SB 15/230
Active Speaker Soundbar
User Guide
English
™
Designed to Entertain.
Harman Kardon® SB 15/230
Included
One SB 15CNTR soundbar speaker
Introduction
Thank you for purchasing the Harman Kardon® SB 15/230 speaker system, with which
you’re about to begin many years of listening enjoyment. The SB 15/230 has been
custom-designed to provide the excitement and power of the cinema experience in
your own living room.
While sophisticated electronics and state-of-the-art speaker components are hard at
work within the SB 15/230, hookup and operation are simple.
To obtain maximum enjoyment from your new soundbar speaker system, we urge
you to take a few minutes to read through this manual. This will help ensure that
the connections you make are correct. In addition, a few minutes spent learning the
functions of the various controls will enable you to take advantage of all the power
and refinement the SB 15/230 is able to deliver.
One SB 15SUB 10-inch (250mm) 100-watt wireless subwoofer
If you have any questions about this product, its installation or its operation, please
contact your dealer, the best local source of information.
Description and Features
The SB 15/230 is a complete home theater speaker system that includes:
•
A video-shielded stereo soundbar speaker (the SB 15CNTR) with two-way dual-
driver left and right speakers and built-in 25-watt x 2 stereo amplifier
•
•
•
A 10-inch (250mm), 100-watt wireless powered subwoofer (the SB15SUB)
Wall-mount brackets for the soundbar
Two wall-mount brackets for the SB 15CNTR soundbar
A 6.5-foot (2m) stereo audio cable for connecting the system directly to your TV’s
audio output.
The SB 15CNTR soundbar contains the system’s left and right speakers and stereo
amplifiers, and features digital signal processing with virtual 3D surround circuitry
that creates a complete surround-sound experience without any extra speakers or
wires. You can set the soundbar on a table in front of your TV, and the system includes
hardware that makes it easy to mount the soundbar on the wall along with your
flat-panel TV. You can program the soundbar to respond to your TV remote’s volume,
power and source commands.
One 24V DC power supply and AC power cord for the SB 15CNTR speaker
The SB15SUB subwoofer receives its signal from the SB 15CTR soundbar via wireless
technology, so you can place it anywhere in your room without having to run any
wires. Its 10-inch (250mm) woofer and built-in 100-watt amplifier deliver a movie’s
impact and excitement. Other conveniences include a volume control, a phase switch
for fine-tuning bass response to suit your listening environment, and an efficient
switching system that senses the presence of an audio signal and automatically
switches the subwoofer on.
Harman Kardon invented the high-fidelity receiver more than 50 years ago. With
state-of-the-art features and time-honored circuit designs, the SB 15/230 will turn
your flat-screen TV into a fun and exciting home theater.
One 6.5-foot (2m) stereo audio cable
Important
If anything is missing, or if any part of your SB 15/230 system fails to operate
properly, contact your dealer immediately.
3
Soundbar Top-Panel Controls
Soundbar Rear-Panel Controls
and Connections
Wireless Code Switch: Selects between four different channels for the wireless
subwoofer signal.
Surround
Mode
Button
Volume
Up/Down
Buttons
Source
Selector
Button
Power
Button
IMPORTANT: Be sure to set the subwoofer’s Wireless Code switch to the same channel
that you set the soundbar’s Wireless Code switch. See Wireless Code Switches, on
page 9, for more information.
EQ Switch: This switch adjusts the soundbar’s bass for either wall or table mounting.
If you’re mounting the soundbar on a wall with the included wall-mount brackets, set
this switch to the Wall position for the most natural-sounding bass performance. If
you are placing the soundbar on a table, set the EQ switch to the Table position for the
most natural-sounding bass performance.
Power
Indicator
Surround
Mode
Indicator
Source
Indicator
Power Button: When the soundbar is in the Standby mode (the Power Indicator is
amber), press this button to turn the SB 15/230 system On. (The Power Indicator
turns blue.) NOTE: When the soundbar is in the Standby mode, it will automatically
turn On whenever it detects an audio signal at the Source 1 (analog) inputs.
