Audio settings question

[EddieG]

I have a Harmon Kardon AVR 146 receiver and just got a BD55 Blu Ray player. I wanted to find information about what settings I should have on the AVR for the best sound. Can someone point me in the right direction? I tried logging on to harmonkardon.com but the website is not responding.

Thanks!

 

[mtrycrafts]

I have a Harmon Kardon AVR 146 receiver and just got a BD55 Blu Ray player. I wanted to find information about what settings I should have on the AVR for the best sound. Can someone point me in the right direction? I tried logging on to harmonkardon.com but the website is not responding.

Thanks!

What audio codecs can it process? Have the manual? I doubt it will do the hi-res DD or DTS but if it can do the basic, then you can use the digital audio out from the 55 as you will need both processing as some BD are only DTS.

 

[Seth=L]

Optical/Coaxial digital output is one option (the easy way out). However you said you wanted the best possible connection. Luckily the DMP-BD55 is a fully loaded Blu-ray player. It supports up to 7.1 analog output and can decode both Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA out of the box. Since the H/K AVR 146 has 5.1 analog inputs (since the receiver is limited to 5.1) you can use the Blu-ray player's analog outputs up to 5.1 (you won't be using the surround back connectors, just the surrounds).

The Panasonic DMP-BD55 will have the bass management controls, and I suggest that you use them. Refer to your manual for a more detailed set-up description for bass management. Basicall you will want to set all speakers to small and set the cross-over frequency to around 80-120hz depending on the size of your speakers. This will not only sound better acoustically, but will also relieve stress on the receiver. The less power it has to dish out the better for it. That will allow the H/K to deliver more power where it is needed. There is no reason for the speakers and the subwoofer to be outputting the same frequencies and getting in each others way making standing waves and nulls in the bass.

 

[EddieG]

Optical/Coaxial digital output is one option (the easy way out). However you said you wanted the best possible connection. Luckily the DMP-BD55 is a fully loaded Blu-ray player. It supports up to 7.1 analog output and can decode both Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD MA out of the box. Since the H/K AVR 146 has 5.1 analog inputs (since the receiver is limited to 5.1) you can use the Blu-ray player's analog outputs up to 5.1 (you won't be using the surround back connectors, just the surrounds).

The Panasonic DMP-BD55 will have the bass management controls, and I suggest that you use them. Refer to your manual for a more detailed set-up description for bass management. Basicall you will want to set all speakers to small and set the cross-over frequency to around 80-120hz depending on the size of your speakers. This will not only sound better acoustically, but will also relieve stress on the receiver. The less power it has to dish out the better for it. That will allow the H/K to deliver more power where it is needed. There is no reason for the speakers and the subwoofer to be outputting the same frequencies and getting in each others way making standing waves and nulls in the bass.

Thank you Seth!!! (I think...if your suggestions help I'll email you a bottle of wine).

The issue I was having is that no sound was coming from the subwoofer with the analog outs. I put my ear right up to it and nothing! I change the cable to TOSLINK and I do get bass so it has to be a setting issue somewhere.

I will check the BD55's bass mgmt and will change all speakers to small. r.e. the cross over frequency, is that on the bd55 or the receiver? My 2 mains are large speakers and my surrounds are small, cheapies that will some day be replaced. Although, iirc from the AVS forum, I was told to use the bass mgmt in the receiver.

 

[billy p]

Thank you Seth!!! (I think...if your suggestions help I'll email you a bottle of wine).

The issue I was having is that no sound was coming from the subwoofer with the analog outs. I put my ear right up to it and nothing! I change the cable to TOSLINK and I do get bass so it has to be a setting issue somewhere.

I will check the BD55's bass mgmt and will change all speakers to small. r.e. the cross over frequency, is that on the bd55 or the receiver? My 2 mains are large speakers and my surrounds are small, cheapies that will some day be replaced. Although, iirc from the AVS forum, I was told to use the bass mgmt in the receiver.

If you're using a digital connection then your receiver's BM will take effect, but with the analog m/c the player BM will take effect and I would leave the speakers set to large. Since you've checked all your cables and found nothing was loose, than check the ext in. levels on the receiver and select the highest setting and for me that +15dbs which helped some.

PS: I hope you solve this and start enjoying you BR player.

Regards, Bill

 

[EddieG]

If you're using a digital connection then your receiver's BM will take effect, but with the analog m/c the player BM will take effect and I would leave the speakers set to large. Since you've checked all your cables and found nothing was loose, than check the ext in. levels on the receiver and select the highest setting and for me that +15dbs which helped some.

PS: I hope you solve this and start enjoying you BR player.

Regards, Bill

I did set the ext in levels on the receiver to increase the sub volume by 10dbs, and still nothing coming from the sub. I also have the sub volume turned all the way up.

And I am enjoying the BR player very much. I can't wait to get this fixed and hear it even better!

 

[EddieG]

If you're using a digital connection then your receiver's BM will take effect, but with the analog m/c the player BM will take effect and I would leave the speakers set to large. Since you've checked all your cables and found nothing was loose, than check the ext in. levels on the receiver and select the highest setting and for me that +15dbs which helped some.

PS: I hope you solve this and start enjoying you BR player.

Regards, Bill

Here's what Harman Kardan support said:

"I'm sorry to hear of this problem. If you connect the front
left or right analog out from the BluRay player to the sub in on the 6
channel direct input of the AVR146, do you get audio from the sub? You
may need to reconfigure the front channel outputs for full range if the
BluRay player has bass management or crossover control for each channel
output. The idea here is to see if the issue is with the sub out on the
BluRay player or the sub in on the receiver. You can also test this
with a stereo analog output from any analog source product."

I'm not sure what all this means...I'm no audiophile, but I'll play with some other settings and see what happens.

 

[Seth=L]

If you're using a digital connection then your receiver's BM will take effect, but with the analog m/c the player BM will take effect and I would leave the speakers set to large. Since you've checked all your cables and found nothing was loose, than check the ext in. levels on the receiver and select the highest setting and for me that +15dbs which helped some.

PS: I hope you solve this and start enjoying you BR player.

Regards, Bill

I meant set the speakers to small in the Blu-ray player, not the AVR. The AVR would not allow such a setting to be made in multichannel direct anyway.

 

[billy p]

Here's what Harman Kardan support said:

"I'm sorry to hear of this problem. If you connect the front
left or right analog out from the BluRay player to the sub in on the 6
channel direct input of the AVR146, do you get audio from the sub? You
may need to reconfigure the front channel outputs for full range if the
BluRay player has bass management or crossover control for each channel
output. The idea here is to see if the issue is with the sub out on the
BluRay player or the sub in on the receiver. You can also test this
with a stereo analog output from any analog source product."

I'm not sure what all this means...I'm no audiophile, but I'll play with some other settings and see what happens.

By switching out the sub's analog output from the player to your receiver by using the L/R channels should determine whats causing the problem. As for BM or crossover points thats all predetermined in the player. FWIW HK is trying to rule out the receiver by having you do this. IMO its either one or the other.
Goodluck, Eddy
Regards, Bill

 

[mtrycrafts]

Optical/Coaxial digital output is one option (the easy way out). .

Yes, indeed. And you can see how it is going, the hard way