Harman-Kardon AVR 254 owner manual Initial Setup, Using the On-Screen Menu System

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Before you begin enjoying your new receiver, a few adjustments should be made to configure the AVR 254 to match your actual system.

Make sure that you have connected a video display to one of the video monitor outputs on the receiver. When you turn on your display and the AVR, if the display is connected to the AVR via an analog video (com- posite, S-video or component) connection, you may see a plain black screen. Press the front-panel Resolution Button, and the current video output resolution will appear in the Message Display. Use the Button to change it to 480i, which should be compatible with all video displays, then press the OK Button to select the new setting. You will be prompted to accept or cancel the change; the CANCEL message will appear on the front panel. Press the ¤ Button to view the ACCEPT option, and then press the OK Button to complete the change to the output resolution. The Main Menu should appear when you press the AVR Settings Button on the remote, or the AVR Button on the front panel. See Figure 43.

Figure 43 – Main Menu

Although it’s possible to configure the AVR using only the remote and the front-panel messages, we recommend that you use the full-screen menu system.

NOTE: When using the AVR’s on-screen menu system, we rec- ommend selecting a video output resolution of 720p or higher for best legibility, and to provide graphics that simplify some configu- ration options. Depending on the resolution selected, the menus shown by your system may vary in appearance.

Using the On-Screen Menu System

The menu system is accessed by pressing the AVR Settings Button on the remote. See Figure 44.

Figure 44 – Settings Buttons

The Main Menu will appear (see Figure 43), and if a video source is playing, it will be visible behind the transparent menu.

The menu system consists of five main menus: Source Selection, Setup Source, Speaker Setup, Zone 2 and System.

Use the /¤// Buttons on the remote or front panel to navigate the menu system, and press the OK Button to select a menu or setting line or to enter a new setting.

INITIAL SETUP

The current menu, setting line or setting will appear in the Message Display as well as on screen.

To return to the previous menu or exit the menu system, press the Back/Exit Button. Be certain all settings are correct, as any changes you have made will be retained.

We recommend that most users follow the instructions in this INITIAL SETUP section to configure a basic home theater system. You may return to these menus at any time to make additional adjustments. Thanks to the EzSet/EQ system, most of the menu adjustments may be saved until you have become more familiar with the AVR, and are therefore described in the Advanced Functions section.

The Initial Setup section requires that you complete all of the steps in the Installation section that apply to your receiver. You should have connected all of your loudspeakers and a video display, as well as your source devices. You should be able to turn on the receiver and view the main menu on your video display when you press the AVR Settings Button. If necessary, reread the Installation Section and the beginning of this section before continuing.

Configure the AVR 254 Using EzSet/EQ Technology

One of the most important and perhaps often overlooked aspects of setting up a home theater system is to calibrate the receiver to match the loudspeakers, which enables the AVR to perform at its best.

Until recently, most receivers required the user to perform the calibration and configuration manually, a somewhat tedious process that called for a good ear or the purchase of an SPL (sound-pressure level) meter. Although you may configure the AVR 254 manually, as described in the Advanced Features section, we recommend that you take advantage of our signature the EzSet/EQ system.

Before beginning, eliminate extraneous background noise that might affect the results, such as noisy air conditioning. Try to avoid making any loud noises while running EzSet/EQ setup.

IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTE: During the EzSet/EQ procedure, a series of very loud test tones will be played through all of the speakers. Avoid sitting or standing close to any one speaker during the procedure. If you are particularly sensitive to loud noises, you may wish to leave the room and have someone else run the EzSet/EQ process.

Step One – Place the included EzSet/EQ microphone in the listening position, or in the center of the room, at about the same height as the listeners’ ears. The microphone features a threaded insert on the bottom so that it can be mounted on a camera tripod for stability.

Step Two – Plug the EzSet/EQ microphone into the Headphone Jack/EzSet/EQ Microphone Input Jack on the front of the receiver. See Figure 45.