Trim Switch: This switch adjusts the soundbar’s input sensitivity so it will work
with TVs that have different audio signal output levels. See Soundbar Trim Switch, on
page 9, for more information.
Source 1 Connection (analog): Use the included stereo audio cable to connect the
stereo analog outputs of your TV, DVD player or cable/satellite tuner here.
When the SB 15/230 system is On:
•
Momentarily press the Power button to mute the SB 15/230 system. (The Power
Indicator flashes blue.)
Source 2 Connection (digital): If your TV, DVD player or cable/satellite tuner has a
coaxial digital output, you can connect it here.
•
Hold down the Power button for three seconds to put the soundbar in the Standby
mode. (The Power Indicator turns amber.) NOTE: The subwoofer will remain on for
approximately 15 minutes after the audio signal ceases, then will automatically
go into the Standby mode.
NOTE: If you connect your TV or another component to the soundbar’s Source 1
connection, you can connect a different component to the Source 2 connection.
Power Connection: Connect the included DC power supply here. See Power
Connections, on page 7, for more information.
Surround Mode Button: This button turns the SB 15/230 system’s 3D Surround
processing On and Off. The Surround Mode Indicator turns blue when 3D Surround
is active, and turns white when 3D Surround is not active (normal stereo sound). See
Soundbar Surround Mode Button, on page 8, for more information.
IMPORTANT: Do not connect the power supply’s AC cord to an AC outlet until you have
made and verified all connections.
Power Switch: Set this switch to the On position (press the switch’s white dot) to
activate the soundbar. In normal operation, this switch will be left in the On position.
See Turning the Soundbar On and Off, on page 8, for more information.
Volume Up/Down Buttons: Press the ( – ) button to reduce the volume; press the
( + ) button to increase the volume.
Source Selector Button: This button switches between the sources connected
to the Source 1 (analog) and Source 2 (digital) inputs. When Source 1 is active, the
Source Indicator turns white; when Source 2 is active, the Source Indicator turns
blue.
EQ
Switch
Trim
Switch
Source 2
Connection
Power
Switch
Wireless Code
Switch
Source 1
Connection
Power
Connection
4
Subwoofer Rear-Panel Controls
CROSSOVER
Crossover
Knob
VOLUME
Volume
Knob
MIN
MAX
0
PHASE
180
Phase
Switch
POWER
AC
Fuse
Wireless
Code
Switch
ON
OFF
Power
Cord
Power
Switch
Crossover Knob: This knob adjusts the subwoofer’s crossover between 50Hz and
150Hz.The higher you set the Crossover knob, the higher in frequency the subwoofer
will operate and the more its bass will “overlap” that of the soundbar. This adjustment
helps achieve a smooth transition of bass frequencies between the subwoofer and
the soundbar for a variety of different rooms and subwoofer locations. See Subwoofer
Crossover Knob, on page 9, for more information.
AC Fuse: The SB 15SUB is factory-equipped with a T1AL/250V 1A – 250V AC fuse. If
the fuse ever blows:
1. Unplug the power cord from the wall.
2. Use a screwdriver to remove the blown fuse.
3. Replace the fuse with an identical T1AL/250V 1A – 250V AC fuse.
Volume Control: Use this control to balance the subwoofer’s volume with that of
the soundbar. Turn the knob clockwise to increase the subwoofer’s volume; turn it
counterclockwise to decrease the subwoofer’s volume.
CAUTION: FOR CONTINUED PROTECTION AGAINST FIRE, REPLACE THE FUSE ONLY WITH
THE SAME TYPE AND RATING.
Power Cord: Plug this cord into an active, unswitched AC outlet. See Power
Connections, on page 7, for more information.
Phase Switch: This switch determines whether the subwoofer driver’s piston-
like action moves in and out in phase with the speakers in the soundbar. If the
subwoofer were to play out of phase with the soundbar speakers, some of the sound
waves produced by the subwoofer or soundbar could be canceled, reducing bass
performance and sonic impact. This phenomenon depends in part on the relative
placement of the speakers in the room. See Subwoofer Phase Switch, on page 9, for
more information.
Power Switch: Set this switch to the On position to activate the subwoofer.
