Harman Kardon AVR 160 Owner's Manual

Also see for AVR 160: Service manual

Harman Kardon AVR 160 Owner's Manual Manual pdf 14 page image

14INTRODUCTION TO HOME THEATERThis introductory section will help you to familiarize yourself with some basicconcepts unique to multichannel surround sound receivers, which will makesetup and operation smoother.typical Home theater SystemA home theater typically includes an audio/video receiver, which controls thesystem; a disc player; a source component for television broadcasts (cablebox, satellite dish receiver, HDTV tuner or antenna connected to the TV); avideo display (television); and loudspeakers.multichannel audioThe main benefit of a home theater system is the placement of loudspeakersaround the room to produce “surround sound.” Surround sound immerses youin the presentation for increased realism.The AVR 160 may have up to seven speakers connected directly to it plus asubwoofer. Each main speaker is powered by its own amplifier channel insidethe receiver. A system with more than two speakers is called a multichannelsystem.Front Left and Right• – The main speakers are used as in a 2-channelsystem. In many surround modes, these speakers are secondary, while themain action, especially dialogue, is moved to the center speaker.Center• – The center speaker is used for dialogue in movies andtelevision programs, allowing the dialogue to originate near the actors’faces, for a more natural sound.Surround Left and Right• – The surround speakers improvedirectionality of ambient sounds. In addition, more loudspeakers playdynamic soundtracks without risk of overloading any one speaker.Surround Back Left and Right• – Additional surround speakersmay be placed behind the listening position, improving the precision ofambient sounds and allowing for more realistic pans.The surround back speakers are used with surround modes designedfor 7.1-channel systems, such as Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Digital Plus,Dolby TrueHD, DTS-ES (Discrete and Matrix), DTS-HD High ResolutionAudio, DTS-HD Master Audio and Logic 7 (7.1 modes). The surround backspeakers are optional, and the AVR 160 may be set up with a 5.1-channelsystem in the main listening area.Many people expect the surround speakers to play as loudly as the frontspeakers. Although all of the speakers in the system will be calibrated tosound equally loud at the listening position, most artists use the surroundspeakers for ambient effects only, and they program their materials tosteer very little sound to these speakers.Subwoofer• – A subwoofer is designed to play only the lowestfrequencies (the bass). It augments smaller, limited-range satellitespeakers used for the other channels. Many digital-format programs,such as movies recorded in Dolby Digital, contain a low-frequency effects(LFE) channel which is directed to the subwoofer. The LFE channel packsthe punch of a rumbling train or airplane, or the power of an explosion,adding realism and excitement to your home theater. Some people usetwo subwoofers, for additional power and even distribution of the sound.Surround modesThere are different theories as to the best way to present surround sound andto distribute information to the speakers. A variety of algorithms have beendeveloped in an effort to reproduce the way we hear sounds in the real world,resulting in a rich variety of options.Several companies have taken surround sound in different directions:Dolby Laboratories• – Dolby TrueHD, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby Digital,Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Pro Logic II and IIxDTS• – DTS-HD High Resolution Audio, DTS-HD Master Audio, DTS, DTS-ES(Discrete and Matrix), DTS Neo:6, DTS 96/24Harman International (the Harman Kardon parent•company) – Logic 7, Harman Virtual Speaker, Harman HeadphoneStereo Modes• – Generic modes that expand upon conventional2-channel stereo, including 5- and 7-channel stereoTable A9 in the appendix contains detailed explanations of the mode groupsand the mode options available within each group. Digital modes, such asDolby Digital and DTS, are only available with specially encoded programs,such as HDTV, Blu-ray Disc media and digital cable or satellite television.Other modes may be used with digital and analog signals to create a differentsurround presentation, or to use a different number of speakers. SurroundMode selection depends upon the number of speakers in your system, thematerials you are watching or listening to, and your personal tastes.