OPERATION
Now that you have installed your system components and completed a basic configuration of your receiver, you are ready to begin enjoying your home theater system.
Turning On the AVR 354
Gently press the Master Power Switch until the word OFF is no longer visible. The Power Indicator above the two power switches should light up in amber. This indicates that the AVR is in Standby mode and is ready to be turned on. Normally, you may leave the Master Power Switch in the ON position, even when the receiver is not being used. See Figure 45.
There are several ways in which the AVR 354 may be turned on:
a)Press the Standby/On Switch on the front panel. See Figure 45.
b)Using the remote, press the AVR Power On Button or any of the Source Selectors. See Figure 46.
To turn the receiver off, press either the Standby/On Switch on the front panel, or press the AVR Power Off Button on the remote. Unless the receiver will not be used for an extended period of time (for example, when are on vacation), it is not necessary to turn off the Master Power Switch. When the Master Power Switch is turned off, any settings you have programmed, including system configuration and preset radio stations, will be preserved for up to four weeks.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If the PROTECT message ever appears in the Message Display, turn off the AVR and unplug it. Check all speaker wires for a possible short. If none is found, bring the unit to an authorized Harman Kardon service center for inspection and repair before using it again.
Volume Control
The volume may be adjusted either by turning the knob on the front panel (clockwise to increase volume or counterclockwise to decrease volume), or by pressing the Volume Control on the remote. See Figure 56. The volume is displayed as a negative number of decibels (dB) below the 0dB reference point.
Unlike the volume controls on some other products, 0dB is the maximum volume for the AVR 354. Although it’s physically possible to turn the volume to a higher level, doing so may damage your hearing and your speakers. For certain more dynamic audio materials, even 0dB may be too high, allowing for damage to equipment. We urge caution with regard to volume levels.
You may change the volume level display from the default decibel scale to a
Figure 56 – Volume Controls
Mute Function
To temporarily mute all speakers and the headphones, press the Mute Button on the remote. See Figure 56. Any recording in progress will not be affected. The MUTE message will appear in the display as a reminder. To restore normal audio, either press the Mute Button again, or adjust the volume. Turning off the AVR will also end muting.
Sleep Timer
You may program the AVR to play for up to 90 minutes and then turn off automatically using the sleep timer.
Press the Sleep Settings Button on the remote, and the time until
Figure 57 – Sleep Settings Button
When the sleep timer has been set, the front-panel display will automati- cally dim to half-brightness. If you press any button on the remote or front panel, the display will return to full-brightness. The display will dim again several seconds after your last command.
If you press the Sleep Button after the timer has been set, the remaining time until
Audio Effects
Depending on your preferences or the specific characteristics of your listening room, you may wish to adjust some of the audio settings, such as tone controls, to improve performance. Access these settings from the Audio Effects submenu, as described in the Advanced Functions section.
It is not necessary to adjust the Audio Effects settings to enjoy your new AVR. We recommend leaving the settings at their default values until you are more familiar with your system.
Video Modes
The settings in the Video Modes menu are used to
Headphones
Plug the 1/4" plug on a pair of headphones into the headphone jack on the front of the receiver for private listening. See Figure 58.
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