In normal operation, this switch will be left in the On position. See Turning the
Subwoofer On and Off, on page 8, for more information.
Status Indicator (on top of unit, not shown): Lights blue when the subwoofer's
power switch is in the On position; lights amber when the subwoofer is in Standby;
turns off when the subwoofer’s Power switch is in the Off position.
Wireless Code Switch: Selects between four different channels for the wireless
subwoofer signal. IMPORTANT: Be sure to set the soundbar’s Wireless Code switch to
the same channel as you set the subwoofer’s Wireless Code switch. See Wireless Code
Switches, on page 9, for more information.
5
Speaker Placement
4. After making all of the connections described in the Connections section, on
page 7, attach the soundbar to the brackets by sliding the slots in its rubber
bumpers onto the brackets’ vertical tabs.
Placing the Soundbar on a Table
If your TV is placed on a table, you can place the soundbar on the table directly in
front of the TV stand, centered with the TV screen. As long as the surface of the table
is flat, the soundbar will rest on its rubber bumpers.
Wall-Mounting the Soundbar
If your TV is attached to a wall, you can use the included wall-mount brackets to
mount the soundbar on the wall directly below the TV screen.
1. Determine the location for the soundbar on the wall. Make sure that the top of the
soundbar will not block your view of the TV screen when it is mounted on the
wall.
2. Mark the locations of the soundbar wall-mount bracket holes on the wall. The holes
for the left and right brackets are spaced 600mm apart, and are designed to
accept #8 screws. The top and bottom holes for each bracket are spaced 25mm
apart. See the illustration below.
Slide Slots in Rubber Bumpers
onto Tabs on Brackets
Placing the Subwoofer
Since our ears do not hear directional sound at the low frequencies where the
subwoofer operates, it will have good performance from just about any location in
your room. However, the strongest bass reproduction is likely to be heard when the
subwoofer is placed in a corner along the same wall as the soundbar.
25mm
600mm
IMPORTANT: Make sure that the subwoofer’s rear panel is at least 150mm (6") from
the wall, to allow proper operation of its port tube opening.
NOTE: To ensure that the soundbar will be level, use a carpenter’s level, laser sight or
other device to ensure that the two sets of holes are at exactly the same height.
SB15CNTR Soundbar
3. Attach the two wall-mount brackets to the wall at the locations you marked, using
hardware that is appropriate for the wall’s construction and materials. Note that
the soundbar weighs 3.6kg (8 lb). Be sure to use hardware that can support this
weight.
Rear panel at least
150mm from wall
Subwoofer
You can experiment with subwoofer placement by temporarily placing it in the
listening position and playing music with strong bass content. Move around to
various locations in the room while the system is playing and listen until you find the
location where the bass performance is best. Place the subwoofer in that location.
IMPORTANT: The maximum wireless operating distance between the soundbar and
subwoofer is approximately 15.3m (50 feet).
6
Connections
Source Connections
Analog: Use the supplied stereo audio cable to connect the soundbar’s Source 1
(analog) input to your TV’s stereo audio output. If your TV has two sets of audio
output jacks, use the set that has a fixed (not variable) output level. This will let you
turn your TV’s speakers all the way off while the TV still supplies a constant audio
signal to the soundbar.
AUDIO
OUT
Digital: If your DVD player, cable tuner or satellite tuner has a coaxial digital output,
you can use a coaxial digital audio cable (not supplied) to connect it to the soundbar’s
Source 2 (digital) input.
TV
Stereo Audio Cable
(supplied)
NOTE: If your DVD player, cable tuner or satellite tuner does not have a coaxial digital
output, you can connect its analog audio output to your TV. The TV will send its audio
signal to the soundbar through the analog connection described above.
SB15CNTR Soundbar
Coaxial
Digital Audio
Cable
(not supplied)
DVD Player
COAXIAL
DIGITAL
OUT
Power Connections
After you have made and verified all of the source connections above:
1. Connect the DC power supply to the soundbar’s power connection. Then plug the
supplied AC cord into the DC power supply and into an active, unswitched AC
outlet. DO NOT plug this cord into the accessory outlets found on some audio
components.
