INTRODUCTION
3
Introduction
Thank you for choosing Harman Kardon
HD 970 CD player.
The HD 970 is an exceptionally well-engineered
product that offers high performance and ease
of use.
Along with conventional CD audio discs, the
HD 970 is also compatible with MP3 data from
CDs and most recordable CD formats.
We ask that you take a few minutes to read
through this Owner’s Manual to familiarize your-
self with the controls and functions. This brief
investment of time will yield dividends in the
form of years of listening pleasure.
If you have any questions about this product, its
installation or operation, please contact your
dealer, as they are your best source of local
information.
Description and Features
Ever since its introduction in 1992,
Harman Kardon RLS (Real-time Linear
Smoothing) conversion technology has been
hailed as an efficient, high performance means
of transforming the, at that time 16-bit, digital
signal from CD to high quality analog. The short
RLS signal path resulted in hitherto unknown
clarity and detail, in combination with awesome
dynamic resolution of the critical bass frequen-
cies.
RLS-II was a natural, yet radical evolution of the
original RLS concept.
Since then, dramatic progress has been made in
Digital Signal Processing, allowing the integra-
tion of DSP's in a standalone CD Player and the
implementation of a very powerful algorithm in
the digital domain: the birth of the RLS-III.
Using theoretical roots of the RLS, RLS-III has set
new standards for dynamic range and shifted
noise to an absolute non-audible frequency
range with very high jitter rejection. The result is
an astonishing common signal format of 24 bits
at a sampling frequency of 384 kHz.
This 24 bits/384 kHz signal format allows
Harman Kardon engineers to take a minimalist
approach to the subsequent analog filtering,
without paying any penalty in the form of the
aliasing errors and artifacts.
Harman Kardon's analog processing legacy has
been expressed to its optimal level in the output
stage of the HD 970 with High Definition, Wide
Bandwidth and Low Feedback circuitry in a pure
Class A configuration, using only high grade
components.
A unique feature of the HD 970 is that it allows
other source components to be played back
using the high-grade audiophile digital-to-ana-
log convertors inside the CD player. Especially
source components using older and less power-
ful convertors will benefit from this feature.
Important Note:
The player will only output
2-channel PCM signals. Neither multi-channel
Dolby Digital or DTS nor their 2-channel down-
mix signals will be output.
■
Asynchronous Digital Processing for
Highest Possible Jitter Rejection based
on a 32bit DSP
■
Real-time Linear Smoothing III
■
Two Digital Inputs (One Optical and
One Coaxial) for Dramatic Sound
Quality Improvement of External
Devices
■
CD Playback with CD Text Functionality,
MP3 Playback with ID3 Tag Information
■
Digital Output for Direct Connection to
Outboard Digital-to-Analog Converters
■
Sophisticated Programming Features to
Automatically Play Tracks in
Preprogrammed or Random Order
■
Full compatibility with CD-R and CD-RW
format to play (finalized) recordable
and erasable discs without problems.
CLASS 1
LASER
