Harman Kardon AVR 235 Owner's Manual

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32 OPERATIONOperationImportant Note: When a digital surroundsource (Dolby Digital, DTS) is played, the lettersSBL/SBR for the Surround Back channels willappear only when a DTS ES DISCRETE 6.1 sourceis played. Then this surround mode will be indi-cated in the front display and on-screen display.With all other recordings the icons for the sur-round back speakers may light (when thosespeakers have been configured) to indicate that asignal will be fed to them (Matrix decoded withNEO:6, LOGIC 7 or 7 CH Stereo), but no lettersinside will light as the unit will not receive aninput signal for the surround back channels.The letters used by the Speaker/Channel InputIndicators $ also flash to indicate when a bit-stream has been interrupted. This will happenwhen a digital input source is selected before theplayback starts, or when a digital source such asa DVD is put into a Pause mode. The flashingindicators remind you that the playback hasstopped due to the absence of a digital signaland not through any fault of the AVR. This isnormal, and the digital playback will resumeonce the playback is started again.Night ModeA special feature of Dolby Digital is the Nightmode, which enables Dolby Digital input sourcesto be played back with full digital intelligibiltywhile reducing the maximum peak level andlifting the low levels by 1/4 to 1/3. This preventsabruptly loud transitions from disturbing otherswithout reducing the impact of the digital source.The Night mode is available only when the DolbyDigital mode is selected.The Night mode may be engaged when a DolbyDigital DVD is playing by pressing the NightButton B on the remote. Next, press the ⁄/¤buttons D to select either the middle range orfull compression versions of the Night mode. Toturn the Night mode off, press the ⁄/¤ buttonsD until the message in the lower third of thevideo display and the Main InformationDisplay ˜ reads D-RANGE OFF.The Night mode may also be selected to alwaysbe on as soon as the Dolby Digital mode isactivated at either level of compression using theoptions in the DOLBY menu. See page 23 forinformation on using the menus to set thisoption.IMPORTANT NOTES ON DIGITAL PLAYBACK:• When the digital playback source is stopped, orin a pause, fast forward or chapter search mode,the digital audio data will momentarily stop, andthe channel position letters inside the Speaker/Channel Indicators $ will flash. This is nor-mal and does not indicate a problem with eitherthe AVR or the source machine. The AVR willreturn to digital playback as soon as the data isavailable and when the machine is in a standardplay mode.• Although the AVR will decode virtually all DVDmovies, CDs and HDTV sources, it is possible thatsome future digital sources may not be compatiblewith the AVR.• Note that not all digitally encoded programsand not all audio tracks on a DVD contain full5.1 or 6.1 channel audio. Consult the programguide that accompanies the DVD or laser disc todetermine which type of audio has been record-ed on the disc. The AVR will automatically sensethe type of digital surround encoding used,indicate it in the Channel Input Indicators $and adjust to accommodate it.• When a Dolby Digital or DTS source is playing,you normally may not be able to select some ofthe analog surround modes such as Dolby ProLogic II, Dolby 3 Stereo, Hall, Theater, 5CH/7CHStereo or Logic 7, except with specific DolbyDigital 2.0 recordings that can be played withthe Pro Logic II modes too (see page 26).• When a digital source is playing, it is NOT pos-sible to make an analog recording using theTape or Video 1 or Video 2 or " recordoutputs, even if the source is connected to anydigital input of the AVR only, as long as"Surround Off" mode is selected (possible with aPCM source only). But the analog two channelsignal, even of a Dolby Digital (not DTS) source,the ”Downmix” to Stereo or Dolby Surround, canbe recorded by connecting its analog audio out-puts to the appropriate analog inputs (e.g. DVD)of the AVR. Additionally, the digital signals willbe passed through to the Digital AudioOutputs .Tape RecordingIn normal operation, the audio or video sourceselected for listening through the AVR is sent tothe record outputs. This means that any programyou are watching or listening to may be recordedsimply by placing machines connected to the out-puts for Tape Outputs or Video 1 or 2Outputs " in the record mode.When a digital audio recorder is connected toany of the Digital Audio Outputs , you areable to record the digital signal using a CD-R,MiniDisc or other digital recording system.Note that all digital signals will be passedthrough to both, coaxial and optical, digitaloutputs simultanously, no matter which kind ofdigital input was selected.NOTES:• The digital outputs are active only when a digitalsignal is present, and they do not convert an ana-log input to a digital signal, or change the formatof the digital signal (e.g. Dolby Digital to PCM orvice versa, but coaxial digital signals are convertedto optical signals and vice versa). In additon, thedigital recorder must be compatible with theoutput signal. For example, the PCM digital outputfrom a CD player may be recorded on a CD-R orMiniDisc, but Dolby Digital or DTS signals may not.• To make an analog recording from a digitalsource is possible, but only from a PCM source(not Dolby Digital or DTS) and correctly only with"Surround Off" mode (with any Surround modeonly the L/R front signals will be fed to the recordoutputs).Output Level AdjustmentWith Source SignalsNormal output level adjustment for theAVR is established using the test tone, as out-lined on page 23. In some cases, however, it maybe desirable to adjust the output levels usingprogram material such as a test disc, or a selec-tion you are familiar with. Additionally, the out-put level for the subwoofer and those for theStereo and VMAx modes can only be adjustedusing this procedure. Note that all adjustmentsmade with any input will be effective with allinputs selected, just as it is the case with theadjustment using the test tone.To adjust the output levels using program materi-al, first select the surround mode for which youwant to trim the speakers (see NOTE below), startyour program material source and set thereference volume for the front left and front rightchannels using the Volume Control ).Once the reference level has been set, press theChannel Select button CÙ and note thatFRONT L LEVEL will appear in the MainInformation Display ˜. To change the level,first press the Set button F @, and then usethe Selector buttons 7 or the ⁄/ ¤ buttonsD to raise or lower the level. DO NOT use thevolume control, as this will alter the referencesetting.Once the change has been made, press the Setbutton F @ and then press the Selector but-tons 7 or the ⁄/¤ buttons D to select thenext output channel location that you wish toadjust. To adjust the subwoofer level, press theSelector buttons 7 or the ⁄/¤ buttons Duntil WOOFER LEVEL appears in the MainInformation Display ˜ or on-screen display(only available if the subwoofer is turned on).Press the Set button F @ when the name ofthe desired channel appears in the MainInformation Display ˜ and on-screendisplay, and follow the instructions shown aboveto adjust the level.