How do I dial this stuff in

[Ohmen]

I have converted a multi use room into a HT room. The carpets in so
I have hooked up some of the HT stuff I have bought. No furniture yet.
It sounds OK to pretty good. But,I was expecting more. So, I did the
auto configuration that the receiver has. I bought the Avia,DVE,GetGray,
HQV stuff with the SPL meter. I listen to tones and try to adjust, back
and forth so much that I'm not sure if I am way out of whack in one
direction or another. In the end I turn up the sub volume, set it to 7
channel stereo and it sounds better than any of the DSP modes I want
this balanced sound that I hear about but I just dont know how to get there.
What can I do. I want to be able to say "Yes, that sounds right" or "No, the
sound is out of balance".

My HT equipment:
Yamaha RX-V2700, Axiom m22Ti front speakers, Axiom VP150 center,
Axiom QS-8 surrounds, Axiom EP350 v2 subwoofer, Infinity BU-120 subwoofer, OPPO 970, Pioneer 1140HD plasma TV

Here are a few pictures of my setup. I do have window shutters on order to get rid of the glare.
The first picture is from the listening/viewing position. About 10' to the front speakers.
The second pic is where the couch will be. The Axiom sub will be to the left of the couch and the Infinity sub will be to the right.
The third picture is a view of the left side of the room.
The last picture is a view of the right side. The room opens up to the kitchen.
There is also a backside to a fireplace immediately to the right of my setup. I
guess I am just asking for help in how to get good sound, judge the correct sound and use the tools to get there. Any help would be great.

 

[EnzoPolotso]

You adjust until you think it sounds good, and then you stop. Don't worry about what it "should" be, or what the "right" settings are.

 

[Ohmen]

I am kind of a analytical kind of guy. That would be an unsatisfying end. How would I know what I may be missing due to my inability to adjust the equipment properly? Is there not a technical process of sorts to coming to a balanced system? I dont know, but I think that is what I am striving for.

 

[Nestor]

The easiest way, naturally, is to use the auto-setup feature of the 2700. Try using the "natural" setting before running the auto-eq. Also, make sure the mike is at head-level where you plan to sit (or close as possible to it).

The window will have an effect on the sound. Have you considered adding drapes?

It's very easy to get carried away with eq settings. You tweak and tweak and soon the sound is worse than when you started. Let the 2700 do the work and relax with a green beer for st. paddy's day.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I have converted a multi use room into a HT room. The carpets in so
I have hooked up some of the HT stuff I have bought. No furniture yet.
It sounds OK to pretty good. But,I was expecting more. So, I did the
auto configuration that the receiver has. I bought the Avia,DVE,GetGray,
HQV stuff with the SPL meter. I listen to tones and try to adjust, back
and forth so much that I'm not sure if I am way out of whack in one
direction or another. In the end I turn up the sub volume, set it to 7
channel stereo and it sounds better than any of the DSP modes I want
this balanced sound that I hear about but I just dont know how to get there.
What can I do. I want to be able to say "Yes, that sounds right" or "No, the
sound is out of balance".

My HT equipment:
Yamaha RX-V2700, Axiom m22Ti front speakers, Axiom VP150 center,
Axiom QS-8 surrounds, Axiom EP350 v2 subwoofer, Infinity BU-120 subwoofer, OPPO 970, Pioneer 1140HD plasma TV

Here are a few pictures of my setup. I do have window shutters on order to get rid of the glare.
The first picture is from the listening/viewing position. About 10' to the front speakers.
The second pic is where the couch will be. The Axiom sub will be to the left of the couch and the Infinity sub will be to the right.
The third picture is a view of the left side of the room.
The last picture is a view of the right side. The room opens up to the kitchen.
There is also a backside to a fireplace immediately to the right of my setup. I
guess I am just asking for help in how to get good sound, judge the correct sound and use the tools to get there. Any help would be great.

Before you get too far, if I may suggest placing the center below the TV as it seems you would have room there; yes, you may need to lower the component tray
Also, depending on your couch or permanent seating, the front tweeters should be at the same height as your ears, probably about 42" +/-

Level matching all your channels is important. You may want to cross check the auto setup with a manual check: spl meter and either the internal test tone or one of your test discs.

