Operation
Surround Mode Options
The AVR40 offers a choice of surround
modes. To select a surround mode press
the Surround button
r
on the
front panel or remote. The choice of
which surround mode to use is influ-
enced by the type of program material
being played and the specifics of your
listening room setup.
True surround sound processing enables
four separate audio signals to be trans-
mitted within the left and right channels
of a videocassette, radio or TV broadcast,
or video disc. Through a process known
as matrix encoding a separate center
channel signal for dialogue and a sur-
round channel for effects are encoded
into the stereo signal. When you see the
Dolby Surround, Dolby Stereo, DTS
Stereo or other similar logos on a movie
or broadcast this indicates that the pro-
gram has surround information.
When the program you are listening to
has encoded surround information, as
shown by one of the logos or brand
names described above, select the
Pro Logic mode using the
Surround button
r
.
If you are listening to a conventional two
channel stereo program or recording you
may wish to experiment by using the
Hall mode. Although these programs do
not have any intentional surround
encoding information, they do contain
natural ambiance information that the
AVR40 can process to create rear channel
information. The Hall mode uses the left
and right front speakers, but not the cen-
ter channel, while a specially processed
and retrieved sound is sent to the rear
channels. Depending on the specific pro-
gram the Pro Logic mode may often pro-
vide a pleasing sound presentation from
stereo programs.
An additional surround option is the
“Phantom” mode, which uses the
Pro Logic decoding circuits, but does
not send any information to the
center channel.
For true two-channel stereo operation,
press the Surround button
r
to
use only the front left and right speakers.
Note that the surround modes available
will vary according to speaker selection.
When NO CNTR is selected, only Hall
and Phantom modes may be used, as
Pro Logic requires a center channel
speaker. When NO REAR is selected only
the Pro Logic mode is available.
• For true two-channel stereo listening
press the Surround button
r
until
SURR OFF appears in the information
display.
• The AVR40 is equipped with a memory
system that permits a different surround
mode to be used with each of the input
sources. You may select the mode that is
most appropriate to each source, such as
Pro Logic for a VCR or disc player con-
nected to a Video input, Hall for the CD
input and Surround Off for the Tuner.
When you select an input again for a
subsequent listening session the system
will automatically change to your pre-
ferred surround mode for that input.
Wrap Circuitry
The AVR40 contains Harman Kardon’s
exclusive Wrap circuits, which may be
used to increase the feeling of spacious-
ness in a listening room. A simple
explanation of the wrap circuits is to
think of them as moving your listening
position closer to or further from the
stage or screen. The more Wrap you add
the further away you “move” the sense of
your seat position from the screen. The
less Wrap you add, the closer you appear
to be to the screen or performance.
Based on Harman International’s years of
research into surround sound technology,
the Wrap circuits are based on the
advances developed by noted surround
sound designer Jim Fosgate. Wrap func-
tions by blending carefully controlled
amounts of the front channel signal into
the rear channel to achieve the desired
impact on the listening environment.
To use the Wrap circuits, the AVR40 must
first be placed in the Pro Logic or
Phantom mode by pressing the
Surround button
r
until the cor-
rect mode name appears in the front
panel display. Note that in these modes
the Wrap Indicator
˜
on the front
panel will illuminate.
To adjust the degree of Wrap in use, press
the Wrap buttons
ˆo
to increase or
decrease the degree of Wrap until the
sound is to your liking. The changes in
the Wrap Indicator provide a visual
reference of the amount of Wrap that is
applied.
Note that there is no “right” or “wrong”
setting for the Wrap circuits. Experiment
and find the setting that sounds best. Since
the Wrap circuits function in conjunction
with the surround decoder you may also
find that the Wrap setting will differ with
different types of music and program
material. For example, you may want to
increase the wrap for a sporting event or
concert recorded in a large concert hall,
while you may wish to decrease it for inti-
mate chamber music presentations.
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