When to put eqs in before or after setting balance of home theater system

Mark E. Long

Mark E. Long

Audioholic Field Marshall
Hi guys Got question on useing eqs in home set up. When to engage eqs in my set up before or after i calabrate channels ? Useing yamaha rx-v3000 running out preouts to dbx 1231 eqs in front and rear surrs, front center, rearcenter hooked to dbx 1215 eqs . Use a DOD rta to set them with. Cant seem to get it right. What steps would be best to use? Before or after i set the eqs? useing JBL HP-520 towers front mains and for rear surrs. Front and rear centers I use JBL-s-38s and s-38s for front effects I am useing CARVER tfm-35x amps in all channels except front efects. When i set levels wiyh eqs bypassed . calabrates fine. But when i engage eqs seems to mess with whole setup. any advice on proper setup procedure from anyone would be greatly welcomed Thanks Mark:confused:
 
H

highfigh

Seriously, I have no life.
Hi guys Got question on useing eqs in home set up. When to engage eqs in my set up before or after i calabrate channels ? Useing yamaha rx-v3000 running out preouts to dbx 1231 eqs in front and rear surrs, front center, rearcenter hooked to dbx 1215 eqs . Use a DOD rta to set them with. Cant seem to get it right. What steps would be best to use? Before or after i set the eqs? useing JBL HP-520 towers front mains and for rear surrs. Front and rear centers I use JBL-s-38s and s-38s for front effects I am useing CARVER tfm-35x amps in all channels except front efects. When i set levels wiyh eqs bypassed . calabrates fine. But when i engage eqs seems to mess with whole setup. any advice on proper setup procedure from anyone would be greatly welcomed Thanks Mark:confused:
If you set the EQ to flat and switch it in/out, do you hear a difference in level or sound quality? You shouldn't. If you hear a big change in the volume, set your input and outputs to neutral and try it again. If you hear hiss whenever the EQ is engaged, it will never make your system sound the way you want. FYI- an equalizer isn't made to go between the preamp and power amp- it's made to go in an effects loop that's not affected by the volume control. Effects are usually affected by input level and being after the preamp is one way to have inconsistent operation.

If you can plug a set of audio cables into the Tape Rec/Play jacks of your Yamaha and the sound doesn't cut out when you engage the Tape Monitor switch, connect the EQ there and engage the Tape Monitor switch to use the equalizer but set it to flat when you do your initial analysis. If you have a Processor loop, use that, instead.

If you have a big hump in the mid-range, don't boost the extremes to correct it- lower the mids part of the way and raise the extremes as little as possible. That way, you don't add gain to the overall level and hiss won't be an issue, either.
 
bandphan

bandphan

Banned
Hi guys Got question on useing eqs in home set up. When to engage eqs in my set up before or after i calabrate channels ? Useing yamaha rx-v3000 running out preouts to dbx 1231 eqs in front and rear surrs, front center, rearcenter hooked to dbx 1215 eqs . Use a DOD rta to set them with. Cant seem to get it right. What steps would be best to use? Before or after i set the eqs? useing JBL HP-520 towers front mains and for rear surrs. Front and rear centers I use JBL-s-38s and s-38s for front effects I am useing CARVER tfm-35x amps in all channels except front efects. When i set levels wiyh eqs bypassed . calabrates fine. But when i engage eqs seems to mess with whole setup. any advice on proper setup procedure from anyone would be greatly welcomed Thanks Mark:confused:
What are you using to measure the acoustics?
 
Mark E. Long

Mark E. Long

Audioholic Field Marshall
setting eqs in home theater

using a DOD rael time analizer. Thanks for the replay
 
Mark E. Long

Mark E. Long

Audioholic Field Marshall
When set to flat no differance in levels no hiss when engaged either
 
H

highfigh

Seriously, I have no life.
When set to flat no differance in levels no hiss when engaged either
By "get it right", you mean the RTA display has peaks and dips that you can't eliminate? Are you in the room when you test?

Any chance of posting a photo of the RTA when the EQ is set flat, as well as some photos of the room? Room dimensions would help, too.

Are you trying to eliminate acoustical problems with only the RTA?
 
Mark E. Long

Mark E. Long

Audioholic Field Marshall
Yes when the eqs are set to flat the rta shows peaks and dips after i adjust the eqs the rta shows the sound coming from the room is flat. Rta is a 31 band with 5 leds on each band the center being flat. Room 28ft long 17 wide 10 foot high. Yes with only the rta.
 
Last edited:
H

highfigh

Seriously, I have no life.
Yes when the eqs are set to flat the rta shows peaks and dips after i adjust the eqs the rta shows the sound coming from the room is flat. Rta is a 31 band with 5 leds on each band the center being flat. Room 28ft long 17 wide 10 foot high. Yes with only the rta.
Go to this site and download ModeCalc. It will show where your standing waves are and the visual representation helps with equalization issues.
http://www.realtraps.com/modecalc.htm

If you have deep dips, it's likely that you have a phase cancellation, possibly due to subs or other speakers wired with reverse polarity especially if the dips are very narrow. Regardless of the terminal colors, they may be physically incorrect.

If the speakers are close to the side walls, moving them away a bit can help. Also, placement of the mic makes a big difference. Since this coincides with your listening position, it means you may need to move that. If your sub is movable, try that, too.
 

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