Harman Kardon FL 8385 User manual

FL 8385
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FL 8385
COMPACT DISC CHANGER
OWNER’S MANUAL
Power for the Digital Revolution.
®
®

FL 8385 COMPACT DISC CHANGER
3Introduction
4Safety Information
4Unpacking
5Front-Panel Controls
6Front-Panel Information Display
8Rear-Panel Connections
9Remote Control Functions
10 Installation and Connections
11 Operation
11 Disc Formats Supported by This Player
11 Loading Discs
12 Normal Play
12 Random Play
12 HDCD®
12 Play Exchange
12 Time Display
12 Headphone Listening
13 Search Functions
13 Search
13 Skip
13 Intro Search
13 Programmed-Play Operation
13 Programmed Play
13 Checking Program Contents
13 Clearing Programs
13 Repeat Play
14 Troubleshooting Guide
15 Technical Specifications
See trademark acknowledgements on page 15.
2TABLE OF CONTENTS
Typographical Conventions
In order to help you use this manual with the remote control, front-panel controls and rear-panel connections,
certain conventions have been used.
EXAMPLE – (bold type) indicates a specific remote control or front-panel button, or rear-panel connection jack
EXAMPLE – (OCR type) indicates a message that is visible on the front-panel information display
1– (number in a square) indicates a specific front-panel control
a– (number in an oval) indicates a button or indicator on the remote
¡– (number in a circle) indicates a rear-panel connection
A– (letter in a square) indicates an indicator in the front-panel display
,HDCD®,High Definition Compatible Digital®and Pacific Microsonics™are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Pacific
Microsonics, Inc., in the United States and/or other countries. HDCD system manufactured under license from Pacific Microsonics, Inc.

INTRODUCTION
INTRODUCTION 3
CAUTION
RISK OF ELECTRIC SHOCK
DO NOT OPEN
CAUTION: To prevent electric shock,
do not use this (polarized)
plug with an extension cord,
receptacle or other outlet
unless the blades can
be fully inserted to
prevent blade exposure.
The lightning flash with arrowhead symbol,
within an equilateral triangle, is intended to
alert the user to the presence of uninsulated
dangerous voltage within the product s
enclosure that may be of sufficient magnitude to constitute a
risk of electric shock to persons.
The exclamation point within an equilateral
triangle is intended to alert the user to the
presence of important operating and
maintenance (servicing) instructions in the
literature accompanying the appliance.
Thank you for choosing Harman Kardon.®The
FL 8385 CD changer is an exceptionally well-engi-
neered product that offers high performance and
ease of use.
We ask that you take a few minutes to read through
this owner’s manual to familiarize yourself with the
unit’s controls and functions.This brief investment of
time will yield years of listening pleasure.
If you have any questions about this product – on its
installation or operation – please contact your dealer,
who is your best local source of information.
Description and Features
■Five-Disc CD Changer With Advanced
Programming Features That Create Playlists of
Selected Tracks, or Play Discs and Tracks in
Random Order, for Hours of Uninterrupted Play
■Plays CD, CD-R and CD-RW Discs
■HDCD®Decoding Provides Superior
Reproduction of All CDs,Whether HDCD-
Encoded or Not.When HDCD-Encoded Discs
Are Played, Special Circuitry Reveals Detail
and Fidelity Not Possible in Ordinary CDs
■Coax Output for Direct Connection to Outboard
Digital-to-Analog Converters or Digital
Receivers
■Intro Search to Automatically Scan a Brief
Portion of EachTrack to Quickly Locate Your
Favorite Selections
■Play-Exchange FeatureAllows Discs to Be
Changed While Another Disc Is Playing
■Discrete Power On and Off Buttons on the
Remote Control Facilitate Compatibility With
Custom Home Control Systems
For Canadian model
Modèle pour les Canadien
Cet appareil numérique de la classe B est conforme
à la norme NMB-003 du Canada.
Sur les modèles dont la fiche est polarisee:
ATTENTION: Pour éviter les chocs électriques, introduire
la lame la plus large de la fiche dans la borne
correspondante de la prise et pousser jusqu’au fond.
This class B digital apparatus complies with Canadian
ICES-003.
For models having a power cord with a polarized plug:
CAUTION: To prevent electric shock,match wide blade
of plug to wide slot, fully insert.

