New AVR and Speaker system unbearable for my dog / movies only Heeeelp!

[Ryan Cone]

Purchased new Marantz SR-5012 AVR and new Definitive Technology bypolar speakers. The system sounds great! Music is awesome! TV sound is Awesome! but I can not watch movies because my dog appears to be in pain when movies are played. When playing a movie she almost instantly will go out side and to the furthest area of the back yard! even in the snow. very unlike her and never had this problem before. Ive tried adjusting speaker configurations and sound type (dolby, dolby surround, stereo, multi channel stereo, etc.) some setting seem to be better than others but still a no go. I am about to purchase the Audessey MultEQ app to see if I can adjust the frequency range. I think it may be a high frequency that is bothering her. Any advice is appreciated.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Welcome to AH.

It sounds like your dog is most likely affected by the high frequency and perhaps some beyond 20kHz.
Yes, you may need to see a spectrum of frequency reproduction.

I would suggest an experiment by going into the EQ program of that AVR and reduce the high frequency a lot and see how the dog reacts.

 

[Ryan Cone]

Thanks mtrycrafts for the reply. My thoughts exactly! not sure how to access internal EQ but it looks like the Audyssey MultEQ app for $20 allows for many custom profile adjustments including tone and frequency. Going to download tonight and see what adjustments I can make. Sure would be nice to watch a movie with the new gear!
Thanks again.

 

[KEW]

You didn't mention your sub.
Just to make sure, have you tried disconnecting the subwoofers?
Certainly dogs are known for their HF hearing, but I had a dog that always let me know a thunderstorm was coming before I could hear the thunder - he did not like it at all!

 

[Ryan Cone]

I did disconnect the powered SUB and it did not seem to make any difference. Still...I will not rule anything out at this point.
Thanks Kurt!

 

[TLS Guy]

Purchased new Marantz SR-5012 AVR and new Definitive Technology bypolar speakers. The system sounds great! Music is awesome! TV sound is Awesome! but I can not watch movies because my dog appears to be in pain when movies are played. When playing a movie she almost instantly will go out side and to the furthest area of the back yard! even in the snow. very unlike her and never had this problem before. Ive tried adjusting speaker configurations and sound type (dolby, dolby surround, stereo, multi channel stereo, etc.) some setting seem to be better than others but still a no go. I am about to purchase the Audessey MultEQ app to see if I can adjust the frequency range. I think it may be a high frequency that is bothering her. Any advice is appreciated.

Your dog is smart and discriminating. She can tell a lousy set of speakers when she hears them. I would also run as far away as possible from those speakers.

We have had dogs and dogs visit here and they CAN tell good from bad reproduction, I'm certain. Dogs absolutely love good music and don't like rubbish. My sons lab when he stays here positions himself in the optimal spot with his head between the two front row seats and is transfixed.

The artist actually painted his dog Nipper like this.

 

[MrBoat]

My cat loves my stereo and especially the subwoofer, to the point of being a nuisance over it. My dog was the same way. I used to turn the music up during holidays that call for (much more than used to, it seems) fireworks and he would sleep right through it. Works a treat for thunderstorms as well.

 

[Darenwh]

Try disconnecting one speaker at a time also. May have a bad driver in one of your speakers that is putting out a very high freq tone that is driving the dog out of the room. Do this with power off and insure that cable ends do not short while power is on. This likely is not the cause but if your music is two channel then one of the surrounds that is not used for music could be putting out the tone.

Last, is your audio source and movie source the same? If you are using the same DVD/Blu Ray player for music and movies it likely is not the source of the issue but if you are using a different device for the movies it may be something coming from that device causing the tone that the pet does not like. If they are different try another player. For instance, if you are using a UHD player for a movie and you still have a normal Blu Ray player try a movie in the old Blu Ray player and see if the dogs reaction changes...

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Probably just the noise scares him like thunderstorms likely do(?). My big dog was raised without a stereo and is scared of music/movies and also scared of Thunder. Well, she was but she is 15 years old now and can't hear anything.

My little dog was raised at the height of my AV days when it was very common to listen to music/movies at reference level and she doesn't even notice the sounds unless a dog barks on TV. She is not scared of Thunder. One could argue that maybe she is deaf since she was raised around loud music/movies but she seems to have great hearing.

 

[highfigh]

Purchased new Marantz SR-5012 AVR and new Definitive Technology bypolar speakers. The system sounds great! Music is awesome! TV sound is Awesome! but I can not watch movies because my dog appears to be in pain when movies are played. When playing a movie she almost instantly will go out side and to the furthest area of the back yard! even in the snow. very unlike her and never had this problem before. Ive tried adjusting speaker configurations and sound type (dolby, dolby surround, stereo, multi channel stereo, etc.) some setting seem to be better than others but still a no go. I am about to purchase the Audessey MultEQ app to see if I can adjust the frequency range. I think it may be a high frequency that is bothering her. Any advice is appreciated.

You can download an RTA app for your phone, or ROom EQ Wizard for your computer, but you may find that the mic in the computer is lacking in high frequency ability (like the one in mine). If the dog leaves the room even when the music/sound is paused, you may see a high frequency spike in the upper end, but you may not hear it. I use the Dynaudio app for my iPhone and it has a similar display for RTA to the JL Audio version but when the SPL is high, the range can be adjusted to allow more headroom.