Acoustic treatment of the room is a bit more complicated, depending how well you want to get there, wherever that is.

 

[MDS]

I wouldn't be too critical of the sound just yet as the room is essentially empty at this point.

After you get furniture and drapes/blinds etc you'll have to re-do the calibration anyway. That will be the time to work on 'dialing it in'.

 

[Ohmen]

Before you get too far, if I may suggest placing the center below the TV as it seems you would have room there; yes, you may need to lower the component tray
Also, depending on your couch or permanent seating, the front tweeters should be at the same height as your ears, probably about 42" +/-

Level matching all your channels is important. You may want to cross check the auto setup with a manual check: spl meter and either the internal test tone or one of your test discs.

Acoustic treatment of the room is a bit more complicated, depending how well you want to get there, wherever that is.

I am trying to find a component rack that will fit under the TV. That is why I mounted the center above the TV. It is angled toward the primary listening position. It would be tougher for me to find a cabinet if the speaker was mounted below. That was a deciding factor anyway. Maybe I need to rethink this decision. The front tweeters now are at 38". The couch I have ordered is on the lower side of things.I have ordered shutters for the windows. I dont know if there would be a difference between glass and polysatin (thats what the shutters are made of, whatever that is). Thanks for the responses.

 

[Ohmen]

I wouldn't be too critical of the sound just yet as the room is essentially empty at this point.

After you get furniture and drapes/blinds etc you'll have to re-do the calibration anyway. That will be the time to work on 'dialing it in'.

That was my thought also. I was just a little disappointed at my inability to be decisive of what was "good" sound and what was not. Everything sounded pretty good but not great. If I messed with the settings enough it just all started sounding mediocre or I couldnt get it right. Thats when I would start over. With the auto settings I couldnt even detect sound outputing from my subs also. I'm going to keep on messing with it and reading what I can get my hands on.Thanks

 

[mtrycrafts]

I am trying to find a component rack that will fit under the TV. That is why I mounted the center above the TV. It is angled toward the primary listening position. It would be tougher for me to find a cabinet if the speaker was mounted below. That was a deciding factor anyway. Maybe I need to rethink this decision. The front tweeters now are at 38". The couch I have ordered is on the lower side of things.I have ordered shutters for the windows. I dont know if there would be a difference between glass and polysatin (thats what the shutters are made of, whatever that is). Thanks for the responses.

OK. When you get the couch, have someone measure your ear height
I think you would like the center under the Tv. I bet you could try that and see without committing yourself one way or the other, unless it is too hard to pull it down.

If you are not increasing your component numbers, you should have lots of room under the TV, except the TV now looks kind of high.
You could make your own cabinet? Or shelves? You have some options.


I doubt those shutters will do much for the sound to improve it. Will it block the light to watch TV?

 

[Ohmen]

I am definetly going to look at the location of the center speaker. I have 2 receivers (A/V and transducer) DVD player,dish receiver,Xbox360, plus a router and a WAP. I figure I need a 3 shelf double wide component rack. The bottom of the TV is about 41" high. It is quite a bit higher than the rptv I had before but I have already gotten used to it. I was thinking tonight about what I am doing and what I am really looking for. What it is , is a process. I am looking for a process that will take me through the placement and adjustment of each individual speaker and the system as a whole. I have a technical job and I know that on jobs that are complex I have processes or steps I follow that break things down to individual manageable steps. I would think that a A/V tech. or well versed enthusiast would have a pattern or process that they went through to make a system sound the best.I am looking for this sequence.Am I completely out in left field on this? I really don't know. My own common sense tells me I am not. Anyway, thanks for the responses,I really mean that. Scot

 

[Davemcc]

Take a trip down to the room acoustics forum. Your room looks like it could use a lot of help in that department and there are acoustic experts there that could probably help you. Even the simplest, most basic room treatment made a ton of difference for me.

