Home Theater system Concert avr-6 Concert avr-8 Home Theater Surround Sound Receiver User Experience Manual ® AudioControl Making Good Sound Great® ®® 22410 70th Avenue West • Seattle, WA 98043 USA Phone 425-775-8461 • Fax 425-778-3166 www.audiocontrol.com ©2013.
Home Theater system Concert avr-8 Concert avr-6 Home Theater Surround Sound Receiver User Experience Manual AudioControl ® Making Good Sound Great® ®® 22410 70th Avenue West • Seattle, WA 98043 USA Phone 425-775-8461 • Fax 425-778-3166 www.audiocontrol.com ©2013.
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Table of Contents Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Key Features and Highlights . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 A Guided Tour of the Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 Front Panel Features. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Rear Panel Features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
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Introduction Greetings from the rainforest On behalf of everyone at AudioControl we want to congratulate you on your selection of the Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 Home Theater Surround Sound Receiver. Whether this is your first venture into home theater or you are a long time seasoned audio veteran, you will truly enjoy the performance of our amazing sounding receivers.
Key Features and Highlights Key Features Of the Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 While the AudioControl Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 is equipped with a large number of features and functions that were designed to maximize your theater experience, we want to draw your attention to a few that deserve extra attention. These will be the features you will want to mention to your friends, family and co-workers to impress them when they ask you about the home theater components you have auditioned.
Key Features and Highlights Powerful and Cool Running Class H Amplification The Concert AVR-8 utilizes AudioControl’s legendary Class H amplifier topology to powerfully drive even the most demanding speaker systems. Known for pristine sonics, cool operating temperatures, and ultra reliability, this highly efficient amplifier design literally “sips” current, which helps it to satisfy even the “greenest” of customers.
Key Features and Highlights in another room. The Second Zone is also equipped with a video output so you can expand your video options even more. Inputs For Networked Audio and USB Sources The Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 is designed to operate with most of today’s traditional source units, like CD and DVD players. Additionally it can receive audio signals over a computer network via an Ethernet input or from a USB source.
Guided Tour of the Concert AVR-8 / AVR-6 u v w x y z { | } ~ Front Panel Features u MENU - Pressing this button will allow access to the Set-Up Menu functions of the Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8. from the selected source to the front outputs. Use this button when you want to do some serious quality two-channel listening.
Guided Tour of the Concert AVR-8 / AVR-6 z y } { | x w v ~ u Rear Panel Features u MAIN POWER SWITCH - The only time to turn OFF the Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 with this switch is when the system will not be used for some time. Normally this switch is left on. When this switch is turned off, you cannot turn the Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 On or Off via any other method. v VOLTAGE SELECTION - The Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 is designed to operate with either 110-120V volt or 220-240V line voltages.
Guided Tour of the Conceret AVR-8 / AVR-6 IR (INFRARED) INPUTS -These jacks enable use of external IR sensors and emitters for installations where it is not desirable (or practical) to use the front panel IR. MAIN AUDIO OUTPUTS - These RCA outputs can feed external power amplifier(s), should you choose to not use the amplifier built-in to your Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8. (Our customers tell us that our AudioControl Savoy 7-channel amplifier works great in these situations).
Control of Your Concert AVR-8 / AVR-6 Control app for the Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 The Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 ships with the HTR-1 remote however you have another convenient option for set up! Download a remote for your iPad! Just search iTunes for the “AudioControl Remote” and download it to your iPad. To set up your Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 with the app, connect your AudioControl receiver to your home network using an Ethernet cable. Make sure you have a display (TV or projector) connected.
Control of Your Concert AVR-8 / AVR-6 Remote Features: Multifunction Remote - It can control up to 8 devices! Automatically configures to the mode of control of the source selected per the source buttons. LED indicator - This red LED will blink when a key is pressed. It will also blink multiple times when a device code is input for programming or signal the beginning and end of a programmed sequence.