 

[Ryan Cone]

Thanks all for the input. Once again no problem with music even at high volume. Also TV has no issues, just movies from any source, DVD, Blue Ray, Satellite. Mother in law is visiting with her dog and her dog has no problem with the movies. Weird i guess my pooch has better hearing. I was unable to do anything last night but will try tweaking some more over the weekend. All the comments have been really helpful. Except of course TLS guy doggin my new speakers! (pun intended) looks like he's know a bit. But still how trustworthy is someone who wraps all there gear in Golden Oak Plywood?

 

[Bucknekked]

My cat loves my stereo and especially the subwoofer, to the point of being a nuisance over it. My dog was the same way. I used to turn the music up during holidays that call for (much more than used to, it seems) fireworks and he would sleep right through it. Works a treat for thunderstorms as well.

MrBoat
I have a lab that is terrified of fireworks, thunderstorms, or anything that goes BOOM.
She's pushing 10 years old and she's been like that every day we've had her. No fixin' it now.

I bring that up because when I play movies that do gun shots, BOOMs, or other similar things, she gets antsy and upset. Most music she could care less, unless, its really loud and the music has a heavy bassline or drumline. She gets upset and antsy at that.

I plan ahead and just move her out of sight and out of the room if I'm going to play it loud, or, its going to go BOOM somehow. She may still hear it, and still get upset, but I can't see it so I feel better.

Like @TLS Guy said, dogs can tell the difference between good speakers and bad ones. Also probably can tell good music from bad. They hear so much better than we do. Cats..............they don't give a poop about anything......

 

[Bucknekked]

But still how trustworthy is someone who wraps all there gear in Golden Oak Plywood?

Ryan,
@TLS Guy is probably the most trustworthy opinion on the entire forum when it comes to speakers, or anything that takes a Phd to explain. Click the link in any of his posts and take a tour. Most of us can only dream about that kind of systems accomplishment.

I know you said that in jest, hopefully. As far as I have been able to determine however, for all his wonderful qualities and knowledge, I don't ever recall TLS Guy having a sense of humor. At least not in his posts.

 

[Darenwh]

Not have issues with music (perhaps two channel) is what leads me to believe you may have an issue with one of your surround drivers....

 

[TLS Guy]

Thanks all for the input. Once again no problem with music even at high volume. Also TV has no issues, just movies from any source, DVD, Blue Ray, Satellite. Mother in law is visiting with her dog and her dog has no problem with the movies. Weird i guess my pooch has better hearing. I was unable to do anything last night but will try tweaking some more over the weekend. All the comments have been really helpful. Except of course TLS guy doggin my new speakers! (pun intended) looks like he's know a bit. But still how trustworthy is someone who wraps all there gear in Golden Oak Plywood?

It is red oak. The finish is natural, just sealer, and sprayed flat mat oil varnish.

The equipment racks, desk and turntable case are pre veneered plywood. The speakers are pre veneered MDF. The finish is the same and so is the house trim. Pre veneered is easiest to work with as the veneer never tends to peel.

Normally equipment racks are ugly, so trim and spacing panels are cosmetically essential.

With a system like this you have to be able to get behind it.

 

[KEW]

Is that a loose thread on your sub driver?
Any self-respecting cat would shred your driver/surround teaching the thread the value of submission once the sub starts playing!

 

[MrBoat]

Is that a loose thread on your sub driver?
Any self-respecting cat would shred your driver/surround teaching the thread the value of submission once the sub starts playing!

That was string to pull the driver out of it's recess. I tend to cut them pretty snug so I had it there until I was sure It didn't need anymore stuffing. Either way, he would not mess with it. He's probably 15 yrs old now so the kitten has kind of left the building.

 

[Darenwh]

Thanks all for the input. Once again no problem with music even at high volume. Also TV has no issues, just movies from any source, DVD, Blue Ray, Satellite. Mother in law is visiting with her dog and her dog has no problem with the movies. Weird i guess my pooch has better hearing. I was unable to do anything last night but will try tweaking some more over the weekend. All the comments have been really helpful. Except of course TLS guy doggin my new speakers! (pun intended) looks like he's know a bit. But still how trustworthy is someone who wraps all there gear in Golden Oak Plywood?

You know, I could see the dog running away from only the Music if you were a Justin Beiber fan but I cannot understand why your dog would run away from movies... Are you watching a 'Real Housewives' Marathon?

 

[TLS Guy]

I really think it is the speakers, although my post was somewhat tongue in cheek.

I dn't think the dog likes boomy speakers which would be worst playing movies.

Do an Internet search and find post related to boomy DefTecks.

I have then pegged as among the most unpleasnt speakers on the market.

 

[Ryan Cone]

I gotcha. My post too was just throwing back a little shade It's pretty obvious you know your stuff and your set up is pretty frickin awesome! I am just bummed. I actually think the speakers sound really good but of course compared to my old super awesome Polk Audio sound bar there was a lot of room for improvement. I did download the Audysey EQ app and was able to cap the High Frequency out put for each speaker down to 11,000 Hz. Still having the issue and again....Music is no problem. Played a bunch of music last night super loud both dogs were sleeping soundly on the couch. Played an array music Hip hop to rat pack to country, everything but Rap or Metal. No issues! as soon as I turn on a movie my dog bolts but the mother in law's dog is fine?
I guess my only option at this point is to take the speakers back and get something different?
Any suggestions? Could it also be the something with the Marantz receiver?