Harman-Kardon AVR 255 Installation and Connections, Speaker Selection, Speaker Placement, English

Installation and Connections

Speaker Selection

No matter which type or brand of speakers is used, the same model or brand of speaker should be used for the front-left, center and front-right speakers. This creates a seamless front soundstage and eliminates the possibility of distracting sonic disturbances that occur when a sound moves across mismatched front-channel speakers.

Speaker Placement

The placement of speakers in a multichannel home-theater system can have a noticeable impact on the quality of sound reproduced.

Depending on the type of center-channel speaker in use and your viewing device, place the center speaker either directly above or below your TV,or in the center behind a perforated front-projection screen.

Once the center-channel speaker is installed, position the left-front and right-front speakers so that they are as far away from one another as the center-channel speaker is from the preferred listening position. Ideally, the front-channel speakers should be placed so that their tweeters are no more than 60 cm above or below the tweeter in the center-channel speaker.

They should also be at least 0.5 meter from your TV set unless the speakers are magnetically shielded to avoid colourings on the TV screen. Note that most speakers are not shielded, even with complete surround sets only the Center speaker may be.

Depending on the specifics of your room acoustics and the type of speakers in use, you may find that imaging is improved by moving the front-left and front-right speakers slightly forward of the center-channel speaker.If possible, adjust all front loudspeakers so that they are aimed at ear height when you are seated in the listening position.

When the AVR is used in 5.1-channel operation, the preferred location for surround speakers is on the side walls of the room, at or slightly behind the listening position. In a 6.1-channel system, a back surround speaker is required, ide- ally placed at the center of the room's rear wall, pointing directly towards the front center chan- nel speaker.The center of the speaker should face you (see below).

In a 7.1-channel system, both side surround and back surround speakers are required. The center of the speaker should face you (see below).

Rear surround speakers are required when a full 7.1-channel system is installed, and they may also be used in 5.1 channel mode as an alterna- tive mounting position when it is not practical to place the main surround speakers at the sides of the room. Speakers may be placed on a rear wall, behind the listening position. As with the side speakers, the center of the rear surrounds should face you. The speakers should be no more than 2 meters behind the rear of the seating area.

It is appropriate to configure the AVR 255/ AVR 355 for either 5.1- or 7.1-channel opera- tion, but not for 6.1 channels. When 6.1-channel program material or a 6.1-channel processing mode is in use, material for the surround back channel will be outputted simultaneously through both the Surround Back Left and Right Speaker Outputs ￿. Connecting only one loudspeaker to these speaker terminals will not only deprive you of the benefits of 7.1-chan- nel surround modes, such as Logic 7, but will also interfere with the functioning of EzSet/EQ speaker setup and calibration, as described on page 22. It may also put undesirable strain on the surround back amplifier circuits and power supplies.

Center Front Speaker

No more than 24"

Front Left	Front Right
Speaker	Speaker

A)Front Channel Speaker Installation with Direct-View TV Sets or Rear-Screen Projectors.

5.1-Channel System

6.1-Channel System

ENGLISH

Using these guidelines, you’ll find that it takes some experimentation to find the correct location for the front speakers in your particular installation. Don’t be afraid to move things around until the system sounds correct. Optimize your speakers so that audio transitions across the front of the room sound smooth.

7.1-Channel System

At least 15 cm from celling

At least 60 cm

INSTALLATION AND CONNECTIONS 19