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harman/kardon

AVR144
5 X 30W 5.1 CHANNEL A/V RECEIVER

SERVICE MANUAL




CONTENTS

ESD WARNING.....................................2 DISASSEMBLY.....................................28
LEAKAGE TESTING...............................3 UNIT EXPLODED VIEW..........................31
BASIC SPECIFICATIONS.......................4 EXPLODED VIEW PARTS LIST...............32
PACKAGING........................................5 AMP BIAS ADJUSTMENT......................33
FRONT PANEL CONTROLS.....................6 BLOCK DIAGRAM................................34
REAR PANEL CONNECTIONS................8 PCB DRAWINGS.................................35
REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONS..........10 ELECTRICAL PARTS LIST.....................42
CONNECTIONS/INSTALLATION.............13 SEMICONDUCTOR PINOUTS................69
OPERATION.......................................22 SCHEMATICS....................................151
TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE.................27 WIRING DIAGRAM..............................158
REMOTE & PROCESSOR RESETS..........27


harman/kardon, Inc.
250 Crossways Park Dr.
Woodbury, New York 11797 Rev 0 2/2007
AVR144 harman/kardon




Some semiconductor (solid state) devices can be damaged easily by static electricity. Such components commonly are called

Electrostatically Sensitive (ES) Devices. Examples of typical ES devices are integrated circuits and some field effect transistors and

semiconductor "chip" components.

The following techniques should be used to help reduce the incidence of component damage caused by static electricity.

1. Immediately before handling any semiconductor component or semiconductor-equipped assembly, drain off any electrostatic charge on

your body by touching a known earth ground. Alternatively, obtain and wear a commercially available discharging wrist strap device,

which should be removed for potential shock reasons prior to applying power to the unit under test.

2. After removing an electrical assembly equipped with ES devices, place the assembly on a conductive surface such as aluminum foil, to

prevent electrostatic charge build-up or exposure of the assembly.

3. Use only a grounded-tip soldering iron to solder or unsolder ES devices.

4. Use only an anti-static solder removal device. Some solder removal devices not classified as "anti-static" can generate electrical charges

sufficient to damage ES devices.

5. Do not use freon-propelled chemicals. These can generate electrical change sufficient to damage ES devices.

6. Do not remove a replacement ES device from its protective package until immediately before you are ready to install it. (Most replacement

ES devices are packaged with leads electrically shorted together by conductive foam, aluminum foil or comparable conductive material.)

7. Immediately before removing the protective material from the leads of a replacement ES device, touch the protective material to the

chassis or circuit assembly into which the device will be installed.

CAUTION : Be sure no power is applied to the chassis or circuit, and observe all other safety precautions.

8. Minimize bodily motions when handling unpackaged replacement ES devices. (Otherwise harmless motion such as the brushing together

or your clothes fabric or the lifting of your foot from a carpeted floor can generate static electricity sufficient to damage an ES devices.




Each precaution in this manual should be followed during servicing.

Components identified with the IEC symbol in the parts list are special significance to safety. When replacing a component identified with

, use only the replacement parts designated, or parts with the same ratings or resistance, wattage, or voltage that are designated in the

parts list in this manual. Leakage-current or resistance measurements must be made to determine that exposed parts are acceptably

insulated from the supply circuit before retuming the product to the customer.




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AVR144 harman/kardon


SAFETY PRECAUTIONS

The following check should be performed for the continued
protection of the customer and service technician.

LEAKAGE CURRENT CHECK

Measure leakage current to a known earth ground (water
pipe, conduit, etc.) by connecting a leakage current tester
between the earth ground and all exposed metal parts of the
appliance (input/output terminals, screwheads, metal
overlays, control shaft, etc.). Plug the AC line cord of the
appliance directly into a 120V AC 60Hz outlet and turn the
AC power switch on. Any current measured must not exceed
o.5mA.




Reading should
not be above
Leakage
0.5mA
Device current
under tester
test

Test all
exposed metal
surfaces
Also test with
plug reversed
(Using AC adapter Earth
plug as required) ground


AC Leakage Test




ANY MEASUREMENTS NOT WITHIN THE LIMITS
OUTLINED ABOVE ARE INDICATIVE OF A
POTENTIAL SHOCK HAZARD AND MUST BE
CORRECTED BEFORE RETURNING THE APPLIANCE
TO THE CUSTOMER.




