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INSTALLATION AND CONNECTIONS  17

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1

Important Note for the Use of 
SCART-Cinch Adapters:
When video sources are connected to the TV
directly with a SCART cable, specific control
signals apart from Audio/Video signals will be
fed to the TV. These specific signals are: With all
video sources, the signal for automatic input
selection that switches the TV automatically to
the appropriate input as soon as the video
source is started. And with DVD players, the
signals automatically turning the TV to 4:3/16:9
format (with 16:9 TVs or with 4:3 TVs with
selectable 16:9 format) and turning the RGB
video decoder of the TV on or off, depending on
the DVD player´s setting. With any adapter cable,
these control signals will be lost and the
appropriate setting of the TV must be made
manually.

Note for RGB signal with SCART:
If you use a unit providing RGB signals on a
SCART output (as e.g. most DVD players do) and
you want to use that RGB signal, this SCART
output must be connected directly to your TV.
Although the AVR 5550 RDS can switch three-
way video signals (like component signals
Y/Pb/Pr), most TVs need separate sync signals
for RGB (also with SCART) that cannot be
switched and provided by the AVR 5550.
RGB signals can be pathed through 
the AVR 5550 only when no separate sync 
signal is needed (see last ”Video Connection
Note” on page 16).

18 INSTALLATION AND CONNECTIONS

The AVR 5550 is designed for flexible use with
multiroom systems, external control components
and power amplifiers.

Main Room Remote Control Extension
If the receiver is placed behind a solid or smoked
glass cabinet door, the obstruction may prevent
the remote sensor from receiving commands. In
this event, the remote sensor of any Harman
Kardon or other compatible device, not covered
by the door, or an optional remote sensor may
be used. Connect the Remote IR Output of
that device or the output of the remote sensor to
the Remote IR Input jack 

).

If other components are also prevented from
receiving remote commands, only one sensor is
needed. Simply use this unit’s sensor or a remote
eye by running a connection from the Remote
IR Output jack 

 to the Remote IR Input

jack on Harman Kardon or other compatible
equipment.

Multiroom IR Link
The key to remote room operation is to link the
remote room to the AVR 5550’s location with
wire for an infrared receiver and speakers or an
amplifier. The remote room IR receiver (this can be
an optional IR receiver or any other remotable
Harman Kardon device in the remote room with
IR sensor integrated) should be connected to the
AVR 5550 via standard coaxial cable. Connect the
Remote IR Output of the device or of the
optional sensor with the Multiroom IR Input
jack 

 on the AVR 5550’s rear panel.

If other Harman Kardon compatible source
equipment is part of the main room installation,
the Remote IR Output jack 

 on the rear

panel should be connected to the IR IN jack on
that source device. This will enable the remote
room location to control source equipment
functions.

NOTE: All remotely controlled components must
be linked together in a “daisy chain”. Connect
the IR OUT jack of one unit to the IR IN of the
next to establish this chain.

Multiroom Audio Connections
Depending on your system`s requirement and
distance from the AVR 5550 to the remote
room, three options are available for audio
connection:

Option 1: Use high-quality, shielded audio
interconnect phono cable from the AVR 5550’s
location to the remote room. In the remote
room, connect the interconnect cable to a stereo
power amplifier. The amplifier will be connected
to the room’s speakers. At the AVR 5550, plug
the audio interconnect cables into the
Multiroom Output Jacks 

 on the AVR

5550’s rear panel.

Option 2: Place the amplifier that will provide
power to the remote location speakers in the
same room as the AVR 5550, and connect the
Multiroom Output jacks 

 on the rear panel

of the AVR to the audio input of the remote
room amplifier. Use the appropriate speaker wire
to connect the optional power amplifier to the
remote speakers. High-quality wire of at least 
2.5 mm

2

is recommended for long multiroom

connections.

Option 3: Taking advantage of the AVR 5550’s
built-in seven-channel amplifier, it is possible to
use two of the amplifier channels to power
speakers in the remote room. When using this
option you will not be able to use the full 
7.1-channel capabilities of the AVR 5550 in the
main listening room, but you will be able to add
another listening room without additional
external power amplifiers. To use the internal
amplifiers to power a remote zone, connect the
speakers for the remote room location to the
Surround Back/Multiroom Speaker
Outputs

. Before using the remote room you

will need to configure the amplifiers for
surround operation by changing a setting in 
the Advanced Select menu, following the
instructions shown on page 37.

