Arcam AVR280 manual Hum on an analogue input

When playing a Dolby Digital DVD, the AVR280 selects Dolby Pro Logic:

Check that:

<you have a digital connection from your DVD player.

<sometimes Dolby Digital DVD discs contain material at either the beginning or the end of the main movie that is not in full 5.1 format, but in two-channel or Pro Logic encoding.

Hum on an analogue input:

Check that:

<all cables are making a good connection. If necessary withdraw the cable from the connector and plug it fully in again. (Turn the power off before doing this.)

<the connections inside the source cable connector are not broken or badly soldered.

<if the hum originates only when one particular source component is connected, that an aerial, cable or dish connection to this source is ground isolated. Contact your installation contractor.

<try switching the ground lift switch on the back panel.

There is radio or television reception interference:

<check where the interference is coming from. Switch off each source component in turn, then any other equipment. Most electronic equipment does generate low levels of interference.

<try re-arranging cabling from the nuisance source away from other cabling

<ensure that the cabling used is high quality, specified for its purpose, and is properly screened.

<if the problem persists contact your installer.

The source switching changes randomly or freezes on one source:

Check that:

<there are no static or impulse interference problems caused by nearby power equipment switching, e.g., heating or air conditioning control. Switch the AVR280 off, wait ten seconds, then switch it on again to clear an operating problem. Contact your installer if the problem returns or persists.

Volume is always too loud when I turn the system on for the main zone or Zone 2:

Check:

<the ‘Max On Volume’ line of ‘General Settings’ or ‘Zone 2 Settings’ pages in the Set-up Menu. They will need adjusting to a lower level.

You can’t select a particular input in Zone 2:

Check that:

<you have not blocked that particular input using the ‘Access’ line of ‘Zone 2 Settings’ in the Set-up Menu.

When Zone 2 is put into stand-by, the main zone is also turned off:

Check that:

<the ‘Zone 2 Stand-by’ line of ‘Zone 2 Settings’ in the Set-up Menu is set to Local Only.

Unstable OSD on screen display:

The AVR280 defaults to the NTSC video standard for US units and PAL for European units.

If your display device is unable to display the default video standard, attach a source component the generates the video standard you wish to use; the AVR280 will switch automatically to the supplied video standard when the source is selected.

No Zone 2 audio when playing DTS film:

Most two-channel DVD players cannot output a stereo decoded version of the DTS signal – the analogue outputs are muted when playing back DTS films. If you want to watch a DVD in both the Main zone and Zone 2, please use the Dolby Digital sound track.

No centre image (vocal) in Zone 2 when using the multi-channel input:

Most DVD/SACD players are unable to provide a two-channel down-mix of source material at the same time as decoding a multi-channel audio stream. Therefore, only the front

left and right channels from the multi-channel mix will be available in Zone 2.

To overcome this, play the stereo mix from the DVD-audio disc instead.

Strange aspect ratio of video in Zone 2:

Most DVD players can only decode video to one aspect ratio at a time. For example, if you are using wide screen in the main zone, then wide screen information will also be fed to Zone 2.

To overcome this, either set the film to 4:3 for the main zone when you want to use Zone 2 as well, or change the Zone 2 display to a wide screen capable type.

Unable to adjust bass and treble controls:

Bass and treble is not available in ‘Direct’ mode. For Analogue Stereo and Digital Stereo modes, check that the ‘Auto Stereo Tone Bypass’ line of ‘Speaker Eq’ in the Set-up Menu is set to No.

Digital signal drops out when other electrical appliances turn on (heating, fridge, freezer, etc.):

If a poor quality or incorrect type of cable has been used for the digital inputs, they can pick up electrical noise. Change the cable to a 75Ω low loss coaxial type.

Check the connections have not oxidised. Clean the connectors with contact cleaner if they appear oxidised.

AVR280

32