SAFETY INFORMATION
4 SAFETY INFORMATION4 SAFETY INFORMATION
Important Safety Information
Verify LineVoltage Before Use
Your FL 8385 has been designed for use with 120-
volt AC current. Connection to a line voltage other than
that for which it is intended can create a safety and fire
hazard, and may damage the unit.
If you have any questions about the voltage require-
ments for your specific model, or about the line volt-
age in your area, contact your selling dealer before
plugging the unit into a wall outlet.
Do Not Use Extension Cords
We do not recommend that extension cords be used
with this product.As with all electrical devices, do not
run power cords under rugs or carpets or place heavy
objects on them. Damaged power cords should be
replaced immediately by an authorized service depot
with cords meeting factory specifications.
Handle the AC Power Cord Gently
When disconnecting the power cord from an AC out-
let, always pull the plug – never pull the cord. If you
do not intend to use the unit for any considerable
length of time, disconnect the plug from the AC outlet.
Do Not Open the Cabinet
There are no user-serviceable components inside this
product. Opening the cabinet may present a shock
hazard, and any modification to the product will void
your guarantee. If water or any metal object such as a
paper clip, wire or a staple accidentally falls inside the
unit, disconnect it from the AC power source immedi-
ately, and consult an authorized service station.
CAUTION: The FL 8385 uses a laser system.To pre-
vent direct exposure to the laser beam, do not open
the cabinet enclosure or defeat any of the safety
mechanisms provided for your protection. DO NOT
STARE INTO THE LASER BEAM.To ensure proper use
of this product, please read this owner’s manual care-
fully and retain it for future use. Should the unit require
maintenance or repair, please contact your local
Harman Kardon service station. Refer servicing to
qualified personnel only.
Installation Location
■To ensure proper operation and to avoid the poten-
tial for safety hazards, place the unit on a firm and
level surface.When placing the unit on a shelf, be
certain that the shelf and any mounting hardware
can support the weight of the product.
■Make certain that proper space is provided both
above and below the unit for ventilation. If this
product will be installed in a cabinet or other
enclosed area, make certain that there is sufficient
air movement within the cabinet.
■Do not place the unit directly on a carpeted
surface.
■Avoid installation in extremely hot or cold locations,
or in an area that is exposed to direct sunlight or
heating equipment.
■Avoid moist or humid locations.
■Do not obstruct the ventilation slots on the top of
the unit, or place objects directly over them.
Cleaning
When the unit gets dirty, wipe it with a clean,soft dry
cloth. If necessary, wipe it with a soft cloth dampened
with mild soapy water, then a fresh cloth with clean
water.Wipe dry immediately with a dry cloth. NEVER
use benzene, aerosol cleaners, thinner, alcohol or any
other volatile cleaning agent. Do not use abrasive
cleaners, as they may damage the finish of metal
parts.Avoid spraying insecticide near the unit.
Moving the Unit
Before moving the unit, be certain to disconnect any
interconnection cords with other components, and
make certain that you disconnect the unit from the
AC outlet.
IMPORTANT NOTE: To avoid damage to the FL
8385 which may not be covered by the warranty, be
certain that all discs are removed from the unit before
it is moved. Once the FL 8385 is placed/installed,
discs may be left in the unit when it is turned off, but
the unit should NEVER be moved with discs left in
either deck.
Important Information for the User
This equipment has been tested and found to comply
with the limits for a Class B digital device, pursuant to
Part 15 of the FCC Rules.The limits are designed to
provide reasonable protection against harmful interfer-
ence in a residential installation.This equipment gener-
ates, uses and can radiate radio frequency energy and,
if not installed and used in accordance with the instruc-
tions, may cause harmful interference to radio commu-
nication. However, there is no guarantee that harmful
interference will not occur in a particular installation. If
this equipment does cause harmful interference to radio
or television reception (which can be determined by
turning the equipment off and on), the user is encour-
aged to try to correct the interference by one or more
of the following measures:
■Reorient or relocate the receiving antenna.
■Increase the separation between the
equipment and receiver.
■Connect the equipment into an outlet on a
circuit different from that to which the receiver is
connected.
■Consult the dealer or an experienced
radio/TV technician for help.
This device complies with Part 15 of the FCC Rules.
Operation is subject to the following two conditions:
(1) this device may not cause harmful interference, and
(2) this device must accept interference received, inclu-
ding interference that may cause undesired operation.
NOTE: Changes or modifications may cause this
unit to fail to comply with Part 15 of the FCC Rules
and may void the user’s authority to operate the
equipment.
Unpacking
The carton and shipping materials used to protect your
new receiver during shipment were specially designed
to cushion it from shock and vibration.We suggest
that you save the carton and packing materials for
use in shipping if you move, or should the unit ever
need repair.
To minimize the size of the carton in storage, you may
wish to flatten it.This is done by carefully slitting the
tape seams on the bottom and collapsing the carton
down to a more two-dimensional appearance. Other
cardboard inserts may be stored in the same manner.
Packing materials that cannot be collapsed should be
saved along with the carton in a plastic bag.
If you do not wish to save the packaging materials,
please note that the carton and other sections of the
shipping protection are recyclable. Please respect the
environment and discard those materials at a local
recycling center.
It is important that you remove the protective plastic
film from the front-panel lens. Leaving the film in place
will affect the performance of your remote control.

FRONT-PANEL CONTROLS
1Power Switch: Press this switch to apply power
to the FL 8385.When the FL 8385 is first turned on
by pressing this switch, the Status Mode Indicator
2will turn blue, and the Information Display #
will light. Press the switch again to turn the unit off; the
Status Mode Indicator 2will turn amber, indicating
that the unit is in a Standby mode.When the FL 8385
is connected to a switched AC outlet, such as those
found on the back of many audio products, it will
return to the Standby mode when power is applied to
the switched outlet without any further press of the
switch.
2Status Mode Indicator: When the FL 8385 is
in the On mode, this indicator will glow blue.When
the unit is off, the indicator will glow amber, indicating
that the unit is still connected to the AC main supply.
3Headphones Jack: Connect a set of standard
headphones to this jack for private listening.
4Headphones Level Control: Turn this knob to
increase or decrease the volume level for headphones
connected to the FL 8385’s Headphones Jack 3.
Note that changing this level will not change the sound
level for the unit’s main output,as that remains constant.
NOTES:
• Always adjust the headphones level to the minimum
possible to avoid the possibility of damage to the lis-
tener’s hearing from unwanted white noise or other
transient noises.
• When inserting a disc, wait until the FL 8385 has
recognized the disc before using headphones in
order to avoid the possibility of hearing potentially
damaging white noise.
5CD Drawer: This drawer holds the discs that will
be played. Press the Open/Close Button 6to open
the drawer so that discs may be inserted.
6Open/Close Button: Press this button to open
or close the disc drawer. DO NOT push the drawer
to close it or damage to the transport mechanism
may result.
7Search Button: Press one side of this button to
search forward
— or the other side of the button
to search backwards
‚ through a disc to locate a
particular portion of the disc being played.
8Skip Button: Press one side of this button to
move to the next track
— Í or the other side of the
button to move back to the previous track
Í fifi on
the disc being played.
9 Stop Button: Press this button to stop the disc cur-
rently being played.
)Play/Pause Button: Press this button to start the
playback of a CD. If the CD drawer is open,pressing
this button will automatically close the drawer. Press this
button once during play to momentarily pause a disc.
When the button is pressed again, the disc will resume
play at the point it was paused.
!Disc Skip Button: Press this button to change to
the next disc. If a disc position is empty, the FL 8385
will automatically search for the next position that con-
tains a disc.
@Disc Select Buttons: Press one of these buttons
to select the disc in a specific position in the CD drawer.
#Information Display: This display provides details
about the operation of the FL 8385.
$Remote Sensor: The sensor behind this window
receives commands from the remote control. Keep
this area clear if you wish to use the FL 8385 with a
remote control.
2345
7
8
9
)!
#
$@
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FL 8385
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FRONT-PANEL CONTROLS
FRONT-PANEL CONTROLS 55
NOTE: To make it easier to follow the instructions that refer to this illustration, a larger copy may be downloaded from the Product Support section for this product at
www.harmankardon.com.
1Power Switch
2Status Mode Indicator
3Headphones Jack
4Headphones Level Control
5CD Drawer
6Open/Close Button
7Search Button
8Skip Button
9Stop Button
)Play/Pause Button
!Disc Skip Button
@Disc Select Buttons
#Information Display
$Remote Sensor

