ô Dolby 3 Stereo Selector Press this but ton to select the Dolby 3 Stereo listening mode This mode is used primarily when a center channel speaker but no surround speakers are installed See pages 22 for more...

Page 7: ... source is playing K Surround Off This indicator illuminates when the surround processing has been dis abled by pressing the Surround Off button Ù When this indicator is lit the AVR 300 will play traditional stereo sound using the front left and front right speakers only L Multiroom System Indicator This indica tor illuminates when the multiroom system is in operation See page 26 for more informat...

Page 8: ... Ohms SPEAKER 8 Ohm LEFT CENTER FRONT CENTER a a b f g fl fi VIDEO 1 DIGITAL INPUT c e d ª Video 1 Inputs Video 1 Outputs AM Antenna FM Antenna DVD Inputs 6 Channel Direct Inputs CD Inputs Multiroom Audio Outputs ª Digital Outputs Preamp Outputs Subwoofer Output Multiroom IR Input Front Speaker Terminals Center Speaker Terminals fi Surround Speaker Terminals fl Switched AC Outlet Unswitched AC Out...

Page 9: ... be certain to maintain correct polarity between the speak er s terminals and those on the AVR by con necting red termianls to red and black terminals to black See page 13 for more infor mation on speaker polarity fl Switched AC 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 Outlet Thi...

Page 10: ...Select Button h Buttons i Set Button j Button k Digital Select Exit l 6 Ch Direct Input m Input Selector Buttons n Tuner Mode o Memory Button p Numeric Keys q OSD Info Button r Macro 1 2 Buttons s Direct Macro 3 Button t Clear Macro 4 Button u Enter Button v Preset Up Down w Tuning Up Down x Forward Reverse Transport Buttons y AM FM Tuner Select z Night Mode Multiroom 28 Delay 29 Button 30 Speaker...

Page 11: ...o an external source Once this button is pressed use the buttons h to select the channel being adjusted then press the Set button i followed by the buttons again to change the level setting See page 25 for more information h Buttons These are multipurpose buttons They will be used most frequently to select a surround mode To change the surround mode first press the SURR CH button f Next press thes...

Page 12: ...tion on the Multiroom system Delay Prev Ch Press this button to begin the process for setting the delay times used by the AVR 300 when processing surround sound After pressing this button the delay times are entered by pressing the Set button i and then using the buttons h to change the setting Press the Set button again to complete the process See page 18 19 for more information Button Press this...

Page 13: ...s than ten feet We do not recom mend that you use cables with an AWG equiva lent of 18 or higher due to the power loss and degradation in performance that will occur Cables that are run inside walls should have the appropriate markings to indicate listing with UL CSA or other appropriate testing agency stan dards Questions about running cables inside walls should be referred to your installer or a...

Page 14: ...ut of the remote room amplifier Use the appropriate speaker wire to connect the optional power amplifier to the remote speakers High quality wire of at least AWG14 is recom mended for long multiroom connections IMPORTANT NOTE Any cables run inside walls should be CL3 FT4 rated or carry any other certi fication that is required by the NEC or state and local building and electrical codes To avoid in...

Page 15: ...front of the room sound smooth and that sounds from all speakers appear to arrive at the listening position at the same time without delay from the center speaker compared to the left and right speakers Surround speakers should be placed on the side walls of the room at or slightly behind the listening position The center of the speaker should face into the room The speakers should be located so t...

Page 16: ...either OSD mode has been selected a message will appear at the bottom of the screen any time the mode or source is changed First the new mode or source will show and if the source is changed there will also be a con firmation of the mode in use Note that the full screen displays will time out after 20 seconds However the on screen display used with the channel output level adjustments will remain ...

Page 17: ...s and NO sur round channel signals will be sent to the subwoofer output When SUR SP NONE is selected surround sound information will be split between the front left and front right out puts Note that for optimal performance when no surround speakers are in use the Dolby 3 Stereo mode should be used instead of Dolby Pro Logic 9 When you have completed your selection for the surround channel press t...

Page 18: ...ont or sur round speakers is different You may compen sate for this difference through the use of the delay settings to adjust the timing to tailor the specific speaker placement and acoustic condi tions in your listening room or home theater The factory setting is appropriate for most rooms but some installations create an uncom mon distance between the front and surround speakers that may cause ...

Page 19: ...teps 6 Before setting the center channel delay time make certain that a digital source has been selected If a digital source is playing COAX A or OPTICAL C will appear in the Main Information Display U along with the DIGITAL indicator F If a digital source is already connected and playing press the Delay button i so that the words C DELAY TIME appear in the Main Information Display 3 5 and proceed...