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AVR144 harman/kardon
AVR 144 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Audio Section AM Tuner Section
Stereo Mode Frequency Range 520­1720kHz
Continuous Average Power (FTC) Signal-to-Noise Ratio 45dB
40 Watts per channel, 20Hz­20kHz, Usable Sensitivity Loop 500V
@ <0.07% THD, both channels driven into 8 ohms Distortion 1kHz, 50% Mod 0.8%
Selectivity ±10kHz, 30dB
Five-Channel Surround Modes
Power per Individual Channel
Video Section
Front L&R channels: Television Format NTSC
30 Watts per channel Input Level/Impedance 1Vp-p/75 ohms
@ <0.07% THD, 20Hz­20kHz into 8 ohms Output Level/Impedance 1Vp-p/75 ohms
Center channel: Video Frequency Response
30 Watts @ <0.07% THD, 20Hz­20kHz into 8 ohms (Composite and S-Video) 10Hz­8MHz (­3dB)
Surround (L & R Side) channels: Video Frequency Response
(Component Video) 10Hz­100MHz (­3dB)
30 Watts per channel
@ <0.07% THD, 20Hz­20kHz into 8 ohms General
Input Sensitivity/Impedance Power Requirement AC 120V/60Hz
Linear (High-Level) 200mV/47k ohms Power Consumption 65W idle, 540W maximum
(5 channels driven)
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (IHF-A) 100dB
Dimensions (Product) (Shipping)
Surround System Adjacent Channel Separation Width 17-5/16 inches (440mm) 21-7/8 inches (555mm)
Pro Logic I/II 40dB Height 6-1/2 inches (165mm) 10-1/2 inches (266mm)
Dolby Digital (AC-3) 55dB Depth 15 inches (382mm) 18-5/16 inches (465mm)
DTS 55dB
(Product) (Shipping)
Frequency Response Weight 21.12 lb (9.6kg) 26 lb (11.8kg)
@ 1W (+0dB, ­3dB) 10Hz ­130kHz
High Instantaneous Depth measurement includes knobs, buttons and terminal connections.
Current Capability (HCC) ±25 Amps Height measurement includes feet and chassis.
All features and specifications are subject to change without notice.
Transient Intermodulation
Distortion (TIM) Unmeasurable
Harman Kardon, Harman International and Logic 7 are trademarks of Harman International Industries,
Slew Rate 40V/sec Incorporated, registered in the United States and/or other countries. Designed to Entertain is a trademark
of Harman International Industries, Incorporated.
FM Tuner Section Dolby, Pro Logic and the double-D symbol are trademarks of Dolby Laboratories.
Frequency Range 87.5­108.0MHz Manufactured under license from Dolby Laboratories.
Usable Sensitivity IHF 1.3V/13.2dBf
"DTS," "DTS Surround," "DTS-ESINeo:6" are registered trademarks of DTS, Inc.
Signal-to-Noise Ratio Mono/Stereo 70/68dB
"96/24" is a trademark, of DTS, Inc.
Distortion Mono/Stereo 0.2/0.3%
Stereo Separation 40dB @ 1kHz Cirrus Logic is a registered trademark of Cirrus Logic, Inc.
Selectivity ±400kHz, 70dB SACD is a trademark of Sony Corporation.
Image Rejection 80dB
IF Rejection 90dB Blu-ray Disc is a trademark of the Blu-ray Disc Association.
HD-DVD is a trademark of the DVD Format/Logo Licensing Corporation (DVD FLLC).

TiVo is a registered trademark of TiVo Inc.




Please register your product on our Web site at www.harmankardon.com. Note: You'll need the product's serial number.
At the same time, you can choose to be notified about our new products and/or special promotions.