NOTE: For all options, you may connect an
optional IR sensor (Harman Kardon He 1000) in
the remote room to the AVR 5550 via an appro-
priate cable. Connect the sensor’s cable to the
Multiroom IR Input

 on the AVR 5550 and

use the Zone II remote to control the room vol-
ume. Alternatively, you may install an optional
volume control between the output of the ampli-
fiers and the speakers.

A-BUS Installation Connections
The AVR 5550 is among the very few receivers
available today that offers built-in A-BUS Ready

®

operation. When used with an optional A-BUS
keypad or control module, you have all the
benefits of remote zone operation without the
need for an external power amplifier.

To use the AVR 5550 with an approved A-BUS
product, simply connect the keypad or module
that is in the remote room to the AVR 5550
using standard “Category 5” wiring that is
properly rated for the inwall use specific to the
installation. Terminate the wiring at the receiver
end to a standard RJ-45 jack in compliance with
the instructions furnished with the A-BUS
module.

No further installation or adjustment is needed,
as the A-BUS connector on the AVR 5550 routes
the signals in and out of the keypad to their
proper destination for power, signal source and
control. The output fed to the A-BUS jack is
determined by the AVR 5550’s multiroom
system, and the menus may be used as is.

RS-232 Connections
The AVR 5550 includes an RS-232 serial port
connection that may be used to control the unit
via compatible optional, external keypads or
control systems. The physical connection to the
AVR 5550 from the control device is a standard
D-9 connection, but to assure compatible and
proper operation, specific software commands
and pin wiring schemes are required. Due to the
complexity of RS-232 connections we
recommend that they be made only by trained
installers familiar with their use. To obtain
additional information on the use of the 
AVR 5550 with RS-232 control, please contact
Harman Kardon’s customer service department
or consult our Web site at
www.harmankardon.com.

AC Power Connections
This unit is equipped with two accessory AC
outlets. They may be used to power accessory
devices, but they should not be used with 
high-current draw equipment such as power
amplifiers. The total power draw to the
Unswitched Outlet 

 must not exceed 

100 watts, that to the Switched Outlet 

50 watts.

The Switched

 outlet will receive power only

when the unit is on completely. This is recom-
mended for devices that have no power switch
or a mechanical power switch that may be left in
the “ON” position.

NOTE: Many audio and video products go into a
Standby mode when they are used with
switched outlets, and cannot be fully turned on
using the outlet alone without a remote control
command.

The Unswitched

 outlet will receive power

as long as the unit is plugged into a powered AC
outlet and the Main Power Switch 1 is on.

The AVR 5550 features a removable power cord
that allows wires to be run to a complex instal-
lation so that the unit, itself, need not be
installed until it is ready for connection. When all
connections described above have been made,
connect the AC Power cord to the AC Power
Cord Jack

.

The AVR 5550 draws significantly more current
than other household devices such as computers
that use removable power cords. For that rea-
son, it is important that only the cord supplied
with the unit (or a direct replacement of identi-
cal capacity) be used.

Once the power cord is connected, you are
almost ready to enjoy the AVR 5550’s incredible
power and fidelity!

INSTALLATION AND CONNECTIONS 19

No matter which type or brand of speakers is
used, the same model or brand of speaker
should be used for the front-left, center and
front-right speakers. This creates a seamless
front soundstage and eliminates the possibility
of distracting sonic disturbances that occur when
a sound moves across mismatched front-channel
speakers.

The placement of speakers in a multichannel
home-theater system can have a noticeable
impact on the quality of sound reproduced.

Depending on the type of center-channel
speaker in use and your viewing device, place
the center speaker either directly above or below
your TV, or in the center behind a perforated
front-projection screen.

Once the center-channel speaker is installed,
position the left-front and right-front speakers so
that they are as far away from one another as
the center-channel speaker is from the preferred
listening position. Ideally, the front-channel
speakers should be placed so that their tweeters
are no more than 60cm above or below the
tweeter in the center-channel speaker.