Page 20: ...he Semi OSD mode a one line message will appear at the bottom of the screen when changes are made to the unit s operational sta tus To activate the Semi OSD mode press the OSD button q once A confirmation message Figure 5 will appear briefly at the bottom of your video display to remind you that this feature is turned on The message will time out and disappear after a few seconds When Semi OSD mod...

Page 21: ...n press either one of the Selector Buttons 34 again and note that VOL DEFAULT will appear in the Main Information Display U 3 To have the volume control always turn on at the same level press the Set Button i and then release it The Main Information Display will now read Vol Set Ð xxDB with the actual number being the current volume level 4 Within five seconds use the Volume Control ˆ to set the d...

Page 22: ...round effect with some stereophonic source material that does not carry surround encoding Uses the information contained in a surround encoded or two channel stereo program to create center channel information In addition the information that is normally sent to the rear channel surround speakers is carefully mixed in with the front left and front right channels for increased realism Use this mode...

Page 23: ...d DVDs This does not indicate a prob lem with the AVR 300 as some players cannot pass the DTS signal through to the digital out puts If you are in doubt as to the capability of your DVD player to handle DTS discs consult the player s owner s manual Selecting a Digital Source To utilize either digital mode you must have a digital source properly connected to the AVR 300 Connect the digital outputs ...

Page 24: ...e During PCM playback you may select any surround mode except Dolby Digital When an audio only DTS disc is played the AVR will automatically select the DTS mode and no other mode may be selected Tuner Operation The AVR 300 s tuner is capable of tuning AM FM and FM Stereo broadcast stations Stations may be tuned manually or they may be stored as favorite station presets and recalled from a 30 posit...

Page 25: ...o raise or lower the level DO NOT use the volume control as this will alter the reference setting Adjusting the output level trim is easier when the Full OSD system is used To do this first press the Channel Select Button g and then press the OSD button so that the display shows all available speaker positions as shown in Figure 8 Note that there will be a flashing pointer under the FL or front le...

Page 26: ...ltilevel setting Press the Set button i if you wish to change the output level Within twenty seconds press the or buttons h to change the output level for the multiroom feed The volume change will appear as a number in dB increments below the 0dB reference level in the front panel Information Display as a lower third Semi OSD message or as the last line in the Full OSD status display 5 Press the S...

Page 27: ...the remote with the Auto Search Method Auto Search Method If the unit you wish to include in the AVR 300 s remote is not listed in the code tables in this manual or if the code does not seem to operate properly you may wish to program the correct code using the Auto Search method that follows 1 Turn on the product that you wish to include in the AVR 300 remote 2 Press the Input or Video Device Sel...

Page 28: ...on on the AVR s remote control Once programmed a macro will send out up to eight different remote codes in a pre determined sequential order enabling you to automate the process of turning on your system changing devices or other common tasks The AVR s remote can store up to five separate macro command sequences one that is associ ated with the Power Button d and four more that are accessed by pre...

Page 29: ... category of product shown on the remote it is possible to reassign one of these buttons to oper ate a second device of another type For example if you have two VCRs but no cable box receiver you may program the CBL button to operate a second VCR Before following the normal pro gramming steps for either Three Digit entry or Auto Search code entry you must first reassign the button with the followi...

Page 30: ...l Select Exit Record Subtitle Exit Exit Exit Exit 23 Down Down Down Down Down 24 Delay Prev Channel Open Close Return Prev Channel Prev Channel Prev Channel 25 Vid 1 Select Track Direct Sub W On Off Music Alt 26 6 Ch Select 27 Night Pause Pause Rec Pause Rec Pause 28 Multi Room Stop Stop Stop Stop 29 Vid 2 Select Track Increment Open Close 30 AM FM 31 Transport Reverse Play Reverse 32 Transport fo...

Page 31: ...3 CLASSIC 043 CONCERTO 004 CONTEC 043 051 CRAIG 054 CROWN 143 CURTIS MATHES 001 004 101 143 DAEWOO 004 055 103 111 114 127 143 DAYTRON 004 143 DWIN 177 DYNATECH 062 ELECTROHOME 024 143 EMERSON 001 004 005 028 043 047 048 051 096 143 151 153 154 155 FISHER 007 057 FUNAI 028 043 FUTURETECH 043 GE 004 008 009 034 056 073 074 091 130 144 155 160 161 GOLDSTAR 004 106 110 112 113 119 127 143 HITACHI 004...

Page 32: ...001 164 MEMOREX 004 007 072 METZ 088 MGA 001 004 024 042 MINERVA 088 MITSUBISHI 004 024 040 042 109 146 MTC 001 004 062 101 NAD 015 025 NEC 001 019 024 040 056 130 134 OPTONICA 019 081 PANASONIC 034 056 080 164 PHILCO 001 003 004 024 056 059 060 063 064 127 143 164 PHILIPS 001 003 004 005 038 059 093 164 PIONEER 004 018 023 025 135 176 PORTLAND 004 143 PROSCAN 144 160 161 167 PROTON 004 058 143 17...

