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OPERATION
Now that you have installed your system components and completed
a basic configuration of your receiver, you are ready to begin enjoying
your home theater system.
Turning On the AVR 254
Gently press the Master Power Switch until the word OFF is no longer visi-
ble. The Power Indicator above the two power switches should light up in
amber. This indicates that the AVR is in Standby mode and is ready to be
turned on. Normally, you may leave the Master Power Switch in the ON
position, even when the receiver is not being used. See Figure 41.
There are several ways in which the AVR 254 may be turned on:
a) Press the Standby/On Switch on the front panel. See Figure 41.
b) Using the remote, press the AVR Power On Button or any of the
Source Selectors. See Figure 42.
To turn the receiver off, press either the Standby/On Switch on the front
panel, or press the AVR Power Off Button on the remote. Unless the
receiver will not be used for an extended period of time (for example,
when are on vacation), it is not necessary to turn off the Master Power
Switch. When the Master Power Switch is turned off, any settings you
have programmed, including system configuration and preset radio
stations, will be preserved for up to four weeks.
IMPORTANT NOTE: If the PROTECT message ever appears
in the Message Display, turn off the AVR and unplug it. Check
all speaker wires for a possible short. If none is found, bring
the unit to an authorized Harman Kardon service center for
inspection and repair before using it again.
Volume Control
The volume may be adjusted either by turning the knob on the front
panel (clockwise to increase volume or counterclockwise to decrease
volume), or by pressing the Volume Control on the remote. See Figure 52.
The volume is displayed as a negative number of decibels (dB) below
the 0dB reference point.
Unlike the volume controls on some other products, 0dB is the maximum
volume for the AVR 254. Although it’s physically possible to turn the
volume to a higher level, doing so may damage your hearing and your
speakers. For certain more dynamic audio materials, even 0dB may be
too high, allowing for damage to equipment. We urge caution with
regard to volume levels.
You may change the volume level display from the default decibel scale
to a 0-to-100 scale by adjusting the Volume Units setting in the System
Settings menu, as described on page 52.
Figure 52 – Volume Controls
Mute Function
To temporarily mute all speakers and the headphones, press the Mute
Button on the remote. See Figure 52. Any recording in progress will
not be affected. The MUTE message will appear in the display as a
reminder. To restore normal audio, either press the Mute Button again,
or adjust the volume. Turning off the AVR will also end muting.
Sleep Timer
You may program the AVR to play for up to 90 minutes and then turn
off automatically using the sleep timer.
Press the Sleep Settings Button on the remote, and the time until
turn-off will be displayed. See Figure 53. Each additional press of the
Sleep Button will increase the time until turn-off by 10 minutes, up
to a maximum of 90 minutes, then the SLEEP OFF setting appears,
which disables the sleep timer.
Figure 53 – Sleep Settings Button
When the sleep timer has been set, the front-panel display will automati-
cally dim to half-brightness. If you press any button on the remote or
front panel, the display will return to full-brightness. The display will dim
again several seconds after your last command.
If you press the Sleep Button after the timer has been set, the remaining
time until turn-off will be displayed. You may press the Sleep Button to
change the time until turn-off.
Audio Effects
Depending on your preferences or the specific characteristics of your
listening room, you may wish to adjust some of the audio settings, such
as tone controls, to improve performance. Access these settings from
the Audio Effects submenu, as described in the Advanced Functions
section.
It is not necessary to adjust the Audio Effects settings to enjoy your
new AVR. We recommend leaving the settings at their default values
until you are more familiar with your system.
Video Modes
The settings in the Video Modes menu are used to fine-tune the
picture if necessary after making all adjustments on the video display.
It is recommended that you leave the settings at their defaults. See the
Advanced Functions section for detailed information.
Headphones
Plug the 1/4" plug on a pair of headphones into the headphone
jack on the front of the receiver for private listening. See Figure 54.
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