2. Plug the subwoofer’s power cord into an active, unswitched AC outlet. DO NOT plug
this cord into the accessory outlets found on some audio components.
Power
Connection
SB15CNTR
Rear Panel
AC Power Cord
Power Supply
7
Operation
Turning the Soundbar On and Off
Adjusting the System’s Volume
Set the soundbar’s Power switch to On (press the switch’s white dot).
Press the soundbar’s Volume Up and Down buttons to raise and lower the system’s
volume one step at a time. Hold down the buttons to continuously raise or lower the
volume. NOTE: The lowest setting of the Volume Down button will mute the system.
Power
Switch
Volume
Buttons
If the system will not play loud enough or quiet enough, adjust the Trim Switch (see
Soundbar Trim Switch, on page 9).
For the best sound, we recommend turning your TV’s built-in speakers off. Consult
your TV’s owner’s manual to find out how to do this. If there is no way to turn your
TV’s speakers off, you can adjust the TV’s volume so that your SB 15/230 system will
always supply most of the sound:
To turn the soundbar On automatically: The soundbar will automatically turn
itself on when it receives an audio signal at the Source 1 (analog) inputs.
1. Using the volume buttons on your TV, turn its volume all the way down.
2. Then, use the soundbar’s Volume Up/Down buttons to set the sound to a comfortable
listening level.
To turn the soundbar On manually: Momentarily press the soundbar’s Power
button to turn the soundbar On.
This way your SB 15/230 system should always be louder than your TV’s speakers.
NOTE: This may reduce the volume of your TV’s output connection, so you may have to
set the soundbar’s Trim Switch to position 3 to compensate. See Soundbar Trim Switch,
on page 9.
Power
Button
Muting the System
To put the soundbar into Standby: Hold down the soundbar’s Power button for at
Momentarily press the soundbar’s Power button to mute the system. (The Power
Indicator flashes blue.) Momentarily press the Power button again to un-mute the
system. (The Power Indicator turns to a steady blue.)
least three seconds.
If you will be away from home for an extended period of time, or if you will not be
using the system for an extended period, set the soundbar’s Power switch to Off.
Power
Button
Turning the Subwoofer On and Off
Set the subwoofer’s Power switch to the On position. This will put the subwoofer into
the Standby mode. The subwoofer will automatically turn itself On when it receives
an audio signal, and it will return to the Standby mode when it has received no audio
signal for 15 minutes. The subwoofer’s LED will illuminate blue when the subwoofer is
On, and will be illuminated amber when the subwoofer is in Standby.
Soundbar Surround Mode Button
This button switches the sound between normal stereo (the Surround Mode Indicator
lights white) and 3D Surround (the Surround Mode Indicator lights blue). The 3D
Surround setting will produce a complete surround-sound experience for anyone
sitting in front of and several feet away from the soundbar. Although it is particularly
effective when watching movies, you can also try the 3D Surround setting for music.
Surround
Mode Button
Power
Cord
If you will be away from home for an extended period of time, or if you will not be
using the system for an extended period, set the subwoofer’s Power switch to the Off
position.
8
Subwoofer Volume Knob
Subwoofer Crossover Knob
Use the subwoofer’s Volume knob to balance the bass with the rest of the sound. Play
music or movies that you are familiar with and adjust the subwoofer’s Volume knob
The subwoofer’s Crossover knob adjusts the subwoofer’s crossover between 50Hz and
150Hz. The higher you set the Crossover knob, the higher in frequency the subwoofer
so the bass sounds balanced on both music and films. Listen to several different music will operate and the more its bass will “overlap” that of the soundbar. This adjustment
recordings and film soundtracks that contain strong bass passages and find a setting
for the Volume knob that doesn’t over-emphasize the bass or make it sound weak.
helps achieve a smooth transition of bass frequencies between the subwoofer and the
soundbar for a variety of different rooms and subwoofer locations.
CROSSOVER
VOLUME
CROSSOVER
Crossover
Knob
VOLUME
Volume
Knob
MIN
MAX
MIN
MAX
0
0
PHASE
PHASE
180
180
Once you find a setting for the subwoofer’s Volume knob that balances the bass with
the rest of the sound, you shouldn’t have to change it.
