Harman Kardon AVR 144 Owner's Manual

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42ADVANCED FUNCTIONSSystem SettingsThe AVR 144 offers several system settings that allow you to make thereceiver easier to use rather than directly affecting performance. Most ofthese settings may be accessed from the SYSTEM SETUP menu, whichis selected by pressing the OSD Button and navigating to the SYSTEMSETUP line of the MASTER MENU. Press the Set Button to display thesubmenu. See Figure 62.Figure 62 – System Setup Menu ScreenVFD FADE TIME OUT: Some people find the brightness of the AVR’sfront-panel display distracting during movies or listening sessions. It’spossible to dim the front-panel display completely using the Dim func-tion (see below). Alternatively, you may set the display to remain darkmost of the time, lighting up only when a button is pressed or a remotecommand is received. This setting allows you to turn on this feature andprogram the amount of time the display remains lit before fading to dark.Select a time-out period of between 3 and 10 seconds, or select OFFif you prefer to leave the displays either on or dimmed at all times.VOLUME DEFAULT and DEFAULT VOL SET: These two settings areused together to program a volume level the AVR will always switch towhen turned on. This feature avoids overtaxing the system in case thelast user turned the volume very high.Press the OSD Button to remove the display from the screen so thatyou may adjust the volume to a desired level while a source is playing.Make a note of the number that appears in the display, and return tothe SYSTEM SETUP menu. At the DEFAULT VOL SET line, select thedesired volume setting, and activate the feature by setting VOLUMEDEFAULT to ON.NOTE: Although volume is normally displayed in 0.5dB increments,the default volume setting only allows whole numbers.SEMI OSD TIME OUT: At this line, you may program the amount oftime (2 to 5 seconds) the two-line semi-OSD on-screen messagesremain visible, or you may deactivate the semi-OSD display altogetherif you find it distracting. The same messages will continue to appearon the front panel of the receiver.FULL OSD TIME OUT: At this line, you may program the amount oftime (20, 30, 40 or 50 seconds) the full-OSD menus remain visible onscreen. The full-OSD system may not be deactivated.DEFAULT SURR MODE: This setting determines how the AVR 144 willhandle Dolby Digital and DTS sources. For the purposes of this setting,the “default surround mode” means the mode encoded in the program,such as Dolby Digital 5.1. With this setting ON, the receiver will alwaysuse the default surround mode in the program. When this setting ischanged to OFF, the receiver will use the surround mode you selectedthe last time this type of audio stream was detected.For an example, the Default Surround Mode setting can be beneficialwhen used with Dolby Digital 2.0 programs, such as the ones broadcaston many channels of some cable and satellite television systems. If youwould prefer to play these programs in the Dolby Pro Logic II Moviesurround mode, then set DEFAULT SURR MODE to OFF, and select yourdesired surround mode the first time a Dolby Digital 2.0 program isplayed. Dolby Digital 5.1 programs will still be played in 5.1-channel mode.NOTE: For PCM and analog sources, the factory default surroundmode is Logic 7 Music. In general, the receiver will use the sur-round mode selected the last time that type of signal was received.OSD BACKGROUND: This setting allows you to choose between a blueor black background for the full-OSD menus.NOTE: It isn’t possible to view video sources while the full-OSDmenus are displayed.Dim FunctionSome people find the front-panel messages distracting and would preferto dim them or turn them off altogether.To dim the display, press the Dim Button on the remote. Each buttonpress will cycle through the three settings of:VFD FULL: Normal brightnessVFD HALF: Display is dimmed but still visible; the light inside the vol-ume knob goes darkVFD OFF: Display goes completely dark except for Power Indicator toremind you that the receiver is turned onAdvanced Remote Control FunctionsThe AVR 144 remote control not only operates the AVR 144, but it alsoserves as a universal remote that may be programmed to operate manyof your other home theater components, as described in the Installationsection. Each time you select one of your other components, the AVRremote switches to the control functions for that component. Sincemany buttons will have unique functions for each component, you maywish to refer to the Function List (Table A8) in the Appendix for assis-tance in operating your other components. The function of each buttonwill not necessarily correspond to the label printed on the button.