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AVR144 harman/kardon




DOOR KIT




AVR144 AVR 144




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AVR144 harman/kardon

FRONT-PANEL CONTROLS
Main Power Switch: This is a mechanical switch that turns the Analog Audio, Video and Digital Audio Inputs: Connect a
power supply on or off. It is usually left pressed in (On position) at all source component that will only be used temporarily to these jacks,
times, and cannot be turned on using the remote control. such as a camera or game console. Remember to select only one type
of audio and one type of video connection.
Standby/On Switch: This is an electrical switch that turns the
receiver on for playback, or leaves it in standby mode for quick turn-on Speaker/Channel Input Indicators: The box icons indicate
using this switch or the remote control. which speaker positions you have configured, and the size (frequency
range) of each speaker. When a digital audio input is used, letters will
Power Indicator: This LED has three possible modes. When main light inside the boxes to indicate which channels are present in the
power is turned off, the LED is dark and the receiver won't respond to incoming signal.
any button presses. When main power is turned on, but before the
Standby/On Switch is used, the LED turns amber to indicate that the
receiver is in Standby mode and ready to be turned on. When the
receiver is turned on, the LED turns blue.
Source Select: Press this button to select a source device, which is
a component where a playback signal originates, e.g., DVD, CD, cable
TV, satellite or HDTV tuner.
Source Indicators: The name of the current source input lights up.
The indicated input changes each time the Source Select Button is
pressed.
Volume Knob: Turn this knob to raise or lower the volume, which will
be shown in decibels (dB) in the Message Display.
Message Display: Various messages appear in this two-line display
in response to commands. When the on-screen display menu system
(OSD) is in use, the message OSD ON will appear to remind you to
check the video display.
Tuner Band: Press this button to select the tuner as the source, or to
switch between the AM and FM bands.
Tuning: Press either side of this button to tune a radio station.
Tuning Mode: This button toggles between manual (one frequency
step at a time) and automatic (seeks frequencies with acceptable signal
strength) tuning mode. It also toggles between stereo and mono modes
when an FM station is tuned.
Preset Stations: Press this button to select a preset radio station.
Headphone Jack: Plug a 1/4" headphone plug into this jack for
private listening.
Surround Mode: Press this button to select a type of surround
sound (e.g., multichannel) mode. Choose from the Dolby modes, DTS
modes, Logic 7 modes, DSP modes or Stereo modes.
Surround Select: After you have selected the desired type of sur-
round mode, press this button to select a specific variant of that type
of mode.
Surround Mode Indicators: One or more of these icons may light
up as you select different surround modes. The Message Display also
indicates the surround mode.




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AVR144 harman/kardon

Source
Message Display Indicators

Surround Mode Indicators Speaker/Channel Volume
Input Indicators




Power Surround Tuning Preset Stations Headphone Digital
Jack Analog Audio
Indicator Mode Audio Inputs
Inputs
Standby/On Main Power Surround Tuner Band Source Tuning Video Inputs
Switch Switch Select Select Mode


NOTE: To make it easier to follow the instructions throughout the manual that refer to this illustration, a copy of this page may be downloaded from the Product Support section at
www.harmankardon.com.




7
AVR144 harman/kardon

REAR-PANEL CONNECTIONS
AM and FM Antenna Terminals: Connect the included AM and Component Video Inputs: If both your video source (e.g., DVD
FM antennas to their respective terminals for radio reception. player or HDTV tuner) and your television or video display have analog
component video (Y/Pb/Pr) capability, then you may connect the com-
Front, Center and Surround Speaker Outputs: Use two- ponent video outputs of your source to one of the two component video
conductor speaker wire to connect each set of terminals to the correct inputs. Do not make any other video connections to that source.
speaker. Remember to observe the correct polarity (positive and negative
connections). Always connect the positive lead to the colored terminal Component Video Monitor Outputs: If you are using one or
on the receiver and the red terminal on the speaker. Connect the negative both of the Component Video Inputs and your television or video display
lead to the black terminal on both the receiver and the speaker. See the is component-video-capable, you may connect these jacks to the corre-
Connections section for more information on connecting your speakers. sponding inputs on your video display. You will also need to connect the
composite and/or S-video monitor outputs to your video display if some
Subwoofer Output: If you have a powered subwoofer, connect it to of your sources use those types of video connections and to view the
this jack. on-screen menus.
Video 1, Video 2 and DVD Audio/Video Inputs: These jacks AC Power Cord: After you have made all other connections, plug the
may be used to connect your video-capable source components (e.g., AC power cord into an unswitched outlet.
VCR, DVD player, cable TV box) to the receiver. Remember to use only
one type of video connection for each source. See the Connections
section for more information on audio and video connection options for
each source component.
Video 1 Audio/Video Outputs: These jacks may be used to con-
nect your VCR or another recorder.
Composite and S-Video Monitor Outputs: If some of your
sources use composite or S-video connections, then you will need to
connect one or both of these monitor outputs to the corresponding
inputs on your television or video display in order to view the sources.
CD and Tape Audio Inputs: These jacks may be used to connect
your audio-only source components (e.g., CD player, tape deck). Do not
connect a turntable to these jacks unless you are using the turntable
with a phono preamp.
Tape Outputs: These jacks may be used to connect your CDR or
another audio-only recorder.
Coaxial and Optical Digital Audio Inputs: If your source has
a compatible digital audio output, connect it to one of these jacks for
improved audio performance. Remember to use only one type of digital
audio connection for each source.
6-Channel Inputs: Connect the analog audio outputs of a DVD-
Audio, SACDTM, Blu-ray DiscTM or HD-DVDTM player (or any other external
decoder) to these jacks to enjoy these proprietary formats.




