After unpacking the unit, and placing it on a solid surface capable of supporting its weight, you will need to make the connections to your audio and video equipment.
Audio Equipment Connections
There are two formats for audio connections: digital and analog. Digital audio signals are of higher quality, and are required for listening to sources encoded with digital surround modes, such as Dolby Digital and DTS. There are three types of digital audio connections: HDMI, coaxial and optical. HD-DVD(R) or Blu-Ray(R) players with Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby True HD, DTS-HD Master Audio and DTS-HD require an HDMI con- nection for the transfer of digital audio. Any one type of digital audio connection may be used for other source devices, but never more than one for the same source. However,it’s okay to make both analog and digital audio connections at the same time to the same source.
Since the AVR is capable of processing the audio and video portions of an HDMI signal, if your video display device has an HDMI input, you may make a single HDMI connection from your source device (such as a DVD player) to the AVR. In that case no separate digital audio connection is required.
We recommend that you use high-quality inter- connect cables when making connections to source equipment and recorders to preserve the integrity of the signals.
When making connections to audio source equipment or speakers it is always a good practice to unplug the unit from the AC wall outlet. This prevents any possibility of accidentally sending audio or transient signals to the speakers that may damage them.
HDMI Connections
HDMI™ is the abbreviation for High-Definition Multimedia Interface, which is quickly becoming the standard connection point between advanced video/audio source products and displays, particularly for high-definition video signals. HDMI is a digital connection, eliminating the need to convert signals back and forth from digital to analog to deliver a higher quality signal when used with digital sources. The signals carried on HDMI may, but do not always, include audio, offering the possibility of a complete one-wire connection from a source to the AVR. However,it is important to note that there are a number of different versions of the HDMI standard in use. Before connecting any HDMI products to your AVR, it is helpful to find out in advance their level of HDMI connectivity.
Some source or display components in your system may use DVI (Digital Video Interface) for digital video connections. DVI carries the same digital video signals as HDMI but uses a larger connector and does not transport audio or control signals. In most cases, you may mix and match DVI and HDMI digital video connections by using optional connector adapters. Note, however,that some DVI-equipped video displays are not compatible with the HDCP copy protec- tion coding that is increasingly carried with signals connected via HDMI. If you have an HDMI source and a DVI-equipped display, you may occasionally be unable to view a program if the display does not include HDCP. This is not the fault of the AVR or your source; it simply indicates that the video display is not compatible.
HDMI Input Connections
The different “Version” levels of HDMI define which type of audio signals it is compatible with. Based on the lowest level of HDMI among your sources, the connections to the AVR should be made as follows:
•HDMI 1.0 sources carry digital video and multichannel or 2-channel PCM audio signals only. Connect the HDMI output of a 1.0 source to either of the HDMI Inputs % on the AVR. If the product is a DVD-Audio player or other source that has multichannel analog audio outputs, connect them to the 8-Channel Direct Inputs . With an HDMI 1.0 source, particularly a DVD player,make certain
that the menus in the source device are set to “Bitstream Out” or “Original” so that 5.1 digital audio is available. If you find that 5.1 Dolby Digital or DTS audio is not available on the HDMI connection, it will be necessary to make an additional connection between the source and the AVR 255/AVR 355 to either the Coaxial Ó or Optical * Digital Inputs.
•HDMI 1.1 sources carry the multichannel digital audio output from DVD-Audio players in addition to the digital video. If you have an HDMI 1.1-equipped product, the only connec- tion needed for listening in the main room is from the HDMI output of the source to either of the HDMI Inputs % on the AVR. If the player has SACD, HD-DVD or Blu-ray capability, you will need to connect the analog outputs of the source to the 8-Channel Direct Inputs .
•HDMI 1.2 (and higher) sources should be connected as shown above for HDMI 1.1, except that a separate analog connection is not needed for SACD players.
HDMI 1.3 sources should be connected as shown above for HDMI 1.1, except that a sep- arate analog connection is not needed for SACD, HD-DVD or Blu-ray players.
In addition, the AVR will convert analog video signals to the HDMI format, upscaling to high- definition 720p or 1080p resolution. You may view the AVR’s own on-screen display menus using the HDMI output.
HDMI cable runs are usually limited to about
3 meters. The AVR incorporates a repeater,which allows an additional 3 meters of cable between the source device and the video display.
If your video display or source device is not HDMI-capable, you will need to use either a coaxial or optical digital audio connection and one of the analog video connections (composite, S- or component video), if available, as described in the next paragraphs.
•It is not possible to feed an analog composite or S-video signal to a recorder or the AVR’s multizone system when an HDMI input is in use. If an HDMI-equipped source also has ana- log audio and video outputs, connect them to the Video 2 or Video 3 Video " and Audio on the AVR.
•In some instances, HDMI-equipped sources will not permit more than one video output at a time, and thus you cannot use the same source in the main listening room and with the recorder or remote zone at the same time. This is not a fault of the AVR, but rather a function of the content protection systems that are part of the HDMI standard.
HDMI Output Connections
Connect the HDMI Output # to an HDMI input on your video display. Thanks to the AVR 255/AVR 355’s video processing system, all video input signals are converted to an HDMI output, so only one connection is required between the AVR and your display.
