Harman Kardon Avr 2550

8/12/2019 Harman Kardon Avr 2550

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AVR 2550Audio/Video ReceiverOWNERS MANUAL

AVR 2550

AM/FM RDS

Power for the Digital Revolution


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FRONT PANEL CONTROLS 5

1 Main Power Switch: Press this button toapply power to the AVR 2550. When the switchis pressed in, the unit is placed in a Standbymode, as indicated by the orange LED3 sur-rounding theSystem Power Control 2 . Thisbutton MUST be pressed in to operate the unit.To turn the unit off completely and prevent theuse of the remote control, this switch should bepressed until it pops out from the front panelso that the word OFF may be read at the topof the switch.

NOTE:This switch is normally left in the ONposition.

2 System Power Control: When theMainPower Switch 1 is ON, press this button toturn on the AVR 2550; press it again to turn theunit off (to Standby). Note that thePowerIndicator surrounding the switch3 will turngreen when the unit is on.

3 Power Indicator: This LED will be illumi-nated in orange when the unit is in the Standbymode to signal that the unit is ready to beturned on.When the unit is in operation, theindicator will turn green.

4 Headphone Jack: This jack may be used tolisten to the AVR 2550s output through a pairof headphones.Be certain that the headphoneshave a standard 6.3 mm stereo phone plug.Note that the speakers will automatically beturned off when the headphones are connected.

5 Selector Buttons: When you are establish-ing the AVR 2550s configuration settings, usethese buttons to select from the choices available,as shown in theMain Information Display .

6 Tone Mode: Pressing this button enables ordisables the Balance, Bass and Treble tone con-trols.When the button is pressed so that thewordsTO N E I N appear in theMainInformation Display , the settings of theBass ^ and Treble * controls and of theBalance control& will affect the output sig-nals.When the button is pressed so that thewordsTONEOUT appear in theMainInformation Display , the output signalwill be flat, without any balance, bass or treblealteration.

Front Panel Controls

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Main Power SwitchSystem Power ControlPower IndicatorHeadphone JackSelector ButtonsTone ModeSurround Mode SelectorTuning

Tuner Band SelectorPreset Stations Selector

Input Source SelectorRDS Select ButtonTest Tone SelectorSurround Mode IndicatorsRemote Sensor WindowBass ControlBalance ControlTreble Control

Volume ControlSet Button

Input IndicatorsDelayDigital Input SelectorMain Information DisplayChannel Select ButtonSpeaker Select Button

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6 FRONT PANEL CONTROLS

Front Panel Controls

7 Surround Mode Selector: Press this but-ton to change the surround mode by scrollingthrough the list of available modes. Note thatDolby Digital and DTS modes can be selectedonly when a digital input is used (See page 23for more information about surround modes.)

8 Tuning Selector: Press the left side of thebutton to tune lower frequency stations and theright side of the button to tune higher frequencystations.When a station with a strong signal isreached, theTUNED indicatorL will illuminatein theMain Information Display (seepage 27 for more information on tuning sta-tions).

9 Tuner Band Selector: Pressing this buttonwill automatically switch the AVR to the Tunermode. Pressing it again will switch between theAM and FM frequency bands, holding it pressed

for some seconds will switch between stereoand mono receiving and between automatic andmanual tuning mode (See page 27 for moreinformation on the tuner).

) Preset Stations Selector: Press this but-ton to scroll up or down through the list of sta-tions that have been entered into the presetmemory. (See page 27 for more information ontuner programming.)

! Input Source Selector: Press this buttonto change the input by scrolling through the listof input sources.

@ RDS Select Button: Press this button to dis-play the various messages that are part of theRDS data system of the AVR 2550s tuner. (Seepage 28 for more information on RDS).

# Test Tone Selector: Press this button tobegin the process of adjusting the channel out-put levels using the internal test tone as a refer-ence. (For more information on output leveladjustment, see page 20.)

$ Surround Mode Indicators: A green LEDwill light in front of the surround mode that iscurrently in use.

% Remote Sensor Window: The sensorbehind this window receives infrared signals

from the remote control.Aim the remote at thisarea and do not block or cover it unless anexternal remote sensor is installed.

^ Bass Control: Turn this control to modify thelow frequency output of the left/right channels byas much as 10dB.Set this control to a suitableposition for your taste or room acoustics.

& Balance Control: Turn this control tochange the relative volume for the frontleft/right channels.

NOTE:For proper operation of the surroundmodes this control should be at the midpoint or

12 oclock position.* Treble Control: Turn this control to modifythe high frequency output of the left/right chan-nels by as much as 10dB. Set this control to asuitable position for your taste or room acoustics.

( Volume Control: Turn this knob clockwiseto increase the volume, counterclockwise todecrease the volume. If the AVR is muted,adjusting volume control will automaticallyrelease the unit from the silenced condition.

Set Button: When making choices duringthe setup and configuration process,press this

button to enter the desired setting as shown inthe Main Information Display into theAVR 2550s memory.The set button may also beused to change the display brightness.(See page 27.)

Input indicators: A green LED will light infront of the input that is currently being used asthe source for the AVR 2550.

Delay: Press this button to begin thesequence of steps required to enter delay time

settings. (See page 19 for more information ondelay times.)

Digital Input Selector: When playing asource that has a digital output,press thisbutton to select between theOptical andCoaxial Digital inputs. (See pages24-26 for more information on digital audio.)

Main Information Display: This displaydelivers messages and status indications to helpyou operate the receiver. (See pages 78 for acomplete explanation of the InformationDisplay.)

Channel Select Button: Press this buttonto begin the process of trimming the channeloutput levels using an external audio source.(For more information on output level trimadjustment, see page 27.)

Speaker Select Button: Press this buttonto begin the process of selecting the speakerpositions that are used in your listening room.(See page 17 for more information on setup andconfiguration.)


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FRONT PANEL INFORMATION DISPLAY 7

Front Panel Information Display

Bitstream IndicatorsOptical Source Indicators

DTS Mode IndicatorDolby Digital IndicatorCoaxial Digital Input IndicatorsDolby Pro Logic II IndicatorAnalog Input IndicatorDolby 3 Stereo Indicator

VMAx Mode IndicatorDSP Mode Indicator

Logic 7 Mode IndicatorsTuned IndicatorMain Information DisplayNight Mode IndicatorAuto IndicatorSpeaker/Channel Input Indicators

Preset Number/Sleep TimerPreset Indicator

Sleep IndicatorMemory IndicatorStereo IndicatorRDS IndicatorTraffic Program Indicator

A Bitstream Indicators: When the input is adigital source,one of these indicators will light todisplay the specific type of signal in use.

B Optical Source Indicators: These indica-tors light to show when a Optical Digital Input

has been selected.C DTS Mode Indicator: This indicator illumi-nates when the DTS mode is selected.

D Dolby Digital Indicator: This indicator illu-minates when Dolby Digital mode is selected.

E Coaxial Digital Input Indicators: Theseindicators light to show when a Coaxial DigitalInput has been selected.

F Dolby Pro LogicII Indicator: This indica-tor lights when the Dolby Pro LogicII mode hasbeen selected.

G Analog Input Indicator: This indicator lightswhen an analog input source has been selected.

H Dolby 3 Stereo Indicator: This indicatorlights when the Dolby 3 Stereo Mode has beenselected. OnlyS T (Stereo) will light when"Surround Off" has been selected.Then allSurround Modes are turned off and the unit willplay in pure stereo mode.

I VMAx Mode Indicator: This indicator illu-minates to show that the VMAx mode is in use.V M A x F appears when the Far Field VMAxmode is selected;V M A x N appears when theNear Field VMAx mode is selected. (See page 23for a description of the VMAx Modes.)

J DSP Mode Indicator: This indicator lightswhen any of the surround modes created byDigital Signal Processing, or DSP are in use.These modes include Hall 1, Hall 2,Theater and5 Channel Stereo.

K Logic 7 Mode Indicators: These indicatorsilluminate when the Logic 7 mode is in use.LOGIC 7C appears for the Cinema versionof Logic 7,LOGIC 7M appears for theMusic version of Logic 7. (See page 23 for adescription of the Logic 7 Modes.)

L Tuned Indicator: This indicator illuminateswhen a station is being received with sufficient sig-nal strength to provide acceptable listening quality.

M Main Information Display: This displayshows messages relating to the status, inputsource, surround mode, tuner, volume level orother aspects of units operation.

N Night Mode Indicator: This indicatorlights when the AVR 2550 is in the Night mode,which preserves the dynamic range of digitalprogram material at low volume levels.

O Auto Indicator: This indicator illuminateswhen the tuners Auto mode is in use.