FRONT-PANEL INFORMATION DISPLAY
6 FRONT-PANEL INFORMATION DISPLAY
ABD
EF
NLJH
R
Q
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OMKI
ARandom Indicator
BSequential Indicator
CDisc Number Display
DTrack Number Display
ETime Display
FRemaining Tracks Display
GTotal Time Indicator
HProgram Indicator
IRemaining Time Indicator
JIntro Scan Indicator
KLoaded Disc Indicators
LHDCD Indicator
MRepeat Indicator
NDisc Mode Indicator
OSingle Mode Indicator
PPause Indicator
QAll Mode Indicator
RPlay Indicator
NOTE: To make it easier to follow the instructions that refer to this illustration, a larger copy may be downloaded from the Product Support section for this product at
www.harmankardon.com.
ARandom Indicator: This indicator will light when
any of the three Random modes described on page
12 have been selected.
BSequential Indicator: This indicator will light
when the Random,All, Sequential playback mode has
been selected.The FL 8385 will play all tracks on the
current disc in random order, then advance to the next
available disc and play all of its tracks in random order,
and so on until all discs have been played once.
CDisc Number Display: The current disc number
will be displayed here.
DTrack Number Display: The current track
number will be displayed here.
ETime Display: This indicator will display either the
total running time of the disc currently playing, the total
running time of the track currently playing or the time
remaining on the currently playing disc. See page 12
for more information on the Time Display E.
FRemaining Tracks Display: When a disc is first
selected, the numbers for each of the tracks on that
disc will light, up to 16 tracks. During playback the
current track number will flash, and all remaining
track numbers will remain lit.The numbers of the
preceding tracks will go dark.When playback is
stopped, all of the track numbers available on the
current disc will light, even if they were previously
played. If a disc contains more than 16 tracks, the
higher-numbered tracks may be played and their num-
bers will appear in the Track Number Display D
when selected, but those numbers will not appear in
the Remaining Tracks Display F.
GTotal Time Indicator: This indicator will light
when the total time on the current disc has been
selected for display. See page 12 for more information
on the time display function.
HProgram Indicator: This indicator will light when
the FL 8385 has been placed in programmed-play
mode. It will remain lit while a play list is being pro-
grammed and during playback of a play list.
IRemaining Time Indicator: This indicator will
light when the remaining time on the current disc or in
the current track has been selected for display. See
page 12 for more information on the time display
function.
JIntro Scan Indicator: This indicator will light
when the Intro Search mode has been selected as
described on page 13.This mode enables you to
search for a particular track by previewing the first 10
seconds of each track of each loaded disc, and then
selecting the desired track.
KLoaded Disc Indicators: When the unit is turned
on, the indicators for all disc positions will light, with
the current disc indicated by a flashing red ring.As the
FL 8385 circulates through all disc positions, the indi-
cators for positions found to be empty will go out.This
display will refresh any time the CD Drawer 5is
opened.

FRONT-PANEL INFORMATION DISPLAY 7
FRONT-PANEL INFORMATION DISPLAY
LHDCD Indicator: This indicator will light when a
disc encoded in the HDCD format is played. In order
to benefit from the FL 8385’s HDCD decoding, the
Analog Audio Outputs ∞must be connected to
corresponding inputs on your receiver or processor,
and those inputs must be selected. If you have only
connected the Coaxial Digital Audio Output ™to
your receiver or processor, you will not hear HDCD
playback unless your receiver/processor includes an
HDCD decoder. Playback of non-HDCD-encoded
discs using the Analog Audio Outputs ∞will be
enhanced due to the improved filters incorporated in
the FL 8385’s microprocessor.
MRepeat Indicator: This indicator will light when
any of the four repeat modes described on pages 13
and 14 has been selected.
NDisc Mode Indicator: This indicator will light
when either the Random,All Tracks/Discs or Repeat
Disc modes has been selected.
OSingle Mode Indicator: This indicator will light
when either the Random 1 disc or Repeat 1 track or
disc modes has been selected.
PPause Indicator: This indicator will light when
playback has been paused.
QAll Mode Indicator: This indicator will light
when any of the Random All Sequential, Random
All Tracks/Discs or Repeat All Discs modes has
been selected.
RPlay Indicator: This indicator will light during
playback.

