Harman-Kardon AVR 254 How to Adjust the Custom Picture Settings, Brightness Adjustment

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ADVANCED FUNCTIONS

blocks, change the MPEG Noise Reduction setting from its default of Off to the Low, Medium or High setting to improve the picture.

Cross Color Suppressor: Turn this setting on to remove cross color artifacts, which can occur when high-frequency luminance (brightness) signals are misinterpreted as chroma (color) signals, which can cause unwanted flickering, flashing colors or rainbow patterns.

Film Mode Detect: While normally left off, turn this setting on to com- pensate for authoring errors in the process of converting film programs to video.

How to Adjust the Custom Picture Settings

Set the Video Mode to Custom to display the picture settings as shown in Figure 68.

Figure 68 – Video Modes Custom Processing

With a color bar test pattern screen from a test disc or other source showing on your video display, the following adjustments may be made:

The proper color intensity setting on your TV.

Proper color adjustments using the color bars, which should be (left to right) black, white, yellow, cyan (turquoise), green, magenta, red, blue, black.

The proper color transition, seen as sharp separation of the bars.

The performance of the color circuits in your TV (with “Video” signals); bar edges should show no vertical crawling dots.

With the gray scale and the black/white fields below the color bars, the brightness and contrast of your screen can be adjusted.

Brightness Adjustment

1.Turn down the color control on your TV until the color bars appear in black and white.

2.Adjust the contrast to the lowest level where you still can see all gray scale bars separately and clearly.

3.Adjust the brightness so that the bars in the gray scale are all visible. The bar farthest to the left has to be as black as possible rather than gray but the next gradation must clearly be distinct from it. All the bars in the gray scale should be gradually and evenly changing from black to white, left to right.

Contrast Adjustment

1.Adjust the contrast on your TV until you see a bright white bar in the lower right corner of the screen and a deep-dark-black bar to the left. The optimal contrast setting will depend on your preference and the surrounding light in the TV room.

2.If the brightness of the white bar no longer increases when the con- trast is turned up or the borders of white letters bloom (overlight) into the black areas (drastically decreasing the sharpness of the type), the contrast has been turned up too much. Reduce the contrast until these effects disappear and the video still looks realistic.

3.If you are watching TV with ambient daylight, adjust the contrast so that a normal video picture has about the same look as the surround- ings in your room. That way the eye is relaxed when watching the TV picture. This contrast setting may be reduced when the surrounding light is dimmed, thereby usually improving the sharpness of a video significantly.

4.The gray scale in the middle line needs to have the same clear difference between each bar as before the contrast adjustment. If not, go back to “Brightness Adjustment” and repeat Step 3 and then “Contrast Adjustment,” making only minor adjustments each time for optimization.

Color Adjustment

1.When the brightness and contrast are set optimally, adjust the color control to the level of your preference. Set the level so that the colors look strong but still natural, not overdone. If the color level is too high, depending on the TV, some of the bars will seem wider or the color intensity will not increase when the control is turned up. Then the color control must be reduced again. Ultimately, you also should test the color intensity with a video – e.g., pictures of natural faces, flowers, fruit and vegetables, and other common natural articles for an optimal setting of the color intensity.

2.Refer to the large white bar below the gray scale to tweak the warmth of the picture. Every viewer has a preference as to how the glow of the picture should be. Some prefer a colder picture, some a warmer glow. The Tint function on your TV and the white bar can be used to control this. Adjust the Tint to the level where you feel the white color has the tone you prefer.

Sharpness Adjustment

Contrary to intuition, the picture will appear sharper and clearer with the sharpness backed off from the maximum setting. Reduce the sharpness setting on your television, and the setting on the AVR 254 if necessary, to minimize the appearance of any white lines between the bars in the gray scale portion of the test screen.

Convergence and Edge Focus

The crosshatch pattern that surrounds the test screen may be used to evaluate edge focus and convergence in front- or rear-projection video displays. However, the controls used to adjust these parameters are often not user-accessible. In any event, these adjustments are extremely

