Harman JBL CINEMA SB400, Service Manual

BOOSTING THE BASS

Press the remote’s Bass Boost button to enhance low-frequency 
performance, resulting in bass with more impact, which you may prefer 
while watching movies or listening to music. The OSD will display “Bass 
On” as the sound mode. There is no harm in experimenting with this 
control. Pressing the Bass Boost button again will return the soundbar’s 
normal low-frequency performance.

Bass Boost 
Button

SUBWOOFER LEVEL CONTROL

Use the subwoofer’s Level knob to balance the bass with the rest of the 
sound. Play music or movies that you are familiar with, and adjust the 
subwoofer’s Level knob so the bass sounds balanced on both music and 

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that doesn’t over-emphasize the bass or make it sound weak.

Once you find a setting for the subwoofer’s Level knob that balances 
the bass with the rest of the sound, you shouldn’t have to change it.

SUBWOOFER CROSSOVER CONTROL

CROSSOVER

The subwoofer’s Crossover control adjusts the subwoofer’s cutoff 
between 40Hz and 200Hz. The higher you set the Crossover control, 
the higher in frequency the subwoofer will operate and the more its 
bass will “overlap” that of the soundbar. This adjustment helps achieve 
a smooth transition of bass frequencies between the subwoofer and the 
soundbar for a variety of different rooms and subwoofer locations.

To set the Crossover control, listen for the smoothness of the bass. If 
the bass seems too strong at certain frequencies, try a lower Crossover 
control setting. If the bass seems too weak at certain frequencies, try a 
higher Crossover control setting.

SUBWOOFER PHASE SWITCH

PHASE

This switch determines whether the subwoofer’s piston-like action 
moves in and out in phase with the speakers in the soundbar. If the 
subwoofer were to play out of phase with the soundbar speakers, some 
of the sound waves produced by the soundbar and subwoofer could 
be canceled out at some frequencies, reducing bass performance 
and sonic impact. This phenomenon depends in part on the relative 
placement of the soundbar and subwoofer in the room.

Although there is no absolutely correct setting for the Phase switch, in 
most cases it should be left in the “0°” position. When the subwoofer is 
properly in phase with the soundbar speakers, the sound will be clearer 
and have more impact. It will make percussive sounds like drums, 
piano and plucked strings sound more lifelike. The best way to set the 
Phase switch is to listen to music that you are familiar with and adjust 
the switch so that drums and other percussive sounds have maximum 
impact.

LEARNING YOUR TV REMOTE’S VOLUME AND

MUTE COMMANDS

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volume up, volume down and mute commands. This will let you control 
both the soundbar and your TV with a single remote. Before you begin 
to program the soundbar, have your TV remote in hand.

1. Press and hold the soundbar’s Surround button until the button 

begins flashing amber.

Press and Hold Until

Button Flashes Amber

2. Hold your TV’s remote approximately 12” (30cm) from the indicated 

locatation at the front of the soundbar and aim the remote directly at 
the soundbar:

TV

Remote

30cm

(12")

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the soundbar’s button. If the programming was successful 
the soundbar’s Surround button will change from amber to solid 
white for one second, then will return to flashing amber.

CINEMA SB400