Harman Kardon AVR1550 Owner'S Manual Download Page 23

Page: 23 / 30

OPERATION

Operation

IMPORTANT NOTES ON DIGITAL
PLAYBACK:

1. When the digital playback source is stopped,
or in a pause, fast forward or chapter search
mode, the digital audio data will momentarily
stop, and the channel position letters inside the

Speaker/Channel Indicators

will flash.

This is normal and does not indicate a problem
with either the AVR 1550 or the source machine.
The AVR 1550 will return to digital playback as
soon as the data is available and when the
machine is in a standard play mode.

2. Although the AVR 1550 will decode virtually all
DVD movies, CDs and HDTV sources, it is possible
that some future digital sources may not be com-
patible with the AVR 1550.

3. Note that not all digitally encoded programs
and not all audio tracks on a DVD contain full
5.1-channel audio. Consult the program guide
that accompanies the DVD or laser disc to deter-
mine which type of audio has been recorded on
the disc. The AVR 1550 will automatically sense
the type of digital surround encoding used, indi-
cate it in the

Bitstream Indicators

and

Channel Input Indicators

and adjust to

accommodate it.

4. When a Dolby Digital or DTS source is playing,
you normally may not be able to select some of
the analog surround modes such as Dolby Pro
Logic II, Dolby 3 Stereo, Hall, Theater or 5CH
Stereo, except with special audio tracks
(see indication ”Dolby Digital” on previous
page) or data format selected (see ”PCM” on
previous page).

5. When a Dolby Digital or DTS source is playing,
it is not possible to make an analog recording
using the

Tape

Video 1

record out-

puts, if the source is connected to any digital
input of the AVR 1550 only.

Tape Recording

In normal operation, the audio or video source
selected for listening through the AVR 1550 is
sent to the record outputs. This means that any
program you are watching or listening to may be
recorded simply by placing machines connected
to the outputs for

Tape Outputs

Video

1 Outputs

in the record mode.

When a digital audio recorder is connected to
the Coaxial

Digital Audio Outputs

, you

are able to record the digital signal using a
CD-R, MiniDisc or other digital recording system.
Note that all digital signals will be passed
through to the coaxial digital output, no matter
which kind of digital input was selected.

NOTES:

• The digital outputs are active only when a digi-
tal signal is present, and they do not convert an
analog input to a digital signal, or change the for-
mat of the digital signal (e.g. Dolby Digital to

PCM or vice versa, but optical digital input signals
are converted to coaxial signals). In additon, the
digital recorder must be compatible with the out-
put signal. For example, the PCM digital output
from a CD player may be recorded on a CD-R or
MiniDisc, but Dolby Digital or DTS signals may
not.

Output Level Trim Adjustment

Normal output level adjustment for the
AVR 1550 is established using the test tone, as
outlined on pages 17 and 18. In some cases,
however, it may be desirable to adjust the out-
put levels using program material such as a test
disc, or a selection you are familiar with.
Additionally, the output level for the subwoofer
and those for the Stereo mode can only be
adjusted using this procedure.

To adjust the output levels using program mate-
rial, first select the surround mode for which you
want to trim the speakers (see NOTE below) by
selecting the appropriate input, associated with
the desired surround mode, start your program
material source and set the reference volume for
the front left and front right channels using the

Volume Control

(

Once the reference level has been set, press the

Channel Select

button

and note that

FL LEVEL

will appear in the

Main

Information Display

for five seconds. To

change the level, first press the

Enter

button

on the remote control, or the

Set

button on

the front

, and then use the

Selector

but-

tons

or the

⁄

buttons

to raise or

lower the level. DO NOT use the volume control,
as this will alter the reference setting.

Once the change has been made, press the

Enter

button

on the remote control, or the

Set

button on the front

and then press the

Selector

buttons

or the

⁄

buttons

to select the next output channel location that
you wish to adjust. To adjust the subwoofer
level, press the

Selector

buttons

or the

⁄

buttons

until

SW LEVEL

appears

in the

Main Information Display

(only

available if the subwoofer was selected during
the speaker configuration, see page 14).

Press the

Enter

button

on the remote

control, or the

Set

button on the front

when

the name of the desired channel appears in the

Main Information Display

and on-screen

display, and follow the instructions shown above
to adjust the level.

Repeat the procedure as needed until all
channels requiring adjustment have been set.
When all adjustments have been made press the

Enter

button

on the remote control, or the

Set

button on the front

twice, the AVR 1550

will return to normal operation.

NOTE:

The output levels may be separately

trimmed for each digital and analog surround
mode. If you wish to have different trim levels for a
specific mode, select that mode and then follow
the instructions in the steps shown above.

Changing the levels by the trim adjustment as
described above will automatically change the
level settings shown during the Output Level
Adjustment (see page 17) correspondingly (and
vice versa) and will remain in the AVR 1550´s
memory system, even when the unit is turned
off. With Stereo mode the adjustment procedure
described above is the only way to trim the out-
put level.

Display Brightness

The AVR 1550’s front panel

Main Information

Display

is set at a default brightness level

that is sufficient for viewing in a normally lit
room. However, in some home theater installa-
tions, you may wish to occasionally lower the
brightness of the display, or turn it off completely.

The display brightness may be changed by
pressing and holding the

Set

button

on the

front for three seconds until the message in the

Main Information Display

reads

V F D

F U L L

. Within five seconds, press the front

panel

‹

›

buttons

until the desired bright-

ness display level is shown. At that point, press
the

Set

button

again to enter the setting.

Memory Backup

This product is equipped with a memory backup
system that preserves tuner presets and system
configuration information if the unit is turned off
completely, accidentally unplugged or subjected
to a power outage. This memory will last for
approximately two weeks, after which time all
information must be reentered.