There are different types of audio and video connections used to connect the DVD 38 to your receiver or processor and video display. To make it easier to keep them all straight, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA®) has established a
Table 1 – Connection Color Guide
Audio Connections
LeftRight
Front (FL/FR)
CONNECTIONS
should not connect coaxial digital audio outputs to analog inputs or vice versa. See Figure 1.
Coaxial digital | Coaxial |
audio cable |
|
Figure 1 – Coaxial Digital Audio
Optical digital audio connectors are normally covered by a shutter to protect them from dust. The shutter opens as the cable is inserted. See Figure 2.
Center (C)
Surround (SL/SR)
Optical digital
Optical
Subwoofer (SUB)
Digital Audio Connections
Coaxial
OpticalInput 
Output
Video Connections
Component | Y | Pb | Pr |
Composite
HDMI™ Connections
HDMI
Types of Connections
This section will briefly review different types of cables and connections that you may use to set up your system.
Audio and video signals originate in what are known as “source devices,” including a DVD/CD player such as the DVD 38.
Separate connections are required for the audio and video portions of the signal unless an HDMI connection is used (see below). The types of connections used depend upon what’s available on your receiver, and for video signals, the capabilities of your video display.
Audio Connections
There are two formats for audio connections: digital and analog. Digital audio signals are required for listening to sources encoded with digital surround modes, such as Dolby Digital and DTS. There are two types of digital audio connections commonly used: coaxial and optical. Either type of digital audio connection may be used, but never both simultane- ously. However, it’s okay to make both analog and digital audio connec- tions at the same time to the same source.
NOTE: The DVD 38 outputs digital audio signals through the HDMI connection. If your receiver/processor or video display is capable of processing the audio portion of the HDMI signal, then you will not need to make a separate digital audio connec- tion. However, as explained in the Analog Audio section below, you may still need to make the analog audio connections. If your receiver/processor is only capable of switching HDMI signals, use HDMI for your video connection only and connect either the DVD 38’s coaxial or optical digital audio output to the corresponding input on your receiver.
Digital Audio
Coaxial digital audio jacks are usually
audio cable
Figure 2 – Optical Digital Audio
Due to the nature of digital signals as binary bits, they aren’t subject to signal degradation the way analog signals are. Therefore, the quality of coaxial and optical digital audio connections should be the same, although it is important to limit the length of the cable. Whichever type of connection you choose, Harman Kardon recommends that you always select the highest quality cables available within your budget.
Analog Audio
Analog connections require two cables, one for the left channel (white) and one for the right channel (red). See Figure 3. These two cables are often attached to each other for most of their length. Most devices that have digital audio jacks also have analog audio jacks. We recommend that you always connect the DVD 38’s
1.To make recordings. Most DVDs are protected from digital copying and only analog copies are permitted. Please make sure to comply with all copyright laws when making recordings for personal use.
2.In a multiroom system. Many receivers and processors require sources used in multiroom systems to output analog audio signals.
3.When connecting the DVD 38 directly to a TV. The TV may not have digital audio inputs.
4.When playing
NOTE: The DVD 38 is capable of downmixing multichannel materials and outputting a
Analog audio | L |
| |
cable (RCA) | R |
Figure 3 – Analog Audio
Multichannel analog connections are used with
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