Introduction
Thank you for Choosing Harman Kardon. With your pur-
chase of a new AB 1 Amplified In-Wall Module you will be able
to extend the flexibility of your home entertainment system so
that it delivers sound to another room in your home. Custom-
designed for use exclusively with Harman Kardon
®
A-BUS/
Ready
®
receivers, the AB 1 enables you to send a separate
source to the remote room and power most speakers without
the need for an additional amplifier through one single
Category 5/5e
cable. Thanks to a built-in IR sensor, you
may also control source selection, operate compatible
Harman Kardon source components and turn the system on
and off using the Zone II remote packaged with your receiver.
In order to fully enjoy the benefits of remote keypad control,
please take a few minutes to read this owner’s manual. It
contains important information that will guide you through the
correct and safe installation of your Amplified In-Wall Module.
If you do not have experience installing in-wall electrical and
telecommunications components, you are advised to consult
with a qualified low-voltage contractor or custom installer.
If you have any questions about this product, its installation or its
operation, please contact your retailer or custom installer.They
are your best source of product information.
Designed for simple installation by a custom installer or
advanced do-it-yourself hobbyist, the AB 1 will add to your lis-
tening pleasure by distributing sound beyond the confines of
your main listening room with the level of performance and
product design elegance Harman Kardon has been known for
throughout its fifty-year history.
Features
■ Simple connection to any A-BUS/Ready Harman Kardon
receiver
■ Touch button control for volume up/down
■ Built-in IR sensor for control of compatible Harman Kardon
source devices
■ Decora
®
-style wall-plate blends perfectly with other in-wall
electrical controls
■ Mounts in most standard electrical junction boxes or
plaster rings
■ Uses standard Category 5/5e cable and RJ-45 connections
for easy installation
Typographical Conventions
In order to help you use this guide with the front-panel controls
and rear-panel connections, the following typographical conven-
tions have been used:
Example – Indicates a specific front-panel button or rear-panel
connection jack
1 – Indicates a specific front-panel control or indicator
¡ – Indicates a rear-panel connection
Important Safety and Installation Information
Low-voltage wiring systems must be properly installed to mini-
mize the possibility of accidental contact with hazardous power
and lighting wiring. Never place remote control wiring near bare
power wires or lightning rods, antennas, transformers, steam or
hot water pipes, or heating ducts. Never run low voltage wire in
any conduit, box, channel, duct or other enclosure containing
power or lighting circuits of any type. In addition to ensuring
proper separation between any AC power wiring and the
Category 5/5e cable used for A-BUS,
®
it is important to avoid
running the A-BUS cable in parallel to any AC wiring.Always
maintain at least the minimum separation between AC wiring
and the A-BUS cable or ANY low-voltage cable that is required
by the NEC or any applicable local building codes or regulations.
Make sure to follow all instructions when preparing wiring for
use with the AB 1 module. Failure to do so may result in a
potential safety hazard, including possible danger to persons
and/or equipment.
If you will be running the cable through a ventilation plenum,
remember
to use plenum-rated cable to comply with NEC and
other safety requirements. Failure to do so may result in a
potential fire or safety hazard.
Always observe the appropriate safety codes for concealed
wiring. Be extremely careful not to cut through or drill into con-
cealed wiring or pipes. Make a small inspection opening before
cutting or drilling.
Dust or dirt can cause special problems on wiring contacts.
Be sure all contacts are clean, and that all parts are installed
correctly to protect them from dust and dirt.
Your new Harman Kardon AB 1 Amplified In-Wall Module
has been custom-designed for use with Harman Kardon’s
A-BUS/Ready products and it is also compatible with other
A-BUS-compatible systems. Do not connect it to any
other device.
The AB 1 is only to be installed by qualified personnel and as
per the requirements of all applicable state and local building
codes, as well as NEC (National Electrical Code) requirements.
Check with your local authorities as needed to ensure that
all wiring inside walls is installed in compliance with the
proper standards. Failure to do so may present a potential
safety hazard.
If you have any doubt about your ability to work with electrical
and telecommunications wiring, you are advised to hire a
professional licensed electrician or custom installer to install
this
product.
Installation Planning
The AB 1 may be installed in any location appropriate for stan-
dard in-wall electrical components. You are responsible for
selecting and properly installing an appropriate electrical junction
box or plaster ring. Be sure to check the fit of the box or ring
with the AB 1 before installation into the wall.
Since the AB 1 uses a built-in infrared sensor to relay com-
mands to the A/V receiver, be sure to avoid installing the AB 1
in an area subject to potential interference with the IR signal.
Possible sources of interference include plasma video displays,
dimmer-controlled lighting, bright sunlight, and reflective surfaces
such as mirrors or blank walls. You may wish to temporarily
place the component to be controlled using the sensor in the
proposed location in order to test the integrity of IR signals.
