My System My Issues My Thoughts

I'm hoping to get some comments....

I just installed a Integra 80.3 AV Processors into my HY system which has Audyssey XT32. I'm running McIntosh amps, Klipsch Ref 7 towers, center and 4 rears and 2- Klipsch Ref 7 15" subs in a dedicated HT room with 2- tiers(levels) of 8 seats.

I come from a pro audio background mainly live sound and am a drummer and work in the music industry. i understand a flat sound and what this usually sounds like. I've set up many PA systems tuned them with crossovers and RTA's for flat sound and then adjust to taste.

I am trying to adjust my new Integra processor with Audyssey to taste after doing 2 different calibrations. 1st calibration I did was to put the mic (on a tripod) at each seating position using the front seat center as my 1st position then the other front 3 seats for position 2-3-4 and then the rear seats working from center outward. Then I read on this Audyssey forum that the mic should not be near a wall and my rear seats are against the back wall. So I re-calibrated again using only the front 2 seats and working close mic positions around those seats.

 

Again coming from the Pro Audio realm we always run our amp full volume and adjust level via crossover gain and eq each speaker via a RTA and parametric eq and crossover adjustments...basically a manual version of Audyssey. So when Audyssey asks me to turn down my sub volume to 75db and this turns out to be about at the bottom 1/4 of the volume knob I find this VERY ODD. So I go with it anyway to see and like so many others I find total lack of low end and punch. This is sort of typical of a flat sound anyway but Audyssey seems to turn the bass down even more.

Next I try to adjust the Audyssey sound to taste. Audyssey set my front mains crossover to 40hz and center to 45hz and the rears to 40 hz. Again sort of odd to me knowing the frequency performance of these speakers. I leave the crossovers there and try to turn up the LFE via the Integra and run almost out of room.

The Integra also has 15 band eq for each speaker and a sub eq as well and works even with Audyssey running....nice feature with the Integra. After listening to the system as is for a while I adjust the fronts a little to my taste and hearing by just a slight bost of 3db at the 12k freg band  and I had to give the center channel 2 db more boost according to my ears and my sound level meter I use. Still the low end a wacked out and I can't understand why Audyssey wants my subs volume knob about all the way down and there is absolutly zero low end.

So what I've done is to raise the crossover on all the speakers to 80hz and raise the volume knob on the subs to middle point. This almost gave the sound the punch I'm looking for, especially with concert dvd/blu rays but the overall subs sounded sort of muddy.

1-Since my 4 rear seats on the 2nd tier/level are against the wall and also closer to the rear speakers I'm not sure how Audyssey works and if I should not place the mic at this position.

2-I'm also no sure what will work best as far as setting the sub level to 75db and the volume knob on the subs just about off or ignoring this setting and adjusting the subs myself.

3-I'm played with the crossover and feel that 60hz is less muddy but bass drum punch is in the 80-100hz range and the subs would do a better job of moving air than the front speakers and center channel...so I need to figure that out.

Mike -
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2 Comments

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  • 0
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    Audyssey Labs

    It's not odd at all to turn down the level of the sub.  Audyssey is setting the level of each speaker to studio (film) standards.  That means it has to hit a certain SPL.  If the sub amp is turned up too high then the level setting in the AVR will be lower to meet this goal.  Same for all other speakers.

    Audyssey doesn't set crossovers.  That is done by the Integra.  Audyssey reports the roll off frequency that it found for the speakers in their given position in the room.  It's very common to see big deviations from the theoretical speaker performance depending on how close (or far) the speakers are from walls and corners.

    There is no harm in raising the crossover to a higher value so that more content is sent to the sub.

  • 0
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    Rob Brooks

    Just to add to what Chris has said.

    what are the trims/ levels set at for your mains?

    those RF7's are highly efficient (101dB) so i would think that audyssey and the integra have maxxed out the trims as low as they can to set that 75dB level

    have you run over the setup with an SPL meter? 

    I would bet that they are probably up near 80dB with the master volume set at the 0 position.

    that would put your sub and surrounds down by 5dB which is why you don;t have that sense of bass.

    also make sure you're using Dynamic EQ if the listening level is less than reference.

    I have Klipsch RF-15's and had similar issues with the fronts being too hot. (and one more than the other)

    the solution is to raise all the trims on each channel so that they play at the same level to match the hottest one.

    also remember that music is usually mixed at higher levels, so you need to increase the input level of your music sources (i have mine at +10dB for iPod and CD audio sources) 

    this works because when you lower the master volume, Dynamic EQ boosts the bass and high frequencies to flatten the response in line with human hearing characteristics (this is covered everywhere in the Audyssey setup information).

    So, quick rundown

    -run audyssey

    -check with SPL meter

    -adjust levels manually

    -increase input level on music sources +10dB

    -use Dynamic EQ

    also you may wish to dial down the input trim on your BR/DVD sources by the same amount that your speakers are actually running hot. this will help Dynamic EQ to apply the right amount of correction.

    if you leave the input trim at the default, you will need to lower the master volume for the system to play at the 75dB reference level. lowering the master makes DynamicEQ apply more boost.

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