Harman-Kardon AVR 8500 owner manual Troubleshooting Guide, Processor Reset

Troubleshooting Guide

SYMPTOM	CAUSE	SOLUTION
Unit does not function when Main	• No AC Power	• Make certain AC power cord is plugged into a live outlet
Power Switch 1is pushed		• Check to see if outlet is switch controlled
Display lights, but no sound	• Intermittent input connections	• Make certain that all input and speaker connections are secure
or picture	• Mute is on	• Press Mute button
Units turns on, but Front-Panel	• Display brightness is turned off	• Follow the instructions in the Display Brightness section
Display does not light		on page 39 so that the display is set to VFD FULL
No sound from any speaker; light	• Amplifier is in protection mode due to possible short	• Check speaker-wire connections for shorts at receiver
around Power switch 2is red		and speaker ends
	• Amplifier is in protection mode due to internal problems	• Contact your local Harman Kardon service depot
No sound from surround or	• Incorrect surround mode	• Select a mode other than Stereo
center speakers	• Input is mono	• There is no surround information from mono sources
		(except with Theater and Hall surround modes)
	• Incorrect configuration	• Check speaker mode configuration
	• Stereo or Mono program material	• Some surround modes may not create rear-channel
		information from nonencoded programs
Unit does not respond to	• Weak batteries in remote	• Change remote batteries
remote commands	• Wrong device selected	• Press the AVR Selector 5
	• Remote sensor ˜is obscured	• Make certain front-panel sensor is visible to remote or
		connect remote sensor
Intermittent buzzing in tuner	• Local interference	• Move unit or antenna away from computers, fluorescent
		lights, motors or other electrical appliances
Letters flash in the	• Digital audio feed paused	• Resume play for DVD
Channel IndicatorDisplay E		• Check that Digital Signal is fed to the Digital Input selected
and Digital Audio stops
HDCD encoded disc does	• Surround mode in use	• Select “Surround Off” mode
not trigger HDCD indicator	• Analog feed in use	• Connect and select digital connection to CD player
Error message "NO SURR BACK"	• You´ve pressed the Home THX button twice to activate	• THX 7.1 processing is not possible with a 5.1 speaker setup.
appears on front display.	the 7.1 THX processing mode with a 5.1 speaker
	configuration while a Dolby Digital source is played.

Error message "INCOMPATIBLE SOURCE" is scrolled over front display.

•You´ve pressed the Home THX button twice to activate the 7.1 THX processing mode with a 7.1 speaker configuration while a 2-channel Dolby Digital source (2/0) is played.

•THX 7.1 processing is incompatible with a digital signal without discrete left/right surround channels.

Message like "DIALNORM OFFSET +4dB" appears on front panel display.

•AVR activates the Auto-balance feature to compensate for any imbalance at the input of the decoder between left/right channels with Dolby Digital signals and to improve the dialog (center channel) intelligibilty.

•Is activated automatically after the AVR has decoded the imbalanced signal. No failure with the unit.

Processor Reset

In the rare case where the unit’s operation or the displays seem abnormal, the cause may involve the erratic operation of the system’s memory or microprocessor.

To correct this problem, first unplug the unit from the AC wall outlet and wait at least three min- utes. After the pause, reconnect the AC power cord and check the unit’s operation. If the system still malfunctions, a system reset may clear the problem.

To clear the AVR’s entire system memory includ- ing tuner presets, output level settings, delay times and speaker configuration data, first put the unit in Standby by pressing the System Power Control button 2. Next, press the Tone Mode 8and the RDS ^buttons simul- taneously.

The unit will turn on automatically and display the RESET message in the Main Information Display ˆ. Note that once you have cleared the memory in this manner, it is nec- essary to re-establish all system configuration settings and tuner presets.

NOTE: Resetting the processor will erase any configuration settings you have made for speak- ers, output levels, surround modes, digital input assignments as well as the tuner presets. After a reset the unit will be returned to the factory presets, and all settings for these items must be re-entered.

If the system is still operating incorrectly, there may have been an electronic discharge or severe AC line interference that has corrupted the memory or microprocessor.

If these steps do not solve the problem, consult an authorized Harman Kardon service depot.

52TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE