24
OPERATION
Operation
Surround Mode Selection
One of the most important features of the
AVR 2550 is its ability to reproduce a full multi-
channel surround sound field from digital
sources, analog matrix surround encoded pro-
grams and standard stereo or even mono pro-
grams. In all, a total of fifteen listening modes
are available on the AVR 2550.
Selection of a surround mode is based on personal
taste, as well as the type of program source mate-
rial being used. For example, motion pictures, CD’s
or TV programs bearing the logo of one of the
major surround encoding processes, such as Dolby
Surround should be played in either the Dolby Pro
Logic II Movie (with movies) or Music (with
music) surround mode or with the Harman
Kardon´s exclusive Logic 7 Movie Mode, to create
a full range discrete 5.1 channel surround signal
from surround encoded programs with a stereo-
phonic left and right rear signal, just as it was
recorded in real life (e.g. sound being recorded
from left rear side will be heard from that side
only, for more details see chart on page 23).
When no rear speakers are in use, the Dolby 3
Stereo mode should be selected with all sur-
round recordings.
Note that when Dolby Digital 2.0 signals (e.g.
"D.D. 2.0" tracks from DVD), that are encoded
with Dolby Pro Logic information, are received
via any digital input, the Dolby Pro Logic II Movie
mode will be selected automatically (in addition
to the Dolby Digital mode) and will decode a full
range 5.1 channel surround sound even from
those recordings (see also "Dolby Digital" on
page 26).
To create wide, enveloping sound field environ-
ments and defined pans and flyovers with all
analog stereo recordings select the Dolby Pro
Logic II Music or Emulation mode or Harman
Kardon’s exclusive Logic 7 Music mode for a dra-
matic improvement in comparison to the Dolby
Pro Logic (I) mode of former times.
NOTE:
Once a program has been encoded with
matrix surround information, it retains the sur-
round information as long as the program is
broadcast in stereo. Thus, movies with surround
sound may be decoded via any of the analog sur-
round modes such as Dolby Pro Logic II or Logic 7,
when they are broadcast via conventional TV sta-
tions, cable, pay TV and satellite transmission. In
addition, a growing number of made-for-television
programs, sports broadcasts, radio dramas and
music CDs are also recorded in surround sound.
You may view a list of these programs at the Dolby
Laboratories Web site at www.dolby.com.
Even when a program is not listed as carrying
intentional surround information, you may find
that the Dolby Pro Logic II, Dolby 3 Stereo or Logic
7 modes often deliver enveloping surround pre-
sentations through the use of the natural surround
information present in all stereo recordings.
However, for stereo programs without any sur-
round information the Theater, Hall and 5CH
Stereo modes should be tried (effective particularly
with old ”extreme” stereo recordings) and for
mono programs, we suggest that you try the
Theater or Hall modes. And when you use only
two front channel speakers you should select
Harman’s patented VMAx mode, delivering a virtu-
ally three dimensional sound space with two
speakers only.
Surround modes are selected using either the
front panel controls or the remote. To select a
surround mode from the front panel, press the
Surround Mode Selector
7
to scroll through
the list of available modes. To select a surround
mode using the remote, press the
Surround
Mode Selector
9
, and then press the
⁄
/
¤
buttons
C
to change the mode. As you press
the buttons, the Surround mode name will
appear in the
Main Information Display
M
,
and an individual mode indicator will also light
up
C D F H I J K
. As the surround
mode changes, a green LED will light next to the
current mode in the
Surround Mode
Indicators
list
$
on the front panel. Regard
that any time a surround mode is changed it
remains associated with the input just selected
until another choice is made.
NOTE:
The name of each Surround Mode will
scroll through the
Main Information Display
M
while the modes are being selected. To avoid
exiting from the surround mode selection
process, be certain to push the
⁄
/
¤
buttons
C
while a mode name is still visible.
Note that the Dolby Digital or DTS modes may
only be selected when a digital input is in use. In
addition, when a digital source is present, the
AVR 2550 will automatically select and switch to
the correct mode (Dolby Digital or DTS), regard-
less of the mode that has been previously select-
ed. For more information on selecting digital
sources, see the following section of this manual.
To listen to a program in traditional two channel
stereo, using the front left and front right speak-
ers only (plus the subwoofer if installed and con-
figured), follow the instructions shown above for
using the remote until
SURR OFF
appears
in the
Main Information Display
M
.
Digital Audio Playback
"Digital audio is a major advancement over older
analog matrix surround systems. It delivers five dis-
crete channels: left front, center, right front, left sur-
round and right surround. Each channel reproduces
full frequency range (20Hz to 20kHz) and offers
dramatically improved dynamic range and signifi-
cant improvements to signal-to-noise ratios. In
addition, digital systems have the capability to
deliver an additional channel that is specifically
devoted to low frequency information. This is the
“.1” channel referred to when you see these
systems descibed as “5.1”. The bass channel is
separate from the other channels, but since it is
intentionally bandwidth limited, sound designers
have given it that unique designation.
Dolby Digital
Dolby Digital (originally known as AC-3
®
) is
a standard part of DVD, and is available on
specially encoded LD discs and satellite broadcasts
and it is a part of the new high-definition television
(HDTV) system.
Note that an optional, external RF demodulator
is required to use the AVR 2550 to listen to the
Dolby Digital sound tracks available on laser
discs. Connect the RF output of the LD player to
the demodulator and then connect the digital
output of the demodulator to the
Optical
or
Coaxial
inputs
L9
of the AVR 2550. No
demodulator is required for use with DVD players
or DTS-encoded laser discs.
DTS
DTS is another digital audio system that is capa-
ble of delivering 5.1 audio. Although both DTS
and Dolby Digital are digital, they use different
methods of encoding the signals, and thus they
require different decoding circuits to convert the
digital signals back to analog.
DTS-encoded sound tracks are available on select
DVD and LD discs, as well as on special audio-
only DTS CDs. You may use any LD, DVD or CD
player equipped with a digital output to play
DTS-encoded special audio-only CDs with the
AVR 2550, but DTS-LDs can be played on LD
players and DTS-DVDs on DVD players only. All
that is required is to connect the player’s output
to either the
Optical
or
Coaxial
input on the
rear panel
L9
.
In order to listen to DVDs encoded with DTS
sound tracks, the DVD player must be compatible
with the DTS signal as indicated by a DTS logo
on the player’s front panel. Note that early DVD
players may not be able to play DTS- encoded
DVDs. This does not indicate a problem with the
AVR 2550, as some players cannot pass the DTS
signal through to the digital outputs. If you are in
doubt as to the capability of your DVD player to
handle DTS DVDs, consult the player’s owner’s
manual.
Please note that some DVD players are shipped
with their output set for Dolby Digital only. To
insure that DTS data is being sent to the AVR,
please check the setup menu system on your
DVD player to make certain that DTS data output
is enabled.