 

[Ohmen]

Take a trip down to the room acoustics forum. Your room looks like it could use a lot of help in that department and there are acoustic experts there that could probably help you. Even the simplest, most basic room treatment made a ton of difference for me.

WOW, thanks for the tip. That forum has really caught my interest.

 

[Jey Jockey]

Room layout

Hi there, just my 2 cents but I think your room layout is a big problem. The speakers are all jammed into one small area by the TV. the mains should be the same distance apart as they are from the listening position. The center should be close to ear level and or pointed at your head. The rears should be slightly abve ear height and slightly behind. If possible I would rearrange the room so the front soundstage is on the long end of the room. i.e. layout the room deep rather than wide if that makes sense. Speaker layout and positioning is huge! You have a very capable AVR with a very good EQ but it can only due so much. Drapes on the windows would be another must as is a couch or chairs.. try to reduce sound reflections as much as possible.

Hope this helps, Chris

 

[EricAH916]

How far apart do you set the mains from the center? Currently mine are probaly 2-2 1/2 feet from the center, or facing the outside of the couch.

 

[MDS]

Don't get too hung up on the recommended distances for speakers - you have to work within the constraints imposed by your room.

The 'rule' about the front speakers being the same distance apart as the distance from the listening position is based on a 2 channel stereo setup where ideally the speakers form an equilateral triangle with respect to the listening position.

It's not always possible to set things up that way and not following that rule is not going to destroy the stereo image if the speakers have reasonable off-axis response.

The center speaker should be centered, either above or below, the TV and centered from left to right between the front speakers.

 

[Ohmen]

Hi there, just my 2 cents but I think your room layout is a big problem. The speakers are all jammed into one small area by the TV. the mains should be the same distance apart as they are from the listening position. The center should be close to ear level and or pointed at your head. The rears should be slightly abve ear height and slightly behind. If possible I would rearrange the room so the front soundstage is on the long end of the room. i.e. layout the room deep rather than wide if that makes sense. Speaker layout and positioning is huge! You have a very capable AVR with a very good EQ but it can only due so much. Drapes on the windows would be another must as is a couch or chairs.. try to reduce sound reflections as much as possible.

Hope this helps, Chris

This is actually kind of distressing to me but I now realize the truth of it. I spent a lot of time installing the inner wall wiring and paneling etc. I have decided to move the center down under the tv. but the general location of the tv will have to stay. I might be able to widen the front speakers by placing the left on the other side of the door and the right in front of the brick. On a better note. I spent more time with it today and have had some better results. I am going to keep learning about the yamaha's setup and reading on here till my couches come in and I have a more complete room. Thanks

 

[mtrycrafts]

... I might be able to widen the front speakers by placing the left on the other side of the door and the right in front of the brick. Thanks

I would not recommend this approach. That door is at least 30" wide and your speaker will be on the other side of that. So, the right speaker should be the same distance to the right but that will be most awkward as it will be in the way of that passage to the dining room. You are in a tough spot.

Put this idea last, very last.

 

[Davemcc]

It looks like a tough room. I probably would have flipped everything around and put the TV on a stand out in front of the windows and spaced the speakers out from there, then put the rears on the more constrained end of the room.

But, things being as they are, how important is that glass door to you? How much do you use it and can it be blocked by a speaker? You may be doing yourself and the speakers a disservice by placing them so close.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

distressing

This is actually kind of distressing to me but I now realize the truth of it. I spent a lot of time installing the inner wall wiring and paneling etc.

I ran all my wire/cables up a wall, through the attic, down a wall and decided after 3 weeks that it just wasnt the right location and re-did it all. The good news is it is twice as fast the second time you do it! I am now a fish-tape pulling fool...

 

[Ohmen]

Well I stumbled upon the Tips and Tricks area of the website where I found the speaker setup area. This area has many articles to guide a person on setting up all the various speakers. I am really surprised that I was not pointed to this area as a place to learn how to "dial in your system". Actually it seems to be the norm on the internet to be reprimanded for not doing your research and reading these tech articles before asking such a question (which is a compliment to the members here).