They should also be at least 0.5 meter from your
TV set unless the speakers are magnetically
shielded to avoid colourings on the TV screen.
Note that most speakers are not shielded, even
with complete surround sets only the Center
speaker may be.

Depending on the specifics of your room
acoustics and the type of speakers in use, you
may find that imaging is improved by moving the
front-left and front-right speakers slightly
forward of the center-channel speaker. If
possible, adjust all front loudspeakers so that
they are aimed at ear height when you are
seated in the listening position.

Using these guidelines, you’ll find that it takes
some experimentation to find the correct
location for the front speakers in your particular
installation. Don’t be afraid to move things
around until the system sounds correct. Optimize
your speakers so that audio transitions across
the front of the room sound smooth.

When the AVR 5550 is used in 5.1-channel oper-
ation, the preferred location for surround speak-
ers is on the side walls of the room, at or slightly
behind the listening position. In a 7.1-channel
system, both side surround and back surround
speakers are required. The center of the speaker
should face you (see below).

Rear surround speakers are required when a full
7.1-channel system is installed, and they may
also be used in 5.1 channel mode as an alterna-
tive mounting position when it is not practical to
place the main surround speakers at the sides of
the room. Speakers may be placed on a rear
wall, behind the listening position. As with the
side speakers, the center of the rear surrounds
should face you. The speakers should be no more
than 2 meters behind the rear of the seating
area.

Subwoofers produce largely nondirectional
sound, so they may be placed almost anywhere
in a room. Actual placement should be based on
room size and shape and the type of subwoofer
used. One method of finding the optimal
location for a subwoofer is to begin by placing it
in the front of the room, about 15cm from a
wall, or near the front corner of the room.
Another method is to temporarily place the
subwoofer in the spot where you will normally
sit, and then walk around the room until you
find a spot where the subwoofer sounds best.
Place the subwoofer in that spot. You should
also follow the instructions of the subwoofer’s
manufacturer, or you may wish to experiment
with the best location for a subwoofer in your
listening room.

Right Front
Speaker

Left Front

Speaker

No more than 

         60cm

Center Front Speaker

Center Front

Speaker

Optional Rear-Wall Mounting

TV or Projection Screen

Right Front

Speaker

Left Front

Speaker

No more than 2m

when rear-mounted

speakers are used

B)  The distance between the left and right
speakers should be equal to the distance from
the seating position to the viewing screen. 
You may also experiment with placing the left
and right speakers slightly forward of the center
speaker.
Rear speaker mounting is an alternate location
for 5.1 systems. It is required for 7.1 operation.

20 SYSTEM CONFIGURATION

Once the speakers have been placed in the room
and connected, the remaining steps are to pro-
gram the system configuration memories. With
the AVR 5550 two kind of memories are used,
those associated individually with the input
selected, e.g. surround modes, and others work-
ing globally for all inputs selected like speaker
output levels, crossover frequencies or delay
times used by the surround sound processor.

You are now ready to power up the AVR 5550 to
begin these final adjustments.

1. Make certain that the AC power cord is firmly

inserted in to the AC Power cord Recepticle
 and plug the cord into an unswitched AC
outlet. To maintian the unit's safety rating,
DO NOT substitute the power cord for one with
lower current capacity.

2. Press the Main Power Switch 1 in until it

latches and the word “OFF” on the top of the
switch disappears inside the front panel. Note
that the Power Indicator 3 will turn
orange, indicating that the unit is in the
Standby mode.

3. Remove the protective plastic film from the

main front-panel lens. If left in place, the film
may affect the performance of your remote
control.

4. Install the three supplied AAA batteries in the

remote as shown. Be certain to follow the (+)
and (–) polarity indicators that are on the top
of the battery compartment.

5. Turn the AVR 5550 on either by pressing the

System Power Control 2 or the Input
Source Selector % on the front panel, or via
the remote by pressing the Power On Button
3, AVR Selector 5 or any of the Input
Selectors

46 on the remote. The Power

Indicator 3 will turn green to confirm that
the unit is on, and the Main Information
Display ˜ will also light up.

NOTE: After pressing one of the Input Selector
buttons

4 to turn the unit on, press the AVR

5 to have the remote control the AVR

functions.

When making the following adjustments, you may
find them easier to make via the unit’s on-screen
display system. These easy-to-read displays give
you a clear picture of the current status of the
unit and facilitate speaker, delay, input or digital
selection you are making.

