Harman Kardon HK6900 - Page 7

HK6800 and HK6900 Connections
Before you begin to connect this unit to your system,
be sure that all components are turned off and unplugged
from the electrical outlet.
As you connect each component, carefully connect the
plugs to the input jacks, being sure to push the plugs in all
the way. Loose connection of a plug can cause hum or
other intermittent noise. Take care to match left and right
component plugs with the left and right input jacks on the
back of the amplifier. Common practice is to use the red
plug as right, and the white, gray, or black plug as left.
Do not wind the component cables with the power
cord; doing so may degrade the sound quality.
Power outlets
To the right of the back panel on North American and
Japanese versions are located three AC power outlets. The
two outlets labeled SWITCHED are controlled by the power
switch on the front of the amplifier. When the power is
switched off at the front panel button, power is also turned
off to the SWITCHED outlets. You can plug the power
cord of a tuner, tape deck, turntable, or other low-power
component into these outlets. When you turn off your
amplifier, units plugged into the SWITCHED outlets will be
turned off simultaneously.
The SWITCHED outlets have a combined power rating
of 200 watts. Make sure that the units that you plug into
these outlets do not draw more than 200 watts total. Check
the owner’s manuals to determine how much power each
unit draws.
The UNSWITCHED outlet is not controlled by the
power switch. This outlet receives power as long as the
HK6800 or HK6900 is plugged into an AC outlet. A unit
plugged into the UNSWITCHED outlet can remain turned
on even if your amplifier is turned off. This outlet has a
power rating of 200 watts. Make sure that the unit you plug
into this outlet does not draw more than 200 watts.
Conne<ting speakers
Speaker wires: For the best sound quality, you may
choose to use the highest quality speaker cables you can
afford. However, common “zip cord” from a hardware store
can be used with excellent results if you use the correct
gauge (thickness). The gauge of wire you need depends on
the distance the wire must run from your amplifier to your
speakers;
Wire length Gauge of speaker wire
Up to 8 feet 18 gauge
Up to 12 feet 16 gauge
Up to 20 feet 14 gauge
Almost any distance Special speaker cable
Make sure that the wires for both speakers are
the same length, even if the distance from each speaker to
the amplifier is different. Avoid coiling any excess speaker
wire near the cables from your components, since it may
degrade sound quality or cause hum or other noise in the
system.
Speaker connection: First, examine your speaker
wire to determine which lead to use for the positive
terminal. One of the two leads will be marked in some way,
such as being copper-colored, including a strand of yarn
with one conductor, or having a ridge or a + symbol marked
on the insulating material. Use the marked lead for the
positive (red) terminal both on the speaker and on the back
of the amplifier.
1. Remove about 3/4-inch of insulation from the end of
each speaker wire. This bare section of wire will make the
electrical connection with the terminals.
2. Twist each lead so that no loose strands stick out.
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3. I nsert about 1/2-inch of the wire that you have
identified as positive into the red (+) connector on your
right-channel speaker. Insert the other end of this positive
lead into the RIGHT (red) Speaker 1 terminal on the back
of your amplifier. Tighten the terminal knob, and the wire
will be held securely.
4. I nsert the other lead of the same wire into the black
(-) connector on the same speaker. Insert the other end of
this lead into the GND (black) Speaker 1 terminal on the
back of the amplifier. The GND terminal is located directly
below the RIGHT terminal.
5. Repeat the above procedure for the left speaker.
6. Recheck the polarity of both sets of speaker wires,
making sure that you have connected “red to red” and
“black to black.” If you accidentally connect red to black,
your speakers will be out of phase. While this will not harm
your system, your speakers will be incapable of producing
normal bass response until the connection is corrected.
Setting the SPEAKER OPERATING MODE
switch: This switch, located in the top right corner of the
back panel, optimizes the amplifier for the best possible
operation with your speakers. It is extremely important that
you set this switch before playing your speakers.
First, determine the impedance of your speakers. The
impedance may be noted on the back of the speaker or in
the owner’s manual. If not, call the dealer or manufacturer
to find out the impedance.
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