8REAR-PANEL CONNECTIONS
REAR-PANEL CONNECTIONSREAR-PANEL CONNECTIONS
8REAR-PANEL CONNECTIONS
™¢∞
£
¡
¡AC Power Cord
™Coaxial Digital Output
£Remote Control Output
¢Remote Control Input
∞Analog Audio Outputs
¡AC Power Cord: Connect this plug to anAC outlet.
If the outlet is switch-controlled, make certain that the
switch is in the ON position.
™Coaxial Digital Output: Connect this jack to the
coaxial-digital input of a digital audio/video receiver or an
external digital-to-analog converter for direct access to
the digital signals of the FL 8385. DO NOT connect this
jack to the standard audio inputs of any device.
£Remote Control Output: Connect this jack to the
input of another compatible Harman Kardon remote
controlled device to have the remote sensor on the
FL 8385 provide signals to other products.
¢Remote Control Input: Connect the output of a
remote infrared sensor or the remote control output of
another compatible Harman Kardon product.This will
enable the remote control system to operate even
when the front panel Remote Sensor $is blocked.
It will also allow use of the FL 8385 with optional,
external control systems.
∞Analog Audio Outputs: Connect these jacks to
the analog CD audio inputs of your receiver, surround
processor or preamplifier.
NOTE: To make it easier to follow the instructions that refer to this illustration, a larger copy may be downloaded from the Product Support section for this product at
www.harmankardon.com.

aDisc-Select Buttons: Press one of these
buttons to select the disc in a specific position in the
CD drawer.
bNumeric Buttons: Press these buttons to select
a specific track on a disc.The FL 8385 will immedi-
ately go to the track and begin to play it.These but-
tons are also used to enter track numbers into the
memory for preprogrammed-play lists. (See page 13
for complete information on programming the
FL 8385.)
cClear Button: Press this button to remove tracks
from a programmed sequence. Each press of the but-
ton will remove one track, starting with the last track
programmed to play. (See page 13 for complete infor-
mation on programming the FL 8385.)
dSearch Buttons: Press these buttons to search
forward
— or backwards ‚ through a disc to
locate a particular portion of the selection being
played.
eSkip Buttons: Press one of these buttons to
move to the next track
— Í or to move back to the
previous track
Í ‚ on the disc being played.
fStop Button: Press this button to stop the disc
currently being played.
gPlay Button: Press this button to start the play-
back of a CD. If the CD drawer is open,pressing this
button will automatically close the drawer.
hRandom Button: Press this button to play all of
the tracks on a disc in a random order. (See page 12
for more information.)
iPause Button: Press this button once to
momentarily pause a disc.When the button is pressed
again, the disc will resume play from the point at which
it was paused.
jProgram Button: This button is used to pro-
gram the playback of a disc in a particular order. (See
page 13 for complete instructions on programming
the FL 8385.)
kTime Button: In normal operation, the display
will show the running time of the track being played.
Press the button once to check the time remaining for
the track in play. Press the button again to view the
total play time remaining for the disc in play. (See
page 12 for more information.)
lIntro Button: Press this button to put the FL 8385
into the Intro Scan mode.When you press this button,the
unit will play the first 10 seconds of each track on the
disc,and then move to the next track.Press the button
again to defeat the function and continue full play of the
current track.(See page 13 for more information.)
mRepeat Button: Press this button once to continu-
ously repeat the track currently being played.Press it a
second time to repeat the entire disc.(See pages 13 and
14 for more information.)
nDisc Skip Buttons: Press these buttons to
change to the next disc.If a disc position is empty, the
FL 8385 will automatically search for the next position
that contains a disc.
oPower On Button: When the FL8385 is plugged
into an activeAC outlet,press this button to turn the unit
on.The Status Mode Indicator 2will turn blue.If the
unit is plugged into a switched outlet,power must be
applied to the switched outlet in order for the Power On
Button oto be effective.
pPower Off Button: Press this button to turn the
unit off;the Status Mode Indicator 2will turn amber,
indicating that the unit is in a Standby mode.
REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONS 9
REMOTE CONTROL FUNCTIONS
FL 8385 RC
SKIP
SEARCH RANDOM
PROGRAM TIME
INTRO
REPEAT
+
–
DISC NO.
0
456
321
345
21
789
CLEAR
TRACK NO.
b
c
a
d
ef
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
n
n
n
n
n
n
o
n
n
n
n
n
n
DISC
SKIP
POWER OFFON p
aDisc-Select Buttons
bNumeric Buttons
cClear Button
dSearch Buttons
eSkip Buttons
fStop Button
gPlay Button
hRandom Button
iPause Button
jProgram Button
kTime Button
lIntro Button
mRepeat Button
nDisc Skip Buttons
oPower On Button
pPower Off Button
NOTE: To make it easier to follow the instructions that
refer to this illustration, a larger copy may be down-
loaded from the Product Support section for this prod-
uct at www.harmankardon.com.