P Speaker/Channel Input Indicators: Theseindicators are multipurpose, indicating either thespeaker type selected for each channel or theincoming data-signal configuration.The left, cen-ter,right, right surround and left surround speakerindicators are composed of three boxes, while thesubwoofer is a single box.The center box lightswhen a Small speaker is selected,and the twoouter boxes light when Largespeakers areselected. When none of the boxes are lit for thecenter, surround or subwoofer channels, nospeaker has been selected for that position. (Seepage 18 for more information on configuringspeakers.) The letters inside each of the centerboxes display active input channels. For standardanalog inputs, only the L and R will light, indicat-ing a stereo input.When a digital source is play-ing, the indicators will light to display the chan-nels begin received at the digital input.When the

letters flash, the digital input has been interrupt-ed. (See page 19 for more information on theChannel Indicators).

Q Preset Number/Sleep Timer: When thetuner is in use, these numbers indicate the spe-cific preset memory location in use. (See page 27for more information on preset stations.) Whenthe Sleep function is in use, these numbers showhow many minutes remain before the unit goesinto the Standby mode.


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8 FRONT PANEL INFORMATION DISPLAY

Front Panel Information Display

R Preset Indicator: This indicator lights whenthe tuner is in use to show that thePresetNumber/Sleep Timer Q is showing the sta-tions preset memory number. (See page 27 formore information on tuner presets.)

SSleep Indicator: This indicator lights whenthe Sleep function is in use.The numbers in the

Preset/Sleep Number Indicators will show theminutes remaining before the AVR 2550 goesinto the Standby mode. (See page 22 for moreinformation on the Sleep function.)

T Memory Indicator: This indicator flasheswhen entering presets and other informationinto the tuners memory.

U Stereo Indicator: This indicator illuminateswhen an FM station is being tuned in stereo.

V RDS Indicator: This indicator illuminates

when the station tuned is transmitting RDS data.W Traffic Program Indicator: This indicatorilluminates if the RDS station tuned sometimestransmits traffic information (see page 28 formore information on RDS).


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REAR PANEL CONNECTIONS 9

Rear Panel Connections

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Tape InputsTape OutputsVideo 1 Audio InputsAM AntennaVideo 1 Audio OutputsDVD Audio InputsFM AntennaCD InputsDigital Audio Outputs

Coaxial Digital InputsSubwoofer OutputVideo Monitor Outputs

Front/Center Speaker OutputsSurround Speaker OutputsSwitched AC Accessory OutletUnswitched AC Accessory OutletAC Power CordDVD Video InputsVideo 1 Video OutputsVideo 2 Audio InputsVideo 2 Video Inputs

Optical Digital InputsVideo 1 Video Inputs

Tape Inputs: Connect these jacks to thePLAY/OUT jacks of an audio recorder.

Tape Outputs: Connect these jacks to theRECORD/INPUT jacks of an audio recorder.

Video 1 Audio Inputs: Connect these jacksto the PLAY/OUTaudio jacks on a VCR or othervideo source.

AM Antenna: Connect theAM loop antennasupplied with the receiver to these terminals. If anexternalAM antenna is used,make connections tothe AMand GNDterminals in accordance withthe instructions supplied with the antenna.

Video 1 Audio Outputs: Connect these jacks to theRECORD/INPUTaudio jacks ona VCR or any other Audio recorder.

DVD Audio Inputs:Connect these jacks tothe analog audio jacks on a DVD or other videosource.

FM Antenna: Connect the supplied indoor oran optional external FM antenna to this terminal.

CD Inputs: Connect these jacks to the ana-log output of a compact disc player or CDchanger.

Digital Audio Outputs: Connect these jacks to the matching digital input connector ona digital recorder such as a CD-R or MiniDisc

recorder.Coaxial Digital Inputs: Connect the coax

digital output from a DVD player, HDTV receiver,LD player, MD player or CD player to these jacks.The signal may be either a Dolby Digital signal,DTS signal or a standard PCM digital source.Donot connect the RF digital output of an LD play-er to these jacks.

Subwoofer Output: Connect this jack tothe line-level input of a powered subwoofer. Ifan external subwoofer amplifier is used, connectthis jack to the subwoofer amplifier input.


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10 REAR PANEL CONNECTIONS

Rear Panel Connections

Video Monitor Outputs: Connect these jacks to the composite and/or S-Video input of aTV monitor or video projector to view the outputof any video source selected by the receiversvideo switcher.

Front/Center Speaker Outputs: Connectthese outputs to the matching + or terminalson your front/center speakers. When makingspeaker connections, always make certain tomaintain correct polarity by connecting the red(+) terminals on the AVR 2550 to the red (+)terminals on the speaker and the black () ter-minals on the AVR 2550 to the black () termi-nals on the speakers. (See page 14 for moreinformation on speaker polarity.)

Surround Speaker Outputs: Connectthese outputs to the matching + or terminalson your left and right surround speakers.Whenmaking speaker connections always make cer-tain to maintain correct polarity by connectingthe red (+) terminals on the AVR 2550 to thered (+) terminals on the speakers and the black() terminals on the AVR 2550 to the black ()terminals on the speakers. See page 14 for moreinformation on speaker polarity.

Switched AC Accessory Outlet: This out-let may be used to power any device that youwish to have turn on when the unit is turned onwith theSystem Power Control switch2 .

Unswitched AC Accessory Outlet: Thisoutlet may be used to power any AC device. Thepower will remain on at this outlet regardless ofwhether the AVR 2550 is on or off (in Standby),provided that theMain Power switch1 is on.

Note: The total power consumption of alldevices connected to the accessory outletsshould not exceed 100 watts from theUnswitched Outlet and 50 W from theSwitched Outlet .

AC Power Cord: Connect the AC plug to anunswitched AC wall output.

DVD Video Inputs: Connect these jacks tothe composite or S-Video output jacks on a DVDplayer or other video source.

Video 1 Video Outputs: Connect these jacks to theRECORD/INPUTcomposite orS-Video jack on a VCR.

Video 2 Audio Inputs: Connect these jacksto the PLAY/OUTaudio jacks on a VCR or othervideo source.

Video 2 Video Inputs: Connect these jacksto the PLAY/OUTcomposite or S-Video jacks ona second VCR or other video source.

Optical Digital Inputs: Connect the opticaldigital output from a DVD player, HDTV receiver,LD player, MD player or CD player to these jacks.The signal may be either a Dolby Digital signal, aDTS signal or a standard PCM digital source.

Video 1 Video Inputs: Connect these jacksto the PLAY/OUTcomposite or S-Video jacks ona VCR or other video source.

Note: Either the Video or S-Video output of anyS-Video source must be connected to theAVR 2550, not both in parallel,otherwise thevideo may be disturbed or its performance beadversely effected.


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REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONS 11

Remote Control Functions

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Power On ButtonIR Transmitter WindowProgram IndicatorPower Off ButtonInput SelectorsAVR Selector

AM/FM Tuner SelectTest ButtonSleep ButtonSurround Mode SelectorNight ModeChannel Select Button / Buttons ButtonSet ButtonDigital SelectNumeric KeysTuner ModeDirect ButtonTuning Up/DownMacro ButtonsTransport ControlsSkip Up/Down ButtonsRDS Select ButtonPreset Up/DownClear ButtonMemory ButtonDelay/Prev. Ch. ButtonSpeaker SelectSpare ButtonVolume Up/DownTV/Video Selector

Mute

NOTE:The function names shown here are eachbuttons feature when used with the AVR. Mostbuttons have additional functions when usedwith other devices. See page 32 for a list ofthese functions.

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12 REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONS


IMPORTANT NOTE:The AVR 2550s remotemay be programmed to control up to sevendevices, including the AVR 2550. Before usingthe remote, it is important to remember to pressthe Input Selector button 4 that corre-sponds to the unit you wish to operate. In addi-

tion, the AVR 2550s remote is shipped from thefactory to operate the AVR 2550 and mostHarman Kardon CD or DVD players and cassettedecks.The remote is also capable of operating awide variety of other products using the controlcodes that are part of the remote.Before usingthe remote with other products, follow theinstructions on pages 29 to program the propercodes for the products in your system.

It is also important to remember that many of thebuttons on the remote take on different func-tions,depending on the product selected usingthe Input Selectors.The descriptions shown here

primarily detail the functions of the remote whenit is used to operate the AVR 2550. (See page 32for information about alternate functions for theremotes buttons.)

0 Power On Button: Press this button toturn on the power to a device selected by pressingone of theInput Selectors 4 (except Tape).

1 IR Transmitter Window: Point this windowtowards the AVR 2550 when pressing buttons onthe remote to make certain that infrared com-mands are properly received.

2 Program Indicator: This three-color indi-cator is used to guide you through the process ofprogramming the remote. See page 29 for infor-mation on programming the remote.

3 Power Off Button: Press this button toplace the AVR 2550 or a selected device unit inthe Standby mode.

4 Input Selectors: Pressing one of thesebuttons will perform three actions at the sametime. First, if the AVR is not turned on, this willpower up the unit. Next, it will select the sourceshown on the button as the input to the AVR.Finally, it will change the remote control so that

it controls the device selected.After pressing oneof these buttons you must press theAVRSelector button5 again to operate theAVRs functions with the remote.

