Introduction

Thank you for choosing Harman Kardon! With the purchase of a Harman Kardon

AVR 240 you are about to begin many years of listening enjoyment. Designed to provide all the excitement and detail of movie soundtracks and every nuance of musical selections, the AVR 240 is truly a multichannel receiver for the new millennium. In addition to the traditional 5.1 digital decoding modes such as Dolby Digital and DTS, it offers the latest advancements in surround technology such as Dolby Pro Logic II and IIx, the full suite of DTS-ES 6.1 modes, DTS Neo:6 and the latest 7.1 channel versions of Harman's own Logic 7 technology.

The AVR 240 has been engineered so that it is easy to take advantage of all the power of its digital technology. On-screen menus, fully color coded connection jacks and terminals make installation fast and simple. However, to obtain the maximum enjoyment from your new receiv- er, we urge you to read this manual. A few min- utes spent learning the functions of the various controls will enable you to take advantage of all the power the AVR 240 is able to deliver.

If you have any questions about this product, its installation or its operation, please contact your retailer or custom installer. They are your best local sources of information.

Description and Features

The AVR 240 is among the most versatile and multifeatured A/V receivers available, incorporat- ing a wide range of listening options. In addition to Dolby Digital and DTS decoding for digital sources, a broad choice of surround modes for Matrix surround-encoded or Stereo recordings are available for use with sources such as CD, VCR, TV broadcasts and the AVR’s own FM/AM tuner. Along with Dolby Digital EX, Dolby Pro Logic II and IIx, DTS Neo:6, DTS 96/24, Dolby 3 Stereo, 5 Channel or 7 Channel Stereo and Hall and Theater modes, the AVR offers Harman International’s exclusive Logic 7 process in both

5.1and 7.1 versions to create a wider, more enveloping field environment and more defined fly-overs and pans. Although the AVR 240’s primary use will be in multichannel systems, advanced technology is at work even when only two speakers are used, with Harman Inter- national’s proprietary VMAx® creating envelop- ing sound fields from front left and right speak- ers only.

Dolby Virtual Speaker is available to create enveloping sound fields from front left and right speakers, and the latest Dolby Headphone cir- cuitry creates an amazing sense of openness with headphones.

In addition to providing a wide range of listening options, the AVR is easy to configure so that it provides the best results with your speakers and specific listening-room environment.

On-screen menus combine with the EzSet+ system to automate speaker configuration and overall setup, resulting in a perfectly balanced sound field presentation that accurately reproduces the artist’s intent.

A Stereo-Direct mode bypasses the digital processor to preserve all of the subtleties of older analog, two-channel materials, while bass management, available in the surround and Stereo-Digital modes,improves your ability to tailor the sound to suit your room acoustics or taste.

For the ultimate in flexibility, the AVR features connections for five video devices, all with both composite and S-Video inputs. Two additional audio inputs are available, and a total of six digital inputs and two outputs make the

AVR 240 capable of handling all the latest digital audio sources.

For compatibility with the latest HDTV video sources and progressive scan DVD players, the AVR also features wide-bandwidth, low-crosstalk component video switching.

Coax and optical digital outputs are available for direct connection to digital recorders. A video recording output and a color-coded eight-chan- nel input make the AVR 240 virtually future- proof, with everything needed to accommodate tomorrow’s new formats right on board.

Until now, Harman Kardon AVRs have been able to accommodate almost any source device equipped with line-level analog, optical digital or coaxial digital outputs, including most digital media players. With one simple connection between the AVR 240 and the optional

Harman Kardon , you are able to listen to materials stored on your compatible Apple® iPod®**. Your AVR’s system remote control has been preprogrammed with control codes that enable you to select tracks for playback and navigate many of your iPod’s functions, even from across the room. The Bridge™ will even let you charge your iPod.

The AVR 240’s powerful amplifier uses traditional Harman Kardon high-current design technologies to meet the wide dynamic range of any program selection.

Harman Kardon invented the high-fidelity receiver more then fifty years ago. With state-of- the-art circuitry and time-honored circuit designs, the AVR 240 is the perfect combination of the latest in digital audio technology, a quiet yet powerful analog amplifier in an elegant, easy-to-use package.

Dolby* Digital, Dolby Digital EX and Dolby Pro Logic* II and IIx Decoding, and the full suite of DTS® modes, including DTS-ES®6.1 Discrete & Matrix and Neo:6®

Seven channels of high-current amplification

Harman Kardon’s exclusive Logic 7® processing, available for the first time with both 7.1 and 5.1 processing in

a variety of modes and two modes of VMAx®

system with included micro- phone automatically configures speak- ers and sets delay times and output levels for optimal sound presentation

Stereo-Direct Mode for Two-Channel Sources Bypasses DSP Processing to Preserve the Integrity of Analog Materials

Stereo-Digital Mode for Programmable Bass Management of Low Frequencies Between Main Speakers and Subwoofer

High-bandwidth, HDTV-compatible component video switching

Front panel analog A/V inputs

Front panel digital inputs for easy con- nection to portable digital devices and the latest video game consoles

Connects to Harman Kardon’s (optional) for charging, playback and control of a compatible Apple® iPod® device

Input titling for all input sources (except tuner)

Multiple digital inputs and outputs

On-screen menu and display system with choice of blue or black back- ground screen

6-Channel/8-Channel Direct Inputfor Use with Future Audio Formats

Extensive bass management options, including four separate crossover groupings

Main Remote with Internal Codes

INTRODUCTION 3

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Harman-Kardon AVR 240 owner manual Introduction, Description and Features, Variety of modes and two modes of VMAx