Harman Kardon AVR 110 Quick start guide

Brand: Harman Kardon

Model: AVR 110

Type: Quick start guide

This manual is also suitable for

MP3 Decoding in Harman Kardon Products

Harman Kardon has long been a technological leader in the

audio industry, with a long list of “firsts” that includes the

first stereo receiver, the first use of Dolby* Type B noise reduction

in a cassette player and, more recently, the world’s first receiver

to feature HDCD

, Logic 7

and VMAx

digital audio processing.

Continuing this tradition of innovation, Harman Kardon was

the first brand to fully embrace MP3 technology by offering

MP3 playback in both a five-disc DVD changer and a CD-R/RW

recorder. Harman Kardon’s audio/video receivers are the first

to integrate MP3 with built-in decoding and both coaxial

and optical front-panel digital inputs. Now, enjoying the

wide variety of MP3 audio content is as simple as playing

an MP3-encoded CD in a DVD 50 or CDR 30, or connecting

the output of a compatible computer sound card to the digital

input of an AVR 110, AVR 210, AVR 310 or AVR 510.

The Basics of MP3 Audio

From a technical definition standpoint, what is popularly referred to as “MP3” is more

precisely the “Level 3” format for recording audio in the MPEG-1 video compression standard.

In simple terms, this means that an MP3 file is a digitally compressed version of an audio track.

The original audio may be a file initially created for distribution in the MP3 form, or it may be

created from an existing source, such as a CD. The difference between standard digital audio

files and an MP3 file is that the average 3-minute song takes up about 32 megabytes of space,

but the MP3 takes up considerably less memory, enabling more songs to be placed on a single

disc or memory card, with little compromise in sound quality. The compression process relies

on oddities of human perceptions of sound. For example, louder sounds mask softer sounds

so that we don’t hear them, and sometimes the same material is repeated in both channels

of a stereo recording.

Power for the Digital Revolution.

MP3 is changing the face of music distribution, as the smaller file size makes it possible to

distribute audio over the Internet without the lengthy download times that would be required

if the files were in their original, uncompressed size. The availability of MP3-encoded music

has also made it possible for consumers to exchange songs via the Internet, or store their

CD libraries on a computer. These files may be transferred to a portable MP3 player that uses

solid-state storage or mini-drives, and if the computer is equipped with a CD-R/RW drive, the

MP3 files may also be used to record “MP3 discs.” These discs may be played on computers

or specially equipped CD or DVD players, such as the CDR 30 or DVD 50. Finally, MP3 may

also be used for the playback of streaming audio programming in real time.

Harman Kardon Products and MP3

Recognizing the increasing popularity of the many applications of MP3, Harman Kardon has

developed two different solutions that integrate MP3 into home audio systems. For installations

where a consumer wishes to play MP3 files directly from a computer-based source, the

AVR 110, 210, 310 and 510 receivers can recognize and decode an MP3 bitstream when the

output of a compatible computer sound card is connected to one of the AVR’s optical or coaxial

digital inputs. At present, the Turtle Beach Santa Cruz

™

PCI card has the correct S/P-DIF output

and, in the future, more computers and sound cards will include this capability.

For installations where a computer’s sound card is not directly compatible with the input

requirements of the new AVR Series models, Harman Kardon has developed the EzLink

™

DAL 150. When it is available later this year, this accessory will enable a direct connection

between a computer’s USB port and any receiver or surround processor with a coax digital

input. The DAL 150 will include software drivers for Windows

98-and-above-equipped

computers that will direct MP3 files to the computer’s USB port. The DAL 150 will then

transcode the data to the standard PCM format and output it through a coaxial digital

connection so that it may be processed by any digital receiver or surround processor.

When used with the Harman Kardon AVR 110, 210, 310 or 510, the DAL 150 takes advantage

of their onboard MP3 decoding capability by upsampling the MP3 bitstream for improved

playback quality.

Although computers equipped with CD-R/RW drives may create “MP3 CDs”, most existing

CD and DVD players reject those discs, recognizing them as data, not music, discs. However,

both the DVD 50 five-disc DVD changer and CDR 30 CD recorder are capable of recognizing

and playing MP3 audio files from compatible discs. Both models decode MP3 files and play

them through the unit’s analog outputs for easy connection to ANY audio system.

The DVD 50 also provides a standard digital output from an MP3 disc. Both the DVD 50 and

the CDR 30 are able to read the track title (MP3 Text) information that is encoded as part of

the MP3 disc-creation process.

As an added feature, the CDR 30 is unique in that it plays multisession discs that contain both

MP3 and standard “Red Book” CD audio tracks. As a dubbing deck, the CDR 30 will also create

standard CD-compatible copies of MP3 tracks so that material obtained as an MP3 file may be

converted to a CD for use in standard home, portable or car players.

With a single MP3 disc able to hold about 10 hours of music in the MP3 format, the five-disc

DVD 50 allows up to 50 hours of continuous playback – enough for an entire dance marathon!

MP3 Decoding... 2

Benefits

While the MP3 format has helped increase the availability of audio selections, to date it

has been limited to playback through computer audio systems and portable devices. Now,

Harman Kardon allows you to benefit from the high storage capacity and wide variety of

material made possible by MP3 through the high-quality amplifiers and speakers in your

home entertainment system. From direct connection to a compatible computer sound card

or MP3 player, to playback of prerecorded MP3 CDs, to recording of MP3 tracks in standard

CD-format mix discs, Harman Kardon is the leader in expanding applications of MP3 for use

throughout the home.

Visit the Harman Kardon Web site at www.harmankardon.com.

Harman Kardon is a registered trademark, and Power for the Digital Revolution is a trademark, of Harman Kardon, Inc.

Logic 7 is a registered trademark of Lexicon, Inc., a Harman International company. *Trademark of Dolby Laboratories.

VMAx is a registered trademark of Harman International Industries, Inc., and is an implementation of Cooper Bauck

Transaural Stereo under patent license. , HDCD

, High Definition Compatible Digital

and Pacific Microsonics

™

are

either registered trademarks or trademarks of Pacific Microsonics, Inc., in the United States and/or other countries. Turtle

Beach Santa Cruz is a trademark of Voyetra Turtle Beach, Inc. Windows is a registered trademark of Microsoft Corporation.

MP3 Decoding... 3

Harman Kardon AVR 110 Quick start guide

Brand: Harman Kardon

Model: AVR 110

Type: Quick start guide

This manual is also suitable for

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Harman Kardon AVR 110 Quick start guide

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Harman Kardon AVR 110 Quick start guide

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