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AVR144 harman/kardon

Video 2 Video 1 Video
A/V A/V Monitor Component Video AC Power
FM Antenna Inputs Inputs Outputs Monitor Outputs Cord
Video 1 Coaxial Digital
A/V DVD A/V Component Video Audio Inputs
AM Antenna Outputs Inputs Inputs (1 & 2) (1 & 2)




CD Tape Front Surround Center
Inputs Inputs Speaker Speaker Speaker
Outputs Outputs Outputs
Tape Subwoofer 6-Channel Optical Digital
Outputs Output Inputs Audio Inputs (1 & 2)



NOTE: To make it easier to follow the instructions throughout the manual that refer to this illustration, a copy of this page may be downloaded from the Product Support section at
www.harmankardon.com.



9
AVR144 harman/kardon

REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONS
The AVR 144 remote is capable of controlling seven devices, including Power Off Button: Press this button to turn off the AVR 144 or
the AVR itself. During the installation process, you may program the another device.
codes for each of your source components into the remote. Each time
you wish to use the codes for any component, you will need to first AVR Selector: Press this button to switch the remote to the codes
press the Selector Button for that component. This changes the button that operate the receiver.
functions to the appropriate codes for that product. Input Selectors: Press one of these buttons to select a source
Each Input Selector has been preprogrammed to control certain types device, which is a component where a playback signal originates, e.g.,
of components, with only the codes specific to each brand and model DVD, CD, cable TV, satellite or HDTV tuner. This will also turn on the
changing, depending on which product code is programmed. The receiver and switch the remote to the codes that operate the source
device types programmed into each selector may not be changed. device.

DVD: Controls DVD players and recorders. AM/FM Button: Press this button to select the tuner as the source,
or to switch between the AM and FM bands.
CD: Controls CD players and recorders.
6-Channel Input Selector: Press this button to select the 6-
Tape: Controls cassette decks. Channel Inputs as the audio source. The receiver will use the video input
and remote control codes for the last-selected video source.
Video 1: Controls VCRs, TiVo and DVRs.
®


Dim: Press this button to partially or fully dim the front-panel display.
Video 2: Controls cable and satellite television set-top boxes.
Test Tone: Press this button to activate the test tone for output-level
Video 3: Controls televisions and other video displays. calibration.
For example, if you have inserted a disc in your CD player and you
TV/Video: This button has no effect on the receiver, but is used to
would like to skip ahead three tracks, but you then find that the volume
switch video inputs on some video source components.
is too loud, you would follow this procedure:
Sleep Button: Press this button to activate the sleep timer, which
1. Press the CD Input Selector to switch to the codes that control your shuts off the receiver after a programmed period of time of up to
CD player.
90 minutes.
2. Press the Play Button (in the Transport Controls section) if the disc is Volume Controls: Press these buttons to raise or lower the volume,
not already playing.
which will be shown in decibels (dB) in the Message Display.
3. Press the Skip Up Button three times to advance three tracks. DSP Surround: Press this button to select a DSP surround mode
4. Press the AVR Button so that you can access the Volume Controls. (Hall 1, Hall 2, Theater).
5. Press the Volume Down Button until the volume level is satisfactory. On-Screen Display (OSD): Press this button to activate the on-
screen menu system.
Any given button may have different functions, depending on which
component is being controlled. Some buttons are labeled with these Channel Level: Press this button to set the output levels for each
functions. For example, the Sleep and DSP Surround Buttons are channel so that all speakers sound equally loud at the listening position.
labeled for use as Channel Up/Down Buttons when controlling a televi- Usually this is done while playing an audio selection, such as a favorite CD,
sion or cable box. See Table A8 in the appendix for listings of the as described in the Initial Setup section.
different functions for each type of component.
Speaker Setup: Press this button to configure speaker sizes, that is,
IR Transmitter Lens: As buttons are pressed on the remote, the low-frequency capability of each speaker. Usually this is done using
infrared codes are emitted through this lens. Make sure it is pointing the on-screen menu system, as described in the Initial Setup section.
toward the component being operated.
Navigation (//¤/) and Set Buttons: These buttons
Power On Button: Press this button to turn on the AVR or another are used together to make selections within the on-screen menu sys-
device. The Master Power Switch on the AVR 144's front panel must tem, or when accessing the functions of the four buttons surrounding
first have been switched on. this area of the remote ­ Channel Level, Speaker Setup, Digital Input
or Delay.
Mute Button: Press this button to mute the AVR 144's speaker
and headphone outputs temporarily. To end the muting, press this button Digital Input Select: Press this button to select the specific digital
or adjust the volume. Muting is also canceled when the receiver is audio input (or analog audio input) you used for the current source.
turned off.
Delay: Press this button to set delay times that compensate for placing
Program Indicator: This LED lights up or flashes in one of three colors the speakers at different distances from the listening position, or to
as the remote is programmed with codes. resolve a "lip sync" issue that may be caused by digital video processing.
(continued on p. 14)
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AVR144 harman/kardon

