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SYSTEM CONFIGURATION 21

the optimal delay time is figured as
(3–1) x 3+15=21. Thus, in this example, the
Pro Logic II delay should be set at twenty 
milliseconds.

NOTE: The DTS, Logic 7, 5CH Stereo, Hall and
Theater modes use a fixed, nonadjustable delay
time.

The Dolby Digital Mode also includes a separate
setting for the center channel delay mode, since
the discrete nature of these signals makes the
location of the center channel speaker more criti-
cal. To calculate the delay for the center channel,
measure the distance from the preferred listening
position in the center of the room to both the
center channel speaker and either the left or
right speaker.

If the distances are equal, no further adjustment
is required and the center delay should be left
zero. If the distance to the front speakers is
greater than the distance to the center speaker,
you may wish to reposition the speakers by mov-
ing the front left and front right speakers closer to
the listening position or the center speaker further
away from the listening position.

If repositioning of the speakers is not possible,
adjust the center delay time, adding one milli-
second of center channel delay for every 30 cm
closer to the listening position the center speaker
is than the front speakers. For example, if the
front left and front right speakers are each 3 m
from the listening position and the center chan-
nel speaker is 2.4 m away, the delay is figured as
300 cm –240 cm=60 cm, suggesting an optimal
center delay of 2 milliseconds.

To set the delay time, follow these steps:

1. To make the delay settings for the Dolby
Digital mode (this will include the Center delay
setting, and the surround delay for the 
Pro Logic II mode will be set automatically), press
the Input Source Selector ! on the front or
4 on the remote and select any input now that
is associated with a digital input and the Dolby
Digital surround mode.

2. Press the Delay button 

 on the remote

or front panel. The words S DELAY appear in
the Main Information Display M.

3. Press the Set button 

E Ó.

4. Press the 

⁄

/

¤

buttons 

C on the remote or

the Selector buttons 5 on the front panel until
the desired rear delay time for the Dolby Digital
mode, calculated using the formula for Dolby
Digital above (item a.), appears in the display.

5. Press the Set button 

E Ó to enter the

setting into the AVR2500’s memory.

6. Press the 

⁄

/

¤

buttons 

C on the remote

once, so that C DELAY appears in the Main
Information Display M.

7. Press the Set button 

E Ó.

8. Press the 

⁄

/

¤

buttons 

C on the remote

until the desired delay time for the center chan-
nel appears in the display.

9. Press the Set button 

E Ó to enter the set-

ting into the AVR 2500’s memory.

You have now completed the delay time settings
for all surround modes and inputs.

Night Mode Settings
The Night mode is a feature of Dolby Digital that
uses special processing to preserve the dynamic
range and full intelligibility of a movie sound
track while reducing the peak level. This prevents
abruptly loud transitions from disturbing others,
without reducing the sonic impact of a digital
source. Note that the Night mode is only avail-
able when the Dolby Digital surround mode is
selected.

To adjust the Night mode setting press the Input
Source Selector ! on the front or 

4 on the

remote and select an input that is associated
with a digital input and the Dolby Digital sur-
round mode.

Next press the Night button 

A on the remote.

When the button is pressed, the words 
D-R

(Dynamic Range) followed by the current

setting (MID, MAX, OFF) will appear in the Main
Information Display M. Press the 

⁄

/

¤

buttons 

C within five seconds to select the

desired setting:

OFF

: When OFF is shown in the display, the

Night mode will not function.

MID

: When MID is shown in the display, a

mild compression will be applied.

MA X

: When MAX is shown in the display, a

more severe compression algorithm will be
applied.

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.

When any Night mode is selected, the NIGHT
Mode Indicator N will illuminate. To confirm
the selection press the Set button 

E Ó or

wait for some seconds until the display returns to
the normal mode.

Output Level Adjustment
Output level adjustment is a key part of the con-
figuration process for any surround sound prod-
uct. It is particularly important for a Dolby Digital
receiver such as the AVR 2500, as correct outputs
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 operate
only occasionally. Artificially increasing the vol-
ume to the rear speakers may destroy the illu-
sion 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 asso-
ciated 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 surround
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 ˆ on the front
and F in the display light up.

2. Press the Test Tone button 

7ı on the

remote. The words TEST FL will appear in the
Main Information Display M.

22 SYSTEM CONFIGURATION

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,
CEN

, FR, SR, SL (Front Left, Center, Front

Right, Surround Right, Surround Left) will be
shown in the Main Information Display M.
As an added assist, while the test noise is circu-
lating, the proper channel position will also be
indicated in the Speaker/Channel Indicators
P by a blinking letter within the correct chan-
nel. 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 2500 off using the Main Power Switch
1 and check the speaker wiring to make cer-
tain that each speaker is connected to the cor-
rect 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 cir-
culation 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 28.

