HK AVR 247 - Best setting for only front speakers

[aleksh]

I just purchased a Harmon Kardon AVR 247 and set-up my Tannoy HTS 100 speakers to it.

Due to the fact that I have a very small listening and viewing area the rear surround speakers are quite close to sitting position and the background noise can be disturbing when just watching regualr programming that is not 5.1 such as sports.

Is there a setting that anyone knows of for dolby or DTS that can have just the fronts play including centre and sub? Main wish is clear dialogue and minimial volume fluctuatuions from chaning incoming signals.

Thanks
Aleks

[57]

I would think that there is a DSP which says something like "stereo" or "direct" or something similar which would just send sound to the LF & RF (and sub). Unfortunately, I don't think there's a setting for the three front speakers outside of telling the AVR that you don't have any rears, which is probably not what you want.

[CenterIce]

You may have already tried this but press the "DOLBY SUR" button to cycle through the different modes. There are 2,3,4,5 speaker modes, one of which might be what you want.

(I'm still learning about mine so I'm not considering myself an expert, by any means.)

[aleksh]

Thanks. Will try both suggestions.

[Wharfe]

on my AVR144 I just press the Surr.Mode button until the display says Surround Off. This only leaves the 2 main speakers and sub on. I use it for music mainly.

[aleksh]

I have played with many of the settings by cycling through the different Dolby Surround Modes, however, it does not stay on the setting I have chosen. When I change channels on my STB a different digital signal will change the sound coming out of the fronts.

Sometimes it is Left, right and Sub, other times it is Centre, Left, right no sub etc..

How do I keep it on one consistent setting for all digital incoimg signals from my STB?

Any help would be appreciated.

[CenterIce]

See page 47 of the owner's manual regarding the "DEFAULT" setting. I think that's what you want.

[57]

Many AVRs have an "auto" setting which will invoke a certain DSP based on the input signal. Turn off the auto setting if you don't want that.

[aleksh]

With much help and playing around I have solved my Audio problem. Essentially I had to run the coax digital cable from the STB to my receiver and choose OTHER on the Rogers settings in order to disable the Surround Sound mode on the AVR.

The 1 problem I still have is that when I run my Component cables from my Rogers STB to my HK AVR 247, then output to my Samsung LCD with an HDMI from the AVR, it does not find the signal.

I want to use component for my STB without having to run Component output to TV and I thought this was possible with the HDMI output. Not sure if this is a STB setting or a receiver setting that will make this work

Aleks

[57]

The AVR may not transcode component video signals to HDMI. Check your operating manual to see if it does that. If not, you'll need CV connections to the TV.

Note that by choosing the "other" setting in the STB, you are not going to get DD5.1 audio when/if you want it. You'll need to select DD if that's what you want under certain circumstances.

An option would be to reduce the volume on your rear speakers if they are bothering you on certain programmes. This should be under the setup or test menu of the AVR.