IR Transmitter Lens

Power On Mute
Program Indicator Power Off
AVR Selector Input Selectors

AM/FM 6-Channel Input Selector
Dim
Test Tone TV/Video
Sleep
Volume Control
DSP Surround
On-Screen Display (Not Used)

Channel Level Speaker Setup

Navigation
Set
Digital Input
Delay


Numeric Keys


Tuning Mode Memory
Direct Station Entry Clear
Tuning Preset Stations Selectors
Tone Mode Disc Skip
Macros

Surround Mode Selectors
Night Mode

Track Skip
Transport Controls




NOTE: To make it easier to follow the instruc-
tions throughout the manual that refer to this
illustration, a copy of this page may be down-
loaded from the Product Support section at
www.harmankardon.com.


11
AVR144 harman/kardon

REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONS
This is done using the on-screen menu system, as described in the
Initial Setup section.
Numeric Keys: Use these buttons to enter radio station frequencies
when using the tuner (after pressing the Direct Button), or to select station
presets.
Tuning Mode: This button toggles between manual (one frequency
step at a time) and automatic (seeks frequencies with acceptable signal
strength) tuning mode. It also toggles between stereo and mono modes
when an FM station is tuned.
Memory: After you have tuned a particular radio station, press this
button, then the numeric keys, to save that station as a radio preset.
Tuning: Press these buttons to tune a radio station. Depending on
whether the tuning mode has been set to manual or automatic, each
press will either change one frequency step at a time, or seek the next
frequency with acceptable signal strength.
Direct: Press this button before using the Numeric Keys to directly
enter a radio station frequency.
Clear: Press this button to clear a radio station frequency you have
started to enter.
Preset Stations Selector: Press these buttons to select a preset
radio station.
Tone Mode: Press this button to access the tone controls (bass and
treble). Use the Navigation Buttons to make your selections.
Disc Skip: This button has no effect on the receiver, but is used with
some optical disc changers to skip to the next disc.
Macros: These buttons may be programmed to execute long com-
mand sequences with a single button press. They are useful for pro-
gramming the command to turn on or off all of your components, or for
accessing specialized functions for a different component than you are
currently operating.
Surround Mode Selectors: Press any of these buttons to select
a type of surround sound (e.g., multichannel) mode. Choose from the
Dolby modes, DTS modes, Logic 7 modes or Stereo modes. Each
press of a button will cycle to the next available variant of that mode.
Not all modes or mode groups are available with all sources.
Night Mode: Press this button to activate Night mode with specially
encoded Dolby Digital discs or broadcasts. Night mode compresses the
audio so that louder passages are reduced in volume to avoid disturbing
others, while dialogue remains intelligible.
Track Skip: These buttons have no effect on the receiver, but are
used with many source components to change tracks or chapters.
Transport Controls: These buttons have no effect on the receiver,
but are used to control many source components. By default, when the
remote is operating the receiver, these buttons will control a DVD player.



14
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AVR144 harman/kardon

CONNECTIONS
There are different types of audio and video connections used to con- Bare wire cables are installed as follows (see Figure 2):
nect the receiver to the speakers and video display, and to connect
the source devices to the receiver. To make it easier to keep them all 1. Unscrew the terminal cap until the pass-through hole in the collar is
straight, the Consumer Electronics Association (CEA) has established a revealed.
color-coding standard. Table 1 may be helpful to you as a reference 2. Insert the bare end of the wire into the hole.
while you set up your system.
3. Screw the cap back into place until the wire is held snugly.
Audio Connections
Left Right
Front (FL/FR)
Center (C)
Surround (SL/SR)
Subwoofer (SUB)

Digital Audio Connections 1 2 3
Coaxial Figure 2 ­ Binding-Post Speaker Terminals With Bare Wires
Optical Input