To view the on-screen displays, make certain you
have made a connection from the Video
Monitor Out jack 

 on the rear panel to the

composite or S-Video input of your TV or projec-
tor. In order to view the AVR’s displays, the correct
video input must be selected on your video dis-
play. Note that the on-screen menus are not
available when a component video display is in
use.

IMPORTANT NOTE: When viewing the on-screen
menus using a CRT-based projector, plasma display
or any direct-view CRT monitor or television, it is
important that they not be left on the screen for an
extended period of time. As with any video display,
but particularly with projectors, constant display of
a static image such as these menus or video game
images may cause the image to be permanently
“burned into” the CRT. This type of damage is not
covered by the AVR 5550 warranty and may not be
covered by the projector TV set’s warranty.

The AVR 5550 has two on-screen display modes,
“Semi-OSD” and “Full-OSD.” When making con-
figuration adjustments, it is recommended that
the Full-OSD mode be used. This will place a com-
plete status report or option listing on the screen,
making it easier to view the available options and
make the settings on the screen. The Semi-OSD
mode uses one-line displays only.

Note that when the full OSD system is in use, the
menu selections are not shown in the Infor-
mation Display ˜. When the full OSD menu
system is used, OSD ON will appear in the Upper
Display Line A and the OSD Indicator C
will illuminate to remind you that a video display
must be used.

When the semi-OSD system is used in conjunction
with the discrete configuration buttons, the on
screen display will show a single line of text with
the current menu selection. That selection will
also be shown in the Upper or Lower Display
Line A B.

The full OSD system can always be turned on or
off by pressing the OSD button 

L. When this

button is pressed the MASTER M E N U
(Figure 1) will appear, and adjustments are made
from the individual menus. Note that the menus
will remain on the screen for 20 seconds after the
latest action was made on the screen menu, then
they will “time-out” and disappear from the screen.
The time-out may be increased to as much as 
50 seconds by going to the ADVANCED
S E L E C T

menu, and changing the item titled

F U L L O S D T I M E O U T

.

The semi-OSD system is also available as a system
default, although it may be turned off by using
the ADVANCED SELECT menu. (See
page 37). With the semi-OSD system, you may
make adjustments directly, by pressing the but-
tons on the front panel or remote control for the
specific parameter to be adjusted. For example, to
change the digital input for any of the sources,
press the Digital Select Button Û

G and

then any of the Selector buttons

‹

/

›

7$ or

⁄

/

¤

D on the front panel or remote.

The AVR 5550 features an advanced memory sys-
tem that enables you to establish different config-
urations for the digital input, surround mode and
speaker setting for each input source. To ease the
speaker setting, the same speaker setting can
also be made for all inputs. This flexibility enables
you to custom tailor the way in which you listen
to each source and have the AVR 5550 memorize
them. This means, for example, that you may
associate different surround modes and analog or
digital inputs with different sources, or set differ-
ent speaker configurations with the resultant
changes to the bass management system or the
use of the center speaker and/or the Subwoofer.
Once these settings are made, they will automati-
cally be recalled whenever you select that input.

The factory default settings for the AVR 5550
have all inputs configured for an analog audio
input except for the DVD input, where the
Coaxial Digital Input

$ is the default. Once

the DSP processing system is used for the first
time for any input, the speaker settings will auto-
matically default to “Small” at all positions with
the subwoofer set to “LFE.” The default setting for
the surround modes is “Surround Off,” or two-
channel stereo, although Dolby Digital or DTS will
automatically be selected as appropriate when a
source with digital encoding is in use.

Before using the unit, you will probably want to
change the settings for most inputs so that they
are properly configured to reflect the use of digi-
tal or analog inputs and the surround mode asso-
ciated with the input. Remember that since the
AVR 5550 memorizes the settings for each input
individually, you will need to make these adjust-
ments for each input used. However, once they
are made, further adjustment is only required
when system components are changed.

    *   M A S T E R   M E N U   *

I N / O U T   S E T U P

S U R R O U N D   S E T U P

S P E A K E R   S E T U P

D E L A Y   A D J U S T

C H A N N E L   A D J U S T

M U L T I - R O O M

A D V A N C E D