To set the Crossover knob, listen for the smoothness of the bass.
If the bass seems too strong at certain frequencies, try a lower Crossover knob setting.
If the bass seems too weak at certain frequencies, try a higher Crossover knob setting.
Soundbar Trim Switch
Subwoofer Phase Switch
This switch adjusts the soundbar’s audio input sensitivity so it will work with TVs
that have different audio signal output levels. If your TV’s audio signal output is low,
the soundbar may not play loud enough. In this case, set the Trim switch to position
3 so the soundbar will play louder. If your TV’s audio signal output is high, you may
hear distortion in the soundbar at normal listening volumes, In this case, set the Trim
Switch to position 1 to reduce the distortion and improve the sound.
This switch determines whether the subwoofer’s piston-like action moves in and
out in phase with the speakers in the soundbar. If the subwoofer were to play out
of phase with the soundbar speakers, some of the sound waves produced by the
soundbar and subwoofer could be canceled out at some frequencies, reducing bass
performance and sonic impact. This phenomenon depends in part on the relative
placement of all the speakers in the room.
CROSSOVER
VOLUME
MIN
MAX
Phase
Switch
0
PHASE
180
Trim Switch
Although there is no absolute correct setting for the Phase switch, in most cases it
should be left in the 0° position. When the subwoofer is properly in phase with the
soundbar speakers, the sound will be clearer and have more impact. This will make
percussive sounds like drums, piano and plucked strings sound more lifelike. The best
way to set the Phase switch is to listen to music that you are familiar with and adjust
the switch so that drums and other percussive sounds have maximum impact.
Wireless Code Switches
In the unlikely event that there is interference when operating the system, or if you
have more than one SB 15/230 system in operation, you may change the wireless
channel at which the system operates. There are four-position Wireless Code switches
on both the soundbar and subwoofer. To change the wireless channel, simply set each
of the switches to one of the other three positions. IMPORTANT: The switches on the
soundbar and the subwoofer must be set to the same position for the wireless system
to work properly.
Wireless Code
Switch
Wireless Code
Switch
Soundbar
Subwoofer
NOTE: The maximum wireless operating distance between the soundbar and
subwoofer is approximately 50 feet (15.3m).
9
Programming the Soundbar to Respond to Your TV Remote
You can program the soundbar so it will respond to your TV remote’s Power, Mute,
Volume Up, Volume Down and Source commands. This lets you control your whole
home theater system with a single remote. Before beginning to program the
soundbar, have your TV remote handy. We recommend sitting down in front of the
soundbar. The steps will time-out, so read through the entire procedure before you
begin.
3. Aim the TV remote at the front of the soundbar from about 300mm-900mm
(about 12-36 inches) away.
300mm-900mm
12"-36"
To program the power command:
1. With the soundbar turned on, hold down the soundbar’s Power and Source
Selector (SRC) buttons together until all the soundbar button indicators flash. This
enters the learning mode.
TV
Remote
Hold down
both buttons until
all indicators flash
4. Hold down the TV remote's Power button for one second, then release it. Do this
a total of four (4) times. When the soundbar has learned the power command,
its Power Indicator will turn blue, and the Surround Mode and Source Selector
Indicators will flash blue.
•
If the Power Indicator flashes amber, the procedure failed. Repeat Steps 1 – 4.
To program the source, volume + and volume – commands:
2. Momentarily press the soundbar’s Power button. It will turn amber.
Follow Steps 1–4 as above, but in Steps 2 and 4, substitute the soundbar and TV
remote’s Source Selector and Volume Up/Down buttons for the Power buttons.
Momentarily
press
To program the mute command:
Follow Steps 1-4 as above, but in Step 2, hold down the soundbar's Power button for
2-3 seconds. In step 4, substitute the TV remote's Mute button for its Power button.
To erase all remote programming:
Hold down the soundbar's Surround Mode and Volume Up buttons at the same time
for 2-3 seconds.