Video Connections Subwoofer
Component Y Pb Pr
Composite The subwoofer is a specialized type of loudspeaker that is usually con-
S-Video nected in a different way. The subwoofer is used to play only the low
Table 1­ Connection Color Guide frequencies (bass), which require much more power than the other
speaker channels. In order to obtain the best results, most speaker
Types of Cables manufacturers offer powered subwoofers, in which the speaker contains
its own amplifier on board. Sometimes the subwoofer is connected to
This section will briefly review different types of cables and connections the receiver using the front left and right speaker outputs, and then the
that you may use to set up your system. front left and right speakers are connected to terminals on the sub-
woofer. More often, a line-level (nonamplified) connection is made
Speaker Connections from the receiver's Subwoofer Output to a corresponding jack on the
Speaker cables carry an amplified signal from the receiver's speaker subwoofer, as shown in Figure 3.
terminals to each loudspeaker. Speaker cables contain two wire Although the subwoofer output looks similar to the analog audio jacks
conductors, or leads, inside plastic insulation. The two conductors are used for the various components, it is filtered and only allows the low
usually differentiated in some way, by using different colors, or stripes, frequencies to pass. Don't connect this output to your other devices.
or even by adding a ridge to the insulation. Sometimes the actual wires Although doing so won't cause any harm, performance will suffer.
are different, one being copper red and the other silver.
The differentiation is important because each speaker must be connected
to the receiver's speaker-output terminals using two wires, one positive Pre-out Subwoofer
(+) and one negative (­). This is called speaker polarity. It's important to
Figure 3 ­ Subwoofer
maintain the proper polarity for all speakers in the system. If some speakers
have their negative terminals connected to the receiver's positive Connecting Source Devices to the AVR
terminals, performance can suffer, especially for the low frequencies.
The AVR 144 is designed to process audio and video input signals,
Always connect the positive terminal on the loudspeaker, which is usually playing back the audio and displaying the video on a television or moni-
colored red, to the positive terminal on the receiver, which is colored as tor connected to the AVR. These signals originate in what are known as
shown in the Connection Color Guide (Table 1). Similarly, always con- "source devices," including your DVD player, CD player, DVR (digital
nect the black negative terminal on the speaker to the black negative video recorder) or other recorder, tape deck, game console, cable or
terminal on the receiver. satellite television box or MP3 player. Although the tuner is built into the
The AVR 144 uses binding-post speaker AVR, it also counts as a source, even though no external connections
terminals that can accept banana plugs are needed, other than the FM and AM antennas.
+ or bare-wire cables. Separate connections are required for the audio and video portions of
Banana plugs are simply plugged into the the signal. The types of connections used depend upon what's available
hole in the middle of the terminal cap. on the source device, and for video signals, the capabilities of your
See Figure 1. video display.
Figure 1 ­ Binding-Post Speaker Terminals With Banana Plugs




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AVR144 harman/kardon
CONNECTIONS
Audio Connections Multichannel analog connections are used with advanced sources where
the digital content is copy-protected and all surround processing is per-
There are two formats for audio connections: digital and analog. Digital formed inside the source. These types of connections are usually used
audio signals are of higher quality, and are required for listening to with DVD-Audio, SACD, Blu-ray Disc, HD-DVD and other advanced
sources encoded with digital surround modes, such as Dolby Digital and players. See Figure 7.
DTS. There are two types of digital audio connections commonly used:
coaxial and optical. Either type of digital audio connection may be used
for each source device, but never both simultaneously for the same Front Surround Center
source. However, it's okay to make both analog and digital audio con- Multichannel
nections at the same time, to the same source. analog audio
cable (RCA)
Digital Audio Subwoofer
Coaxial digital audio jacks are usually color-coded in orange. Although
they look similar to analog jacks, they should not be confused, and you Figure 7 ­ Multichannel Analog Audio
should not connect coaxial digital audio outputs to analog inputs or
vice versa. See Figure 4. Video Connections
Although some sources produce an audio signal only (e.g., CD player,
Coaxial digital Coaxial
audio cable tape deck), many sources output both audio and video signals (e.g.,
DVD player, cable television box, HDTV tuner, satellite box, VCR, DVR).
Figure 4 ­ Coaxial Digital Audio In addition to the audio connection, you will need to connect one type of
Optical digital audio connectors are normally covered by a shutter to video connection for each source (never more than one at the same
protect them from dust. The shutter opens as the cable is inserted. Input time for any source).
connectors are color-coded using a black shutter. See Figure 5. There are three types of analog video connections: composite video,
Optical S-video and component video.
Optical digital
audio cable Composite video is the basic connection most commonly available.
Figure 5 ­ Optical Digital Audio The jack is usually color-coded in yellow, and looks like an analog audio
jack, although it is important never to confuse the two. Do not plug a
Due to the nature of digital signals as binary bits, they aren't subject composite video cable into an analog or coaxial digital audio jack, and
to signal degradation the way analog signals are. Therefore, the quality vice versa. Both the chrominance (color) and luminance (intensity)
of coaxial and optical digital audio connections should be the same, components of the video signal are transmitted using a single cable.
although it is important to limit the length of the cable. Whichever type of See Figure 8.
connection you choose, Harman Kardon recommends that you always
Composite video
select the highest quality cables available within your budget. Composite
video cable
Analog Audio Figure 8 ­ Composite Video