INSTALLATION AND CONNECTIONS
10 INSTALLATION AND CONNECTIONS
To prevent possible damage to your speakers and
other components in your audio system, it is important
that ALL components, including the FL 8385 and your
receiver or preamp and amplifiers, are turned off and
unplugged from their AC power source when installing
any new component.
Connecting the FL 8385 to your audio system is sim-
ple. Using standard RCA-to-RCA interconnect cords,
connect the left and right Audio Output Jacks ∞on
the rear panel to the CD input jacks on your receiver,
surround processor or preamplifier.
If your system includes an optional external digital-to-
analog converter, or if you are using a receiver or
other processor that has the capability to decode PCM
digital input signals, connect the Coaxial Digital
Output Jack ™to the Coaxial Digital input on the
decoder. Make certain to use a coaxial-style intercon-
nect cable, as standard audio cables will not perform
as well.
Install the two AA batteries supplied with the
FL 8385’s remote by turning the remote over so that
you are holding the bottom side up. Press lightly on the
embossed arrow on the cover and gently slide the cover
towards you in the direction of the arrow. Insert the bat-
teries inside the compartment, being careful to follow the
+and – polarity indications at the bottom of the com-
partment. Replace the cover by placing it on the remote
and sliding it back towards the top of the remote.
NOTE: When replacing batteries, it is always a good
idea to replace both at the same time.When the unit
will not be used for an extended period of time, it is
also a good idea to remove the batteries so that the
potential for corrosion or damage is avoided.
If the FL 8385 is installed behind a cabinet or other
obstruction that may block the path between the front
panel Remote Sensor $and the location of the
remote, an optional external IR sensor may be used.
Connect the sensor to the Remote Control Input
Jack ¢on the rear panel.This jack may also be
connected to the IR-Output jack of another compatible
Harman Kardon component or a compatible IR-sys-
tem-remote product.
You may also use the IR Sensor in the FL 8385 to send
commands to other compatible remote controlled prod-
ucts. Connect the Remote Control Output Jack £
to the input of the other product or system.
Connect the power to a nonswitched AC wall outlet or
to the accessory outlet on the rear of another audio
device in your system and you are ready to go!
NOTE: When using the accessory outlet on another
product to power the FL 8385, make certain that it
has the compatibility to power a device that draws at
least 20 watts of current in addition to being able to
handle the requirements of the other devices that may
be plugged into the accessory outlets. If you use a
“switched” outlet, it is important to remember that
the host product must be turned on in order for the
FL 8385 to operate.
➞

OPERATION 11
OPERATION
Disc Formats Supported by This Player
The FL 8385 is capable of playing any conventional
Audio CD and most recordable (CD-R) or erasable
(CD-RW) audio discs bearing the logos shown below.
The FL 8385 is also capable of playing data discs, but
only if they contain music audio files conforming to the
CD-DA (“Red Book”) standard.When creating these
types of discs using your computer, make sure to burn
the discs as “music discs”, not “data discs”,as the
data discs will not be able to play on the FL 8385 or
most other audio CD players. Consult the documenta-
tion for your computer software for further information
on how to create audio discs on your computer that
will be compatible with audio CD players. CD-DA discs
created on your computer as described above do not
need to bear the audio disc logos shown below.
The FL 8385 is not capable of playing data discs
other than those in the CD-DA format; discs contain-
ing WAV files; discs containing MP3,WMA or other
compressed audio files; DVD discs of any type;
VCD or SVCD discs; DVD-ROM or DVD-RAM data
discs; CD-I discs; CD-G discs, or Photo CD™or
JPEG discs.
Compact discs created in the DTS®format may only
be played using the Coaxial Digital Output ™con-
nected to a receiver or processor with a DTS decoder;
If you attempt to play a DTS disc using the Analog
Audio Outputs ∞or the Headphones Jack 3,
you will only hear white noise.Always adjust the
Headphones Level Control 4to the minimum
possible in order to avoid any possibility of damage to
your hearing should the white noise be played through
the headphones at a high volume.
If you insert a disc into the FL 8385 that is not in a
supported format, the message dISC will be dis-
played. Remove the disc, and insert a compatible
audio CD, CD-R or CD-RW disc. It is recommended
that you wait until the disc has been recognized by the
FL 8385 before using the headphones in order to
avoid the possibility of hearing potentially damaging
white noise.
Loading Discs
To load a disc, first turn the FL 8385 on, using the
Power Switch 1or the Power On obutton on
the remote. Note that the Status Mode Indicator 2
will turn blue and the Information Display #will
light.The word dISC will flash in the Information
Display, and the disc tray will automatically turn clock-
wise so that the FL 8385 can sense which, if any, of
the disc positions already have a disc.
To load a disc, first press the Open/Close Button 6,
taking care that the space in front of the drawer is not
obstructed. If the drawer is blocked when you attempt
to open it, it will automatically close within five seconds
to protect the mechanism.
Load discs in the tray with the printed (label) side
facing up toward you. Make certain that the disc is
centered in the tray. Either 5" (12cm) or 3" (8cm)
discs may be used.When a 3" (8cm) disc is played,
it should be carefully centered within the smaller
ridges on the tray. Only one CD can be placed in any
position at a time.When a 3" (8cm) disc is played,
DO NOT place a standard 5" (12cm) disc over the
smaller disc.
Each disc position has a number embossed in the
plastic tray.This corresponds to the position this disc
will occupy for playback and programming.To make it
easier to identify each disc’s position,the disc position
number for the holder space that is in the center of the
disc tray will also appear in the Information Display
#when the disc drawer is open.
To rotate the disc tray to another position, press the
Disc Skip Button !n.The tray will revolve to the
next slot and the Loaded Disc Indicators Kand
Disc Number Display Cwill indicate the position
number for the slot in the middle of the tray.
To close the disc drawer, press the Open/Close
Button 6.When the drawer closes, the disc that was
last in the center position on the tray will be readied
for play. Its number will appear in the Disc Number
Display Cand a red icon next to its Loaded Disc
Indicator Kwill light.The Loaded Disc Indicator
Kfor all other tray positions that have a disc will be
lit. If the center disc position is empty when the drawer
is closed, the unit will search for the next position with
a loaded disc and place it in the Ready mode.
The drawer may also be closed and the FL 8385 put
into play by pressing the Play/Pause Button )g.
This will put the disc in the center position into the Play
mode.
To close the drawer and play a specific disc, press the
Disc Select Button @acorresponding to the tray
position number for the disc you wish to play.
When the disc drawer closes, the FL 8385’s carousel
will spin through each of the disc positions, and each
position’s number will appear briefly in the Disc
Number Display C.When the FL 8385 detects a
disc in any position, the Loaded Disc Indicator K
for that position will light.After a few seconds, the FL
8385 will place the last loaded disc in the play posi-
tion, and will display a red icon to the right of its
Loaded Disc Indicator K.Its disc number, total
number of tracks, and total running time will be dis-
played in the Disc Number C,Track Number D
and Time EDisplays,and all of the tracks will be lit
in the Remaining Tracks Display F.
To remove a disc from the player, press the Open/
Close Button 6.The drawer will open, allowing the
disc to be removed. Press the Disc Skip Button
!n to rotate the disc carousel tray to reach discs
that may be covered.When a disc does not occupy a
numbered tray, and the sensor detects no disc pres-
ent, the disc number will drop from the Loaded Disc
Indicator K.
Upon placing a disc in the unoccupied tray, the disc
number will reappear in the Loaded Disc Indicator
Kwhen detected by the sensor mechanism.
Disc-Handling Notes
When loading or unloading discs, it is best to hold
them by the edges.
While compact discs are very reliable, rough handling
may damage them.Avoid scratching the bottom (non-
printed) side of discs, and any handling that will leave
fingerprints.
To avoid damage to the disc and player, always seat
discs so that they are centered in the tray.
Do not lift the player while the disc tray is opening or
closing, as this may cause the discs to unseat from
the tray and possibly jam.
NOTE: Always remember to remove all discs from the
player before moving or repacking it.
Labeled surface
Recorded surface
ReWritableRecordable

