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OPERATION  29

DOLBY DIGITAL

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

Center: 0 - 30ft / 9m

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

Initial Setting: 12ft / 3.6m 

channel.

Surround: 0 - 30ft / 9m
Initial Setting: 10ft / 3m

DOLBY DIGITAL EX

Available when the receiver is configured for 6.1/7.1 channel operation, Dolby Digital EX is the 

Center: 0 - 30ft / 9m

latest version of Dolby Digital. When used with movies or other programs that have special 

Initial Setting: 12ft / 3.6m 

encoding, Dolby Digital EX reproduces specially encoded soundtracks so that a full 6.1/7.1 

Surround: 0 - 30ft / 9m

soundfield is available. When the receiver is set for 6.1/7.1 operation and a Dolby Digital signal is 

Initial Setting: 10ft / 3m

present, the EX mode is automatically selected. Even if specific EX encoding is not available to 

Surround Back: 0 - 30ft / 9m

provide the additional channel, the special algorithms will derive a 6.1/7.1 output.

Initial Setting: 10ft / 3m

DTS 5.1

When the speaker configuration is set for 5.1-channel operation, the DTS 5.1 mode is  

Delay time not adjustable

available when DVD, audio-only music or laserdiscs encoded with DTS data are played.
DTS 5.1 provides up to five separate main audio channels and a special dedicated 
low-frequency channel.

DTS-ES 6.1 Matrix

When the speaker configuration is set for 6.1/7.1 operation, playback of a DTS-encoded program

Delay time not adjustable

DTS-ES 6.1 Discrete

source will automatically trigger the selection of one of the two DTS-ES modes. Newer discs with
special DTS-ES discrete encoding will be decoded to provide six discrete, full-bandwidth channels
plus a separate low-frequency channel. All other DTS discs will be decoded using the DTS-ES Matrix 
mode, which creates a 6.1-channel sound field from the original 5.1-channel soundtrack.

DOLBY PRO LOGIC II Dolby Pro Logic II is the latest version of Dolby Laboratory’s benchmark surround technology

Center: 0 - 30ft / 9m

MOVIE

that decodes full-range, discrete left, center right, right surround and left surround channels 

Initial Setting: 12ft / 3.6m

MUSIC

from matrix surround encoded programs and conventional stereo sources when  

Surround: 0 - 30ft / 9m

EMULATION

an analog input or a digital input with PCM or Dolby Digital 2.0 recordings is in use. The  

Initial Setting: 10ft / 3m

Dolby Pro Logic II Movie mode is optimized for movie soundtracks that are recorded with matrix 
surround, by creating separate center, rear left and rear right signals. while the Pro Logic II Music 
mode should be used with musical selections that are recorded with matrix surround or even with
normal stereo mode, creating separate rear left and rear right signals 
in any case. The Pro Logic II Emulation mode creates compelling five-channel surround sound from 
conventional stereo recordings.

Logic 7 Cinema

Exclusive to Harman Kardon for AV receivers, Logic 7 is an advanced mode that extracts the 

Delay time not adjustable

Logic 7 Music

maximum surround information from either surround-encoded programs or conventional stereo 

Logic 7 Enhance

material. Depending on the number of speakers in use and the selection made in the SURROUND
SELECT menu, the “5.1” versions of Logic 7 modes are available when the 5.1 option is chosen,
while the “7.1” versions of Logic 7 produce a full sound field presentation, including back surround 
speakers when the “6.1/7.1” option is chosen. The Logic 7 C (or Cinema) mode should be used 
with any source that contains Dolby Surround or similar matrix encoding. Logic 7 C delivers 
increased center-channel intelligibility, and more accurate placement of sounds with fades and pans 
that are much smoother and more realistic than with former decoding techniques. The Logic 7 M or 
Music mode should be used with analog or PCM stereo sources. Logic 7 M enhances the listening 
experience by presenting a wider front soundstage and greater rear ambience. Both Logic 7 modes 
also direct low-frequency information to the subwoofer (if installed and configured) to deliver 
maximum bass impact. The Logic 7 E (or Enhance) mode is an extension of the Logic 7 modes that is 
primarily used with musical programs and is available with the 5.1 surround mode option selected 
only. Logic 7 E adds additional bass enhancement that circulates low frequencies in the 40Hz to 120Hz 
range to the front and surround speakers to deliver a less localized soundstage that appears broader 
and wider than when the subwoofer is the sole source of bass energy.

DTS Neo:6 Cinema

These two modes are available when any analog source is playing to create a six-channel 

Delay time not adjustable

DTS Neo:6 Music

surround presentation from conventional Matrix-encoded and traditional Stereo sources. Select 
the Cinema version of Neo:6 when a program with any type of analog Matrix surround encoding 
is present. Select the Music version of Neo:6 for optimal processing when a nonencoded,
two-channel stereo program is being played.