10
Troubleshooting
If the soundbar does not turn on:
The soundbar won’t learn your TV remote’s commands:
•
•
Check that the soundbar power supply’s AC cord is plugged into a working AC
outlet, and that the power supply is plugged into the soundbar.
•
Carefully follow steps 1 – 4 of Programming the Soundbar to Respond to Your TV
Remote, on page 9.
Check that the soundbar’s Power switch is in the On position.
•
•
Hold the TV remote 12 inches (300mm) in front of the soundbar during the
learning procedure.
If the subwoofer does not turn on:
Although the soundbar will learn commands from most TV remotes, there may
be some IR codes that it cannot learn.
•
•
•
Check that the subwoofer’s power cord is plugged into a working AC outlet.
Check that the subwoofer’s Power switch is in the On position.
If you press your TV remote’s Power button and the soundbar turns off when
the TV turns on (or vice versa):
Check if the subwoofer’s AC fuse has blown. See Subwoofer Rear-Panel Controls:
AC fuse, on page 5, for instructions on checking and changing the fuse.
•
Press the Power button on either the soundbar or the TV (but not both) one
time. This will put them back in sync so they will turn on and off together when
you press the TV remote’s Power button.
If there is no sound coming from both the soundbar and the subwoofer:
•
•
Check that the soundbar is on (the Power Indicator is illuminated blue).
Check that the cable connecting the TV or other source component to the
soundbar is properly connected at both ends.
•
•
•
Check that the soundbar’s Source Selector is set to the correct source (the
Source Indicator illuminates white for Source 1 – analog, and illuminates blue
for Source 2 – digital), and that the source is playing an audio signal.
Check that the system is not muted (when the system is muted, the soundbar’s
Power Indicator flashes blue). Momentarily press the Power button to un-mute
the system.
Check that the soundbar’s volume is not turned all the way down (the lowest
setting of the Volume Down button will mute the system).
If there is no sound coming from just the subwoofer:
•
•
•
Check that the Subwoofer Volume Control is not turned all the way down (fully
counterclockwise).
Check that the Wireless Code switches on the subwoofer and soundbar are both
set to the same setting number.
Move the subwoofer closer to the soundbar. (The maximum wireless operation
distance is 50 feet (15.3m).
If the soundbar’s sound is distorted:
•
•
Set the soundbar’s Trim switch to a lower setting.
Check the source component to see if the distortion is coming from it, and not
the soundbar.
If the system’s sound is too quiet, even when the soundbar’s volume is
turned all the way up:
•
•
Set the soundbar’s Trim switch to a higher setting.
If the TV or source component is connected via a variable output, check its
instructions to be sure that the output is not turned down too low.
The bass output is not loud enough:
•
•
•
Turn up the subwoofer’s Volume knob.
Move the subwoofer into a corner of the room.
Move the subwoofer closer to the seating location.
11
Specifications
SB 15/230 System
Frequency Response
50Hz–20kHz
SB 15CNTR Soundbar
SB 15SUB Subwoofer
Input Rating
Input rating:
DC 24V, 2.5–2.7A
AC 230V, 50Hz, 100W
Amplifier Power
25 watts x 2
Amplifier Power
100 watts RMS
Tweeter
Woofer
Two 3/4" domes (one per channel),
video-shielded
10" cone, vented enclosure
Midrange
Four 3" drivers (two per channel), video-
shielded
Dimensions (H x W x D)
Dimensions (H x W x D)
110mm x 920mm x 89mm
(4-5/16" x 36-1/4" x 3-1/2")
480mm x 380mm x 380mm
(18-7/8" x 13-3/8" x 13-3/8")
Weight
Weight
8 lb (3.6kg)
34 lb (15.4kg)
Harman Consumer Group, Inc.
8500 Balboa Boulevard, Northridge, CA 91329 USA
516.255.4545 (USA only)
Made in China
©2009 Harman International Industries, Incorporated. All rights reserved.
Features, specifications and appearance are subject to change without notice.
Harman Kardon is a trademark of Harman International Industries, Incorporated, registered in the United States and/or other countries. Designed to Entertain is a
trademark of Harman International Industries, Incorporated.
Part No. 406-000-06124-E
12
|