Control of Your Concert AVR-8 / AVR-6 Buttons/Functions in the Amp Device Mode: Pressing the AMP button puts the remote into the mode for controlling the functions of the Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8. This allows to access the menus, adjust bass/treble, turn Room EQ on or off, cycle through decode modes etc... Please note: Not all buttons have a function in AMP mode. #ID Button Description 1 Power Single press - toggles your Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 on or back to standby.
Control of Your Concert AVR-8 / AVR-6 1 #ID Button Description 19 VOL + Increase volume 20 VOL – Decrease Volume 21 22 AMP TUN 2 3 4 Returns remote to Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 (AMP) control mode 8 5 9 6 10 7 Select TUNER input and changes remote to control the tuner interface 12 11 23 AUX Select AUX input 24 NET Select Network/Ethernet source and changes remote to network control 25 USB Select USB input source and changes remote to USB control 13 15 14 18 16 19 17 20 2
Set-Up & Configuration Set-up and Configuration Unit Placement The Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 can be placed almost anywhere in your audio equipment stack. It is good practice to ensure that the equipment location is properly ventilated and to make certain not to block the ventilation slots on any other component. Avoid placing the Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 directly over large power amplifiers or any other component that generates a lot of heat.
Set-Up & Configuration Connection Tips Even if you’re an electronics veteran, this part may seem repetitive, but some things can never be repeated too many times. • Turn off all components before making any connections. • When making connections, make sure that “left goes to left” and “right goes to right.” The obvious and time-honored way to assure this is to assign RED plugs to Right and WHITE/GREY/BLACK plugs to the left. Yellow is usually used for video cables or digital audio connections.
Set-Up & Configuration Video Connections Choosing your video There are four video signal connection formats ranging from Good to Best; Composite, Component Video and HDMI digital video. Depending on the particular source unit you are using, you may have the option of more Types of video connections than one of these video connections.
Set-Up & Configuration HDMI Signals Your Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 is equipped with seven discrete HDMI inputs and dual assignable HDMI outputs. All the HDMI outputs are assignable to various display devices, the signals on both will be the same. Output 1 - Connect this to the primary display device located in your main theater - such as a projector or other primary display device. Output 2 - Connect this to your secondary display device. Audio Return Channel Connect either of the 2 HDMI outputs to an HDMI 1.
Navigating the Set-Up Menus Setup Menus This section of the manual discusses how to navigate the set-up menus of your Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 home theater receiver. As you have probably determined by now, if you have the read the rest of this manual, the Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 is an incredibly flexible and sophisticated processor that you can literally “personalize” for use with your performance theater system.
Navigating the Set-Up Menus Initial Display Configurations If at any point you need to reset the video output resolution and frame rate to the default setting, push and hold the “Select” button for 3 seconds. Your Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 is set to “Preferred” in the Video Output settings menu. This allows the AVR’s output resolution to be defined by the display’s capabilities in regards to it’s pixel count and frequency output.
Navigating the Set-Up Menus Input Configuration Each input on your Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 has individual audio and video settings that can be adjusted specifically for its use. INPUT - Identifies the currently selected source which settings are displayed below. NAME - Specific name/label for this input that will show on display device and OSD. Very useful when you have more than one source unit that may do similar functions (i.e.
Navigating the Set-Up Menus DOLBY LEVELLER - The setting options are “0” (minimum) and “10” (maximum) with the default being “9”. This Dolby Volume feature allows matching of quiet and loud sources of source unit inputs regardless of recording levels of content being played by a particular source unit. DV CALIB OFFSET - Dolby Volume provides a Calibration Offset parameter that compensates for speaker efficiencies and listening positions.
Navigating the Setup Menus SUB STEREO - If you have selected the “Left/Right+Sub” or “Sat+Sub” setting in the “Stereo Mode” menu, then this setting adjusts the level of the subwoofer when you are using a two-channel source. BRIGHTNESS - This video setting adjusts the brightness for this input, providing you are using a video equipped source unit. CONTRAST - This video setting adjusts the contrast for this input. COLOR - This video setting adjusts the color saturation for this input.
