Denon AVC-X8500H 7.2.6 calibration

[depechefan]

Hi all,

Not sure if this is the right place to post this...

I'm in the process of configuring a new surround setup and I've decided on the Denon 8500 as the heart of it. I currently have a 5.1 set of Monitor Audio speakers (Fronts: Silver 300, Center: Silver c150, Surrounds: Silver FX and Subwoofer: Silver W12). Plan is to buy a second sub similar to the current one and buy Silver 100s as surround back speakers.
My question is how to go about calibrating once I have all the pieces in place. The subs have an auto calibration function but besides that they are pretty much black boxes. I can configure volume, phase and cross-over frequency manually. Do I need to invest in minidsp and use Rew to fine-tune?

What would be your recommendation? There is also something about not using Audessey for the entire frequency spectrum?

Thanks for any advice

/M

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Well if the sub is new, I would return it and invest in something better. That will ease the calibration process, and if you did get new subs with auto cal normally you’d run it in the subs first, and then audyssey. Then, what many do, is use the audyssey app to allow audyssey to only use correction below about 300hz. Or use LR bypass.

No you don’t need a minidsp. Yet...lol

 

[depechefan]

Thanks for the reply. I won't be able to replace the current subwoofer. It's roughly 6 months old so... But I suppose I will use your suggested procedure and see how it goes

 

[PENG]

The subs have an auto calibration function but besides that they are pretty much black boxes. I can configure volume, phase and cross-over frequency manually. Do I need to invest in minidsp and use Rew to fine-tune?

I agreed with William but we do have different experience with the mini. He found it useful and I found it making negligible gains while (base on tens of REW graphs under various conditions/tweaks) adding complexity so I had it disconnected. It has been back in the box idling for a long time already. Regarding REW/fine-tune, yes if you want to maximize benefits from the Editor App, otherwise you will be tweaking with the App blindly.

There is also something about not using Audessey for the entire frequency spectrum?

Thanks for any advice

/M

That is correct, but you need the App to do it. For $20, imo your flag ship receiver deserves it. Then you can pick the limit yourself and either use your ears or eyes using REW/Umik-1 mic to plot the results after each tweak to find out what works for you.

 

[depechefan]

I have an additional question wrt placement of my subs. My understanding is that one at each end of the room is preferable. But since I have a TV and some kind of furniture in front of it that I place my center on. I assume it wouldn't be ideal since sound would have issues going through that configuration - even low frequencies. So I'm thinking that I'll try to position them more or less in line with my front speakers. Because I have a big window behind them they will not be placed all the way at the back. So they would be around 50 to 80 centimetres into the room. Would that be alright do you think?

 

[Pogre]

I agreed with William but we do have different experience with the mini. He found it useful and I found it making negligible gains while (base on tens of REW graphs under various conditions/tweaks) adding complexity so I had it disconnected. It has been back in the box idling for a long time already. Regarding REW/fine-tune, yes if you want to maximize benefits from the Editor App, otherwise you will be tweaking with the App blindly.



That is correct, but you need the App to do it. For $20, imo your flag ship receiver deserves it. Then you can pick the limit yourself and either use your ears or eyes using REW/Umik-1 mic to plot the results after each tweak to find out what works for you.

As you know, I had a different experience with using a Mini as it actually made a pretty big impact in my room.

As with all things audio tho, it depends. You might find yourself in the same boat with PENG. I agree with maximizing what you have now before taking the plunge and getting a Mini. It could help things or make very little difference. So much is dependant on how your speakers couple with your room.

 

[PENG]

As you know, I had a different experience with using a Mini as it actually made a pretty big impact in my room.

As with all things audio tho, it depends. You might find yourself in the same boat with PENG. I agree with maximizing what you have now before taking the plunge and getting a Mini. It could help things or make very little difference. So much is dependant on how your speakers couple with your room.

You may recall that in my case even after one run of Audyssey I was able to get +/- 3 to 4 dB or so from 15 to about 150 Hz. With further manual tweaking using the subs PEQ, and phase knob I could get it improved slightly to about +/- 2.5 to 3.0 dB, so trying to use the mini to improving things more was extremely difficult as I might have reached the point of diminishing return.