Official Harman Kardon AVR 254 & 354 Owners Thread

Both AVR 254 and 354 models are available in July 08' as per Harman Kardon's website. Let me know if anything is incorrect or if updating is necessary and I'll try my best to make the corrections/updates.

AVR 254 introduction...

7 x 50W 7.1-Channel A/V Receiver with HDMI™ 1.3a Repeater, Audio/Video Processing and Upscaling to 1080p.

The Harman Kardon® AVR 254 is the most affordable Harman Kardon receiver to feature both Dolby® TrueHD and DTS-HD Master Audio™ decoding on the audio side, and Faroudja DCDi Cinema® video processing to 1080p on the video side. But there's plenty more to recommend the AVR 254, including three HDMI™ inputs, connections for external amplifiers, EzSet/EQ™ technology to fine-tune your system to the acoustics of your room, and an RS-232 port for future firmware upgrades. Perhaps the highest recommendation of all? As do all Harman Kardon A/V receivers, the AVR 254 features a high-current, ultrawide-bandwidth design for maximum fidelity.

AVR254 front panel is same as AVR 354, scroll down for a photo of the AVR354 front panel.

Official Harman Kardon AVR 254 page


AVR 354 introduction...

7 x 75W 7.1-Channel A/V Receiver with HDMI™ 1.3a Repeater, Audio/Video Processing and Upscaling to 1080p.

The AVR 354 includes a full complement of Dolby® and DTS® decoding technologies, HDMI™ repeater capability, Faroudja DCDi Cinema® processing, EzSet/EQ™ equalization and multiroom capability. It connects to a universe of digital and analog sources, as well as to external amps. And with The Bridge II docking station (included), it will even play, control and charge your iPod. To ensure that everything works together seamlessly, the AVR 354 features a full-color graphical user interface and an eight-device programmable remote. Harman Kardon® founder Dr. Sidney Harman has always believed technology should serve users, not intimidate them. The AVR 354 is a perfect case in point.


Official Harman Kardon AVR 354 page


Breakdown of AVR 254 and AVR 354 Feature Listings...(354 in BOLD)

Audio Section
• 50 Watts x 7, seven channels driven at full power at 8 ohms, 20Hz – 20kHz, <0.07% THD (surround modes), 350 watts total
• 75 Watts x 7, per channel seven channels driven at full power at 8 ohms, 20Hz – 20kHz, <0.07% THD, 525 watts total
• 65 Watts x 2, two channels driven at full power at 8 ohms, 20Hz – 20kHz, <0.07% THD (surround off mode), 130 watts total
• High-current capability, ultrawide-bandwidth amplifier design with low negative feedback
• All-discrete amplifier circuitry
• Quadruple-crossover bass management
• 24-Bit, twin-core Cirrus Logic® CS 49700 DSP processor
• 192kHz/24-bit D/A conversion
• Sampling upconversion to 96kHz
Surround Modes
• Dolby® Digital EX, Dolby Digital Plus, Dolby TrueHD
• Dolby Pro Logic® II and IIx (Movie, Music and Game), up to 96kHz
• Dolby Virtual Speaker Version 2 (Reference or Wide, two-channel)
• Dolby Headphone Version 2, up to 96kHz
• DTS-HD, DTS-HD Master Audio™
• DTS® (5.1; DTS Stereo; DTS-ES® 6.1 Discrete and Matrix)
• DTS 96/24™ (DTS Stereo)
• DTS Neo:6® (Cinema 5- or 6-channel; Music 5- or 6-channel), up to 96kHz
• Logic 7® (Movie, Music and Game – 5.1 and 7.1), up to 96kHz
• 5- or 7-Channel Stereo, up to 96kHz
• Surround Off (DSP or Analog Bypass)

Audio Inputs
• AM/FM/XM®* tuner
• Analog Audio 1 through 5 (assignable)
• Front-panel Analog Audio (assignable)
• 6-/8-Channel Analog Audio (assignable)
• Stereo mini-jack (assignable)