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 ı

7

button again to turn the test tone off and com-
plete 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 M or its green
LED lights in the Surround Mode Indicators
field ˆ, 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 28, also for the
Surround Off (Stereo) and VMAx modes.

Once the settings outlined on the previous
pages have been made, the AVR 2500 is ready
for operation. While there are some additional
settings to be made, these are best done after
you have had an opportunity to listen to a vari-
ety of sources and different kinds of program
material. These advanced settings are described
on page 28 of this manual. In addition, any of
the settings 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 2500, also if it´s turned off
completely, unless it will be reset (see page 48).
The settings will either depend on the input
(Speaker configuration, analog/digital input
selection, surround mode) or on the surround
mode selected (speaker output level), as
described on previous pages.
Having completed the setup and configuration
process for your AVR 2500, you are about to
experience the finest in music and home theater
listening. Enjoy!

OPERATION 23

Once you have completed the setup and configu-
ration of the AVR 2500, it is simple to operate
and enjoy. The following instructions should be
followed for you to maximize your enjoyment of
your new receiver:

Turning the AVR 2500 On or Off
• When using the AVR 2500 for the first time, you
must press the Main Power Switch 1 on the
front panel to turn the unit on. This places the unit
in a Standby mode, as indicated by the orange
color of the Power Indicator 3. Once the unit
is in Standby, you may begin a listening session by
pressing the System Power Control 2 or the
Source button ! on the front panel or the AVR
Selector

5. Note that the Power Indicator

3 will turn green. This will turn the unit on and
return it to the input source that was last used.
The unit may also be turned on from Standby by
pressing any of the Source Selector buttons on
the remote 

456!.

NOTE: After pressing one of the Input Selector
buttons

4 (except VID4) to turn the unit on,

press the AVR Selector

5 to have the remote

control the AVR functions.

To turn the unit off at the end of a listening ses-
sion, simply press the System Power Control
2 on the front panel or the Power Off
Button

3 on the remote. Power will be shut

off to any equipment plugged into the rear panel
Switched AC Outlets

E and the Power

Indicator 3 will turn orange.

When the remote is used to turn the unit “off” it
is actually placing the system in a Standby mode,
as indicated by the orange color of the Power
Indicator 3.

When you will be away from home for an
extended period of time it is always a good idea
to completely turn the unit off with the front
panel Main Power Switch 1.

NOTE: All preset memories may be lost if the
unit is left turned off with the Main Power
Switch 1 for more than two weeks.

Using the Sleep Timer
• To program the AVR 2500 for automatic turn-
off, press the Sleep Button

8 on the remote.

Each press of the button will increase the time
before shut down in the following sequence:

The sleep time will be displayed in the Preset
Number/Sleep Timer Indicator Q and it will
count down until the time has elapsed.

When the programmed sleep time has elapsed,
the unit will automatically turn off (to Standby
mode). Note that the front panel display will dim
to one half brightness when the Sleep function
is programmed. To cancel the Sleep function,
press and hold the Sleep Button 

8 until the

information display returns to normal brightness
and the Sleep indicator numbers return to "0" in
the Main Information Display M.

• To select a source, press any of the 
Source Selector buttons on the remote
456!.

NOTE: After pressing one of the Input Selector
buttons

4 (except VID4) you must press the

5 to have the remote control

the AVR functions.

• The input source may also be changed by
pressing the front-panel Input Source
Selector button !. Each press of the button
will move the input selection through the list of
available inputs.

• As the input is changed, the AVR 2500 will
automatically switch to the digital input (if
selected), surround mode and speaker configura-
tion that were entered during the configuration
process for that source.

• The front-panel Video 4 Inputs % may be
used to connect a device such as a video game
or camcorder to your home entertainment
system on a temporary basis.

• As the input source is changed, the new input
name will appear in the Main Information
Display M and a green LED will light next to
the selected input’s name in the front-panel
Input Indicators Ô.

• When a pure audio source (Tuner, CD, Tape) is
selected, the last video input used remains rout-
ed to the Video 1 and Video 2 Outputs

IL

(except from its own Video 1/2 source) and
Video Monitor Output

B. This permits simul-

taneous viewing and listening to different
sources.

• When a Video source is selected, its audio sig-
nal will be fed to the speakers and the video sig-
nal for that input will be routed to the appropriate
Monitor Output jack 

B and will be viewable on

a TV monitor connected to the AVR 2500.

• Adjust the volume to a comfortable level using
the front panel Volume Control ( or remote
Volume Up/Down 

  buttons.

• The Balance Control & may be used to
adjust the relative sound output between the left
front and right front speakers.

