Installation

You are now ready to connect the DVD 38 to your system. Before begin- ning, make sure that all components, including the DVD 38, are turned completely off and their power cords are unplugged. Don’t plug any of the power cords back in until you have finished making all of your connections.

Many components in a home theater system, such as a receiver or power amplifier, generate a great deal of heat that can interfere with the operation of the DVD 38. Therefore, it is best to place the DVD 38 on its own shelf instead of stacking it directly on top of another component. It is also a good idea to check the finish of your shelf. Some wood or other finishes can be affected over time by the DVD 38’s rubber feet.

Step One – Connect the DVD 38 to Other Components

Select one of the following two sections, depending on whether you are connecting the DVD 38 directly to a television or video display, or if you are using an audio/video receiver or processor (this manual will use the term “receiver” to refer to either a receiver or a processor) that incorpo- rates the DVD 38 as part of a home theater system.

Connecting the DVD 38 Directly to a Television

If your television is HDMI-capable and HDCP-compliant, then only one cable connection is required, and it will carry both audio and video signals. Use the included HDMI cable to connect the DVD 38’s HDMI output to your television’s HDMI input. See Figure 9. If your television has a DVI input rather than an HDMI input, purchase an HDMI-to-DVI cable or adapter.

The DVD 38 is Simplay HD™-verified for compatibility via the HDMI connection with other Simplay HD-verified products.

Figure 9 – HDMI Output

NOTE: When using the HDMI connection, turn on the television or video display before the DVD 38.

If your video display does not have an HDMI input, then separate audio and video connections are required. Select one of these types of video connections, in order of preference: component video, S-video, composite video. See Figure 10.

Figure 10 – Component, S- and Composite Video Outputs

Other than HDMI, most video displays are not equipped with coaxial or optical digital audio inputs. If your display is, then it would be preferable to connect one of the DVD 38’s digital audio outputs to the correspon- ding input on your display. However, most likely you will use the 2-Channel Analog Audio Outputs. See Figure 11.

Figure 11 – 2-Channel Analog Audio Outputs

NOTE: The DVD 38 is capable of downmixing 5.1-channel materials to the two-channel format, but it is necessary to adjust the Bass Management setting in the AUDIO SETUP menu to Stereo. You may also access this setting by pressing the Audio Mode Button on the remote. If you leave the Bass Management setting at On or Bypass, the DVD 38 will only output content specific to the front left and right channels through the

2-Channel Analog Audio Outputs, losing the center and surround channel information.

After you have connected the DVD 38 to your television, skip to Step Two for more information.

Connecting the DVD 38 to an Audio/Video Receiver

One of the major advantages of the DVD format is its ability to use a variety of digital audio formats for the ultimate in sonic performance. In addition, the DVD 38 is capable of playing DVD-Audio discs, which contain high-resolution multichannel audio materials. In order to benefit from these audio formats, we strongly recommend that you connect the DVD 38 to a 5.1-, 6.1- or 7.1-channel audio/video receiver with the ability to decode digital audio such as Dolby Digital and DTS, and with 5.1-channel “direct” analog audio inputs. Harman Kardon AVR Series receivers are compatible with the DVD 38.

The DVD 38 may also be used with an analog A/V receiver by connect- ing the 2-Channel Analog Audio Outputs to any one of the receiver’s inputs (in addition to a video connection).

If your receiver is HDMI-capable, connect the DVD 38’s HDMI Output to one of the receiver’s HDMI inputs. See Figure 9. If the receiver is equipped with a DVI port, purchase an HDMI-to-DVI cable or adapter.

The DVD 38 is Simplay HD™-verified for compatibility via the HDMI connection with other Simplay HD-verified products.

Figure 9 (repeated) – HDMI Output

Check your receiver’s owner’s manual to determine how it handles HDMI signals. It may simply switch the signal, it may process the audio portion of the signal but not the video portion, or it may be capable of processing both the audio and video portions of the signal. If the receiver only switches the signal, but is not capable of accessing and processing the audio or video data, then a separate audio connection is required, as explained below.

If the receiver is not HDMI-capable, then separate audio and video connections are required. Select one of these types of video connec- tions, in order of preference: component video, S-video, composite video. See Figure 10.