5 AVR Selector: Pressing this button willswitch the remote so that it will operate the AVRsfunctions.If the AVR is in the Standby mode, it willalso turn the AVR on.

6 AM/FM Tuner Select:Press this button toselect the AVRs tuner as the listening choice.Pressing this button when the tuner is in use willselect between the AM and FM bands.

7 Test Tone: Press this button to begin thesequence used to calibrate the AVR 2550s outputlevels. (See page 20 for more information oncalibrating the AVR 2550.)

8 Sleep Button: Press this button to placethe unit in the Sleep mode.After the time shownin the display, the AVR 2550 will automaticallygo into the Standby mode. Each press of thebutton changes the time until turn-off in the fol-lowing order:

Hold the button pressed for two seconds to turnoff the Sleep mode setting.Note that this button is also used to changechannels on your TV, VCR and SAT receiver whenselected.

9 Surround Mode Selector: Press thisbutton to begin the process of changingthe surround mode. After the button hasbeen pressed, use the / buttonsC toselect the desired surround mode (See page 24for more information). Note that this button isalso used to tune channels when the TV, VCRand SAT receiver is selected using theInputSelector 4 .

A Night Mode: Press this button to activatethe Night mode.This mode is available only withDolby Digital encoded digital sources, and it pre-serves dialog (center channel) intelligibilty at lowvolume levels (See page 26 for more informa-tion).

B Channel Select Button: This button isused to start the process of setting the AVR 2550soutput levels with an external source.Once thisbutton is pressed, use the / buttonsC toselect the channel being adjusted, then press theSet buttonE , followed by the / buttons

again, to change the level setting. (See page 27 formore information.)

C / Buttons: These are multi-purposebuttons.They will be used most frequently to selecta surround mode.These buttons are also used toincrease or decrease output levels when config-uring the unit, to select speaker configuration orto select the digital inputs.They are also used toenter delay time settings after theDelay button

has been pressed.

When the AVR 2550 remote is being programmedfor the codes of another device, these buttons arealso used in the Auto Search process (See page29 for more information on programming theremote.)

D Button: This button does not have afunction with the AVR 2550.When a DVD playeror TV is selected, it may be used to navigate themenus of those devices.

E Set Button: This button is used to entersettings into the AVR 2550s memory. It is alsoused in the setup procedures for delay time,speaker configuration and channel output leveladjustment.

F Digital Select: Press this button to assignone of the digital inputs to a source. (Seepage 25 for more information on using digitalinputs.)

G Numeric Keys:These buttons serve as aten-button numeric keypad to enter tuner presetpositions.They are also used to select channelnumbers whenTV, VCRor Sat receiver hasbeen selected on the remote, or to select tracknumbers on a CD, DVD or LD player, dependingon how the remote has been programmed.

H Tuner Mode: Press this button when thetuner is in use to select between automatic tun-ing and manual tuning. When the button ispressed so that theAUTOindicatorO goesout, pressing theTuning buttonsJ 8 willmove the frequency up or down in single-stepincrements.When the FM band is in use and theAUTOindicatorO is on, pressing this buttonwill change to monaural reception making evenweek stations audible. (See page 27 for moreinformation.)

90min

80min

70min

60min

50min

40min

30min

20min

10min OFF


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REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONS 13


I Direct Button: Press this button when thetuner is in use to start the sequence for directentry of a stations frequency.After pressing thebutton simply press the properNumeric KeysG to select a station (See page 27 for moreinformation on the tuner).

J Tuning Up/Down:When the tuner is in use,these buttons will tune up or down through theselected frequency band. If theTuner Mode but-ton H has been pressed or theBand button@ on the front panel was held pressed so thatthe AUTOindicatorO is illuminated, pressingeither of the buttons will cause the tuner to seekthe next station with acceptable signal strengthfor quality reception. When theAUTOindicatorO is NOT illuminated, pressing these buttons willtune stations in single-step increments. (See page27 for more information.)

K Macro Buttons: Press these buttonsto store or recall a Macro, which is apre-programmed sequence of commandsstored in the remote. (See page 30 for moreinformation on storing and recalling macros.)

L Transport Buttons: These buttons do nothave any functions for the AVR, but they may beprogrammed for the forward/reverse play opera-tion of a wide variety of CD or DVD players, andaudio or video- cassette recorders. (See page 29for more information on programming theremote.)

M Skip Up/Down Buttons: These buttonsdo not have a direct function with the AVR2550, but when used with a compatibly pro-grammed CD or DVD changer they will changethe tracks on the disc currently being played inthe changer.

N RDS Select Button: Press this button todisplay the various messages that are part of theRDS data system of the AVR 2550s tuner. (Seepage 28 for more information on RDS).

O Preset Up/Down: When the tuner is inuse, press these buttons to scroll through thestations programmed into the AVR 2550s mem-ory.When CD or DVD is selected using theInput Selector button4 , these buttons mayfunction as Slow Fwd/Rev (DVD) or +10 (CD).

P Clear Button: Press this button to clearincorrect entries when using the remote todirectly enter a radio stations frequency.

Q Memory Button: Press this button to entera radio station into the AVR 2550s presetmemory.After pressing the button theMEMORYindicatorS will flash; you then have five sec-onds to enter a preset memory location usingthe Numeric Keys G . (See page 27 for moreinformation.)

Delay/Prev Ch.: Press this button to beginthe process for setting the delay times used bythe AVR 2550 when processing surround sound.After pressing this button, the delay times areentered by pressing theSet buttonE andthen using the / buttonsC to change thesetting. Press the Set button again to completethe process. (See page 19 for more information.)

Button: This button does not have afunction with the AVR 2550.When a DVD playeror TV is selected, it may be used to navigate themenus of those devices.

Speaker Select: Press this button tobegin the process of configuring the AVR

2550s Bass Management System for use withthe type of speakers used in your system. Oncethe button has been pressed, use the / but-tons C to select the channel you wish to setup. Press theSet button E and then selectthe speaker type (see page 17 for more infor-mation.)

Spare Button: This button does not haveany function for the operation of the AVR 2550,but it can turn on/off the Multiroom system onother Harman Kardon AV-receivers with that fea-ture and the Sub-function on DVD players.

Volume Up/Down: Press these buttons toraise or lower the system volume.

TV/Video Button: This button does nothave a direct function on the AVR 2550, butwhen used with a compatibly programmed VCR,DVD or satellite receiver that has a TV/Videofunction, pressing this button will switchbetween the output of the player or receiver andthe external video input to that player. Consultthe Owners Manual for your specific player orreceiver for the details of how it implements thisfunction.

Mute: Press this button to momentarilysilence the AVR 2550 or TV set being controlled,depending on which device has been selected.

When the AVR 2550 remote is being programmedto operate another device, this button is pressedwith theInput Selector button 4 to beginthe programming process. (See page 29 for moreinformation on programming the remote.)

NOTE:As any of the remote buttons pressed isactive with the device selected, the correspon-dingSelector button45 will briefly flashred to confirm your selection.


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14 INSTALLATION AND CONNECTIONS

After unpacking the unit, and placing it on a solidsurface capable of supporting its weight, you willneed to make the connections to your audio andvideo equipment.

Audio Equipment ConnectionsWe recommend that you use high-quality inter-connect cables when making connections tosource equipment and recorders to preserve theintegrity of the signals.

When making connections to audio sourceequipment or speakers it is always a good prac-tice to unplug the unit from the AC wall outlet.This prevents any possibility of accidentally send-ing audio or transient signals to the speakersthat may damage them.

Important Note : In order to clearly identify allconnectors and simplify nstallation, as per the

new EIA/CEA-863 standard, all connections arecolour coded as follows:For Speakers and Audio In/Outputs: White (Left,speakers front) and Red (Right, speakers front).For Speakers: Green (Center), Blue (LeftSurround) and Grey (Right Surround).For Audio Output: Purple (Subwoofer).For Composite Video In/Outputs: Yellow.For Digital Audio In/Outputs: Orange.

1. Connect the analog output of a CD player tothe CDinputs .

NOTE:When the CD player has both fixed andvariable audio outputs it is best to use the fixedoutput unless you find that the input to thereceiver is so low that the sound is noisy, or sohigh that the signal is distorted.

2. Connect the analog Play/Out jacks of a cas-sette deck, MD, CD-R or other audio recorder tothe Tape Input jacks . Connect the analogRecord/In jacks on the recorder to theTapeOutput jacks on the AVR 2550.

3. Connect the output of any digital sources tothe appropriate input connections on theAVR 2550 rear panel. Note that theOpticaland Coaxial digital inputs may be used

with a Dolby Digital or DTS source or the out-put of a conventional CD, MD or LD playersPCM (S/P-DIF) output.

4. Connect theCoaxial or Optical DigitalOutputs on the rear panel of the AVR to thematching digital input connections on a CD-R orMiniDisc recorder.

5. Assemble the AM Loop Antenna supplied withthe unit as shown below. Connect it to theAMand GNDscrew terminals .

6. Connect the supplied FM antenna to theFM(75 ohm) connection . The FM antenna maybe an external roof antenna, an inside poweredor wire lead antenna or a connection from acable system. Note that if the antenna or con-nection uses 300-ohm twin-lead cable, you mustuse a 300-ohm-to-75-ohm adapter to make theconnection.

7. Connect the front, center and surround speak-er outputs to the respective speakers.

To assure that all the audio signals are carried toyour speakers without loss of clarity or resolu-tion, we suggest that you use high-qualityspeaker cable. Many brands of cable are avail-able and the choice of cable may be influencedby the distance between your speakers and thereceiver, the type of speakers you use, personalpreferences and other factors.Your dealer orinstaller is a valuable resource to consult inselecting the proper cable.

Regardless of the brand of cable selected, werecommend that you use a cable constructed offine,multistrand copper with an area greaterthan 2 mm2.

Cable with an area of 1.5 mm2 may be used forshort runs of less than 4 m. We do not recom-mend that you use cables with an area less than1mm2 due to the power loss and degradation inperformance that will occur.

Cables that are run inside walls should have theappropriate markings to indicate listing with UL,CSA or other appropriate testing agency stan-dards. Questions about running cables insidewalls should be referred to your installer or alicensed electrical contractor who is familiar withthe applicable local building codes in your area.

When connecting wires to the speakers,be cer-

tain to observe proper polarity. Remember toconnect the negative or black wire to thesame terminal on both the receiver and thespeaker. Similarly, the positive or red wireshould be connected to like terminals on theAVR 2550 and speaker.

NOTE:While most speaker manufacturersadhere to an industry convention of using blackterminals for negative and red ones for positive,some manufacturers may vary from this configu-ration.To assure proper phase and optimal per-formance, consult the identification plate onyour speaker or the speakers manual to verifypolarity. If you do not know the polarity of yourspeaker, ask your dealer for advice before pro-ceeding, or consult the speakers manufacturer.

We also recommend that the length of cableused to connect speaker pairs be identical. Forexample, use the same length piece of cable toconnect the front-left and front-right or sur-round-left and surround-right speakers, even ifthe speakers are a different distance from the

AVR 2550.8. Connections to a subwoofer are normallymade via a line level audio connection from theSubwoofer Output to the line-level inputof a subwoofer with a built-in amplifier. When apassive subwoofer is used, the connection firstgoes to a power amplifier, which will beconnected to one or more subwoofer speakers.If you are using a powered subwoofer that doesnot have line-level input connections, follow theinstructions furnished with the speaker forconnection information.

Note: Speaker sets with two front satellites anda passive subwoofer must be connected to thefront speaker outputs only rather than to theSubwoofer Output .

Video Equipment ConnectionsVideo equipment is connected in the same man-ner as audio components.Again, the use of high-quality interconnect cables is recommended topreserve signal quality.To ensure best video per-formance S-Video sources should be connectedto the AVR 2550 only with their S-Video In/Outputs, not with their composite video connec-tors too.

1. Connect a VCRs audio and video Play/Out jacks to theVideo 1 or Video 2 In jacks

on the rear panel. The Audio andVideo Record/In jacks on the VCR should be con-nected to theVideo 1 Out jacks on theAVR 2550.

2. Connect the analog audio and video outputsof a satellite receiver, cable TV converter or tele-vision set or any other video source to theVideo 2 .

3. Connect the analog audio and video outputsof a DVD or laser disc player to theDVD jacks

.

4. Connect theVideo Monitor Out jacks onthe receiver to the composite and S-Video inputof your television monitor or video projector.

Video Connection Note: S-Video or Composite video signals may only

be viewed in their native formats and will notbe converted to the other format.

Installation and Connections


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AC Power ConnectionsThis unit is equipped with two accessory AC out-lets.They may be used to power accessorydevices, but they should not be used with high-current draw equipment such as power ampli-

fiers.The total power draw to theUnswitchedOutlet must not exceed 100 watts, that tothe Switched Outlet 50 watts.

TheSwitched outlet will receive power onlywhen the unit is on completely.This is recom-mended for devices that have no power switchor a mechanical power switch that may be left inthe ON position.

NOTE:Many audio and video products turn toStandby mode only when they are used withswitched outlets, and cannot be fully turned onusing the outlet alone without a remote controlcommand.

TheUnswitched outlet will receive poweras long as the unit is plugged into a powered ACoutlet and theMain Power Switch1 is on.

Finally,when all connections are complete,plugthe power cord into a nonswitched 220-240-voltAC wall outlet.Youre almost ready to enjoy theAVR 2550!

Speaker SelectionNo matter which type or brand of speakers isused, the same model or brand of speakershould be used at least for the front-left, center

and front-right speakers. This creates a seamlessfront soundstage and eliminates the possibilityof distracting sonic disturbances that occur whena sound moves across mismatched front-channelspeakers.

Speaker PlacementThe placement of speakers in a multichannelhome-theater system can have a noticeableimpact on the quality of sound reproduced.

Depending on the type of center-channelspeaker in use and your viewing device,placethe center speaker either directly above or belowyour TV, or in the center behind a perforatedfront-projection screen.

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

They should also be at least 0.5 meter from yourTV set unless the speakers are magneticallyshielded to avoid colourings on the TV screen.Note that most speakers are not shielded,evenwith complete surround sets only the Centerspeaker may be.

Depending on the specifics of your roomacoustics and the type of speakers in use,youmay find that imaging is improved by moving thefront-left and front-right speakers slightlyforward of the center-channel speaker. Ifpossible, adjust all front loudspeakers so thatthey are aimed at ear height when you areseated in the listening position.

Using these guidelines,youll find that it takessome experimentation to find the correctlocation for the front speakers in your particularinstallation. Dont be afraid to move things

around until the system sounds correct.Optimizeyour speakers so that audio transitions acrossthe front of the room sound smooth.

Surround speakers should be placed on the sidewalls of the room, at or slightly behind thelistening position.The center of the speakershould face you.

If side-wall mounting is not practical, thespeakers may be placed on a rear wall, behindthe listening position. The speakers should be nomore than two meters behind the rear of theseating area.

Subwoofers produce largely nondirectionalsound, so they may be placed almost anywherein a room.Actual placement should be based onroom size and shape and the type of subwooferused. One method of finding the optimallocation for a subwoofer is to begin by placing itin the front of the room, about 15cm from awall, or near the front corner of the room.Another method is to temporarily place thesubwoofer in the spot where you will normallysit, and then walk around the room until youfind a spot where the subwoofer sounds best.Place the subwoofer in that spot. You shouldalso follow the instructions of the subwoofersmanufacturer, or you may wish to experimentwith the best location for a subwoofer in yourlistening room.

Right FrontSpeaker

Left FrontSpeaker

No more than60cm

Center Front Speaker

A) Front Channel Speaker Installation withDirect-View TV Sets or Rear-Screen Projectors

Center FrontSpeaker

Optional Rear-Wall Mounting

TV or Projection Screen

Right FrontSpeaker

Left FrontSpeaker

N o m o r e

t h a n

2 m

w h e n r e a r - m o u n

t e d

s p e a

k e r s a r e u s e

d

B) The distance between the left and right speakers should be equal to the distance fromthe seating position to the viewing screen.You may also experiment with placing the left and right speakers slightly forward of the center speaker.

16 INSTALLATION AND CONNECTIONS

Installation and Connections


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SYSTEM CONFIGURATION 17

System Configuration

Once the speakers have been placed in theroom and connected, the remaining steps are toprogram the system configuration memories.With the AVR 2550 two kind of memories areused, those associated individually with theinput selected, e.g. surround modes, and others

working independently from any input selectedlike speaker output levels, or delay times usedby the surround sound processor.

First Turn OnYou are now ready to power up the AVR 2550 tobegin these final adjustments.

1. Plug thePower Cable into an un-switched AC outlet.

2. Press theMain Power Switch 1 in until itlatches and the word OFF on the top of theswitch 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 thefront-panel lens. If left in place, the film mayaffect the performance of your remote control.

4. Install the three supplied AAA batteries in theremote as shown. Be certain to follow the (+)and () polarity indicators that are on the bot-tom of the battery compartment.

5.Turn the AVR 2550 on either by pressing theSystem Power Control 2 or theInputSource Selector ! on the front panel, or viathe remote by pressing theAVR Selector 5or any of theInput Selectors 46 on theremote.ThePower Indicator 3 will turn greento confirm that the unit is on, and theMainInformation Display will also light up.

Settings to be Made With EachInput UsedThe AVR 2550 features an advanced memorysystem that enables you to establish differentsettings for the speaker configuration, digital

input and surround mode for each input source.This flexibility enables you to custom tailor theway in which you listen to each source and havethe AVR 2550 memorize them.This means, forexample, that you may associate different sur-round modes and analog or digital inputs withdifferent sources,or set different speaker config-urations with the resultant changes to the bassmanagement system or the use of the Centerspeaker. Once these settings are made, they willautomatically be recalled whenever you selectan input.