OPERATION
Normal Play
The FL 8385 provides a variety of ways to select discs
for playback.
To play all of the tracks on each disc in order, starting
with the first track on the disc currently in the play
position, and proceeding through each disc that has
been loaded, press the Play/Pause Button )on
the front panel, or the Play Button gon the
remote.
To start play on a specific disc, press the Disc Select
Button @athat corresponds to the desired disc’s
position in the disc tray. If no disc is found in the
selected position, the unit will search for the next disc.
When a disc is in play, the Play Indicator Rwill be
lit.The track being played will appear in the Track
Number Display Dand its icon in the Remaining
Tracks Display Fwill flash.The elapsed time will
appear in the Time Display E.As the disc plays, the
track numbers shown in the Track Number Display
Dwill change, and the time shown in the Time
Display Ewill reset to at the start of each
new track.
To momentarily pause the play of a disc, press the
Play/Pause Button )on the front panel,or the
Pause Buttonion the remote.The Pause
Indication Pwill appear in the display to remind you
that the disc is paused. Press either the Play Button
(Play/Pause on front panel) )g or the Pause
Button ito resume normal play.
You may also select a track on any disc in play by
entering the desired track number directly using the
Numeric Buttons b.Note that two buttons must
always be pressed when entering a track number.Thus,
when entering track numbers 1 through 9, press the
“0” button first and then the number for the desired
track.The two buttons must be entered within three
seconds of each other.
To stop the disc, press the Stop Button 9f.
When the stop button is pressed, the display will again
show the total number of tracks and total running time
of the last disc played.
Random Play
The FL 8385 includes three Random Play modes that
enable you to let the machine select the tracks to be
played in a random order.The Random modes may
be started at any time by pressing the Random
Button hon the remote when the unit is already
in Play mode.
Random: To play all the tracks on a disc in random
order, press the Random Button hONCE so that
the Random Indicator Alights.The FL 8385 will
play the tracks on the disc in an order selected by the
unit’s microprocessor and stop play when all of the
tracks have been played once.
Random, Sequential: When the Random Button
his pressed TWICE, the Random Aand
Sequential BIndicators will light. In this mode,
all tracks on the current disc will be played in random
order, and then the unit will advance to the next disc in
order and play all tracks on that disc randomly.When
each disc is finished, the next disc will play its tracks in
random order until all discs have been played.After
the last disc plays, the unit will stop.
Random,All Discs: When the Random Button h
is pressed THREE times, the Random A,All Q
and Disc NIndicators will light. In this mode, the
FL 8385 will select two tracks from the disc in use and
play them randomly.After these two tracks play, another
disc will be randomly selected and two tracks will play
from that disc.This pattern of a randomly selected disc,
and the play of two random tracks from each disc, will
continue until all tracks on all discs have been played.At
that point the unit will stop.
HDCD
HDCD, which stands for High Definition Compatible
Digital,®is a sophisticated process that enables the
FL 8385 to deliver outstanding digital-to-analog
decoding, no matter what type of CD is played.
When a disc with the HDCD logo is played, the
FL 8385 is able to take advantage of the special
recording process that is used in the creation of HDCD
discs.Although HDCD discs are playable on any CD
player, when they are used in a unit such as the
FL 8385,the special circuitry delivers audio with
extraordinary fidelity, stunning resolution and the
highest possible overall quality.The HDCD process
effectively cancels the additive and subtractive distor-
tions that are present in other recordings.
No special adjustment is required to play an HDCD
disc. Simply play the disc as you would any other CD,
and the FL 8385 will automatically sense that it is an
HDCD recording.The HDCD Indicator Lwill light in
the Information Display #on the front panel to
remind you that an HDCD disc is playing.
It is important to note that the HDCD process is com-
pletely compatible with standard recordings. Its high-
quality digital-to-analog circuitry provides enhanced
playback from all standard CD audio discs.
Play Exchange
The FL 8385’s Play Exchange feature allows you to
change discs while the machine is playing. Using this
feature, you can enjoy uninterrupted play of an unlim-
ited number of discs, since the drawer may be opened
and discs changed while another disc is playing.
To use the Play Exchange function, simply press the
Open/Close Button 6at any time while the unit is
in the Play mode.The disc drawer will open and two
discs will be available for change. Replace either disc,
or both, as desired.To reach the other two discs,
press the Disc Skip Button !n.You may now
remove and change either of these two discs.
When you have finished making any disc changes,
press the Open/Close Button 6.The drawer will
close and play will continue with normal functions.
Time Display
The FL 8385’s Time Display Eis capable of show-
ing a wide range of information about a CD.
In normal operation, the display will show the total run-
ning time of the track that is currently being played.
Each time the track changes, the Time Display E
will reset to and begin to increase again as
the disc plays.
To view the time remaining on an individual track,
press the Time Button kon the remote control
ONCE.The Time Display Ewill now show the time
left in the track currently playing.
To view the total playing time remaining on a disc,
press the Time Button kon the remote control
TWICE. In this Time Display mode the Track Number
Indicator Dwill show the tracks remaining, differing
from the usual display of the track being played.
Headphone Listening
You may listen to the output of the FL 8385 through
headphones by plugging any headphones with a
1⁄4
"
headphone plug or adapter into the front-panel
Headphones Jack 3.The volume of the head-
phone output can be adjusted with the Headphones
Level Control 4.Note that changing the headphone
level will not change the volume for the main audio
output.This is a fixed output and it is changed using
the volume control on your receiver, preamplifier or
surround processor.
12 OPERATION

