Harman Kardon AVR 7550HD Service Manual Download

Page: 22 / 186

OPERATION

Now that you have installed your components and completed a
basic configuration, you are ready to begin enjoying your home
theater system.

TURNING ON THE AVR 7550HD

Flip down the Front-Panel Door and press the Main Power Switch
in. The Power Indicator on the front panel will turn amber, indicating
that the AVR is in Standby mode and is ready to be turned on. The
Main Power Switch is normally left on.

There are several ways to turn on the AVR 7550HD:

a) Press the Standby/On Switch on the front panel.

b) Using the remote, press the AVR Power On Button or any of the

Source Selectors.

To turn the receiver off, press either the Standby/On Switch on the
front panel or the AVR Power Off Button on the remote. Unless the
receiver will not be used for an extended period of time, leave the
Main Power Switch on. When the Main Power Switch is turned off,
any settings you have programmed 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 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

Adjust the volume 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. The
volume is displayed as a negative number of decibels (dB) below
the 0dB reference point.

0dB is the maximum recommended volume for the AVR 7550HD.
Although it’s 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. Use caution with regard to volume levels.

To change the volume level display from the default decibel scale
to a 0-to-90 scale, adjust the Volume Units setting in the System
Settings menu, as described on page 48.

Dolby Volume

The AVR 7550HD is one of the first products to implement Dolby
Volume processing, which can improve the audio performance of the
system by revealing subtle details even at normal home-listening
volumes.

One concern of the typical home theater listener is that volumes
can vary widely for different programs played by a source, e.g.,
television commercial advertisements are often much louder than
the main feature. Another is that details heard in the recording
studio at typically high reference volumes are lost at the lower
volumes used by many listeners.

The AVR 7550HD uses two Dolby Volume techniques to address
these issues. The Leveler module maintains a consistent listening
volume within a source, e.g., while watching commercial television

or while listening to different tracks on a USB drive. The Modeler
module endeavors to re-create the reference presentation that
was heard in the recording studio without losing portions of the
program at the typically lower volume levels often used in the
home. When the Modeler module is active, you may notice details
of the performance that were hidden when the program was played
on other equipment.

NOTE:

The Dolby Volume processor is not used to level

volume across sources. If one source sounds significantly
louder or softer than the others, compensate by adjusting the
Input level from source setting in the Info Settings menu for
the source.

To adjust the Dolby Volume setting, press the Audio Effects Button.
A screen similar to the one shown in Figure 24 will appear. Move
the cursor to highlight the Dolby Volume setting, and each press of
the OK Button will switch to one of the options in Table 3 below. The
settings do not refer to the volume level, which is adjusted normally
using the Volume Control, but rather to the amount of Dolby Volume
processing desired. See Figure 24.

Figure 24 – Adjust Dolby Volume

Table 3 – Dolby Volume Settings

NOTE:

Dolby Volume is compatible with sources recorded

at a sampling rate of 48kHz. High-resolution sources, such as
DTS 96/24, will be decoded at 48kHz. DTS 96/24 programs
will be played in DTS 5.1 mode. To hear DTS 96/24 materials
in high resolution, turn off Dolby Volume.

Dolby Volume Calibration Offset

Calibration Offset is a feature of Dolby Volume that allows you to
adjust the calibration of the AVR 7550HD to optimally match your
speakers and listening environment. The AVR 7550HD is calibrated
with the average speaker sensitivity in mind; however, different
speakers may have different sensitivities. Use Calibration Offset to
adjust the calibration of the AVR 7550HD according to the types of
speakers you have.

Setting

Effect

Off

No Dolby Volume processing

Low

Only Dolby Volume Modeler module is active

Medium

Both Modeler and Leveler modules are active;
Leveler module has a value of 3

Max

Both Modeler and Leveler modules are active;
Leveler module has a value of 9

AVR

7550HD