The default settings for the AVR 2550, as it is

shipped from the factory, have all inputs set foran analog source (except for the DVD input,which has theCoaxial Digital Input 1 asthe default), with stereo as the surround mode,the front left and right speakers set to large(with surround modes other speakers tosmall), and a subwoofer connected. Beforeusing the unit, you will probably want to changethese settings for most inputs so that they areproperly configured to reflect the use of digitalor analog inputs, the type of speakers installedand the surround mode associated with theinput. Remember, since the AVR 2550s memorysystem keeps the settings for each input sepa-rate from the other inputs, you will need to makethese adjustments for each input used.However,once they are made, further adjustment is onlyrequired when system components are changed.

To make this process as quick and as easy aspossible, we suggest that with each of these set-tings to be made you step through each input.Once you have completed the settings for thefirst input, many settings may be duplicated forthe remaining inputs.

The items that follow will describe the individualsettings required for each input.

Input SetupThe first step in configuring the AVR 2550 is toselect an input.This may be done by pressingthe front panelInput Source Selector !until the desired inputs name appears momen-tarily in theMain Information Display M ,

and the green LED lights next to the inputsname in the front panelInput Indicators .The input may also be selected by pressing theappropriate Input Selector on the remote control46 .

The second step is to associate one of the digitalinputs with the selected input source (if this isneeded, otherwise the selected analog input willremain). Press theDigital Input Select button F on the front panel or the remote. Withinfive seconds,make your input selection using theSelector buttons on the front panel5 or the / buttonsC on the remote until the

desired digital or analog input is shown in theMain Information Display M . Then press theSet buttonE to enter the new digital inputassignment.

After the setting has been made with one input,repeat as described above with all inputs in use.The digital input associated with the inputselected can also be changed at any time laterand the AVR 2550s memory system will keepthe settings until they are changed again.

Speaker SetupThis setup tells the AVR 2550 which type ofspeakers are in use.This is important as itadjusts the settings that determine whichspeakers receive low frequency (bass) informa-tion and whether a Center speaker should beused or not, separately for each input used. Foreach of these settings use theL A R G E set-ting if the speakers for a particular position aretraditional full-range loudspeakers that arecapable of reproducing sounds below 100Hz.Use theS M A L L setting for smaller, frequen-cy-limited satellite speakers that do not repro-duce sounds below 100Hz. Note that whensmall front (left and right) speakers are used,a subwoofer is required to reproduce low fre-

quency sounds. If you are in doubt as to whichcategory describes your speakers, consult thespecifications in the speakers owners manual,or ask your dealer. Remember that each speakersetup that differs from the default settings (seeabove) must be made individually for each inputin use.

It is best to select the Dolby Pro Logic II Moviemode for speaker setup.Then with the currentlyselected input all speaker settings will be copiedto other surround modes too (as far as possible)and need not be repeated with any other mode.


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To assist in making these settings, the icons inthe Speaker/Channel Input Indicators Pwill change as the speaker type is selected ateach position.When only the inner icon box is lit,the speaker is set for small. When the inner boxand the two outer boxes with circles inside them

are lit, the speaker is set for large." When noindicator appears at a speaker location, thatposition is set for none or no speaker.

As an example, in the Figure below, the left frontand right front speakers are set for large, thecenter, left surround and right surround speakersare set for small, and a subwoofer is set.

After the speaker setting has been made withone input, repeat as described above with allinputs you will use. In most cases, the speakertype will be the same and may be quickly enteredby entering the same data used for the originalinput. But with some music sources you may pre-fer to listen to your surround system withoutusing a Center speaker, particularily when a smallCenter is in use with an audio performance notmatching perfectly with the main front speakers.With these sources selected the Center speakerwill then be turned off automatically (enterNONE for the Center setting), while its signal willbe fed to the left and right Fronts.

The speaker setting mode can also be changed atany time later, and the AVR 2550s memory sys-tem will keep these settings for the input select-ed, until they are changed again.

Surround SetupOnce the speaker setup has been completed, thenext setup step is to set the surround mode youwish to use with each input. Since surroundmodes are a matter of personal taste, feel free toselect any mode you wish you may change it

later. The Surround Mode chart on page 24 mayhelp you select the mode best suited to the inputsource selected. However, to make it easier toestablish the initial parameters for the AVR 2550,it is best to select any Dolby Pro Logic II mode formost analog inputs and Dolby Digital for inputsconnected to digital sources. In the case of inputssuch as a CD Player, Tape Deck or Tuner, you maywish to set the mode to Stereo, if that is yourpreferred listening mode for standard stereosources, where it is unlikely that surround encod-ed material will be used. Alternatively, the 5Channel Stereo orLogic 7 Music mode may alsobe a good choice for stereo-only source material.

To set the surround mode you wish to use withthe input selected, press theSurround ModeSelector button7 on the front or9 and the / buttonsC on the remote until thedesired surround modes name appears in theMain Information Display M .

As the modes are changed, a green LED will alsolight next to the mode names in theSurroundMode Indicators $ on the front panel.

Note that Dolby Digital and DTS will only appearas choices when a digital input has beenselected.

After the surround mode setting has been madewith the current input, repeat the setting with allinputs you will use.The surround mode can alsobe changed at any time later, and the AVR 2550smemory system will keep the settings for theinput selected, until they are changed again.

Making Settings independent ofselected InputAfter the settings described above have beenmade for all input sources in your system, the fol-lowing settings, made with any input,will remain

in effect independent of the input selected.Delay SettingsOnly for the Dolby Digital or Dolby Pro Logic IImodes, you will need to adjust the delay timesetting. Note that the delay time is notadjustable for any other modes.

Important Note: Once the delay time is setwith any input it will be effective with all otherinputs too. Moreover the surround delay timesetting must be made only for either the DolbyPro Logic II or the Dolby Digital mode. The othersetting will be set automatically.

Due to the different distances between the lis-tening position for the front channel speakersand the surround speakers, the amount of time ittakes for sound to reach your ears from the frontor surround speakers is different.You may com-pensate for this difference through the use of thedelay settings to adjust the timing for the specificspeaker placement and acoustic conditions inyour listening room or home theater.

The factory setting (see Surround Mode Chartpage 24) is appropriate for most rooms, butsome installations create an uncommon distancebetween the front and surround speakers that

may cause the arrival of front channel sounds tobecome disconnected from surround channelsounds.

To resynchronize the front, center and surroundchannels, follow these steps:

1. Measure the distance from the listening/viewing position to the front speakers inmeters.

2. Measure the distance from the listening/viewing position to the surround speakers.

3. Subtract the distance to the surround speakersfrom the distance to the front speakers andmultiply the result by 3.

a.When setting the delay time for the DolbyDigital surround modes, the optimal delay timeis the result of that subtraction. For example, ifthe front speakers are 3 m away and the sur-round speakers are 1 m away, the optimaldelay time is figured as (31)x3=6.Thus, inthis example, the delay time for Dolby Digitalshould be set at six milliseconds.

b.When setting the delay time for any Dolby ProLogic II mode, take the result of the calculationabove and add 15 to obtain the optimal delay

time.For example, if the front speakers are 3 maway and the surround speakers are 1 m away,

L RC

SL SRLFE


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20 SYSTEM CONFIGURATION

the optimal delay time is figured as(31) x 3+15=21.Thus, in this example, thePro Logic II delay should be set at twentymilliseconds.

NOTE:The DTS, Logic 7, 5CH Stereo,Hall andTheater modes use a fixed,nonadjustable delaytime.

The Dolby Digital Mode also includes a separatesetting for the center channel delay mode, sincethe discrete nature of these signals makes thelocation of the center channel speaker more criti-cal.To calculate the delay for the center channel,measure the distance from the preferred listeningposition in the center of the room to both thecenter channel speaker and either the left orright speaker.

If the distances are equal, no further adjustmentis required and the center delay should be leftzero. If the distance to the front speakers isgreater 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 tothe listening position or the center speaker furtheraway 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 cmcloser to the listening position the center speakeris than the front speakers. For example, if thefront left and front right speakers are each 3 mfrom the listening position and the center chan-nel speaker is 2.4 m away, the delay is figured as300 cm 240 cm=60 cm, suggesting an optimalcenter delay of 2 milliseconds.

To set the delay time, follow these steps:

1. To make the delay settings for the DolbyDigital mode (this will include the Center delaysetting, and the surround delay for thePro Logic II mode will be set automatically), pressthe Input Source Selector ! on the front or4 on the remote and select any input now thatis associated with a digital input and the DolbyDigital surround mode.

2. Press theDelay button on the remoteor front panel.The wordsS DELAY appear inthe Main Information Display M .

3. Press theSet buttonE .

4. Press the / buttonsC on the remote orthe Selector buttons5 on the front panel untilthe desired rear delay time for the Dolby Digitalmode,calculated using the formula for DolbyDigital above (item a.), appears in the display.

