Harman-Kardon AVR 154 Introduction to Home Theater, Surround Modes, Typical Home Theater System

INTRODUCTION TO HOME THEATER

The AVR 154 may be the first multichannel surround sound receiver you have owned. Although it has more connections and features than

2-channel receivers, many of the principles are similar and the new con- cepts are easy to understand. This introductory section will help you to familiarize yourself with the basic concepts, which will make setup

and operation smoother.

If you are already familiar with home theater, you may skip this section and proceed to the Connections section on page 16.

Typical Home Theater System

A home theater typically includes your audio/video receiver, which controls the system; a DVD player; a source component for television broadcasts, which may be a cable box, a satellite dish receiver, an HDTV tuner or simply an antenna connected to the TV; a video display (televi- sion); and loudspeakers.

All of these components are connected by various types of cables for audio and video signals.

Multichannel Audio

The main benefit of a home theater system is that several loudspeakers are used in various locations around the room to produce “surround sound.” Surround sound immerses you in the musical or film presentation for increased realism.

The AVR 154 may have up to five speakers connected directly to it (plus a subwoofer). Each main speaker is powered by its own amplifier channel inside the receiver. When more than two speakers are used, it is called a multichannel system.

•Front Left and Right – The main speakers are used the same way as in a 2-channel system. However, you may notice that in many sur- round modes, these speakers are used more for ambient sound while the main action, especially dialogue, is moved to the center speaker.

•Center – The center speaker is usually placed above or below the video screen, and is used mostly for dialogue in movies and television programs. This placement allows the dialogue to originate near the actors’ faces, for a more natural sound.

•Surround Left and Right – The surround speakers are used to improve directionality of ambient sounds. In addition, by using more loudspeakers in the system, more dynamic soundtracks may be played without risk of overloading any one speaker.

Many people expect the surround speakers to play as loud as the front speakers. Although all of the speakers in the system will be calibrated to sound equally loud at the listening position, most artists use the surround speakers for ambient effects only, and they program their materials to steer very little sound to these speakers.

•Subwoofer – A subwoofer is a special-purpose speaker designed to play only the lowest frequencies (the bass). It may be used to augment smaller, limited-range satellite speakers used for the other channels. In addition, many digital-format programs, such as movies recorded in Dolby Digital, contain a special low-frequency effects

(LFE) channel which is directed only to the subwoofer. The LFE channel packs the punch of an explosion or the power of a rumbling train or airplane, adding realism and excitement to your home theater. Many people use two subwoofers, placed on the left and right sides of the room, for additional power and even distribution of the sound.

Surround Modes

There are different theories as to the best way to present surround sound and to distribute soundtrack information among the various speakers. A variety of algorithms have been developed in an effort to accurately reproduce the way we hear sounds in the real world. The result is a rich variety of surround mode options. Some modes are selected automatically, depending on the signal being received from the source. In many cases, you may select a surround mode manually.

Several companies have taken surround sound in slightly differing directions. It is helpful to group the numerous surround modes either by their brand name, or by using a generic name:

•Dolby Laboratories, Inc., Modes – Dolby Digital, Dolby Pro Logic II, Dolby Virtual Speaker, Dolby Headphone

•DTS Modes – DTS, DTS Neo:6, DTS 96/24

•Harman International (Harman Kardon’s Parent Company) – Logic 7

•DSP Modes – Generic modes that include Hall 1, Hall 2 and Theater

•Stereo Modes – Generic modes that expand upon conventional 2-channel stereo, including DSP Surround Off, Analog Bypass Surround Off and 5-Channel Stereo

Table 2 on pages 42 – 43 contains detailed explanations of the differences between the various mode groups, and the mode options available within each group. Digital modes, such as Dolby Digital and DTS, are only available with specially encoded programs, such as DVDs and digital television. Other modes may be used with various digital and analog signals to create a different surround presentation, or to use a different number of speakers. Surround mode selection depends upon the number of speakers in your system, the materials you are watching or listening to, and your personal tastes. Feel free to experiment.

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