Harman Kardon AVR45 Owners Manual - Page 22

System Configuration 19 11. When all speaker selections have been made, press the Set button i ˜ to return to normal operation. Output Level Adjustment Output level adjustment is a key part of the configuration process for any surround sound product. It is particularly important for a Dolby Digital receiver such as the AVR45, as correct outputs will ensure that you hear sound tracks in their proper place with the proper intensity. IMPORTANT NOTE: Many listeners are often confused about the operation of the surround channels. While some assume that sound should always be coming from each speaker, most of the time there will be little or no sound in the surround channels. This is because they are only used when a movie director or sound mixer specifically places sound there to create ambiance, an effect or to continue action from the front of the room to the rear. When the output levels are properly set it is normal for rear/ surround speakers to operate only occasionally. Artificially increasing the volume to the rear speakers may destroy the illusion of an enveloping sound field that duplicates the way you hear sound in a movie theater or concert hall. Before beginning the adjustment process make certain that all speaker connections have been properly made. The system volume should be set to the level that you will use during a typical listening session. Finally, make certain that the Balance Control 7 is set to the center "12 o'clock" position. To adjust and calibrate the output levels, follow these steps. For accurate calibration, it is a good idea to make these adjustments from the location in your room that is your favorite listening position: 1. Put the AVR45 in the Dolby Pro Logic mode by pressing the Dolby Pro Logic Selector Ó on the front panel or by pressing the Surround Mode Selector y on the remote, followed by the ⁄/¤ buttons g until PRO LOGIC appears in the Main Information Display S and the PRO LOGIC indicator F lights. 2. Press the Test Tone button e Ò on the remote or front panel. The words T -T FL 0dB will appear in the Main Information Display S , and the letters FL will flash once each second. 3. At this point, the test noise will begin to circulate among all the speakers in a clockwise rotation. NOTE: This is a good time to verify that the speakers have been properly connected. As the test noise circulates, listen to make certain that the sound comes from the speaker position shown in the Main Information Display. If the sound from a speaker location does NOT match the position indicated in the display, turn the AVR45 off and check the speaker wiring to make certain that each speaker is connected to the correct output terminal. 4. After checking for speaker placement, let the test noise circulate again, and listen to see which channels sound louder than the others. Using the front left (FL in the display) speaker as a reference, press the ⁄/¤ buttons g on the remote or the Selector buttons ¸ on the front panel on each channel to begin to bring them to the same level. Note that when one of the buttons is pushed, the test noise circulation will pause on the channel being adjusted to give you time to make the adjustment. When you release the button, the circulation will resume. 5. Continue to adjust the individual speakers until they all have the same volume. Note that adjustments should be made with the ⁄/¤ buttons g on the remote or the Selector buttons ¸ on the front panel only, NOT the main volume controls. Then press the Set button i ˜ to memorize the change. If you are using a sound pressure (SPL) meter for precise level adjustment, set the volume so that the meter reads 75dB, C-Weighting Slow. NOTE: The subwoofer output level is not adjustable using the test tone. To change the subwoofer level, follow the steps for Output Level Trim Adjustment on page 27. 6. When you have adjusted the outputs so that all channels have the same level, press the Test Tone button e Ò on the remote or front panel to complete the adjustment.