When determining the specific location for an AB 1, keep in
mind that it should be in a convenient place where it may be
operated manually, or that, when it is used with a remote con-
trol, the mounting position enables the built-in IR sensor to “see”
commands from any place in the room. In practice, the AB 1
may be mounted close to other wall switches, but remember
that the AB 1 should NEVER be installed in the same gang box
as any switch or product, such as a light switch or dimmer,
where AC line voltage is present.
When planning the installation, it is also wise to consider the
distance from the AB 1 module to the speakers, particularly
when they are in-wall or ceiling mounted. Be certain that there
are no solid walls or load-bearing structures that would prevent
the speaker wires from reaching their location.
The wiring used to connect the AB 1 to the A-BUS/Ready
receiver may be Category 5, 5e (or better) wiring. Be certain
that any safety requirements mandating the use of plenum
wiring are taken into account. The speaker wiring should also be
in-wall rated as required, and may not exceed 14 AWG. To sim-
plify wiring you may wish to use two-pair CL-3 rated in-wall
wiring and run a single cable from the AB 1 to both locations.
One pair will be used to connect the first speaker and the other
will continue to the second speaker.
Speaker Selection
The AB 1 is compatible with most modern in-wall or ceiling
speakers, provided that they have an efficiency rated at 88dB
or greater. Minimum speaker impedance is six ohms.
It is possible to run two pairs of speakers from one AB 1,
but we do not recommend that due to the degradation in
performance.
What Is Included
Your AB 1 in-wall module includes two mounting screws: self-
starting, universal-head machine screws.
You are responsible for providing a Decora-style wall-plate,
available in a variety of colors and finishes at your local hard-
ware retailer.
You are also responsible for providing the speakers and a
sufficient length of Category 5/5e (or better) UTP (unshielded
twisted pair) cable and an RJ-45 modular plug. The wiring
scheme is the standard TIA T568A configuration. The maximum
length should not exceed 150 feet in order to avoid degrading
the signal. Further information on the correct wiring configuration
is provided in these instructions.
¡ Input Cable Connection Block – Using standard IDT
punch-down tools, connect the Category 5/5e cable linking the
AB 1 to the receiver to this connection block in accordance with
the color code printed on the circuit board.
™ Output Level Trims – These trim pots are used to match
the output level of the AB 1 module to the specific speakers
in use.
£ Speaker Terminal Block – The wire used to connect the
AB 1 to your speakers is connected to this terminal block. Insert
the wire in accordance with the color coding shown and then
tighten the screw. Note that the maximum wire size is 14 AWG.
Installation and Connection
IMPORTANT SAFETY NOTES:
• Before beginning the installation process, make certain
that all electronic products in the system are turned off
and disconnected from their A/V power connection.
This avoids the possibility of accidental activation,
which could possibly damage the equipment or cause
personal injury. Do not turn on the equipment until
instructed to do so.
• Be certain to observe all appropriate safety measures
when installing any wiring, including, but not limited to,
the use of eye protection when required, and attention
to the required distances between low-voltage wiring
and high-voltage AC mains wiring.
Step One: Run a Category 5/5e cable from the receiver
location to the module.
Run a splice-free Category 5/5e cable from the location where
the AB 1 module will be installed to the location where the
A-BUS/Ready receiver is placed. At each end, make certain to
leave sufficient wire for ease of installation. Any extra wire may
be trimmed back during the installation. Remember that you will
need to have access to the rear of the AB 1 after the module is
connected, but before the module is secured into the wall box.
Step Two: Prepare and install an RJ-45 plug at the
receiver end of the system.
The connection and cable termination at the receiver end of the
installation is a standard RJ-45 connector using the TIA T568A
configuration.
Connect an RJ-45 plug to the end of the wire as follows.
Looking at the connector with its clip down and the wires
coming out of the connector
toward you, numbered from left
to right, the typical pin colors are as follows:
Pin # Striped Wire Pairs Solid Wire Colors
1 White with Green Stripe White
2 Green Green
3 White with Orange Stripe White
4 Blue Blue
5 White with Blue Stripe White
6 Orange Orange
7 White with Brown Stripe White
8 Brown Brown
Front-Panel Controls
1 Screw Holes – After you have completed installation, these
screw holes accept the screws supplied with your Decora-style
wall plate to attach it to the AB 1.
2 Screw Slots – Use the supplied machine screws to attach
the AB 1 to an electrical junction box or plaster ring through
these slots.
3 Volume
⁄
/
¤
Buttons – Pressing these buttons
raises or lowers the volume level of the speakers connected
to the AB 1.
4 IR Sensor – This sensor receives signals from a remote
control, such as the Zone II remote supplied with Harman Kardon
multichannel-capable receivers, and passes them on to the
receiver or other compatible source components.
5 Status LED –The LED behind the red window will light
when the AB 1 is connected to an A-BUS/Ready receiver
that is turned on. It is now ready to accept control commands,
as long as the AVR’s Multiroom system is activated. It will
flash when a command is received from a compatible
remote control.
Rear-Panel Connections