Navigating the Setup Menus General Setup These menu screens display general information and system control (Information Only) Source Input: Displays the currently active audio source input. Incoming Format: Displays format of digital audio stream Incoming Sample Rate: Displays incoming sample rate of digital audio stream, if present. Incoming Bitrate: Displays bit rate of digital audio stream, if present.
Navigating the Setup Menus Dolby Prologic II Music Mode Settings These setting apply to all two-channel inputs when PLII or PLIIx Music mode is selected. Dimension - Adjusts the depth of the front/rear sound stage. For normal listening this should be set to +3. Setting options are –3 to +3 with default setting being “0”. Center Width - Determines how strongly the Pro Logic II decoder processing creates the center channel image.
Navigating the Setup Menus Control - Front Panel and IR control are always active. This control setting defines the 3rd option for controlling your AVR-6 / AVR-8. You may select between RS-232 or IP control if you have an automated control system. Default setting is Off Power On - This setting defines the state of your AVR-6 / AVR-8 once the Mains Power switch has been turned off or if there was a power outage where power turns off and then back on again.
Navigating the Set-Up Menus Accept Setup - Once the Auto Setup has completed its testing, you can select to accept the settings or reject them. Options are “No” or “Yes”. Auto Setup Progress - Displays a status summary of the Auto Setup function and identifies any measurement errors during the testing process. Options are “Calculating EQ” or “Completed Error”.
Navigating the Set-Up Menus USING CHANNELS 6 + 7 FOR - If your main speaker system consists of only 5 main speakers and no Surround Back Left & Right speakers, you can redirect signals from the unused amplifier channels to the front speakers or for Zone 2. Speaker Distance The Speaker Distance settings help the sound from each speaker arrive at the listening seat at the same time. This provides a much more believable and immersive sound environment.
Navigating the Set-Up Menus Video Outputs The Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 is not only a great sounding home theater processor but it is also a very powerful video processor. To that extent it has a number of video settings that need to be selected carefully to optimize your video performance. Zone 1 OSD (On Screen Display): While the set-up menus will always show on your display device, you have the option of selecting whether your Main Zone general settings (volume, subwoofer level, etc.
Navigating the Set-Up Menus Surround Modes This screen allows the user to select the specific decode and downmix options that will be available to the listener in Stereo and Multi-channel applications. The options for each format are “Yes” or “No” and are accessible by touching the “Mode” button on the front panel of your AVR-6 / AVR-8. Formats Available For Stereo Sources: The following formats are available when using media that contains either digital or analog stereo signals (Dolby 2.
Navigating the Set-Up Menus Zone Settings This menu allows you select the audio and video control and volume settings for Zone 2. Zone 2 Input - Selects the analog audio and video to be used for Zone 2. Zone 2 Status - Displays current status at Zone 2 with options being “Standby” or “On” Zone 2 Volume - Displays current volume level in Zone 2. Zone 2 Maximum Volume - Selects the maximum volume setting for Zone 2. Zone 2 Fixed Volume - Allows the Zone 2 volume to be fixed at the current volume level.
Playing Audio Files via Network Audio or USB Network Settings Your Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 has the ability of playing Internet radio stations as well as music stored on a network storage device like a PC or USB flash drive. Typically the computer network may use DHCP to automatically make the necessary network settings although the Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 can also be configured manually when using a static IP address. USE DHCP Use this setting if your network uses DHCP for assigning an IP address.
Playing Audio Files via Network Audio or USB Playing Audio Files via Network Audio or USB The network audio client on the Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 is capable of supporting the following file formats: - MP3 - WMA (Windows Media Audio) - WAV - FLAC (Free Lossless Audio CODEC) - MPEG-4 AAC (iTunes with DRM10 support) - Ogg Vorbis Network devices must also be running a universal plug and play (uPnP) service such as Windows Media Player.
