Harman Kardon VPM500 Owners Manual - Page 13

10 Direct VPM500 speaker connection. The VPM500 contains a 10 watt per channel power amplifier which will drive almost any stereo loudspeaker at realistic levels. First locate the output panel on the back of the VPM500. Locate the switch marked EXTERNAL SPEAKERS and switch it to the ON position. You'll also see two sets of EXTERNAL speaker output terminals much like the ones on your stereo. One set is marked LEFT and one set RIGHT. Each set has a + and - terminal. Connect the corresponding + and - conductors to the VPM500 and speakers. We repeat, it is important to hook both speakers up in an identical manner - red to-red and black-to-black -so that they are "in phase" (Hooking them up "out of phase" results in a thin sound with poor stereo image and a lack of bass). Make sure that the two speaker wire conductors do not touch or short out against a metal surface. It only takes one fine piece of wire out of place to cause a short. Now proceed to Section IV. Stereo system speaker hook-up. Needless to say, your speakers are already hooked up if you have chosen to route your video source's audio through it. Make sure that your existing speakers are placed on each side of the VPM500 screen. If you need longer speaker wires to affect this, make sure they are the same length, even if you have to coil up some of the shorter one behind your amp or receiver. Finally, remember to switch the VPM500's INTERNAL speaker switch to the OFF position and connect the AC cord to an outlet which wil l accept a 3-prong connector. External amplifier hook-up. If you want more power for your Home Theater speakers, but are using the VPM500 in a room away from your stereo system, you can take advantage of the AUDIO OUTPUT jacks on the projector. These can be used to provide a signal to a separate amplifier. Run an audio hook-up cable from the VPM500's AUDIO OUTPUT jacks to the INPUT jacks on the amplifier. Make sure that left and right channels match on both the projector and amp. Now run speaker cables from the amplifier to the speakers on each side of the VPM500 screen. The AUDIO OUTPUT jacks may also be used to provide a signal to powered speakers. AdvancedHome Theater Audio Hook-ups. The final ingredient in the ne plus- ultra deluxe Home Theater is Surround Sound. If you've been in a theater equipped with Dolby Surround Sound, you know how exciting these added sonic effects can be. Videocassette and laser disc movie soundtracks contain this encoded rear channel information which can be decoded and .played through a second set of speakers. While Surround Sound is a great addition to any video system, the VPM500's eyefilling visual impact gives room-filling sound an even more realistic context. The market abounds with outboard Surround Sound processors and your Harman Kardon dealer will be able to help you find one that fits your system and budget. Most of these processors require an extra amplifier and all will require two extra modestsized speakers to be placed to the rear of your viewing area. Owning a VPM500 with its own built-in amplifier can save you money if you opt for the extra excitement of Surround Sound. Simply run the output of the processor into the VPM500's AUDIO INPUT's and run speaker wires from the EXTERNAL SPEAKER outputs back to the rear channel speakers. The built-in amplifier will provide more than enough power and soon you'l l be ducking as space fighters swoop through your viewing room.