• To temporarily silence all speaker outputs
press the Mute button 

". This will interrupt

the output to all speakers and the headphone
jack, but it will not affect any recording or dub-
bing that may be in progress. Press the Mute
button 

" again to return to normal operation.

• During a listening session you may wish to
adjust the Bass Control ^ and Treble
Control * to suit your listening tastes or room
acoustics.

• To set the output of the AVR 2500 so that the
output is “flat,” with the Tone controls and the
Balance control de-activated, press the Tone
Mode button 6 button once or twice so that
the words T o n e O u t appear momentarily
in the Main Information Display M. T o
return the tone controls to an active condition,
press the Tone Mode 6 button once or twice
so that the words T o n e I n momentarily
appear in the Main Information Display M.

• For private listening, plug the 6.3 mm stereo
phone plug from a pair of stereo headphones
into the front panel Headphone Jack 4. Note
that when the headphone’s plug is connected,
the word HEADPHONE will scroll once
across the Main Information Display M and
all speakers will be silenced. When the head-
phone plug is removed, the audio feed to the
speakers will be restored.

90

min

80

min

70

min

60

min

50

min

40

min

30

min

20

min

10

min

OFF

24 OPERATION

DOLBY DIGITAL

Available only with digital input sources encoded with Dolby Digital data. It provides 

Center: 0 ms – 5 ms

up to five separate main audio channels and a special dedicated Low Frequency Effects 

Initial Setting – 0 ms

channel.

Surround: 0 ms – 15 ms
Initial Setting – 0 ms

DTS

Available only with digital input sources encoded with DTS data. Available on special 

Delay time not adjustable 

DVD, LD and audio-only discs, DTS provides up to five separate main audio channels and 
a special dedicated low frequency channel.

DOLBY PRO LOGIC II

Dolby Pro Logic II is the latest version of Dolby Laboratory's benchmark surround technology that

Movie and Emulation:

creates or decodes full range, discrete left, center, right, right surround and left surround channels 

10 ms - 25 ms,

from either matrix surround encoded programs and conventional stereo sources. The Dolby 

Initial Setting - 10 ms,

ProLogic II Movie mode is optimized for movie soundtracks that are recorded with matrix 

Music:

surround, by creating true rear left, center and right signals. The ProLogic II Music mode 

0 ms - 15 ms,

should be used with musical selections, that are recorded with matrix surround or with normal 

Initial Setting - 0 ms

stereo mode, creating discrete rear left and right signals. The ProLogic II Emulation mode creates 
compelling five-channel surround from conventional stereo recordings.

DOLBY 3 STEREO

Uses the information contained in a surround encoded or two channel stereo program to 

No surround channels 

create center channel information. In addition, the information that is normally sent to the 
rear channel surround speakers is carefully mixed in with the front left and front right 
channels for increased realism. Use this mode when you have a center channel speaker 
but no surround speakers.

THEATER

The THEATER mode creates a sound field that resembles the acoustic feeling 

Delay time not adjustable 

of a standard live performance theater, with stereo and even pure mono sources.

HALL 1

The two Hall modes create sound fields that resemble a small (HALL 1) or

Delay time not adjustable

HALL 2

medium sized (HALL 2) concert hall, with stereo and even pure mono sources.

VMAx Near

When only the two front channel loudspeakers are used, Harman’s patented VMAx mode 

No surround channels 

VMAx Far

delivers a three-dimensional sound space with the illusion of “phantom speakers” at the 
center and surround positions. The VMAx N, or “Near Field” mode should be selected when
your listening position is less than 1,5m from the speakers. The VMAx F, or “Far Field” mode
may be selected when your listening positioin is greater than 1,5m from the speakers.

5-Channel Stereo

This mode takes advantage of multiple speakers to place a stereo signal at both the front and

No delay is available for 

back of a room. Ideal for playing music in situations such as a party, it places the same signal

this mode

at the front-left and surround-left, and at the front-right and surround-right speakers. The center
channel is fed a summed mono mix of the in-phase material of the left and right channels.

SURROUND

This mode turns off all surround processing and presents the pure left and right 

No surround channels 

OFF (STEREO)

channel presentation of two channel stereo programs.

LOGIC 7 C
LOGIC 7 M

An advanced mode that extracts the maximum surround information from either
conventional stereo material or surround-encoded programs. When used with encoded
material, decoding is more accurate in terms of the placement of sounds, and fades and pans
are much smoother and more realistic than with former decoding techniques. Logic 7 also
delivers increased spaciousness and a wider sound stage when it is used with conventional
natural stereo recordings and music programs throug the use of the natural surround
information present also in those stereo recordings. The Logic 7C or Cinema mode is tailored
to provide an optimal sound field for movie soundtracks. The Logic 7M or Music mode uses a
decoding formula that is best suited to music.

Delay time not adjustable