Harman Kardon TA600 Owners Manual - Page 3

CONNECTING THE TA600 Before proceeding with the connection of the TA600 you should make a record of your purchase. Since you have just purchased the unit, you should still have the bill of sale. Make sure it is clearly marked showing the date of purchase. Now look on the rear panel of your TA600 and locate the serial number. Record this number on the bill of sale, and then put it away in a safe place for future reference. This number will be important if your unit requires warranty service. It also provides identification if your unit is stolen. Also remember to fill out and mail in your registration card. Place the TA600 on a shelf or table near where it will finally be located. Leave enough working space to make your connections easily. Although the TA600 is a solid-state device, its power amplifiers and dial scale illumination lamps will generate heat. The TA600 is designed to operate efficiently over a wide range of ambient temperatures, but adequate ventilation must be provided. If the TA600 will operate on an open shelf, no special provisions need to be taken. If a shelf will exist above the TA600, allow at least 1 to 2 inches of free space above the receiver. If the unit will operate in a 3 or 5sided (bottom, back, top and sides) closed space allow at least 2 to 4 inches of free space above and to either side. In custommounted cabinet installations, adequate air flow can be obtained by drilling a large cutout, or several small holes, in the surrounding cabinetry, both above and below the receiver (not in the housing). Open back custom installations require no special attention. Finally, free air must flow through the bottom of the receiver. Never operate the TA600 on a rug or mat that could prevent air from entering the bottom of the receiver. Preparing for Connections: Choosing the right wire for connecting your speakers to the receiver will assure the best performance. We recommend use of 18 gauge, stranded, two-conductor wire. This type of wire is often called lamp, or "zip", cord and is available at most high fidelity stores or any electrical supply store. Lengths of up to 50 feet can be used without affecting the low frequency performance of your system. For longer runs use 16 gauge wire. If the run is short, you may use thinner 20 gauge wire, though 18 gauge wire is preferred. Lamp cord usually provides a "code," which is a means of identifying the conductors; a rib, sharp corner (see "a"), or indentations molded along its length (see "b"). On others a thin, colored thread is molded inside the insulator along with one conductor (see "c"), or the two conductors are different colors (see "d").