Audio/Video Inputs
• Three Analog Video (assignable)
• Front-panel Analog Video (assignable)
• Component Video 1 and 2, 100MHz (assignable)
• Three Component Video 100MHz (assignable)
• Three HDMI™ (V.1.3 with Deep Color and audio/video processing)
• Faroudja DCDi Cinema® video processing
Transcodes composite and S-video to component video
Transcodes 480i video to component video format, with upscaling to 1080i
Transcodes 480i video to HDMI output, with upscaling up to 1080p
• for iPod** connectivity with audio/video playback

Digital Audio Inputs
• Coaxial: two rear-panel/one front-panel
• Optical: two rear-panel/one front-panel
• Optical: three rear-panel/one front-panel

Outputs
• 7.1-Channel preamp outputs
• Analog Audio 2 and 4
• Analog Video 2
• Video monitor (composite, S-video and component)
• Digital audio (one coaxial)
• HDMI (V.1.3 with Deep Color)
• Multizone audio: speaker- and line-level (shared with surround back channels)
• Multizone audio: speaker- and two line-level (one dedicated, one shared with surround back channels)
• Headphone

Ease of Use
• EzSet/EQ™ automated setup (microphone supplied)
• Full-color user interface and setup menu, generated in high-definition video
• Two-line dot-matrix front-panel display
• Color-coded connections
• Programmable 7-device main remote control
• Programmable, learning 7-device main remote control (includes AVR control over The Bridge II)
• Source input renaming
• Lip Sync Delay (up to 180msec)
• RS-232 serial port for system upgrades
• Switched accessory power outlet
• Remote infrared (IR) input and output
• Zone 2 IR input
• Zone 2 IR input and Carrier IR Output
• IEC detachable AC power cord for easy installation

Supplied Accessories
The following accessory items are supplied with the AVR 254. If any of these items are missing, please contact Harman Kardon customer service at www.harmankardon.com.
• System remote control
• System and Zone 2 remote controls
• EzSet/EQ microphone
• docking station for iPod
• AM loop antenna
• FM wire antenna
• Four AAA batteries
• Six AAA batteries
• Two covers for front-panel jacks
• AC power cord


End of manual specifications for 254 and 354, 354 in bold.

Audio Section

Stereo Mode
Continuous Average Power (FTC)
65 Watts per channel, 20Hz–20kHz,@ <0.07% THD, both channels driven into 8 ohms
75 Watts per channel, 20Hz–20kHz,@ <0.07% THD, both channels driven into 8 ohms

Seven-Channel Surround Modes
Power per Individual Channel
Front L & R channels:
50 Watts per channel @ <0.07% THD, 20Hz–20kHz into 8 ohms
75 Watts per channel @ <0.07% THD, 20Hz–20kHz into 8 ohms
Center channel:
50 Watts @ <0.07% THD, 20Hz–20kHz into 8 ohms
75 Watts @ <0.07% THD, 20Hz–20kHz into 8 ohms
Surround (L & R Side, L & R Back) channels:
50 Watts per channel @ <0.07% THD, 20Hz–20kHz into 8 ohms
75 Watts per channel @ <0.07% THD, 20Hz–20kHz into 8 ohms

Input Sensitivity/Impedance
Linear (High-Level) 200mV/47k ohms
Signal-to-Noise Ratio (IHF-A) 100dB
Surround System Adjacent Channel Separation
Pro Logic I/II 40dB
Dolby Digital (AC-3) 55dB
DTS 55dB
Frequency Response
@ 1W (+0dB, –3dB) 10Hz –130kHz
High Instantaneous
Current Capability (HCC) ±35 Amps
Transient Intermodulation
Distortion (TIM) Unmeasurable
Slew Rate 40V/µsec
FM Tuner Section
Frequency Range 87.5–108.0MHz
Usable Sensitivity IHF 1.3µV/13.2dBf
Signal-to-Noise Ratio Mono/Stereo 70/68dB
Distortion Mono/Stereo 0.2/0.3%
Stereo Separation 40dB @ 1kHz
Selectivity ±400kHz, 70dB
Image Rejection 80dB
IF Rejection 90dB
AM Tuner Section
Frequency Range 520–1720kHz
Signal-to-Noise Ratio 45dB
Usable Sensitivity Loop 500µV
Distortion 1kHz, 50% Mod 0.8%
Selectivity ±10kHz, 30dB

