Center channel problem

Click the link below for manual pages I mention to make changes:

http://www.harmankardon.com/resources/Brands/harmankardon/Products/ProductRelatedDocuments/en-US/OwnersManual/AVR1700_OM_EN.pdf

Most dialog sound comes from the center channel / speaker. If not working correctly, it make become difficult to hear people talking especially if there is a lot of other sound going on in movies and some music, too.

Check and adjust the volume level for the center channel or speaker. Check page 8 of the manual to learn how to use the remote to change the volume level of individual channels or speakers.

If you want, you may find it is a good idea to check page 17 to esablish correct volume levels for each channel by runnijng the set up with the microphone. This will allow the system to be "calibrated" for the room. This is a very important step in "getting the sound right".

If none of these suggestions work, you may have a problem with the center speaker itself - or with the amplifier for the center channel.

I hope this helps & good luck!

Check the speaker connections for the center channel. Page 6 shows the location on the rear of the amplifier - but check the speaker itself first as it is easier to get to and the rear of the amp is less likely to be distrubed and have a poor connection.

Assuming that you mean Dolby digital 5.1, confirm that you have a center channel properly connected and perform the following;

Using the remote, enter the menu on the receiver and navigate to the selection labeled "LEVEL." Toggle through the selections until you reach the "CENTER CHANNEL". You will be able to use the remote to increase the volume of that channel in .5dB increments.

There should be a setup button or menu button...when in setup go to surround settings and change to desired volume

Can you say explicitly that the Center Channel speaker is defined as something other than NONE?

And how does dialog sound? If it sounds ok you're routing it to the front speakers. This is from the manual...

"For ideal Surround effects, all speakers should be installed. If a
center speaker or subwoofer is not connected, the sound from the unused channel is properly distributed to the connected speakers in order to produce the best Surround sound possible."

Hey ajn1n1 we need to fine where the tinnyness is coming from Lets do a test shall we,

hook up your voice matched polks to your front left and right speaker outputs on your amp to see how they sound as mains. if you hear tinny then its the speakers. sometimes speaker need to be broken in a bit.

hook up your main front left and right speakers to your rear outputs. if you hear the tinnyness then its the output of that channel on the amp or a setting. Newer amps let you change speaker sizes in the menu so that it can change over the crossover for that channel.

Love your screen name.

You didn't say what, if anything, preceded the appearance of the problem. There might be a clue.

Can you describe the distortion? Is it excessively bassy? If so, is it happening on all sources?

I'm assuming this is a modern digital receiver that is capable of many soundfield simulations as well as native Dolby Digital, DTS, multi-channel. If so we can use a stereo source and through simulation redirect some of it to the center speaker.

Using one of your receiver's many multi-channel simulation modes, put in a CD or tune an FM station and use it to diagnose the problem during later steps.

If it's only a single source and that source uses individual analog channel RCA cables, swap in another one or temporarily move the Center Channel feed to one of the other channels to see if it's before the receiver (in the source).or inside the receiver.

For multiple sources:

Is your Center speaker defined properly as Large or Small in the receiver's setup menu?The size refers mostly to the bass-handling capacities of all your speakers rather than their physical size. Speakers designated as 'Small' will not be sent much in the way of bass because they can't handle it well. The LFE/subwoofer channel(s) will get all the bass that was intended for them instead.

If you have a Small speaker improperly defined as Large it may be getting bass that it can't handle and that might sound like distortion. Having a Large speaker defiend as Small would result in less bass than expected but otherwise 'clean' sound.

Check the speaker setup in the menu for excessive volume level relative to the others. There is usually a calibration procedure the receiver will use to help you adjust the subjective voume of each speaker using white noise or tones.

Hope this helps.

Salutations robn7499,

There are a few things that may cause this to happen. First I would check your connections for your center channel speaker. in movies with 5.1 surround sound almost all the vocal tracks come out of the center channel.

Otherwise there maybe an issue with the volume levels for the center channel as well, these can normally be adjusted through the setup of your home theater system.

I hope this helps.
Jon
Go Ahead. Use Us.

http://pettersservice.com/polaroid/docs/FLM-Series-26-32-37-ServiceManualFinalNA_20070418.pdf
it says to replace the control box for no sound.
thats the main board to you.
I would use external speakers as they sound better anyway.

I had the exact same problem. In order to "almost" balance the center with the other channels I had to give the center +12db gain and the other channels -12db. So after I got that far with level calibration I tried some tv sound, well the center although was playing sounded like the highs were missing and a bit distorted. This is the good part, I turned the volume all the way up real fast, somewhere near max something fixed itself, the center became very loud. Now it works just like new. Hope this helps. BTW, the problem existed the same for sub channel, so when the center started working so did the sub.

Try a Master Reset on the unit. All of your settings will have to be re-entered but it may solve your problem.

For a Master Reset: unplug the unit. Depress the SPEAKER A and the SPEAKER B buttons on the front panel at the same time and hold them in. While still depressing those buttons, plug in the unit to the wall outlet THEN release the speaker selector buttons.