PROGRAMMED-PLAY OPERATION
The FL 8385 is equipped with a variety of functions
that make it easy to search for specific tracks or pas-
sages on any CD.
Search
If you wish to quickly scan through a disc to locate a
particular passage or program, press the Search
Buttons 7d.The Forward Search Button
—
plays the disc forward at high speed, while the
Reverse Search Button ‚ plays the disc back-
wards at high speed.The front panel features a single
Search Button 7;press the right side for forward
search
— ,or the left side for reverse search ‚ .
The forward and reverse search functions may also be
performed using the separate Search Buttons d
on the remote.When the desired part of the disc is
heard, release the Search Buttons 7d to resume
normal play speed.
Skip
To move from one track on a disc to another, press
one of the Skip Buttons 8e.Pressing the
Forward Skip Button — Í will move you forwards
through the disc one track at a time, while pressing
the Reverse Skip Button
Í ‚ will move you back
one track at a time.The front panel features a single
Skip Button 8;press the right side for Forward
Skip
— Í ,or the left side for Reverse Skip Í ‚ .
The forward and reverse skip functions can be per-
formed using separate Skip Buttons eon the
remote.
The Skip buttons may be used when the FL 8385 is
either playing or stopped. If the unit is stopped, the
Skip buttons may be used to locate the first track to
be played.The Play Button g(Play/Pause on the
front panel )) must be pressed to begin play. If the
Skip buttons are used while the unit is already playing,
the audio output will stop while the new track is locat-
ed, and play will automatically resume after the Skip
button is released.
Intro Search
This feature lets you locate a track by playing the first
10 seconds of each track.When the Intro Button
lon the remote control is pressed, the unit will
play only 10 seconds of each track and then automat-
ically move to the next track.When you have reached
a track that you wish to listen to in its entirety, press
the Intro Button lagain to resume normal opera-
tion.When the Intro feature is activated, the Intro
Scan Indicator Jwill light in the Information
Display #to remind you that Intro Search is in use.
When the Intro Button lis pressed, the FL 8385
will first play through the disc that is currently in the
play position and then move on to each disc position
that is loaded.
Programmed Playlists
The FL 8385’s advanced programming capability
enables you to preset the order in which tracks play,
repeat specific discs or tracks, repeat all discs and
tracks, and/or repeat any portion of a specific disc.
Programmed play allows you to program up to 32
tracks into the FL 8385’s memory.To begin program-
ming the FL 8385, press the Program Button j
on the remote control.The Program Indicator H
will light in the Information Display #.
You may now begin to enter the discs and tracks in
the order in which you wish to have them play. Once
the Program Indicator His lit, P-01 will appear
in the Information Display, replacing the track time.
This indicates that you are about to program the first
step. AL will flash in the Track Number Display
D,and all of the numbers in the Remaining Tracks
Display Fwill flash.
To have all tracks on the disc play in order as the first
program step, press the Program Button j.To
select a single track on the disc, press the Numeric
Buttons bcorresponding to the desired track.You
may also use the Skip Buttons 8eto select a
track.You may select a different disc to be pro-
grammed at any time by pressing the Disc Select
Button @a.
When the disc and track are selected, press
the Program Button j.The program-step indica-
tion in the Information Display will change to P-02.
You may now select another disc and/or track for the
next program step, following the instructions shown
above.When the program step is selected, press the
Program Button j.Repeat this procedure for each
program step until you have completed the desired
programming. Press the Stop Button 9f to com-
plete a program sequence, or press Play g
(Play/Pause )on the front panel) to begin immedi-
ate play of a program sequence. If the maximum of
32 program steps is reached, the program-step indi-
cation will go out, and the disc and track that have
been programmed as the first program step will be
shown.
Once a program list has been entered, press the Play
Button g(Play/Pause )on the front panel) to
begin listening to the sequence.After the entire program
has been played, the FL 8385 will stop.As long as the
Stop Button 9f has not been pressed and the
Program Indicator Hremains lit, you may play the
program list again by pressing the Play Button g
(Play/Pause )on the front panel).
Pressing the Stop Button 9f twice, opening the
disc drawer by pressing the Open/Close Button 6,
or turning the FL 8385 off will erase the program infor-
mation from the unit’s memory.
Checking Program Contents
To check the contents of a program while the unit is
stopped, press the Skip Buttons 8e and the
Information Display #will step through each of the
programmed discs and tracks.
Clearing Programs
To clear a single track from the program list,press the
Program Button jon the remote until the track to be
deleted from the program sequence appears in the
Information Display #.When the track number
appears,press the Clear Button con the remote
once.Press the Program Button jto select other
items to be deleted,or the Stop Button 9f to end
the deletion process.
When the unit is stopped,but the Program Indicator
His still lit,you may clear the entire contents of a pro-
gram by pressing the Clear Button con the remote.
Repeat Play
The FL 8385’s programming system enables you to
repeat all of the tracks on all of the discs, a complete
single disc, or a single track.
Repeat Track Play
To repeat a single track, press the Repeat Button
mon the remote control while the desired track is
playing so that the Repeat Mand 1O
Indicators are lit.The desired track may also be
selected using the Disc Select Buttons @a and
then the Skip Buttons 8e.When the track is
chosen, press the Repeat Button mon the remote
control and the Play Button g(Play/Pause )on
the front panel).The track will play until the Stop
Button 9f is pressed.
Repeat Disc Play
To repeat an entire disc, press the Repeat Button
mtwice so that the Repeat M,1Oand
Disc NIndicators are lit. Press the Disc Select
Buttons @a until the desired disc’s icon lights and
the disc number appears in the Information Display
#.Press the Play Button g(Play/Pause )on
the front panel) to begin playback.The selected disc
will play through to the end and then continue to
repeat until the Stop Button 9f is pressed.
PROGRAMMED-PLAY OPERATION 13