Analog connections require two cables, one for the left channel (white) S-video, or "separate" video, transmits the chrominance and luminance
and one for the right channel (red). These two cables are often attached components using separate wires contained within a single cable. The
to each other for most of their length. See Figure 6. plug on an S-video cable contains four metal pins, plus a plastic guide
pin. Be careful to line up the plug correctly when you insert it into the
Most sources that have digital audio jacks also have analog audio jacks, jack on the receiver, source or video display. See Figure 9.
although some older types of sources, such as tape decks, have only
analog jacks. For sources that are capable of both digital and analog S-video
audio, you may wish to make both connections. If you wish to record cable
materials from DVDs or other copy-protected sources, you will only be Figure 9 ­ S-Video
able to do so using analog connections. Remember to comply with all
laws regarding copyright, if you choose to make a copy for your own Component video separates the video signal into three components ­
personal use. one luminance ("Y") and two subsampled color signals ("Pb" and "Pr") ­
that are transmitted using three separate cables. The "Y" cable is color-
L coded green, the "Pb" cable is colored blue and the "Pr" cable is col-
Analog audio
ored red. See Figure 10.
cable (RCA) R
Figure 6 ­ Analog Audio



17
14
AVR144 harman/kardon

CONNECTIONS

Component
video cable

Figure 10 ­ Component Video

If it's available on your video display, component video is recom-
mended as the best quality connection, followed by S-video and then
composite video.

Antennas
The AVR 144 uses separate terminals for the included FM and AM
antennas that provide proper reception for the tuner.
The FM antenna uses a 75-ohm F-connector. See Figure 11.




Figure 11 ­ FM Antenna

The AM loop antenna needs to be assembled. Then connect the two
leads to the screw terminals on the receiver. See Figure 12.




Figure 12 ­ AM Antenna




18 18
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AVR144 harman/kardon

INSTALLATION
You are now ready to connect your various components to your receiver. Step Three ­ Connect the Antennas
Before beginning, make sure that all components, including the AVR 144,
are turned completely off and their power cords are unplugged. Don't Connect the FM and AM antennas to their terminals. See Figure 16.
plug any of the power cords back in until you have finished
making all of your connections.
Remember that your receiver generates heat while it is playing. Select a
location that leaves several inches of space on all sides of the receiver. It
is preferable to avoid completely enclosing the receiver inside a cabinet.
It is also preferable to stack components on separate shelves rather AVR 144
than directly on top of the receiver. Some surface finishes are delicate.
Try to select a location with a sturdy surface finish.

Step One ­ Connect the Speakers
If you have not yet done so, place your speakers in the listening room
as described in the Speaker Placement section above. AM

Connect the center, front left, front right, surround left and surround right FM
loudspeakers to the corresponding speaker terminals on the AVR 144.
Remember to maintain the proper polarity by always connecting the
positive and negative terminals on each speaker to the positive and
negative terminals on the receiver. Use the Connection Color Guide
on page 16 as a reference. See Figure 14. Figure 16 ­ Antenna Connections

Step Four ­ Connect the Source Components
AVR 144
Use the worksheets in the Appendix to note which connections you will
C use for each of your source devices.
For each source, select a source input (Video 1, Video 2, Video 3, etc.).
In Table 2 we recommend connecting certain types of sources to certain
source inputs to make it easier to program and use the remote control.
Decide which audio connections you will use. If your source device has
FR FL SR SL
them, use either the coaxial digital or the optical digital audio connec-
tion. Referring to Table 2, we recommend you connect the DVD source
Figure 14 ­ Speaker Connections to the Coaxial 1 input jack, and the source designated Video 2 to the
Optical 1 input jack. However, you may make whatever connections are
Step Two ­ Connect the Subwoofer best for your system.
Connect the Subwoofer Output on the AVR 144 to the line-level input on In addition to the digital audio connections, we recommend that you
your subwoofer. See Figure 15. Consult the manufacturer's guide for the connect the analog audio connections for each source, as a backup to
subwoofer for additional information. the digital connections. For sources that don't have digital audio outputs,
you must use the analog audio connections.
For each video source, select one type of video connection. Component
video is preferred, but both your source device and your video display
must have this type of video capability. If either device does not, then
use S-video. Again, if either your source device or your video display
doesn't have S-video connections, then use composite video.
AVR 144
Referring to Table 2, we recommend that you connect the DVD source
to the Component Video 1 inputs, and any one source designated as
Video 1, Video 2 or Video 3 to the Component Video 2 inputs. However,
SUB
you may make whatever video connections are best for your system.
Figure 15 ­ Subwoofer Connection



