Harman-Kardon HS 500 Audio Connections, Digital Audio, Video Connections, Analog Audio

CONNECTIONS

Audio 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 two types of digital audio connections commonly used: coaxial and optical. Either type of digital audio connection may be used for each source device, but never both simultaneously for the same source. However, it’s okay to make both analog and digital audio con- nections at the same time to the same source.

The HS 500 allows you to connect different devices to each of the TV and Auxiliary analog audio inputs, and the coaxial or optical digital audio inputs.

Digital Audio

Coaxial digital audio jacks are usually color-coded in orange. Although they look similar to analog jacks, they should not be confused, and you should not connect coaxial digital audio outputs to analog inputs or vice versa. See Figure 4.

Coaxial digitalCoaxial

audio cable Figure 4 – Coaxial Digital Audio

Optical digital audio connectors are normally covered by a shutter to protect them from dust. The shutter opens as the cable is inserted. See Figure 5.

Video Connections

Although some sources produce an audio signal only (e.g., tape deck), many sources output both audio and video signals (e.g., cable television box, HDTV tuner, satellite box, VCR, DVR). You will need to connect one of the HS 500’s video outputs to your video display.

Digital Video Connections

The HS 500 is equipped with an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) output. HDMI is capable of carrying digital audio and video information using a single cable, delivering high-quality picture and sound.

There are different versions of HDMI, depending on the capability of the source device and the type of signal it is capable of transmitting via the HDMI connection.

The physical HDMI connection is simple. The connector is shaped for easy plug-in (see Figure 7). If your video display has a DVI input, you may use an HDMI-to-DVI adapter (not included) to connect it to the HDMI Output.

Figure 7 – HDMI Connection

Analog Video Connections

There are three types of analog video connections: composite video, S-video and component video.

Optical digital audio cable

Optical

Composite video is the basic connection most commonly available. The jack is usually color-coded yellow, and looks like an analog audio

Figure 5 – Optical Digital Audio

Due to the nature of digital signals as binary bits, they aren’t subject to signal degradation the way analog signals are. Therefore, the quality of coaxial and optical digital audio connections should be the same, although it is important to limit the length of the cable. Whichever type of connection you choose, Harman Kardon recommends that you always select the highest quality cables available within your budget.

Analog Audio

Analog connections require two cables, one for the left channel (white) and one for the right channel (red). See Figure 6. These two cables are often attached to each other for most of their length. Most sources that have digital audio jacks also have analog audio jacks, although some older types of sources, such as tape decks, have only analog jacks. For sources that are capable of both digital and analog audio, you may wish to make both connections. If you wish to record materials from DVDs or other copy-protected sources, you may only be able to do so using analog connections. Remember to comply with all laws regarding copy- right if you choose to make a copy for your own personal use.

Analog audio	L
cable (RCA)	R

Figure 6 – Analog Audio

jack, although it is important never to confuse the two. Do not plug a composite video cable into an analog or coaxial digital audio jack, or vice versa. Both the chrominance (color) and luminance (intensity) components of the video signal are transmitted using a single cable. See Figure 8.

Composite video cable

Figure 8 – Composite Video

S-video, or “separate” video, transmits the chrominance and luminance components using separate wires contained within a single cable. The plug on an S-video cable contains four metal pins, plus a plastic guide pin. Be careful to line up the plug correctly when you insert it into the jack on the receiver, source or video display. See Figure 9.

S-video cable

Figure 9 – S-Video

Component video separates the video signal into three components – one luminance (“Y”) and two sub-sampled color signals (“Pb” and “Pr”) – that are transmitted using three separate cables. The “Y” cable is color-coded green, the “Pb” cable is colored blue and the “Pr” cable

is colored red. See Figure 10.

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