5. Press theSet buttonE to enter thesetting into the AVR 2550s memory.

6. Press the / buttonsC on the remoteonce, so thatC DELAY appears in theMainInformation Display M .

7. Press theSet buttonE .

8. Press the / buttonsC on the remoteuntil the desired delay time for the center chan-nel appears in the display.

9. Press theSet buttonE to enter the set-ting into the AVR 2550s memory.

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

Night Mode SettingsThe Night mode is a feature of Dolby Digital thatuses special processing to preserve the dynamicrange and full intelligibility of a movie soundtrack while reducing the peak level.This preventsabruptly loud transitions from disturbing others,without reducing the sonic impact of a digitalsource. Note that the Night mode is only avail-able when the Dolby Digital surround mode isselected.

To adjust the Night mode setting press theInputSource Selector ! on the front or4 on theremote and select an input that is associatedwith a digital input and the Dolby Digital sur-round mode.

Next press theNight buttonA on the remote.When the button is pressed, the wordsD-R (Dynamic Range) followed by the current

setting (MID, MAX, OFF) will appear in theMainInformation Display M . Press the /buttonsC within five seconds to select thedesired setting:

OF F : WhenOFFis shown in the display, theNight mode will not function.

MI D : WhenMIDis shown in the display,amild compression will be applied.

MA X : WhenMAXis shown in the display,amore severe compression algorithm will beapplied.

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

When any Night mode is selected, theNIGHTMode Indicator N will illuminate.To confirmthe selection press theSet buttonE orwait for some seconds until the display returns tothe normal mode.

Output Level AdjustmentOutput level adjustment is a key part of the con-figuration process for any surround sound prod-uct. It is particularly important for a Dolby Digitalreceiver such as the AVR 2550, as correct outputswill ensure that you hear sound tracks with the

proper directionality and intensity.NOTE:Listeners are often confused about theoperation of the surround channels.While someassume that sound should always be comingfrom each speaker, most of the time there will belittle or no sound in the surround channels.Thisis because they are only used when a moviedirector or sound mixer specifically places soundthere to create ambiance, a special effect or tocontinue action from the front of the room tothe rear. When the output levels are properly setit is normal for surround speakers to operateonly 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 beadjusted for each digital and analog surroundmode separately. This allows you to compensatefor level differences between speakers, that mayalso vary with the surround mode selected, or toincrease or decrease the level of certain speakersintentionally, depending on the surround modeselected. Note that adjustments made for anysurround mode are effective with all inputs asso-

ciated with that surround mode.Before beginning the output level adjustmentprocess, make certain that all speaker connec-tions have been properly made.The systemvolume should be turned down at first. Finally,make certain that theBalance Control & isset to the center 12 oclock position.

To adjust and calibrate the output levels, followthese steps. For accurate calibration, it is a goodidea to make these adjustments while seated inyour favorite listening position. As the adjust-ment must be made for each surround mode, it is

best to select any input associated with anyDolby Pro Logic II mode, make the adjustment forthat surround mode, then step through all inputsyoure using (and thus through all surroundmodes associated with the inputs) and repeatthe adjustment when any surround modeappears that has not yet been adjusted.

1. Select any input associated with any Dolby ProLogic II surround mode by pressing theInputSource Selector ! 4 until thePro Logic IISurround Mode Indicator $ on the frontand F in the display light up.

2. Press theTest Tone button7 # on theremote.The wordsTESTFL will appear in theMain Information Display M .



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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 thetest noise rotates the speaker positions FL ,CEN , FR , SR , SL (Front Left,Center, FrontRight, Surround Right, Surround Left) will be

shown in theMain Information Display M .As an added assist, while the test noise is circu-lating, the proper channel position will also beindicated in theSpeaker/Channel IndicatorsP by a blinking letter within the correct chan-nel. Turn up the volume now until you can hearthe noise clearly.

IMPORTANT NOTE:Because this test noise willhave a much lower level than normal music, thevolume must be lowered after the adjustmentfor all channels is made, BEFORE you turn thetest tone off.

NOTE:This is a good time to verify that thespeakers have been properly connected.As thetest noise circulates, listen to make certain thatthe sound comes from the speaker positionshown in the Main Information Display. If thesound from a speaker location does NOT matchthe position indicated in the display, turn theAVR 2550 off using theMain Power Switch1 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 thetest noise circulate again, and listen to seewhich channels sound louder than the others.Using the front left speaker as a reference, pressthe / buttonsC on the remote to bring allspeakers to the same volume level. Note that

when one of the / buttons is pushed, thetest noise circulation will pause on the channelbeing adjusted to give you time to make theadjustment.When you release the button, the cir-culation will resume after five seconds.

Continue to adjust the individual speakers untilthey all have the same volume. Note that adjust-ments should be made with the / buttonsC on the remote only,NOT the main volumecontrols.

NOTE:The subwoofer output level is notadjustable using the test tone.To change thesubwoofer level, follow the steps for OutputLevel Trim Adjustment on page 27.

When all channels have the same output level,turn theVolume ( down to about -40dB,otherwise the listening level may be too high assoon as the sources music starts to play. After-wards press theTest Tone Selector # 7button 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 surroundmode currently selected,also when other inputsare selected using the same surround mode. Toadjust the output level with all other surroundmodes used, step through all inputs youre usingby pressing theSource Selector buttons!on the front panel or the appropriate InputSelectors 4 on the remote.When the indica-tor for any surround mode for which the leveladjustment has not yet been made lights in theMain Information Display M or its greenLED lights in theSurround Mode Indicatorsfield$ , repeat the level adjustment describedabove.This will also allow you to compensatelevel differences between speakers, that may bedifferent with each surround mode, or to

increase or decrease the level of certain speakersintentionally, depending on the surround modeselected.

Note: Output level adjustment is not availablefor the VMAx or Surround Off mode, as no sur-round speakers are used (so level differencesbetween the speakers in the room cannotoccur). But to compensate level differencesbetween stereo,VMAx and other surround

modes (independently from the input selected)the outputs can be adjusted with the Level TrimAdjustment procedure, see page 27, also for theSurround Off (Stereo) and VMAx modes.Once the settings outlined on the previouspages have been made, the AVR 2550 is readyfor operation.While there are some additionalsettings to be made, these are best done afteryou have had an opportunity to listen to a vari-ety of sources and different kinds of programmaterial.These advanced settings are describedon page 28 of this manual. In addition, any ofthe 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 betterreflect your listening taste, simply follow theinstructions for changing the settings for thatparameter as shown above. Note that any set-tings changed at any time, will be stored inmemory in the AVR 2550, also if its turned offcompletely, unless it will be reset (see page 34).The settings will either depend on the input(Speaker configuration, analog/digital inputselection, surround mode) or on the surroundmode selected (speaker output level), asdescribed on previous pages.

Having completed the setup and configurationprocess for your AVR 2550, you are about toexperience the finest in music and home theaterlistening. Enjoy!


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Operation

Basic OperationOnce you have completed the setup and configu-ration of the AVR 2550, it is simple to operateand enjoy.The following instructions should befollowed for you to maximize your enjoyment of

your new receiver:Turning the AVR 2550 On or Off When using the AVR 2550 for the first time, youmust press theMain Power Switch 1 on thefront panel to turn the unit on.This places the unitin a Standby mode, as indicated by the orangecolor of thePower Indicator 3 . Once the unitis in Standby,you may begin a listening session bypressing theSystem Power Control 2 or theSource button! on the front panel or theAVRSelector 5 . Note that thePower Indicator3 will turn green.This will turn the unit on andreturn it to the input source that was last used.

The unit may also be turned on from Standby bypressing any of theSource Selector buttons onthe remote456 .

NOTE:After pressing one of theInput Selectorbuttons4 to turn the unit on,press theAVRSelector 5 to have the remote control the AVRfunctions.

To turn the unit off at the end of a listening ses-sion, simply press theSystem Power Control2 on the front panel or thePower OffButton 3 on the remote. Power will be shutoff to any equipment plugged into the rear panelSwitched AC Outlets and the PowerIndicator 3 will turn orange.

When the remote is used to turn the unit off itis actually placing the system in a Standby mode,as indicated by the orange color of thePowerIndicator 3 .

When you will be away from home for anextended period of time it is always a good ideato completely turn the unit off with the frontpanelMain Power Switch 1 .

NOTE:All preset memories may be lost if theunit is left turned off with theMain PowerSwitch 1 for more than two weeks.

Using the Sleep Timer To program the AVR 2550 for automatic turn-off, press theSleep Button 8 on the remote.Each press of the button will increase the timebefore shut down in the following sequence:

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

When the programmed sleep time has elapsed,the unit will automatically turn off (to Standbymode). Note that the front panel display will dimto one half brightness when the Sleep functionis programmed.To cancel the Sleep function,press and hold theSleep Button 8 until theinformation display returns to normal brightnessand the Sleep indicator numbers return to "0" inthe Main Information Display M .

