hk 354

[ryrebo]

Just got a hk 354 and cant figure out how to set up the audio. will not change from 2.0- 7.0

should this happen auto ???

 

[Adam]

Welcome to the forum!

It might not be switching because the input audio signal isn't multi-channel, but you can have the receiver automatically switch. Press the "Surround Modes" button (on either the remote or the front panel) until the surround mode changes to "SURR: AUTO SELECT".

Please let us know if that works for you.

 

[ryrebo]

thanks adam when i press surrond modes my selstions are
auto select
virtual surround
stero 2 ch stero
movie dolby plix movie
music dolby plix music

I know this is a stupid questions, but the station has to be broadcasted in full 7.1 to enjoy this correct?

i have 5 celing (jbl)
1 center(bose)
1 sub (polk)

 

[ljaggers]

Logic 7

It sounds to me like your source is stereo (or 2-channel). You can, however, expand a stereo signal to all of the channels in a few different ways. First you can set the H/K to 5/7 channel stereo in which a stereo signal is sent to each of the speakers evenly. Or you can use Harman Kardon's proprietary Logic 7 decoding which is similar to Dolby Pro Logic IIx which takes a stereo signal and creates a virtual 5.1/7.1 surround signal by isolating the dialog to the center and spreading the ambient noise to the surrounds. H/K's Logic 7 does a really good job of this. However, to get "true" surround you need source material with discrete 5.1/7.1 channels of audio (DVD, Blu-ray & some cable/satellite programing)

 

[ryrebo]

It sounds to me like your source is stereo (or 2-channel). You can, however, expand a stereo signal to all of the channels in a few different ways. First you can set the H/K to 5/7 channel stereo in which a stereo signal is sent to each of the speakers evenly. Or you can use Harman Kardon's proprietary Logic 7 decoding which is similar to Dolby Pro Logic IIx which takes a stereo signal and creates a virtual 5.1/7.1 surround signal by isolating the dialog to the center and spreading the ambient noise to the surrounds. H/K's Logic 7 does a really good job of this. However, to get "true" surround you need source material with discrete 5.1/7.1 channels of audio (DVD, Blu-ray & some cable/satellite programing)

In your opinion what is the best sound for watching TV and could you please tell me how to set this up? I cant figure it out.

Tks

 

[ljaggers]

In your opinion what is the best sound for watching TV and could you please tell me how to set this up? I cant figure it out.

Tks

Now are you talking about watching cable? If so, I will go ahead and assume that you have access to digital or high-def channels. If your AVR354 is hooked up through the cable box through HDMI or optical/coaxial for the audio you should be receiving full surround sound. The AVR354 should auto detect that it is receiving a surround signal and switch over to dolby digital (that is what the front of the AVR354 should say.) I just found this out recently myself. I used to think that all cable programming was in two channel stereo.

Write back or send me a PM and tell me what you find. It all may be an issue of what cables you are using for audio.

 

[KASR]

Just got a hk 354 and cant figure out how to set up the audio. will not change from 2.0- 7.0

should this happen auto ???

I hate to say it, but it will help significantly to "study" the manual. I had an AVR154 and it took atleast a good month of reading, re-reading, and then reading again the different sections of the receiver before I really, REALLY knew the in's and out's of how the receiver operated not only by itself, but when it was also connected to the various components.

Read the manual - look at the section that talks about the different audio options.

 

[ryrebo]

Now are you talking about watching cable? If so, I will go ahead and assume that you have access to digital or high-def channels. If your AVR354 is hooked up through the cable box through HDMI or optical/coaxial for the audio you should be receiving full surround sound. The AVR354 should auto detect that it is receiving a surround signal and switch over to dolby digital (that is what the front of the AVR354 should say.) I just found this out recently myself. I used to think that all cable programming was in two channel stereo.

Write back or send me a PM and tell me what you find. It all may be an issue of what cables you are using for audio.

Yes I'm talking about Cable. I have a HDMI cable hooked from TV to reciver then HDMI from reciver to cable box. On my HD channel some channels do convert to Dolby digital but some dont. I'm starting to think that its the stations and not the cables and settings.

 

[ljaggers]

Yes I'm talking about Cable. I have a HDMI cable hooked from TV to reciver then HDMI from reciver to cable box. On my HD channel some channels do convert to Dolby digital but some dont. I'm starting to think that its the stations and not the cables and settings.

Yeah, I think your right. Sometimes my h/k says "Dolby digital" and with other channels it says "Dolby pro logic II". I wonder if we could get a list of the channels that offer surround encoding from our cable providers?