Automation Integration Internet Radio Stations Once you have established an Internet connection for your Concert AVR6 / AVR-8, you can manually enter the URL of any Internet radio station. You can use the vTuner service to easily browse through Internet radio stations. You will want to go to www.audiocontrolradio.com to set up this service for use in your system.
Automation Integration Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 Automation Integration Automation Integration Part of the joy of a great home theater is that you don’t have a tray of remote controls staring at you whenever you want to watch a movie. Hidden away behind the scenes is a workhorse that takes care of the mundane tasks of turning on all the components, lowering the curtains, dimming the lights, popping the corn, etc.
Automation Integration Cable Wiring The cable wiring to connect the Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 to your control system will depend on the RS-232 output connection on the controller. Make certain that you wire the Transmit Data output on the serial controller to the Receive Data on the Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 and vice versa on the Receive Data line on the controller system. Connect the signal grounds on the control system and the Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 together.
Automation Integration Command Structure - Receiving Command processing begins when the first 0x0D (carriage return) is received. The Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 will respond, either by making the change specified with a status update answer code or by replying with an error answer code, within 3 seconds. More commands, however, may be sent before the Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 responds to the first command.
Automation Integration Simulating the RC-5 IR command via RS-232 A key feature in the Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 is the ability to simulate RC5 format IR commands via serial commands. The IR simulation command will contain 7 bytes as there will be 2 bytes for the RC-5 command. The actual command is 0x08 with the 2 bytes being the IR command values. The 2 data bytes are the system code then the command code, both these codes are in decimal format.
Troubleshooting Troubleshooting Common Problems General There are no lights on the Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 ü Pressing any button or the Standby button on the front panel should wake the Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8. ü Verify that the power cord is plugged into a live AC outlet. ü Verify that the rear panel Power switch on the Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 is “On”. The main front panel display is blank ü Press the Display button.
Troubleshooting No Video on Zone 2 ü Verify the composite video input from source is connected. There is no On-Screen Display (OSD) ü Verify the OSD is turned on in the Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 configuration settings. ü Verify that the correct input is selected on the video display or projector. Audio The audio doesn’t match the video ü The Video and Audio input can be selected independently in the Main Menu. Verify they are set the same.
Troubleshooting Hum on analog inputs ü Verify that all the two channel analog audio cables are connected properly. ü If the hum only occurs on one source, try a different set of connecting cables. ü If the hum occurs on a source with an external connection such as an antenna or cable TV, try disconnecting that input. If the hum disappears, put a ground isolator on that connection. No audio on Zone 2 ü Zone 2 and Zone 3 are muted when units is first turned on.
Warranty WARRANTY …and now a word from the legal department... People are scared of warranties. Lots of fine print. Months of waiting around. Well, fear no more. This warranty is designed to make you rave about us to your friends. It’s a warranty that looks out for you and helps you resist the temptation to have your friend, who’s “good with electronics”, try to repair your AudioControl product.
Warranty LEGALESE SECTION This is the only warranty given by AudioControl. This warranty gives you specific legal rights that vary from state to state. Promises of how well the Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 will perform are not implied by this warranty. Other than what we have covered in this warranty, we have no obligation, express or implied. Also, we will not be obligated for direct or indirect consequential damage to your system caused by hooking up or operating the AudioControl Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8.
Should You Need Service SHOULD YOU EVER NEED SERVICE… Normally service will be handled by your AudioControl system professional who installed the system. If you’re the take charge kind of person who wants to do this yourself, contact AudioControl, either by phone 425/7758461 or email to sound.better@audiocontrol.com. We’ll verify if there is anything wrong that you can fix yourself, or assist you in arranging to have it sent back to our factory for repair.
Specifications Specifications Concert AVR-6 / AVR-8 Home Theater Receiver Specifications Inputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AVR-8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . AVR-6 Analog Audio Inputs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Stereo Pairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Stereo Pairs Nominal Audio Input sensitivity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1V-4V. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
® For Those Who Consider Perfection Possible® 22410 70th Avenue West Seattle, WA 98043 USA 425-775-8461 • Fax 425-778-3166 www.AudioControl.
