SB 15 (serv.man4) - Harman Kardon Audio Service Manual (repair manual)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CONTENTS

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Released EU2010    Harman 

Consumer Group, Inc.   

Rev 2, 07/2012

 

 

 

 

 

       8500 Balboa Boulevard 

      

  Northridge, California 91329 

harman/kardon

SB 15/230 Service Manual

Page 1 of 30

New page 31: Service Information, use SB 16 amp module for both SB 15 and SB 16.

Each precaution in this manual should be followed during servicing.

Components identified with the IEC symbol

in the parts list are special significance to safety. When replacing a component identified with

, use only the replacement parts designated, or parts with the same ratings or resistance, wattage, or voltage that are designated in the

parts list in this manual. Leakage-current or resistance measurements must be made to determine that exposed parts are acceptably

insulated from the supply circuit before retuming the product to the customer.

Some semiconductor (solid state) devices can be damaged easily by static electricity. Such components commonly are called

Electrostatically Sensitive (ES) Devices. Examples of typical ES devices are integrated circuits and some field effect transistors and

semiconductor "chip" components.

The following techniques should be used to help reduce the incidence of component damage caused by static electricity.

1. Immediately before handling any semiconductor component or semiconductor-equipped assembly, drain off any electrostatic charge on

your body by touching a known earth ground. Alternatively, obtain and wear a commercially available discharging wrist strap device,

which should be removed for potential shock reasons prior to applying power to the unit under test.

2. After removing an electrical assembly equipped with ES devices, place the assembly on a conductive surface such as aluminum foil, to

prevent electrostatic charge build-up or exposure of the assembly.

3. Use only a grounded-tip soldering iron to solder or unsolder ES devices.

4. Use only an anti-static solder removal device. Some solder removal devices not classified as "anti-static" can generate electrical charges

sufficient to damage ES devices.

5. Do not use freon-propelled chemicals. These can generate electrical change sufficient to damage ES devices.

6. Do not remove a replacement ES device from its protective package until immediately before you are ready to install it. (Most replacement

ES devices are packaged with leads electrically shorted together by conductive foam, aluminum foil or comparable conductive material.)

7. Immediately before removing the protective material from the leads of a replacement ES device, touch the protective material to the

chassis or circuit assembly into which the device will be installed.

Be sure no power is applied to the chassis or circuit, and observe all other safety precautions.

8. Minimize bodily motions when handling unpackaged replacement ES devices. (Otherwise harmless motion such as the brushing together

or your clothes fabric or the lifting of your foot from a carpeted floor can generate static electricity sufficient to damage an ES devices.

CAUTION :

harman/kardon

SB 15/230 Service Manual

Page 2 of 30

22

3

Thank you for purchasing the Harman Kardon® SB 15/230 speaker system, with which 
you’re about to begin many years of listening enjoyment . The SB 15/230 has been 
custom-designed to provide the excitement and power of the cinema experience in 
your own living room .

While sophisticated electronics and state-of-the-art speaker components are hard at 
work within the SB 15/230, hookup and operation are simple . 

To obtain maximum enjoyment from your new soundbar speaker system, we urge 
you to take a few minutes to read through this manual . This will help ensure that 
the connections you make are correct . In addition, a few minutes spent learning the 
functions of the various controls will enable you to take advantage of all the power 
and refinement the SB 15/230 is able to deliver .

If you have any questions about this product, its installation or its operation, please 
contact your dealer, the best local source of information .

The SB 15/230 is a complete home theater speaker system that includes:

A video-shielded stereo soundbar speaker (the SB 15CNTR) with two-way dual-

driver left and right speakers and built-in 25-watt x 2 stereo amplifier

A 10-inch (250mm), 100-watt wireless powered subwoofer (the SB15SUB)

Wall-mount brackets for the soundbar

A 6 .5-foot (2m) stereo audio cable for connecting the system directly to your TV’s 

audio output .

The SB 15CNTR soundbar contains the system’s left and right speakers and stereo 
amplifiers, and features digital signal processing with virtual 3D surround circuitry 
that creates a complete surround-sound experience without any extra speakers or 
wires . You can set the soundbar on a table in front of your TV, and the system includes 
hardware that makes it easy to mount the soundbar on the wall along with your 
flat-panel TV . You can program the soundbar to respond to your TV remote’s volume, 
power and source commands .