30 OPERATION

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 of a 

Delay time not adjustable

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

HALL 1

The two Hall modes create sound fields that resemble a small (HALL1) 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 1,5 m from the speakers. The VMAx F, or “Far Field” mode
may be selected when your listening position is greater than 1,5 m from the speakers.
The VMAx modes are also available using the Headphones Output 4. When headphones
are being used, the Far Field mode will push the sound field away from your ears,
reducing the “inside the head” sensation often experienced when using headphones.

5-Channel Stereo

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

No delay available in

7-Channel Stereo

back of a room. Depending on whether the AVR has been configured for either 5.1 or 6.1/7.1 

these modes

operation, one of these modes, but not both, is available at any time. Ideal for playing music in 
situations such as a party, this mode places the same signal 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.

OPERATION  31

Once you have completed the setup and configu-
ration of the AVR 5550, 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 5550 On or Off
• When using the AVR 5550 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 amber 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 

4567∫

ç∂ or the Source button % on the front
panel.

NOTE: After pressing one of the Input Selector
buttons

4∂ to turn the unit on, press the 

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
3å on the remote. Power will be shut off to
any equipment plugged into the rear panel
Switched AC Outlets

 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 5550 for automatic turn-
off, press the Sleep Button

9 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 Lower
Display Line B 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 

9 until the infor-

mation display returns to normal brightness and
the Sleep indicator numbers disappear and the
words S L E E P O F F appear in the Main
Information Display ˜.

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

46

ç∂.

NOTE: After pressing one of the Input Selector
buttons

4∂ to turn the unit on, 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 5550 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 Ô, Optical
Digital 3 Input * or the Coaxial Digital 3
Input Ó may be used to connect a device such
as a video game or camcorder to your home
entertainment system on a temporary basis.
When they are configured as outputs (see page
35) you can also connect an audio or video
recorder (composite or S-Video) for recording the
source selected.

• As the input source is changed, the new input
name will appear momentarily as an on-screen
display in the lower third of the video display. The
input name will also appear in the Main
Information Display ˜ and a green LED will
light next to the selected input’s name in the
front-panel Input Indicators ˆ.

• When a pure audio input (CD, Tuner, Tape, 6/8
Channel Input) is selected, the last video input
used remains routed to the Video Outputs
 (except from its own Video 1/ source) and
Video Monitor Output

. This permits

simultaneous viewing and listening to different
sources.

• When a Video source is selected, its audio
signal will be fed to the speakers and the video
signal for that input will be routed to the appro-
priate Monitor Output Jack

 and will be view-

able on a TV monitor connected to the AVR 5550.
If a component video source is connected to the

 or Video 2  Component Inputs, it

will be routed to the Component Video
Outputs

. Make certain that your TV is set to

the proper input to view the appropriate video
signal (composite, S-Video or component video,
see Notes for S-Video on page 16).

• There are four input choices available for use
with sources such as a DVD-Audio or SACD play-
er that are connected to the 8-Channel Direct
Inputs

'. Select the appropriate input accord-

ing to the way your system and source equip-
ment is configured:

• The 

6 C H DIRECT

input should be used

when the SBR and SBL inputs are NOT in use and
the input source device has its own internal bass
management system. This input passes the input
from the source directly through to the volume
control without any analog to digital conversion
and it mutes the unused input jacks to prevent
unwanted noise from interfering with system per-
formance.

• The 

6 C H DVD AUDIO

input should be

used when the SBR and SBL inputs are NOT in
use and the input source device does NOT have
its own internal bass management system. When
this input is in use the analog source is converted
to digital so that you may use the same Triple
Crossover bass management options for the
direct input as you do with all other inputs. This
input also mutes the unused input jacks to pre-
vent unwanted noise from interfering with sys-
tem performance.

• The 

8 C H DIRECT INPUT

should be

used when an input is connected to all eight 
8-Channel Direct Inputs

' and when the

input source device has its own internal bass
management system. This input passes the input
from the source directly through to the volume
control without any analog to digital conversion.

• The 

8 C H DVD AUDIO

input should be

used when an input is connected to all eight 
8-Channel Direct Inputs

' and the input

source device does NOT have its own internal
bass management system. When this input is in
use the analog source is converted to digital so
that you may use the same Triple Crossover bass
management options for the direct input as you
do with all other inputs.

Note that when the 6-Channel or 8-Channel
Input is in use, you may not select a surround
mode, as the external decoder determines the
processing in use. In addition, there is no signal
at the record outputs or bass management when
the 6-Channel or 8-Channel Direct Input is in use
and the tone or balance controls will not
function.

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80

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60

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50

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OFF

32 OPERATION

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

)î buttons.

• 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 dubbing
that may be in progress. When the system is
muted, the word 

MUTE

will blink in the Main

Information Display ˜. 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 Ú to suit your listening tastes or room
acoustics. Note that these controls (and Balance)
will not function when the 6/8 channel direct
input is in use.