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Contents AVR Important Safety Instructions Safety InformationImportant Safety Information Staple Invoice Here Table of Contents Thank you for choosing a Harman Kardon product IntroductionHarman Kardon AVR 254 7.1-Channel Audio/Video Receiver Audio SectionAudio Inputs Supplied AccessoriesAudio/Video Inputs Digital Audio InputsFRONT-PANEL Controls Volume Knob Turn this knob to raise or lower the volumeAVR Info Message Display Speaker/Channel Remote FRONT-PANEL Connections Is not available in Alaska and Hawaii REAR-PANEL ConnectionsTo that source Hdmi Remote Control Functions Page Alphanumeric Keys Use these buttons to enter numbers for Surround Modes Introduction to Home TheaterTypical Home Theater System Multichannel AudioConnections Connecting Source Devices to the AVRTypes of Connections Speaker ConnectionsDigital Audio Audio ConnectionsAntennas FM antenna uses a 75-ohm F-connector. See FigureVideo Connections Digital VideoRS-232 Serial Port Placement of Surround Speakers in a 5.1-Channel System Speaker PlacementFront Speaker Placement Placement of Surround Speakers in a 7.1-Channel SystemSubwoofer Placement Step One Connect the Speakers InstallationStep Two Connect the Subwoofer Step Three Connect the AntennasHdmi Connections Audio Connections for non-HDMI sourcesVideo Connections for non-HDMI sources Connect an Audio/Video Recorder PVD, DVR or TiVo Connect a Tape Deck or Any Audio-Only Recorder Connect a CD Player or Any Audio-Only DeviceConnect a Portable Audio Player Step Five Connect the Video DisplayStep Six Plug in AC Power Step Seven Insert Batteries in RemoteStep Eight Program Sources Into the Remote Enter a code from , above Turn on your source deviceStep Eleven Turn On the AVR Select one or bothTwo steps are required the first time you turn on the AVR AVR Power On and Source Selectors Initial Setup Using the On-Screen Menu SystemConfigure the AVR 254 Using EzSet/EQ Technology Speaker Setup Menu Screen Selecting Cancel returns to the Speaker Setup menuAudio and Video Input Selection Set Up SourcesHDMI-equipped multichannel disc player Channel Direct InputsYou are now ready to begin enjoying your new receiver Adjust Lip SyncOperation AVR defaults to automatic tuning, meaning each press Using the TunerSource Selection If a video source is playing and there is no pictureTo store a channel in one of the 40 preset locations On screen when a video display is in usePress the OK Button to store the new preset RecordingStereo Jack Input Selecting a Surround ModeDigital Audio Signals Analog Audio SignalsAdvanced Functions Audio Processing and Surround SoundVirtual Surround Dolby Virtual Speaker Reference or Wide Indicates that no surround information is presentNight Mode Dolby Surround SettingsManual Setup Step Three Manual Setup MenuStep Two Measure Speaker Distances Adjust Crossover Frequencies Menu Sub ModeNumber of Speakers Step Four Setting Channel Output Levels Manually Adjust Speaker Distance MenuMake sure all speakers have been connected correctly Audio Effects Menu Off For normal listeningNature For programs shot outdoors, in a natural setting Video AdjustmentsSports For sporting events Movie For movies and many television broadcastsBrightness Adjustment How to Adjust the Custom Picture SettingsContrast Adjustment Color AdjustmentMultizone Operation Installing a Multizone SystemOperating the Multizone System OK Button to display the Zone Control menu. See FigureGeneral AVR Settings System SettingsMenu Appearance Menus and displays English, French, Spanish or GermanResetting the Remote Advanced Remote Control FunctionsProcessor Reset Punch-Through ProgrammingMemory Troubleshooting Guide Table A2 Source Setting Defaults Appendix Default settings, worksheets, remote product codesAppendix Table A1 Recommended Source Component ConnectionsTable A4 Delay Setting Defaults Table A3 Speaker/Channel Setting DefaultsTable A5 Source Settings Table A6 Audio Effects SettingsTable A7 Video Modes Settings Table A9 Remote Control Codes Table A10 System SettingsTable A8 Surround Modes Table A12 Surround Modes Table A11 Zone 2 SettingsExperience Tuner Mode Group Enveloping sound field is desiredMovie Back channel 0 or .1, EX Analog 2-channel Tuner Music adds a surround back channel Analog 2-channel TunerRate used on DVD-Video discs Surround Mode Description Incoming Bitstream or SignalPerformance DTS-ES MatrixChannel Stereo Appropriate when a subwoofer is usedChannels Tuner PCM 32kHz, 44.1kHz or 48kHz Channel Stereo Analog Bypass39 40 AVR DVD Table A13 Remote Control Function ListVCR Table A13Aiwa Table A14 Table A15 Remote Control Product Codes AUX-HDTVTable A16 Remote Control Product Codes AUX-VCR Table A17 Remote Control Product Codes AUX-CD Table A19 Remote Control Product Codes SAT Table A18 Remote Control Product Codes DVDTable A22 Remote Control Product Codes Table A21 Remote Control Product Codes CBLTable A23 Remote Control Product Codes Table A24 Remote Control Product Codes AUX- TiVOPage Page DTS AVR 254 Technical Specifications