Audio Connections; Digital Audio; Analog Audio; Video Connections - Harman Kardon HS 300 Owner's Manual

Audio Connections

There are two formats for audio connections: digital and analog. Digital
audio signals are of higher quality, and are required for listening to
sources encoded with digital surround modes, such as Dolby Digital and
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
source. However, it's okay to make both analog and digital audio con-
nections at the same time to the same source.
The HS 300 allows you to connect different devices to each of the
TV and Auxiliary analog audio inputs, and the coaxial or optical digital
audio inputs.

Digital Audio

Coaxial digital audio jacks are usually color-coded in orange. Although
they look similar to analog jacks, they should not be confused, and you
should not connect coaxial digital audio outputs to analog inputs or
vice versa. See Figure 4.
Coaxial digital
audio cable
Figure 4 – Coaxial Digital Audio
Optical digital audio connectors are normally covered by a shutter to
protect them from dust. The shutter opens as the cable is inserted.
See Figure 5.
Optical digital
audio cable
Audio Connections
Figure 5 – Optical Digital Audio
Front (FL/FR)
Due to the nature of digital signals as binary bits, they aren't subject
Center (C)
to signal degradation the way analog signals are. Therefore, the quality
Surround (SL/SR)
of coaxial and optical digital audio connections should be the same,
Subwoofer (SUB)
although it is important to limit the length of the cable. Whichever type of
Digital Audio Connections
connection you choose, Harman Kardon recommends that you always
select the highest quality cables available within your budget. Coaxial
Optical

Analog Audio

Video Connections

Component
Analog connections require two cables, one for the left channel (white)
Composite
and one for the right channel (red). See Figure 6. These two cables are
S-Video
often attached to each other for most of their length. Most sources that
have digital audio jacks also have analog audio jacks, although some
older types of sources, such as tape decks, have only analog jacks. For
sources that are capable of both digital and analog audio, you may wish
to make both connections. If you wish to record materials from DVDs or
other copy-protected sources, you may only be able to do so using
analog connections. Remember to comply with all laws regarding copy-
right if you choose to make a copy for your own personal use.
Analog audio
cable (RCA)
Figure 6 – Analog Audio
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Coaxial
Optical
Left Right
Output Input
Y Pb Pr
L
R
CONNECTIONS
Video Connections
Although some sources produce an audio signal only (e.g., tape deck),
many sources output both audio and video signals (e.g., cable television
box, HDTV tuner, satellite box, VCR, DVR). You will need to connect one
of the HS 300's video outputs to your video display.

Digital Video Connections

The HS 300 is equipped with an HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia
Interface) output. HDMI is capable of carrying digital audio and video
information using a single cable, delivering high-quality picture and
sound.
There are different versions of HDMI, depending on the capability of the
source device and the type of signal it is capable of transmitting via the
HDMI connection.
The physical HDMI connection is simple. The connector is shaped for
easy plug-in (see Figure 7). If your video display has a DVI input, you
may use an HDMI-to-DVI adapter (not included) to connect it to the
HDMI Output.
Figure 7 – HDMI Connection

Analog Video Connections

There are three types of analog video connections: composite video,
S-video and component video.
Composite video is the basic connection most commonly available.
The jack is usually color-coded yellow, and looks like an analog audio
jack, although it is important never to confuse the two. Do not plug a
Audio Connections
composite video cable into an analog or coaxial digital audio jack, or
vice versa. Both the chrominance (color) and luminance (intensity)
Front (FL/FR)
components of the video signal are transmitted using a single cable.
See Figure 8.
Center (C)
Surround (SL/SR)
Composite
Subwoofer (SUB)
video cable
Figure 8 – Composite Video
Digital Audio Connections
S-video, or "separate" video, transmits the chrominance and luminance
Coaxial
components using separate wires contained within a single cable. The
Optical
plug on an S-video cable contains four metal pins, plus a plastic guide
Video Connections
pin. Be careful to line up the plug correctly when you insert it into the
jack on the receiver, source or video display. See Figure 9.
Component
Audio Connections
Composite
S-video cable
S-Video
Front (FL/FR)
Figure 9 – S-Video
Center (C)
Surround (SL/SR)
Component video separates the video signal into three components –
Subwoofer (SUB)
one luminance ("Y") and two sub-sampled color signals ("Pb" and "Pr") –
that are transmitted using three separate cables. The "Y" cable is
Digital Audio Connections
color-coded green, the "Pb" cable is colored blue and the "Pr" cable
Coaxial
is colored red. See Figure 10.
Optical
Audio Connections
Video Connections
Component
Front (FL/FR)
Composite
Center (C)
S-Video
Surround (SL/SR)
Left
Output Input
Y Pb
Left Right
Output Input
Left Right
Y Pb Pr
Right
Pr
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