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18 INSTALLATION AND CONNECTIONS
System and Power Connections
The AVR 5550 is designed for flexible use with
multiroom systems, external control components
and power amplifiers.
Main Room Remote Control Extension
If the receiver is placed behind a solid or smoked
glass cabinet door, the obstruction may prevent
the remote sensor from receiving commands. In
this event, the remote sensor of any Harman
Kardon or other compatible device, not covered
by the door, or an optional remote sensor may
be used. Connect the Remote IR Output of
that device or the output of the remote sensor to
the Remote IR Input jack
N
.
If other components are also prevented from
receiving remote commands, only one sensor is
needed. Simply use this unit’s sensor or a remote
eye by running a connection from the Remote
IR Output jack
M
to the Remote IR Input
jack on Harman Kardon or other compatible
equipment.
Multiroom IR Link
The key to remote room operation is to link the
remote room to the AVR 5550’s location with
wire for an infrared receiver and speakers or an
amplifier.The remote room IR receiver (this can be
an optional IR receiver or any other remotable
Harman Kardon device in the remote room with
IR sensor integrated) should be connected to the
AVR 5550 via standard coaxial cable. Connect the
Remote IR Output of the device or of the
optional sensor with the Multiroom IR Input
jack
O
on the AVR 5550’s rear panel.
If other Harman Kardon compatible source
equipment is part of the main room installation,
the Remote IR Output jack
M
on the rear
panel should be connected to the IR IN jack on
that source device. This will enable the remote
room location to control source equipment
functions.
NOTE: All remotely controlled components must
be linked together in a “daisy chain”. Connect
the IR OUT jack of one unit to the IR IN of the
next to establish this chain.
Multiroom Audio Connections
Depending on your system`s requirement and
distance from the AVR 5550 to the remote
room, three options are available for audio
connection:
Option 1: Use high-quality, shielded audio
interconnect phono cable from the AVR 5550’s
location to the remote room. In the remote
room, connect the interconnect cable to a stereo
power amplifier.The amplifier will be connected
to the room’s speakers.At the AVR 5550, plug
the audio interconnect cables into the
Multiroom Output Jacks
7
on the AVR
5550’s rear panel.
Option 2: Place the amplifier that will provide
power to the remote location speakers in the
same room as the AVR 5550, and connect the
Multiroom Output jacks
7
on the rear panel
of the AVR to the audio input of the remote
room amplifier. Use the appropriate speaker wire
to connect the optional power amplifier to the
remote speakers. High-quality wire of at least
2.5 mm
2
is recommended for long multiroom
connections.
Option 3: Taking advantage of the AVR 5550’s
built-in seven-channel amplifier, it is possible to
use two of the amplifier channels to power
speakers in the remote room. When using this
option you will not be able to use the full
7.1-channel capabilities of the AVR 5550 in the
main listening room, but you will be able to add
another listening room without additional
external power amplifiers. To use the internal
amplifiers to power a remote zone, connect the
speakers for the remote room location to the
Surround Back/Multiroom Speaker
Outputs
c
. Before using the remote room you
will need to configure the amplifiers for
surround operation by changing a setting in
the Advanced Select menu, following the
instructions shown on page 37.
NOTE: For all options, you may connect an
optional IR sensor (Harman Kardon He1000) in
the remote room to the AVR 5550 via an appro-
priate cable. Connect the sensor’s cable to the
Multiroom IR Input
O
on the AVR 5550 and
use the Zone II remote to control the room vol-
ume. Alternatively, you may install an optional
volume control between the output of the ampli-
fiers and the speakers.
A-BUS Installation Connections
The AVR 5550 is among the very few receivers
available today that offers built-in A-BUS Ready
®
operation.When used with an optional A-BUS
keypad or control module, you have all the
benefits of remote zone operation without the
need for an external power amplifier.
To use the AVR 5550 with an approved A-BUS
product, simply connect the keypad or module
that is in the remote room to the AVR 5550
using standard “Category 5” wiring that is
properly rated for the inwall use specific to the
installation.Terminate the wiring at the receiver
end to a standard RJ-45 jack in compliance with
the instructions furnished with the A-BUS
module.
No further installation or adjustment is needed,
as the A-BUS connector on the AVR 5550 routes
the signals in and out of the keypad to their
proper destination for power, signal source and
control.The output fed to the A-BUS jack is
determined by the AVR 5550’s multiroom
system, and the menus may be used as is.
RS-232 Connections
The AVR 5550 includes an RS-232 serial port
connection that may be used to control the unit
via compatible optional, external keypads or
control systems. The physical connection to the
AVR 5550 from the control device is a standard
D-9 connection, but to assure compatible and
proper operation, specific software commands
and pin wiring schemes are required. Due to the
complexity of RS-232 connections we
recommend that they be made only by trained
installers familiar with their use. To obtain
additional information on the use of the
AVR 5550 with RS-232 control, please contact
Harman Kardon’s customer service department
or consult our Web site at
www.harmankardon.com.
AC Power Connections
This unit is equipped with two accessory AC
outlets. They may be used to power accessory
devices, but they should not be used with
high-current draw equipment such as power
amplifiers. The total power draw to the
Unswitched Outlet
H
must not exceed
100 watts, that to the Switched Outlet
G
50 watts.
The Switched
G
outlet will receive power only
when the unit is on completely. This is recom-
mended for devices that have no power switch
or a mechanical power switch that may be left in
the “ON” position.
NOTE: Many audio and video products go into a
Standby mode when they are used with
switched outlets, and cannot be fully turned on
using the outlet alone without a remote control
command.
The Unswitched
H
outlet will receive power
as long as the unit is plugged into a powered AC
outlet and the Main Power Switch
1
is on.
The AVR 5550 features a removable power cord
that allows wires to be run to a complex instal-
lation so that the unit, itself, need not be
installed until it is ready for connection.When all
connections described above have been made,
connect the AC Power cord to the AC Power
Cord Jack
I
.
The AVR 5550 draws significantly more current
than other household devices such as computers
that use removable power cords. For that rea-
son, it is important that only the cord supplied
with the unit (or a direct replacement of identi-
cal capacity) be used.
Once the power cord is connected, you are
almost ready to enjoy the AVR 5550’s incredible
power and fidelity!
Installation and Connections