Strange and inconsistent results?

HI, Not sure if anyone can help but here is my issue. When I run the EQ I seem to get very inconsistent levels... This includes EQ and speaker volumes etc? 3 runs will produce 3 vastly different results? I have the following configuration. 7.1 Wide front surround (all speakers the same) All speakers set to small and 80hz x-over Seated against a back wall, rears to the left and right of that seated position. Setup mic was on a tripod 18' away from the back wall and the bottom of the couch. Ran EQ 3 times and each time was different? I then noticed that when I switch off the EQ and listen to the movie in direct mode that the centre and other channels sound fuller and deeper, voices are deeper and richer and then when I switch on the EQ again it looses bass and depth? I have a small sub and a small room and my speakers are able to go down to 50hz. Sub is usually set to 6.5 by audessey. Additionally, when using 7.1 front wide for normal 5.1 content I have noticed that the wide left/right get very little information sent to them and they are extremely quiet, even though they have a setting of +3db? Is this a hangover of the up mix or should I increase the levels manually? Test signals sound perfect but content sounds super quiet and infact almost nothing comes out of them when listening to 5.1 continent in wide mode? My main left and right give the majority of sound and the wides to little to almost nothing? Is that the case? Is that normal? Should they be as noticeable as the normal front left/right or more subtle? After the EQ has been set on my centre channel, is there any reason why I should not go in and set it back to default (flat) as I find the deeper bass etc from that Chanel makes voices sound much better indeed? Currently it sounds hollow when com-paired to direct or pure mode? or is that bad practice? Sorry for all the questions but thought I'd get them all out in one go in the hope someone can shed some light on any of my issues :) Thanks in advance and keep up the great work this forum has been very very helpful and has really helped me get my home cinema set up much better. My apologies if i have left any in formation out, I'll add any other info anyone needs if I have forgotten anything. Cheers,
Paddy -
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4 Comments

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  • 0
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    Audyssey Labs

    First, let's make sure the mic is being placed in the correct locations:

    http://ask.audyssey.com/forums/84181/entries/73284.html

    Keep in mind that the measurements depend greatly on the mic locations.  So, if you are changing these from run to run then it's expected to have some differences in the results.

    Audyssey is designed to set the system to reference conditions.  That means that the levels, delays, and room correction filters are calibrating each speaker and sub so that they are as close as possible to the conditions used in the mix.  

    If there are personal preferences beyond the reference calibration (e.g. more bass) these are not part of Audyssey.  You can make changes to levels after the calibration is finished and stored.  

    Finally, please make sure that the speakers are set to Small (i.e. with a crossover).  AVR manufacturers continue to ignore our recommendation to do so and still set speakers to Full Range (Large) when there is a subwoofer in the system. 

  • 0
    Avatar
    Paddy

    Hi,

    Thanks for the reply, much appreciated.

    I do have the mic set upmcorrectly and as per your instructions, I also kept the mic in the same location and ran the EQ 3 times and got different results such as different independent speakers levels and EQ.

    What I don't understand is that when in direct or pure mode (for DTS etc) it does seem to sound better? EQ off, system set to direct seems fuller and deeper, I take it then that this is a direct effect of my room causing this deeper sound due to speaker location etc and audessey is compensating for that by reducing bass etc. The problem for me is that this makes voices sound like they are coking from a boxy cheap speaker when infact (when in direct mode) they sound fuller,richer and deeper and more like a cinema exlereice. I suppose this is preference and not reference though as you say.

    As for the wide channel, do you know why sounds are very low from those channels when playing content, even though test tones are perfectly loud? Is this an issue with the EQ? Should they be playing content at the same level as the main left and right Chanel?

    I based my speaker setu on the audessy settings (wend wide before hight

  • 0
    Avatar
    Paddy

    ... Pressed save :) sorry..

    Also I'm on an iPad here and even though I'm adding paragraphs It doesn't seem to add them into my post? It's one long wall of text? Any ideas on that one?

    Anyway as I was saying I went wide first and I'm just a tad disappointed as the speakers were £300 a pair and I bought 3 pairs a sub and a centre and the wides get very little to no use when set to wide mode? Im going to go to 9.1 next week and add rear surrounds (can't do heights) and hope that makes a difference.

    I've got all my speakers set to small, x-over at 80hz and my sub goes down to 30hz and is a good model with clean bass and sounds great, I just feel that I get better separation, deeper richer Fuller richer sound when set to direct. That's not to say audessy is wrong, but that my config may be weird.

    I have my speakers setup against Walls and in corners etc (small room) and I know this is not perfect but I have done the best I can and it seems I'll never get it perfect :)

    Also for night listening, do you have any idea what the best setting is for listening in 7.1 wide mode on movies with little to no DRC information? When I enable Audessey Volume it turns back to 5.1? Is that normal as it means I can't watch content in 7.1 at night!

    Thanks in advance and sorry for the questions, I know you guys are busy but any help or advice from anyone is more than welcome and has got me this far and it's truely appreciated.

    Thanks again,

  • 0
    Avatar
    Audyssey Labs

    Wide channel level has nothing to do with the EQ.  It is determined dynamically from the content and is not intended to stick out.  As with everything Audyssey does, it should only be apparent if you take it away.  We are not in the effects business!  Are the Wides at the proper angles (±60°)?  If they are too close to the fronts then you will not be hearing DSX correctly.

    It also sounds like you have a preference for louder than reference bass.  Not a problem, but not reference.  Why not try leaving Audyssey on and then turning up the subwoofer level.

    Audyssey Dynamic Volume works perfectly with 5.1 or 7.1 and is not changing the mode to 5.1.  It has nothing to do with that setting...

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