14 TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
TROUBLESHOOTING GUIDE
SYMPTOM POSSIBLE CAUSE SOLUTION
No lights on front panel • No AC power • Make certain that the AC power cord is plugged into a live outlet
Remote does not appear to operate • Main Power Switch turned off • Turn on Main Power Switch
• Weak batteries • Install fresh batteries, observing polarity indications
• Blocked sensor • Remove obstructions from the front panel sensor, or connect
a remote sensor to the Remote Control Input ¢jack
0on the rear panel
Front panel lights but CD does not play • Disc upside down • Turn CD over so that label side faces up
• Moisture inside unit • Leave the unit turned ON for 30 minutes to allow
moisture to evaporate
Play indicator lights but no sound is heard • Receiver or preamp and amp • Turn on all necessary equipment
not turned on
• Poor connections • Make certain connections are secure and made to
• Wrong source selected the correct (e.g., CD)input
• Select CD source on receiver or preamp
Sound skips or stutters during play • Disc may be damaged • Try another disc
• Surface vibrations • Isolate the unit from vibration by placing it on a firm surface
or move it further away from speakers
Sound is continually distorted • Incorrect input • Make certain that the FL 8385 is connected to a line-level
audio input, NOT a digital audio or phono input
Repeat All Discs
To repeat all of the discs that have been loaded into
the FL 8385, press the Repeat Button mthree
times so that the Repeat M,All Qand Disc N
Indicators are lit. Press the Play Button g,
(Play/Pause )on the front panel) and the unit will
play all tracks on all discs, starting with the disc that
has been loaded in the play position.When all discs
have played through, the sequence will repeat and the
discs will continue to play until the Stop Button
9f is pressed.
NOTES:
• You may cancel a repeat function any time by
pressing the Repeat Button muntil the REPEAT
Indicators MNOQ go out.The player will con-
tinue with normal play and then stop when the cur-
rent disc is finished playing.
• It is also possible to combine the Random and
Repeat functions. Select the Random mode by
pressing the Random Button honce, then
press the Repeat Button monce to select a
track on the current disc randomly, and to repeat
that track until play is stopped. Press the Repeat
Button magain to randomly play all of the tracks
on the current disc, and then to repeat random play
of the disc, but with the tracks selected in a different
random order. In order to repeat random play of all
discs or all discs sequentially, press the Random
Button hagain until the desired indicators (either
Random Aand Sequential B,or Random A,
All Qand Disc N) are lit.
PROGRAMMED-PLAY OPERATION

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS 15
FL 8385 TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS
Signal Format
Sampling Frequency 44.1kHz
HDCD Processing Burr-Brown™PCM1732
D/A Conversion Dual 18-Bit
Oversampling 8 Times
Discrete Analog Output Section
Error Correction CIRC System
Frequency Response 20Hz – 20kHz +0, –1dB
Total Harmonic Distortion (THD) <0.02% @1kHz
Dynamic Range >97dB
Signal-to-Noise Ratio >97dB
Channel Separation 80dB
Line-Level Output 1.0V RMS
Digital Output Coax
General
Power Requirement 120V/60Hz
Power Consumption 20 Watts
Dimensions (Product) (Shipping)
Height 5.1" (130mm) 9.0" (229mm)
Width 17.3" (440mm) 22.6" (575mm)
Depth 15.0" (380mm) 19.5" (495mm)
Weight (Product) (Shipping)
16.5 lb (7.5kg) 19.8 lb (9.0kg)
Depth measurement includes knobs and buttons.
Height measurement includes feet and chassis.
All features and specifications are subject to change without notice.
Harman Kardon and Power for the Digital Revolution are registered trademarks of Harman International Industries, Incorporated.
Photo CD is a trademark of Eastman Kodak Company.
,HDCD®,High Definition Compatible Digital®and Pacific Microsonics™are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Pacific
Microsonics, Inc., in the United States and/or other countries. HDCD system manufactured under license from Pacific Microsonics, Inc.This product is
covered by one or more of the following: In the USA: 5,479,168;5,638,074;5,640,161;5,808,574;5,838,274; 5,854,600; 5,864,311;
5,872,531; and in Australia: 669114. Other patents pending.
DTS is a registered trademark of Digital Theater Systems, Inc.
Burr-Brown is a trademark of Texas Instruments Incorporated.

®
250 Crossways Park Drive,Woodbury, New York 11797
www.harmankardon.com
© 2003 Harman International Industries, Incorporated.
Part No. 5100-838500-000