• To set the output of the AVR 5550 so that the
output is “flat,” with the tone and balance con-
trols de-activated, press the Tone Mode button
8 once or twice so that the words T o n e
O u t

appear momentarily in the Main

Information Display ˜. To return the tone
controls to an active condition, press the Tone
Mode 8 button once or twice so that the
words T o n e I n momentarily appear in the
Main Information Display ˜.

• 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 ˜ and
all speakers will be silenced. When the head-
phone plug is removed, the audio feed to the
speakers will be restored.

One of the most important features of the 
AVR 5550 is its ability to reproduce a full multi-
channel surround sound field from digital
sources, analog matrix surround encoded
programs and standard stereo or even mono
programs. In all, a total of 23 listening modes are
available on the AVR 5550.

Selection of a surround mode is based on personal
taste, as well as the type of program source mate-
rial being used. For example, CDs, motion pictures
or TV programs bearing the logo of one of the
major surround-encoding processes, such as Dolby
Surround should be played in either the Dolby Pro
Logic II Movie (with movies) or Music (with
music) surround mode, with any DTS NEO:6
mode or with Harman Kardon´s exclusive Logic 7
Movie Mode, to create a full range 5.1 channel or
(with Logic 7 and DTS NEO:6) even 7.1 channel
surround signal from surround encoded pro-
grams, with a stereophonic left and right rear sig-
nal, just as it was recorded (e.g. sound being
recorded from left rear side will be heard from
that side only, for more details see chart on 
page 29).

When no rear speakers are in use, the Dolby 3
Stereo mode should be selected with all surround
recordings.

Note that when Dolby Digital 2.0 signals (e.g.
"D.D. 2.0" tracks from DVD), that are encoded
with Dolby Pro Logic information, are received via
any digital input, the Dolby Pro Logic II Movie
mode will be selected automatically (in addition
to the Dolby Digital mode) and will decode a full
range 5.1 channel surround sound even from
those recordings (see also "Dolby Digital" on
page 34).

To create wide, enveloping sound field environ-
ments and defined pans and flyovers with all
analog stereo recordings select the Dolby Pro
Logic II Music or Emulation mode or Harman
Kardon’s exclusive Logic 7 Music mode for a
dramatic improvement in comparison to the
Dolby Pro Logic (I) mode of former times.

NOTE: Once a program has been encoded with
matrix surround information, it retains the sur-
round information as long as the program is
broadcast in stereo. Thus, movies with surround
sound may be decoded via any of the analog sur-
round modes such as Pro Logic II Cinema, Logic 7
Cinema or DTS Neo:6 Cinema, when they are
broadcast via conventional TV stations, cable,
pay-TV and satellite transmission. In addition, a
growing number of made-for-television programs,
sports broadcasts, radio dramas and music CDs are
also recorded in surround sound. You may view a
list of these programs at the Dolby Laboratories
Web site at www.dolby.com.

Even when a program is not listed as carrying
intentional surround information, you may find
that the Dolby Pro Logic II Music, DTS NEO:6
Music or Logic 7 Music or Enhanced modes often
deliver enveloping surround presentations through
the use of the natural surround information
present in all stereo recordings.

However, for stereo programs without any
surround information the Theater, Hall and 5/7CH
Stereo modes should be tried (effective particularly
with old ”extreme” stereo recordings) and for
mono programs, we suggest that you try the
Theater or Hall modes. And when you use only two
front channel speakers you should select Harman’s
patented VMAx mode, delivering a virtually three
dimensional sound space with two speakers only.

Surround modes are selected using either the
front panel controls or the remote. To select a
new surround mode from the front panel, first
press the Surround Mode Group Selector
Button 5 until the desired major surround
mode group such as Dolby, DTS or Logic 7 is
selected. Next, press the Surround Mode
Selector Button 9 to choose the specific
individual surround mode.

To select a surround mode using the remote con-
trol, press the button for the major surround
mode group that includes the mode you wish to
choose from: Dolby

M, DTS Surround N,

, Logic 7 O, Stereo  or

A. The first press of the button

will show the current mode from that group if it
is already in use, or the first available mode if you
are currently using another mode. To cycle
through the available modes in that group press
the button again until the desired mode appears
in the Lower Display Line B and the on-
screen display.

To select from the DSP modes (Hall 1, Hall 2,
Theater, VMAx Near or VMAx Far) press the
Surround Mode Selector

A repeatedly to

scroll through the list of available modes.

As the surround modes change, a green LED will
light next to the current mode in the Surround
Mode Indicators ˘ list on the front panel.

Note that the Dolby Digital or DTS modes may
only be selected when a digital input is in use. In
addition, when a digital source is present, the
AVR 5550 will automatically select and switch to
the correct mode (Dolby Digital or DTS), regard-
less of the mode that has been previously 
selected. For more information on selecting digital
sources, see the following section of this manual.