Source Selection To select a source, press any of theSource Selector buttons on the remote456 .

NOTE:After pressing one of theInput Selector

buttons4 you must press theAVR Selector5 to have the remote control the AVR functions.

The input source may also be changed bypressing the front-panelInput SourceSelector button ! . Each press of the buttonwill move the input selection through the list ofavailable inputs.

As the input is changed, the AVR 2550 willautomatically switch to the digital input (ifselected), surround mode and speaker configura-tion that were entered during the configurationprocess for that source.

As the input source is changed, the new inputname will appear in theMain InformationDisplay M and a green LED will light next tothe selected inputs name in the front-panelInput Indicators .

When a pure audio source (Tuner, CD,Tape) isselected, the last video input used remains rout-ed to the Video 1 Outputs and VideoMonitor Output . This permits simultaneousviewing 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 appropriateMonitor Output jack and will be viewable ona TV monitor connected to the AVR 2550.

Controls and Use of Headphones Adjust the volume to a comfortable level usingthe front panelVolume Control ( or remoteVolume Up/Down buttons.

The Balance Control & may be used toadjust the relative sound output between the leftfront and right front speakers.

To temporarily silence all speaker outputspress theMute button . This will interruptthe output to all speakers and the headphone

jack, but it will not affect any recording or dub-bing that may be in progress. Press theMutebutton again to return to normal operation.

During a listening session you may wish toadjust theBass Control ^ and TrebleControl * to suit your listening tastes or roomacoustics.

To set the output of the AVR 2550 so that theoutput is flat, with the Tone controls and theBalance control de-activated,press theToneMode button6 button once or twice so thatthe wordsTo n e O u t appear momentarilyin theMain Information Display M . Toreturn the tone controls to an active condition,press theTone Mode 6 button once or twiceso that the wordsTo n e I n momentarilyappear in theMain Information Display M .

For private listening, plug the 6.3 mm stereophone plug from a pair of stereo headphonesinto the front panelHeadphone Jack 4 . Notethat when the headphones plug is connected,the wordHEADPHONE will scroll onceacross theMain Information Display M andall speakers will be silenced. When the head-phone plug is removed, the audio feed to thespeakers will be restored.

90min

80min

70min

60min

50min

40min

30min

20min

10min OFF

22 OPERATION


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26 OPERATION

In addition to theBitstream Indicators , theAVR 2550 features a set of unique channel inputindicators that tell you how many channels ofdigital information are being received and if thedigital signal is interrupted.

These indicators are the L/C/R/SL/SR/LFE lettersthat are inside the center boxes of theSpeaker/Channel Input Indicators P in thefront panelMain Information Display .When a standard analog stereo or matrix sur-round signal is in use, only the L and R indi-cators will light, as analog signals have only leftand right channels, respectively, even surroundrecordings, carry surround information on the leftand right channels only.

Digital signals, however, may have one to six sep-arate channels, depending on the program mate-rial, the method of transmission and the way inwhich it was encoded.When a digital signal isplaying, the letters in these indicators will light inresponse to the specific signal being received. Itis important to note that although Dolby Digital,for example, is referred to as a 5.1 system, notall Dolby Digital DVD or audio tracks selected onDVD or other Dolby Digital programs are encod-ed for 5.1.Thus, it is sometimes normal for aDVD with a Dolby Digital soundtrack to triggere.g. only the L and R indicators.

NOTE: Many DVD discs are recorded with both5.1 and 2.0 versions of the same sound-track, the 2.0 version often is used with otherlanguages.When playing a DVD, always be cer-tain to check the type of material on the disc.Most discs show this information in the form of alisting or icon on the back of the disc jacket.When a disc does offer multiple soundtrackchoices you may have to make some adjustmentsto your DVD player (usually with the AudioSelect button or in a menu screen on the disc)to send a full 5.1 feed to the AVR 2550 or toselect the appropriate audio track and thus lan-guage (2.0 audio tracks can be played with allPro Logic II or Vmax modes, see "Dolby Digital"on page 26). It is also possible for the type ofsignal feed to change during the course of a DVD

playback. In some cases the previews of specialmaterial will only be recorded in 2.0 audio, whilethe main feature is available in 5.1 audio.Aslong as your DVD player is set for 6-channel out-put, the AVR 2550 will automatically sensechanges to the bitstream and channel count andreflect them in these indicators.

The letters used by theSpeaker/Channel InputIndicators P also flash to indicate when a bit-stream has been interrupted.This will happenwhen a digital input source is selected before theplayback starts, or when a digital source such asa DVD is put into a Pause mode.The flashing

indicators remind you that the playback hasstopped due to the absence of a digital signaland not through any fault of the AVR.This is nor-mal, and the digital playback will resume oncethe playback is started again.

Night ModeA special feature of Dolby Digital is the Nightmode, which enables Dolby Digital input sourcesto be played back with full digital intelligibiltywhile reducing the maximum peak level and lift-ing the low levels by1/4 to 1/3. This preventsabruptly loud transitions from disturbing others

without reducing the impact of the digital source.The Night mode is available only when DolbyDigital mode is selected.The Night mode may be engaged when a DolbyDigital DVD is playing by pressing theNightButtonA on the remote.Next,press the /buttonsC to select either the middle range orfull compression versions of the Night mode.Toturn the Night mode off, press the / buttonsC until the message in the lower third of thevideo display and theMain InformationDisplay M readsD - R O F F . When the Nightmode is active, theNight Mode Indicator O

will also illuminate.The Night mode may also be selected to always beon at either level of compression as soon as theDolby Digital mode is turned on using the optionsin the Night Mode settings. See page 20 for infor-mation on using this option.IMPORTANT NOTES ON DIGITAL PLAYBACK:1. When the digital playback source is stopped,or in a pause, fast forward or chapter searchmode, the digital audio data will momentarilystop, and the channel position letters inside theSpeaker/Channel Indicators P will flash.This is normal and does not indicate a problem

with either the AVR 2550 or the source machine.The AVR 2550 will return to digital playback assoon as the data is available and when themachine is in a standard play mode.2.Although the AVR 2550 will decode virtually allDVD movies, CDs and HDTV sources, it is possiblethat some future digital sources may not be com-patible with the AVR 2550.3. Note that not all digitally encoded programsand not all audio tracks on a DVD contain full5.1-channel audio. Consult the program guidethat accompanies the DVD or laser disc to deter-mine which type of audio has been recorded on

the disc. The AVR 2550 will automatically sensethe type of digital surround encoding used, indi-cate it in theBitstream Indicators A and

Channel Input Indicators P and adjust toaccommodate it.4. When a Dolby Digital or DTS source is playing,you normally may not be able to select some ofthe analog surround modes such as Dolby ProLogic II, Dolby 3 Stereo, Hall,Theater, 5CH Stereoor Logic 7, except with special audio tracks(see indication Dolby Digital on previous page)or data format selected (see PCM on previouspage).5. When a Dolby Digital or DTS source is playing,it is not possible to make an analog recordingusing theTape or Video 1 record out-puts, if the source is connected to any digitalinput of the AVR 2550 only. But the analog twochannel signal of that source, the Downmix toStereo or Dolby Surround, can be recorded byconnecting its analog audio outputs to theappropriate analog inputs (e.g. DVD) of the AVR2550, even if the digital input of the AVR 2550remains selected.Additionally, the digital signalswill be passed through to theDigital AudioOutputs .

Tape RecordingIn normal operation, the audio or video sourceselected for listening through the AVR 2550 issent to the record outputs.This means that anyprogram you are watching or listening to may berecorded simply by placing machines connectedto the outputs forTape Outputs or Video 1Outputs in the record mode.

When a digital audio recorder is connected toany of theDigital Audio Outputs , you areable to record the digital signal using a CD-R,MiniDisc or other digital recording system.Note that all digital signals will be passedthrough to both, coaxial and optical, digital out-puts simultanously, no matter which kind of digi-tal input was selected.

NOTES: The AVR 2550 can convert an analog input to adigital signal.This way the analog or digitalsignals can be recorded on a CD-R via the digitaloutput. Note that the change of format (eg fromDolby Digital to PCM or vice versa) is notpossible.In additon, the digital recorder must be compatiblewith the output signal. For example, the PCM digi-tal output from a CD player may be recorded on aCD-R or MiniDisc,but Dolby Digital or DTS signalsmay not. To make an analog recording of a Dolby Digitalor DTS source is not possible, if the source is con-nected to a digital input of the AVR 2550 only.But the analog two channel signal of that sourcecan be recorded (see item 5, Important Noteson Digital Playback above).

Operation


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OPERATION 27

Operation

Output Level Trim AdjustmentNormal output level adjustment for theAVR 2550 is established using the test tone, asoutlined on pages 20 and 21. In some cases,however, it may be desirable to adjust the output

levels using program material such as a test disc,or a selection you are familiar with. Additionally,the output level for the subwoofer and those forthe Stereo and VMAx modes can only be adjustedusing this procedure.