The SB15SUB subwoofer receives its signal from the SB 15CTR soundbar via wireless 
technology, so you can place it anywhere in your room without having to run any 
wires . Its 10-inch (250mm) woofer and built-in 100-watt amplifier deliver a movie’s 
impact and excitement . Other conveniences include a volume control, a phase switch 
for fine-tuning bass response to suit your listening environment, and an efficient 
switching system that senses the presence of an audio signal and automatically 
switches the subwoofer on .

Harman Kardon invented the high-fidelity receiver more than 50 years ago . With 
state-of-the-art features and time-honored circuit designs, the SB 15/230 will turn 
your flat-screen TV into a fun and exciting home theater .

One SB 15CNTR soundbar speaker

One SB 15SUB 10-inch (250mm) 100-watt wireless subwoofer

Two wall-mount brackets for the SB 15CNTR soundbar

One 24V DC power supply and AC power cord for the SB 15CNTR speaker

One 6 .5-foot (2m) stereo audio cable

Important 
If anything is missing, or if any part of your SB 15/230 system fails to operate 
properly, contact your dealer immediately .

harman/kardon

SB 15/230 Service Manual

Page 3 of 30

44

5

Surround 

Mode 

Button

Surround 

Mode 

Indicator

Power 

Button

Power 

Indicator

Volume 

 Up/Down 

Buttons

Source 

Selector 

Button

Source 

Indicator

Power Button: When the soundbar is in the Standby mode (the Power Indicator is 
amber), press this button to turn the SB 15/230 system On . (The Power Indicator 
turns blue .) NOTE: When the soundbar is in the Standby mode, it will automatically 
turn On whenever it detects an audio signal at the Source 1 (analog) inputs .

When the SB 15/230 system is On:

Momentarily press the Power button to mute the SB 15/230 system . (The Power 

Indicator flashes blue .)

Hold down the Power button for three seconds to put the soundbar in the Standby 

mode . (The Power Indicator turns amber .) NOTE: The subwoofer will remain on for 
approximately 15 minutes after the audio signal ceases, then will automatically 
go into the Standby mode . 

Surround Mode Button: This button turns the SB 15/230 system’s 3D Surround 
processing On and Off . The Surround Mode Indicator turns blue when 3D Surround 
is active, and turns white when 3D Surround is not active (normal stereo sound) . See 
Soundbar Surround Mode Button, on page 8, for more information .

Volume Up/Down Buttons: Press the ( – ) button to reduce the volume; press the 
( + ) button to increase the volume .

Source Selector Button: This button switches between the sources connected 
to the Source 1 (analog) and Source 2 (digital) inputs . When Source 1 is active, the 

Source Indicator turns white; when Source 2 is active, the Source Indicator turns 
blue .

Wireless Code Switch: Selects between four different channels for the wireless 
subwoofer signal . 

IMPORTANT: Be sure to set the subwoofer’s Wireless Code switch to the same channel 
that you set the soundbar’s Wireless Code switch . See Wireless Code Switches, on 
page 9, for more information .

EQ Switch: This switch adjusts the soundbar’s bass for either wall or table mounting . 
If you’re mounting the soundbar on a wall with the included wall-mount brackets, set 
this switch to the Wall position for the most natural-sounding bass performance . If 
you are placing the soundbar on a table, set the EQ switch to the Table position for the 
most natural-sounding bass performance .

Trim Switch: This switch adjusts the soundbar’s input sensitivity so it will work 
with TVs that have different audio signal output levels . See Soundbar Trim Switch, on 
page 9, for more information .

Source 1 Connection (analog): Use the included stereo audio cable to connect the 
stereo analog outputs of your TV, DVD player or cable/satellite tuner here .

Source 2 Connection (digital): If your TV, DVD player or cable/satellite tuner has a 
coaxial digital output, you can connect it here . 

NOTE: If you connect your TV or another component to the soundbar’s Source 1 
connection, you can connect a different component to the Source 2 connection .

Power Connection: Connect the included DC power supply here . See Power 
Connections, on page 7, for more information . 

IMPORTANT: Do not connect the power supply’s AC cord to an AC outlet until you have 
made and verified all connections .

Power Switch: Set this switch to the On position (press the switch’s white dot) to 
activate the soundbar . In normal operation, this switch will be left in the On position . 
See Turning the Soundbar On and Off, on page 8, for more information .

EQ 

Switch

Trim

Switch

Source 2 

Connection

Power

Switch

Power

Connection

Source 1

Connection

Wireless Code

Switch

harman/kardon

SB 15/230 Service Manual

Page 4 of 30