AVR 505 - Harman Kardon Audio User Guide / Operation Manual. Page 19

SYSTEM CONFIGURATION 19

When you want to use the Night mode feature,
we recommend that you select the MID setting
as a starting point and change to the MAX
setting later, if desired.

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 AVR, as correct out-
puts will ensure that you hear sound tracks with
the proper directionality and intensity.

NOTE: 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, a special 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 surround speakers to oper-
ate only occasionally. Artificially increasing the
volume to the rear speakers may destroy the
illusion of an enveloping sound field that dupli-
cates the way you hear sound in a movie the-
ater or concert hall.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The output level can be
adjusted for each digital and analog surround
mode separately. This allows you to compensate
for level differences between speakers, that may
also vary with the surround mode selected, or to
increase or decrease the level of certain speakers
intentionally, depending on the surround mode
selected. Note that adjustments made for any
surround mode are effective with all inputs
associated with that surround mode.

Before beginning the output level adjustment
process, make certain that all speaker connec-
tions have been properly made. The system
volume should be turned down at first. Finally,
make certain that the Balance Control & 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 while seated in
your favorite listening position. As the adjust-
ment must be made for each surround mode, it
is best to select any input associated with any
Dolby Pro Logic II mode, make the adjustment
for that surround mode, then step through all
inputs you´re using (and thus through all sur-
round modes associated with the inputs) and
repeat the adjustment when any surround mode
appears that has not yet been adjusted.

1. Select any input associated with any Dolby
Pro Logic II surround mode by pressing the
Input Source Selector !

4 until the Pro

Logic II Surround Mode Indicator $ on
the frontdisplay lights up.

2. Press the Test Tone button 

7# on the

remote. The words 

TEST-T F L 0DB

will

appear in the Main Information Display Ú.

3. The test noise will immediately begin to circu-
late in the speakers in a clockwise rotation,
pausing at each position for two seconds. As the
test noise rotates the speaker positions

FL

,

C

,

FR

,

SR

,

SL

(Front Left, Center, Front Right,

Surround Right, Surround Left) will be shown in
the Main Information Display Ú. As an
added assist, while the test noise is circulating,
the proper channel position will also be indicat-
ed in the Speaker/Channel Indicators ¯ by
a blinking letter within the correct channel. Turn
up the volume now until you can hear the noise
clearly.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Because this test noise will
have a much lower level than normal music, the
volume must be lowered after the adjustment
for all channels is made, BEFORE you turn the
test tone off.

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
AVR off using the Main Power Switch 1 and
check the speaker wiring to make certain that
each speaker is connected to the correct output
terminal.

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 speaker as a reference, press
the 

⁄

/

¤

buttons 

C on the remote to bring all

speakers to the same volume 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 after five seconds.

Continue to adjust the individual speakers until
they all have the same volume. Note that adjust-
ments should be made with the 

⁄

/

¤

buttons

C on the remote only, NOT the main volume
controls.

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 24.

When all channels have the same output level,
turn the Volume (

! down to about -40dB,

otherwise the listening level may be too high as
soon as the source’s music starts to play. After-
wards press the Test Tone Selector #

7

button again to turn the test tone off and
complete the process.

IMPORTANT NOTE: The Output level adjust-
ment made will be effective for the surround
mode currently selected, also when other inputs
are selected using the same surround mode. To
adjust the output level with all other surround
modes used, step through all inputs you´re using
by pressing the Source Selector buttons !
on the front panel or the appropriate Input
Selectors

4 on the remote. When the indica-

tor for any surround mode for which the level
adjustment has not yet been made lights in the
Main Information Display Ú or its blue LED
lights in the Surround Mode Indicators field
$, repeat the level adjustment described
above. This will also allow you to compensate
level differences between speakers, that may be
different with each surround mode, or to
increase or decrease the level of certain speakers
intentionally, depending on the surround mode
selected.

Note: Output level adjustment is not available
for the VMAx or Surround Off mode, as no sur-
round speakers are used (so level differences
between the speakers in the room cannot
occur). But to compensate level differences
between stereo, VMAx and other surround
modes (independently from the input selected)
the outputs can be adjusted with the Level Trim
Adjustment procedure, see page 24, also for the
Surround Off (Stereo) and VMAx modes.

Once the settings outlined on the previous
pages have been made, the AVR is ready for
operation. While there are some additional set-
tings to be made, these are best done after you
have had an opportunity to listen to a variety of
sources and different kinds of program material.
These advanced settings are described on page
28 of this manual. In addition, any of the set-
tings made in the initial configuration of the unit
may be changed at any time.
As you add new or different sources or speakers,
or if you wish to change a setting to better
reflect your listening taste, simply follow the
instructions for changing the settings for that
parameter as shown above. Note that any set-
tings changed at any time, will be stored in
memory in the AVR, also if it´s turned off com-
pletely, unless it will be reset (see page 32).
Having completed the setup and configuration
process for your AVR, you are about to
experience the finest in music and home theater
listening. Enjoy!