a DVD is put into a Pause mode. The flashing indicators remind you that the playback has stopped due to the absence of a digital signal and not through any fault of the AVR 4500. This is normal, and the digital playback will resume once the playback is started again.
Night Mode
A special feature of Dolby Digital is the Night mode, which enables Dolby Digital input sources to be played back with full digital intelligibilty while reducing the maximum peak level and lift- ing the low levels by 1/4 to 1/3. This prevents abruptly loud transitions from disturbing others without reducing the impact of the digital source. The Night mode is available only when the Dolby Digital mode is selected.
The Night mode may be engaged when a Dolby Digital DVD is playing by pressing the Night Button Bon the remote. Next, press the ⁄/¤ buttons Dto select either the middle range or full compression versions of the Night mode. To turn the Night mode off, press the ⁄/¤ buttons Duntil the message in the lower third of the video display and the Main Information Display Y reads D-RANGE OFF.
The Night mode may also be selected to always be on as soon as the Dolby Digital mode is acti- vated at either level of compression using the options in the Surround Select menu. See page 25 for information on using the menus to set this option.
IMPORTANT NOTES ON DIGITAL PLAYBACK:
•When the digital playback source is stopped, or in a pause, fast forward or chapter search mode, the digital audio data will momentarily stop, and the channel position letters inside the Speaker/Channel Indicators Q will flash. This is normal and does not indicate a problem with either the AVR 4500 or the source machine. The AVR 4500 will return to digital playback as soon as the data is available and when the machine is in a standard play mode.
•Although the AVR 4500 will decode virtually all DVD movies, CDs and HDTV sources, it is possible that some future digital sources may not be com- patible with the AVR 4500.
•Note that not all digitally encoded programs and not all audio tracks on a DVD contain full 5.1-channel audio. Consult the program guide that accompanies the DVD or laser disc to deter- mine which type of audio has been recorded on the disc. The AVR 4500 will automatically sense the type of digital surround encoding used, indi- cate it in the Bitstream Indicators A and Channel Input Indicators Q and adjust to accommodate it.
•When a Dolby Digital or DTS source is playing, you normally may not be able to select some of
the analog surround modes such as Dolby Pro Logic II, Dolby 3 Stereo, Hall, Theater, 5CH/7CH Stereo or Logic 7, except with specific Dolby Digital 2.0 recordings that can be played with the Pro Logic II modes too (see page 34).
•When a digital source is playing, it is not possi- ble to make an analog recording using the Tape or Video 1 or Video 2 or ! record out-
puts, if the source is connected to any digital input of the AVR 4500 only. But the analog two channel signal of that source, the ”Downmix” to Stereo or Dolby Surround, can be recorded by connecting its analog audio outputs to the appropriate analog inputs (e.g. DVD) of the AVR 4500, even if the digital input of the
AVR 4500 remains selected. Additionally, the dig- ital signals will be passed through to the Digital Audio Outputs .
Tape Recording
In normal operation, the audio or video source selected for listening through the AVR 4500 is sent to the record outputs. This means that any program you are watching or listening to may be recorded simply by placing machines connected to the outputs for Tape Outputs or Video 1 or 2 Outputs ! in the record mode.
When a digital audio recorder is connected to any of the Digital Audio Outputs , you are able to record the digital signal using a CD-R, MiniDisc or other digital recording system. Note that all digital signals will be passed through to both, coaxial and optical, digital out- puts simultanously, no matter which kind of digi- tal input was selected.
Front Panel In/Outputs
In addition to the rear panel digital outputs, the AVR 4500 offers Harman Kardon’s exclusive con- figurable front panel output jack feature. For easy connection of portable digital devices, you may switch the front panel Digital Coax 3 jack Ó from an input to an output by following these steps:
1.Press the OSD button Lto view the MASTER MENU (Figure 1).
2.Press the Set button Fto enter the IN/OUT SETUP menu (Figure 2).
3.Press the ¤ button Dso that the on-screen › cursor is next to COAXIAL 3.
4. Press either of the ‹/› buttons E/ so that the word OUT is highlighted.
5.Press the OSD button Lto exit the menus and return to normal operation.
Note that once the setting is made, the Input/Output Status Indicator ( will turn red, indicating that the selected digital jack is now an output, instead of in the default setting as an input. Once changed to an output, the set- ting will remain as long as the AVR 4500 is turned on, unless the setting is changed in the OSD menu system, as described above. Note, however, that once the AVR 4500 is turned off, the setting is cancelled. When the unit is turned on again, the front panel jack will return to its normal default setting as an input. If you wish to use the jack as an output at a future time, the setting must be changed again using the OSD menu system, as described above.
NOTES:
•The digital outputs are active only when a digital signal is present, and they do not convert an ana- log input to a digital signal, or change the format of the digital signal (e.g. Dolby Digital to PCM or vice versa, but coaxial digital signals are converted to optical signals and vice versa). In additon, the digital recorder must be compatible with the out- put signal. For example, the PCM digital output from a CD player may be recorded on a CD-R or MiniDisc, but Dolby Digital or DTS signals may not.
•To make an analog recording from any digital source is not possible, if the source is connected to a digital input of the AVR 4500 only. But the analog two channel signal of that source can be recorded (see ”Important Notes on Digital Playback” above).
Output Level Adjustment
With Source Signals
Normal output level adjustment for the
AVR 4500 is established using the test tone, as outlined on page 26. In some cases, however, it may be desirable to adjust the output levels using program material such as a test disc, or a selection you are familiar with. Additionally, the output level for the subwoofer and those for the Stereo and VMAx modes can only be adjusted using this procedure. Note that all adjustments made with any input will be effective with all inputs selected, just as it is the case with the adjustment using the test tone.
To adjust the output levels using program materi- al, first select the surround mode for which you want to trim the speakers (see NOTE below), start your program material source and set the refer- ence volume for the front left and front right
channels using the Volume Control | î. |
Once the reference level has been set, press the Channel Select button CÙ and note that FRONT L LEV will appear in the Main Information Display Y. To change the level, first press the Set button F@, and then use
