Dialog help for old ears: equalizer settings

[Toml1946]

I am having trouble understanding dialog in some cases. I increased center speaker volume and am looking at adjusting the graphic equalizer for that speaker. Anyone have suggestions on where to start changing this to help me? The Yamaha HTR-6230 can adjust in 5 bands: 100, 300, 1k, 3k, and 10k Hz. Thanks.

 

[shadyJ]

I would boost the range from 300 Hz to 3 kHz. That is the frequency spectrum of most human speech. Don't boost 100 Hz, because doing so may mask more critical sound in the speech range.

 

[KEW]

Costco will give you a free hearing test at their Hearing Aid Dept. I don't believe you need to be a member (you don't for their optical dept.). That should identify which frequencies and how many dB to increase. It may be different for each ear.

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Problem is likely not with your ears (or not only) but Is very common issue with Many, many speakers setups. Unfortunately the easy fix would be to run auto room calibration (ypao), which your yammi lacks .

It would be worth a try to adjust only center speaker level approx +3db. Per your avr manual page 19 that should be possible. Look for "Adjusting the speakers level"

 

[lovinthehd]

Might post up a pic of the center speaker placement, might be some improvement to be had there.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I am having trouble understanding dialog in some cases. ...

Some dialog is very hard to understand no matter what. Speech slurred, very low volume, etc.

 

[highfigh]

I am having trouble understanding dialog in some cases. I increased center speaker volume and am looking at adjusting the graphic equalizer for that speaker. Anyone have suggestions on where to start changing this to help me? The Yamaha HTR-6230 can adjust in 5 bands: 100, 300, 1k, 3k, and 10k Hz. Thanks.

It's always best to start out with a hearing test, so you know where your hearing is lacking. Most people have what's called a 'noise notch' in the upper-midrange, usually in the 2K-4K region and this is a problem because that's where we start out being most sensitive, for a reason- it allows us to understand what people are saying and helps us to perceive where sounds are coming from. This isn't needed as much for our protection as much as it was in the past, but it still helps with AV system setup and dialog.

Note the starting point of each slider and move them up- if you don't notice much difference, they aren't going to help much because they aren't centered on where you have hearing loss.

 

[highfigh]

Some dialog is very hard to understand no matter what. Speech slurred, very low volume, etc.

Slurred speech? Have you been drinking????????

 

[TLS Guy]

Do you have trouble understanding the speech of friends and family?

 

[lsiberian]

Slurred speech? Have you been drinking????????

I promise it was only one drink Officer

 

[highfigh]

I promise it was only one drink Officer

The cop asked "You drinking?" and I asked "You buying?". We laughed and laughed. I need bail money.

 

[Toml1946]

I would boost the range from 300 Hz to 3 kHz. That is the frequency spectrum of most human speech. Don't boost 100 Hz, because doing so may mask more critical sound in the speech range.

Thanks, will give that a try.

 

[KEW]

The cop asked "You drinking?" and I asked "You buying?". We laughed and laughed. I need bail money.

The classic is from Hunter S Thompson after he had gone off the road at 130mph in a Corvette convertible:

"Hell yes occifer, of course I've been drinking! What do you think I am, some kind of f***ing stunt driver?"

(I'm sure that I've messed up the details and the quote, but that captures the essence! I think it was from "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas")

 

[highfigh]

The classic is from Hunter S Thompson after he had gone off the road at 130mph in a Corvette convertible:

"Hell yes occifer, of course I've been drinking! What do you think I am, some kind of f***ing stunt driver?"

(I'm sure that I've messed up the details and the quote, but that captures the essence! I think it was from "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas")

"I'll have you know that I'm not as drink as many thinkle peep I am".

 

[herbu]

I am having trouble understanding dialog in some cases.

Have you tried using Direct mode? (I think it may be labeled "STRAIGHT" on your remote.)

Direct means the audio input is passed straight thru to the output with no enhancements or alterations within your receiver. Sometimes, many times, your receiver will add or enhance sounds that can actually make voices less clear.

So before I tried doing any additional enhancements, (like equalizer tweaks), I would try removing all stuff that has already been artificially added. Try your Direct/STRAIGHT mode... it is the push of one button on your remote.

(I trust you know when the problem is some millennial talking too fast, or somebody like Kiefer Sutherland who whispers, or some foreigner, or any of the others who talk like they have a sock in their mouth. In other words, even with the best system, best speakers and best setup, some people are still hard to understand. That's why our Skip-Back-10-Seconds and Closed Caption On/Off buttons get used occasionally.

 

[Toml1946]

Have you tried using Direct mode? (I think it may be labeled "STRAIGHT" on your remote.)

Direct means the audio input is passed straight thru to the output with no enhancements or alterations within your receiver. Sometimes, many times, your receiver will add or enhance sounds that can actually make voices less clear.

So before I tried doing any additional enhancements, (like equalizer tweaks), I would try removing all stuff that has already been artificially added. Try your Direct/STRAIGHT mode... it is the push of one button on your remote.

(I trust you know when the problem is some millennial talking too fast, or somebody like Kiefer Sutherland who whispers, or some foreigner, or any of the others who talk like they have a sock in their mouth. In other words, even with the best system, best speakers and best setup, some people are still hard to understand. That's why our Skip-Back-10-Seconds and Closed Caption On/Off buttons get used occasionally.

Actually what motivated me to deal with this was a scene in Casino Royale where James & Vesper were having a quiet talk between action bits. I suppose in theaters they would sound normal and boom boom would be extreme. I may have the sound volume a little low for this kind of situation.