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Contents AVR Safety Information Important Safety InstructionsImportant Safety Information Staple Invoice Here Table of Contents Harman Kardon AVR 254 7.1-Channel Audio/Video Receiver IntroductionThank you for choosing a Harman Kardon product Audio SectionAudio/Video Inputs Supplied AccessoriesAudio Inputs Digital Audio InputsVolume Knob Turn this knob to raise or lower the volume FRONT-PANEL ControlsAVR Info Message Display Speaker/Channel Remote FRONT-PANEL Connections REAR-PANEL Connections Is not available in Alaska and HawaiiTo that source Hdmi Remote Control Functions Page Alphanumeric Keys Use these buttons to enter numbers for Typical Home Theater System Introduction to Home TheaterSurround Modes Multichannel AudioTypes of Connections Connecting Source Devices to the AVRConnections Speaker ConnectionsAudio Connections Digital AudioVideo Connections FM antenna uses a 75-ohm F-connector. See FigureAntennas Digital VideoRS-232 Serial Port Front Speaker Placement Speaker PlacementPlacement of Surround Speakers in a 5.1-Channel System Placement of Surround Speakers in a 7.1-Channel SystemSubwoofer Placement Step Two Connect the Subwoofer InstallationStep One Connect the Speakers Step Three Connect the AntennasVideo Connections for non-HDMI sources Hdmi ConnectionsAudio Connections for non-HDMI sources Connect an Audio/Video Recorder PVD, DVR or TiVo Connect a CD Player or Any Audio-Only Device Connect a Tape Deck or Any Audio-Only RecorderStep Five Connect the Video Display Connect a Portable Audio PlayerStep Eight Program Sources Into the Remote Step Six Plug in AC PowerStep Seven Insert Batteries in Remote Turn on your source device Enter a code from , aboveTwo steps are required the first time you turn on the AVR Step Eleven Turn On the AVRSelect one or both AVR Power On and Source Selectors Configure the AVR 254 Using EzSet/EQ Technology Initial SetupUsing the On-Screen Menu System Selecting Cancel returns to the Speaker Setup menu Speaker Setup Menu ScreenSet Up Sources Audio and Video Input SelectionChannel Direct Inputs HDMI-equipped multichannel disc playerAdjust Lip Sync You are now ready to begin enjoying your new receiverOperation Source Selection Using the TunerAVR defaults to automatic tuning, meaning each press If a video source is playing and there is no picturePress the OK Button to store the new preset On screen when a video display is in useTo store a channel in one of the 40 preset locations RecordingSelecting a Surround Mode Stereo Jack InputAdvanced Functions Analog Audio SignalsDigital Audio Signals Audio Processing and Surround SoundIndicates that no surround information is present Virtual Surround Dolby Virtual Speaker Reference or WideDolby Surround Settings Night ModeStep Two Measure Speaker Distances Manual SetupStep Three Manual Setup Menu Number of Speakers Adjust Crossover Frequencies MenuSub Mode Make sure all speakers have been connected correctly Step Four Setting Channel Output Levels ManuallyAdjust Speaker Distance Menu Off For normal listening Audio Effects MenuSports For sporting events Video AdjustmentsNature For programs shot outdoors, in a natural setting Movie For movies and many television broadcastsContrast Adjustment How to Adjust the Custom Picture SettingsBrightness Adjustment Color AdjustmentOperating the Multizone System Installing a Multizone SystemMultizone Operation OK Button to display the Zone Control menu. See FigureMenu Appearance System SettingsGeneral AVR Settings Menus and displays English, French, Spanish or GermanProcessor Reset Advanced Remote Control FunctionsResetting the Remote Punch-Through ProgrammingMemory Troubleshooting Guide Appendix Appendix Default settings, worksheets, remote product codesTable A2 Source Setting Defaults Table A1 Recommended Source Component ConnectionsTable A3 Speaker/Channel Setting Defaults Table A4 Delay Setting DefaultsTable A7 Video Modes Settings Table A5 Source SettingsTable A6 Audio Effects Settings Table A8 Surround Modes Table A9 Remote Control CodesTable A10 System Settings Table A11 Zone 2 Settings Table A12 Surround ModesMovie Back channel 0 or .1, EX Analog 2-channel Tuner Mode Group Enveloping sound field is desiredExperience Tuner Music adds a surround back channel Analog 2-channel TunerPerformance Surround Mode Description Incoming Bitstream or SignalRate used on DVD-Video discs DTS-ES MatrixChannels Tuner PCM 32kHz, 44.1kHz or 48kHz Channel Stereo Appropriate when a subwoofer is usedChannel Stereo Analog Bypass39 40 Table A13 Remote Control Function List AVR DVDTable A13 VCRAiwa Table A15 Remote Control Product Codes AUX-HDTV Table A14Table A16 Remote Control Product Codes AUX-VCR Table A17 Remote Control Product Codes AUX-CD Table A18 Remote Control Product Codes DVD Table A19 Remote Control Product Codes SATTable A23 Remote Control Product Codes Table A21 Remote Control Product Codes CBLTable A22 Remote Control Product Codes Table A24 Remote Control Product Codes AUX- TiVOPage Page AVR 254 Technical Specifications DTS