Video Section

Television Format NTSC
Input Level/Impedance 1Vp-p/75 ohms
Output Level/Impedance 1Vp-p/75 ohms
Video Frequency Response
(Composite and S-Video) 10Hz–8MHz (–3dB)
Video Frequency Response
(Component Video) 10Hz–100MHz (–3dB)
HDMI™ Version 1.3a with 10-bit Deep Color

General

Power Requirement AC 120V/60Hz
Power Consumption 65W idle, 540W maximum (7 channels driven)
Power Consumption 118W idle, 890W maximum (7 channels driven)

Dimensions (Product) (Shipping)

Width 17-5/16 inches (440mm) 21-7/8 inches (555mm)
Height 6-1/2 inches (165mm) 10-1/2 inches (266mm)
Depth 15 inches (382mm) 18-5/16 inches (465mm)
(Product) (Shipping)
Weight 27.1 lb (12.3kg) 32.8 lb (14.9kg)
Weight 31.5 lb (14.3kg) 36.7 lb (16.7kg)

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Resetting the Remote
To reset the remote to its factory defaults, simultaneously press and hold the TV Source Selector and the “0” Alphanumeric Key. When the TV Button re-lights, enter the code “333”. When the TV Button goes out, and all of the Source Selectors flash, the remote will have been fully reset.

Processor Reset
There may be instances when you wish to fully reset the AVR 254 to its factory defaults, or the unit may behave erratically after a power surge. To correct erratic behavior, first try turning the Master Power Switch off and unplugging the AC power cord for at least three minutes. Plug the cord back in and turn the receiver back on. If this doesn’t help, try a system reset.

NOTES:
• A system reset erases all user configurations, including video resolution, speaker and level settings, and tuner presets. After a reset, you will need to reenter all of these settings.

ADVANCED FUNCTIONS
• The RS-232 Reset Button on the rear panel of the AVR 254 does not perform a system reset. DO NOT press the RS-232 Reset Button.

To reset the AVR 254/354, place the receiver in Standby mode (press the front-panel Standby/On Switch so that the Power Indicator turns amber).
Then press and hold the front-panel OK Button for at least five seconds until the RESET message appears in the display. Follow the directions in the note on page 32 or page 34 for 354 to restore the picture if necessary.

If the receiver still does not function correctly after a processor reset, contact an authorized Harman Kardon service center for assistance. Authorized service centers may be located by visiting our Web site at www.harmankardon.com.

Memory
If the AVR 254/354 is unplugged or experiences a power outage, it will retain user settings for up to four weeks.

Firmware Check Sequence
Member QZ1 posted here for the firmware check sequence.

"From HK's Support page:

"With the AVR turned on, press the 1, 2, 3 and 4 buttons on the remote in that order; then press the SET button.
After a short pause, the software version number will appear on the AVR's front-panel display."

EDIT: The x54 line doesn't have a SET button; so, the OK button is used instead."


Issues with the PS3

Member Jayhawk11 started a thread here for issues regarding the HK x54 models with the PS3: Official H/K AVR X54 & PS3: Problems and Solutions.


reserved for other updates...

There is a Front Panel dimmer setting under System Settings Menu, page 52 for 254 and p55 for 354.

Here's a cut and paste of the 354 manual...

Thanks, always appreciated the many well laid out threads started by others and decided to try to return the favor.

Thanks, I updated the first post. Is it 8 device or 7? The manual stated seven.

LOL, yes, I had to do some double takes, I never thought it would be so difficult...Harman, Harmon, Kardon, Kardan, a simple HK would have made it so much easier.

I know there was discussion about the Logic 7 not acting right in the HK 745 thread. Not sure about the 247/347 thread.