Page 33: ... 022 028 081 143 175 SIGNATURE 072 SONY 070 085 126 139 SOUNDESIGN 003 004 028 043 SUPRE MACY 002 SYLVANIA 001 003 059 060 063 064 127 160 164 SYMPHONIC 052 TANDY 081 TATUNG 056 062 TECHNICS 034 080 TECHWOOD 004 TENIKA 002 003 004 028 043 072 101 143 TERA 172 TMK 004 TOSHIBA 015 030 040 062 101 TOTEVISION 143 UNIVERSAL 008 009 VIDEO CONCEPTS 146 VIDIKRON 174 VIDTECH 004 WARDS 004 008 009 019 028 0...

Page 34: ...01 008 009 010 FUNAI 034 GE 031 063 072 107 109 144 147 GO VIDEO 132 136 151 GOLDSTAR 004 012 020 101 HARMAN KARDON 012 045 HITACHI 018 026 034 043 063 137 150 INSTANTREPLAY 031 JC PENNEY 004 012 040 101 JENSEN 043 JVC 012 031 043 048 055 060 130 150 152 KENWOOD 014 034 047 048 LLOYD 034 LXI 001 004 009 017 034 MAGNAVOX 031 041 067 068 154 164 MARANTZ 012 031 067 069 MARTA 101 MATSUI 027 030 MEI 0...

Page 35: ... SANSUI 043 048 135 SANYO 001 007 010 014 040 134 SCOTT 017 037 129 131 SEARS 001 004 008 009 010 014 017 020 081 101 SHARP 031 053 054 165 SHINTOM 024 SONY 001 002 009 031 052 053 056 057 058 155 SOUNDESIGN 034 SYLVANIA 031 034 059 067 SYMPHONIC 034 TANDY 010 034 TATUNG 043 TEAC 034 043 TECHNICS 031 070 TEKNIKA 031 034 101 THOMAS 034 TMK 006 TOSHIBA 004 008 017 047 059 082 131 150 TOTEVISION 040 ...

Page 36: ...178 215 NAKAMICHI 218 ONKYO 030 038 062 168 169 OPTIMUS 049 085 PANASONIC 068 PIONEER 010 020 174 PHILIPS 041 REALISTIC 102 181 187 RCA 012 150 SHARP 051 173 SHERWOOD 096 166 SONY 097 126 133 225 TEAC 079 140 TECHNICS 068 172 YAMAHA 012 046 183 186 Manufacturer Brand Setup Code Number DENON 014 HARMAN KARDON 018 JVC 012 LG 010 MAGNAVOX 013 MITSUBISHI 002 ONKYO 017 PANASONIC 003 PHILIPS 013 PIONEER...

Page 37: ...OSHIBA 025 YAMAHA 033 Manufacturer Brand Setup Code Number Remote Control Model PIONEER 001 BR 200 AMERICAST 005 JERROLD 006 RT J22 CFT2200 JERROLD 007 RT J550C PIONEER 002 BR 95 PIONEER 003 RT P81 82 SCIENTIFIC ATLANTIC 004 RT S6X USV86 TOCOM 010 RT T7 T8 ZENITH 008 MN2500 ZENITH 009 RT ZPMV Setup Code Tables SAT Manufacturer Brand Setup Code Number GE 101 114 115 ECHOSTAR 106 HITACHI 111 112 HUG...

Page 38: ...obscured Make certain front panel sensor is visible to remote or connect remote sensor Intermittent buzzing in tuner Local interference Move unit or antenna away from computers fluorescent lights motors or other electrical appliances Processor Reset In the rare case where the unit s operation or the displays seem abnormal the cause may involve the erratic operation of the system s memory or microp...

Page 39: ...vity 400kHz 65dB Image Rejection 80dB IF Rejection 90dB Tuner Output Level 1kHz 75kHz Dev 500mV AM Tuner Section Frequency Range 520 1710kHz Signal to Noise Ratio 45dB Usable Sensitivity Loop 500µV Distortion 1kHz 50 Mod 0 8 Selectivity 10kHz 30dB Video Section Video Format NTSC Input Level Impedance 1Vp p 75 ohms Output Level Impedance 1Vp p 75 ohms Video Frequency 10Hz 8MHz 3dB Response General ...

Page 40: ...250 Crossways Park Drive Woodbury New York 11797 www harmankardon com 1999 Harman Kardon Incorporated Part 1111 AVR300OM J93000501000 ...

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