Harman Kardon HARMAN/KARDON AVR 460 Owner's Manual

Also see for AVR 360: Function manual Owner's manual

Contents

Harman Kardon HARMAN/KARDON AVR 460 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 460/AVR 360 may have up to seven speakers connected directly toit (plus a subwoofer). Each main speaker is powered by its own amplifierchannel inside the receiver. A system with more than two speakers is called amultichannel system.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 designed for7.1-channel systems, such as Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Digital Plus, DolbyTrueHD, DTS-ES (Discrete and Matrix), DTS-HD High Resolution Audio,DTS-HD Master Audio and Logic 7 (7.1 mode). The surround back speakersare optional, and the AVR 460/AVR 360 may be set up with a 5.1- systemin the main listening area, and the surround back channels reassigned to amultizone system, where the surround back channels power loudspeakerslocated in another room.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 A13 in the Advanced Functions Manual• contains detailedexplanations of the mode groups and the mode options availablewithin each group. Digital modes, such as Dolby Digital and DTS, areonly available with specially encoded programs, such as HDTV, Blu-rayDisc media and digital cable or satellite television. Other modes maybe used with digital and analog signals to create a different surroundpresentation, or to use a different number of speakers. Surround Modeselection depends upon the number of speakers in your system, thematerials you are watching or listening to, and your personal tastes.