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AVR144 harman/kardon

INSTALLATION
We recommend connecting your various sources using the connections
shown in Table 2 below in order to simplify programming your receiver
NOTE: It's possible for a source to use none of the connections and remote control. However, you may connect any device to any
named for that source. For example, you might connect your source input.
DVD player to the Component Video 1 inputs and the Coax 1
digital audio input. However, we will refer to this source as
"DVD", and in Step Five of the Initial Setup section you will pro-
gram the receiver so that these connections are assigned to the
DVD source. When you select "DVD" as your source using the
front panel or the remote, the correct connections for your DVD
player will be used.

Device Type AVR 144 Source Input Audio Connections Video Connections
VCR, DVR, PVR, Video 1 · Video 1 Analog (inputs and outputs) · One of component Video 2, Video 1 S-video
TiVo or other and or Video 1 composite video
audio/video recorder · Any one available coaxial or optical · For recording, use Video 1 S-video or
digital audio input composite video output, and do not use
component video connections at all
Cable TV, satellite, Video 2 · Video 2 Analog and · One of component Video 2, Video 2
HDTV or other · Optical 1 S-video, Video 2 composite video
device that delivers
television programs
TV, game console, Video 3 (front-panel jacks) · Video 3 Analog and · One of component Video 2, Video 3 S-video
camera or other · Either Coax 3 or Optical 3 or Video 3 composite video
audio/video device
DVD Audio/Video, DVD · DVD Analog · Component Video 1
SACD, HD-DVD, · 6-Channel inputs (optional) and
Blu-ray Disc · Coax 1
CD player CD · CD Analog and · Not required
· Any one available coaxial or optical
digital audio input
CDR, MiniDisc, Tape · Tape Analog (inputs and outputs) and · Not required
cassette · Any one available coaxial or optical
digital audio input

Table 2 ­ Recommended Source Component Connections



Video 1 Source
Since this source includes audio and video recording output jacks, it is
best suited to a video recorder, such as your VCR or DVR.
Referring to Table 2, connect your recorder to the Video 1 Analog Audio
inputs and outputs and to any available Coax or Optical digital audio
input. See Figure 17. Use either the Video 1 S-video or composite
video input and output if you wish to make recordings. If you don't plan Figure 17 ­ Video 1 A/V Inputs and Outputs, and Digital Audio Inputs
on recording, you may use the Component Video 2 inputs.
Remember to connect the audio and video output jacks on your
recorder to the Video 1 or digital audio input jacks on the AVR, and the
audio and video input jacks on your recorder to the Video 1 output
jacks on the AVR.

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AVR144 harman/kardon

INSTALLATION

NOTES:
1. It isn't possible to make recordings using component video
connections. Keep this in mind as you connect other source Figure 19 ­ Video 3 A/V and Digital Audio Inputs
devices that you may wish to make recordings from.
DVD
2. The AVR 144 does not have any digital audio outputs. If you
wish to make recordings, your source must be connected to The DVD source is used for a DVD player. If you have a more advanced
any of the AVR 144's analog audio inputs, and your recorder multichannel device, such as a Blu-ray Disc or HD-DVD player, connect
must be connected to either the Video 1 or Tape Analog it to the DVD source.
Audio Outputs. The AVR 144 will not convert a digital audio
input signal to analog. Referring to Table 2, connect your DVD player to the DVD Analog
Audio inputs and to the Coaxial 1 Digital Audio input. If possible, use
Video 2 Source the Component Video 1 inputs. Otherwise, connect the DVD player's
S-video or composite video output to the matching DVD video input.
The Video 2 source is used only for playback, never recording. The See Figure 20.
AVR 144 remote control is programmed to operate many brands and
models of cable and satellite television devices, and we recommend
connecting your cable or satellite set-top box to this source.
Referring to Table 2, connect your set-top box to the Video 2 Analog
Audio inputs and to the Optical 1 Digital Audio input. If possible, use
the Component Video 2 inputs. Otherwise, connect the set-top box's
S-video or composite video output to the matching Video 2 video input. Figure 20 ­ DVD A/V, Digital Audio and Component Video Inputs
See Figure 18.
If your DVD player plays multichannel lossless discs, such as SACD or
DVD-Audio, you will also need to connect the 6-channel analog audio
outputs on the DVD player to the 6-channel analog audio inputs on the
recei