To adjust the output levels using program materi-al, first select the surround mode for which youwant to trim the speakers (see NOTE below) byselecting the appropriate input, associated withthe desired surround mode, start your programmaterial source and set the reference volume forthe front left and front right channels using theVolume Control ( .

Once the reference level has been set, press theChannel Select button C and note thatFL LEVEL will appear in theMainInformation Display M for five seconds. Tochange the level, first press theSet button E , and then use theSelector buttons5 orthe / buttonsC to raise or lower the level.DO NOT use the volume control, as this will alterthe reference setting.

Once the change has been made, press theSetbuttonE and then press theSelector but-tons 5 or the / buttonsC to select thenext output channel location that you wish toadjust.To adjust the subwoofer level, press theSelector buttons5 or the / buttonsCuntilSW LEVEL appears in theMainInformation Display M (only available if thesubwoofer was selected during the speaker con-figuration, see page 17).

Press theSet button E when the name ofthe desired channel appears in theMainInformation Display M and on-screen display,and follow the instructions shown above toadjust the level.

Repeat the procedure as needed until all chan-

nels requiring adjustment have been set.Whenall adjustments have been made press theSetbutton E twice, the AVR 2550 will returnto normal operation.

NOTE:The output levels may be separatelytrimmed for each digital and analog surround mode.If you wish to have different trim levels for a specificmode,select that mode and then follow the instruc-tions in the steps shown above.

Changing the levels by the trim adjustment asdescribed above will automatically change thelevel settings shown during the Output LevelAdjustment (see page 20) correspondingly (andvice versa) and will remain in the AVR 2550smemory system, even when the unit is turned off.With Stereo and Vmax modes the adjustment

procedure described above is the only way to trimthe output level (e.g. to match the Vmax levelwith other modes).

Display BrightnessThe AVR 2550s front panelMain InformationDisplay is set at a default brightness levelthat is sufficient for viewing in a normally litroom. However, in some home theater installa-tions, you may wish to occasionally lower thebrightness of the display,or turn it off completely.

The display brightness may be changed by press-ing and holding theSet button on the frontfor three seconds until the message in theMainInformation Display M readsV F DF U L L . Within five seconds, press the frontpanel / buttons5 until the desired brightnessdisplay level is shown.At that point, press theSet button again to enter the setting.

Memory BackupThis product is equipped with a memory backupsystem that preserves tuner presets and systemconfiguration information if the unit is turned offcompletely, accidentally unplugged or subjectedto a power outage.This memory will last forapproximately 1 week,after which time allinformation must be reentered.

Tuner OperationThe AVR 2550s tuner is capable of tuning AM,FM and FM Stereo broadcast stations and receiv-ing RDS data.Stations may be tuned manually, orthey may be stored as favorite station presets andrecalled from a 30 position memory.

Station Selection

1. Press theAM/FM Tuner Select button6on the remote to select the tuner as an input.Thetuner may be selected from the front panel byeither pressing theInput Source Selector !until the tuner is active or by pressing theTunerBand Selector 9 at any time.

2. Press theAM/FM Tuner Select button 6 orTuner Band Selector 9 again to switchbetween AM and FM so that the desired frequen-cy band is selected.

3. Press theTuner Mode buttonH on theremote or hold theBand Selector 9 on thefront panel pressed for 3 seconds to select manualor automatic tuning.

When theAUTOindicatorO is illuminated in theMain Information Display M the tuner willonlystopat those stations thathave a strong enoughsignal to be received with acceptable quality.

When theAUTOindicatorO is not illuminated,the tuner is in a manual mode and will stop ateach frequency increment in the selected band.

4. To select stations press anyTuning button8J . When theAUTOindicatorO is illuminated,press the button to cause the tuner to search forthe next highest or lowest frequency station thathas an acceptable signal or hold the buttonpressed to tune more quickly and release it tostart the auto search. In the Auto mode the tunerwill play each station in stereo or mono mode, just as the program is transmitted. If theAUTOindicatorO is not illuminated, tap theTuningbutton8 J to advance one frequency incre-ment at a time, or press and hold it to locate aspecific station.When theTUNEDindicatorLilluminates, the station is properly tuned andshould be heard with clarity.

5. Stations may also be tuned directly by pressingthe Direct button I , and then pressing theNumeric Keys G that correspond to the sta-tions frequency. The desired station will automat-ically be tuned after the latest number is entered.If you press an incorrect button while entering adirect frequency, press theClear button tostart over.

NOTE:When the FM reception of a stereo stationis weak, audio quality will be increased byswitching to Mono mode by pressing theTunerMode buttonH on the remote or holding theBand Selector 9 on the front panel pressedfor 3 seconds until theSTEREO indicatorUgoes out.

Preset Tuning

Using the remote, up to 30 stations may bestored in the AVR 2550s memory for easy recallusing the front panel controls or the remote.

To enter a station into the memory, first tune thestation using the steps outlined above.Then:

1. Press theMemory buttonQ on the remote.Note thatM E M O RY indicatorT will illumi-nate and flash in theMain InformationDisplay .

2.Within five seconds, press theNumeric KeysG corresponding to the location where youwish to store this stations frequency. Once

entered, the preset number will appear in thePreset Number/Sleep Time Display Q .

3. Repeat the process after tuning any additionalstations to be preset.

Recalling Preset Stations To manually select a station previously enteredin the preset memory, press theNumeric KeysG that correspond to the desired stationsmemory location.

To manually tune through the list of stored pre-set stations one by one, press thePresetStations Selector buttons) O on the front

panel or remote.


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Operation

RDS OperationThe AVR 2550 is equipped with RDS (Radio DataSystem), which brings a wide range of informa-tion to FM radio. Now in use in many countries,RDS is a system for transmitting station call signs

or network information, a description of stationprogram type, text messages about the station orspecifics of a musical selection, and the correcttime.

As more FM stations become equipped with RDScapabilities, the AVR 2550 will serve as an easy-to-use center for both information and entertain-ment. This section will help you take maximumadvantage of the RDS system.

RDS TuningWhen an FM station is tuned in and it containsRDS data, theRDS Indicator V will illuminateand the AVR 2550 will automatically display thestations call sign or other program service in theMain Information Display M .

RDS Display OptionsThe RDS system is capable of transmitting awide variety of information in addition to the ini-tial station call sign that appears when a stationis first tuned. In normal RDS operation the dis-play will indicate the station name, broadcastnetwork or call letters. Pressing theRDSbutton@ N enables you to cycle through the variousdata types in the following sequence:

The stations call letters (with some private sta-tions other information too).

The stations frequency.

The Program Type (PTY) as shown in the listbelow.

A text message (Radiotext, RT) containingspecial information from the broadcast station.Note that this message may scroll across the dis-play to permit messages longer than the eightpositions in the display. Depending on signalquality, it may take up to 30 seconds for the textmessage to appear; in that time, the wordTEXT will flash in the Information Display whenRT is selected.

The current time of day (CT). Note that it maytake up to two minutes for the time to appear, inthat time the wordTIME will flash in the infor-mation display when CT is selected. Please notethat the accuracy of the time data is dependenton the radio station, not the AVR 2550.

Some RDS stations may not include some ofthese additional features. If the data required forthe selected mode is not being transmitted, theMain Information Display M will show aNO TYPE , NO TEXT or NO TIME mes-

sage after the individual time out.

In any FM mode the RDS function requires astrong enough signal for proper operation. If youreceive a partial message, or theRDS IndicatorV going on and off, try slowly adjusting theantenna or tune to another stronger RDS sta-tion.

Program Search (PTY)An important feature of RDS is its capability ofencoding broadcasts with Program Type (PTY)codes that indicate the type of material beingbroadcast.The following list shows the abbrevia-tions used to indicate each PTY, along with anexplanation of the PTY:

(RDS ONLY )

(TRAFFIC )

NEWS : News

AFFAIRS : Current Affairs

INFO : Infomation SPORT : Sports

EDUCATE : Educational

DRAMA : Drama

CULTURE : Culture

SCIENCE : Science

VARIED : Varied Speech Programs

POPM : Popular Music

ROCKM : Rock Music

M.O.R.M. : Middle-of-the-Road Music

LIGHTM : Classical Music

CLASSICS : Serious Classical Music

OTHERM : Other Music

WEATHER : Weather Information

FINANCE : Financial Programs

CHILDREN : Childrens Programs

SOCIAL A : Social Affairs Programs

RELIGION : Religious Broadcasts

PHONE IN : Phone-In Programs

TRAVEL : Travel and Touring

LEISURE : Leisure and Hobby

JAZZ : Jazz Music

COUNTRY : Country Music

NATIONAL : National Music

OLDIES : Oldies Music

FOLK M : Folk Music

DOCUMENT : Documentary Programs

TEST : Emergency Test

ALARM : Emergency Broadcas

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