Bass Levels for Movies Versus Music

[MidnightSensi]

Question!

I typically find that I like movies run basically flat now and music I tend to boost the bass a bit. So Movies I run flat, music I run +3dB hot on the subs (generally). Is this because of preference or a difference between how bass is recorded on blu-ray versus redbook CD or flac? Or is it that I just always prefer a little extra bass but now movies are mixed with extra bass so I'm not having to adjust my levels for that?

 

[sholling]

I shoot for flat for everything but I don't have a multi-thousand dollar analyzer to tell me what's flat. Audyssey get's me close and then I fine tune with a cheap rat shack spl meter. Radio Shack meters are reported to read deep base 4-8db low so I add 6db and followed by a reality check by ear.

The other thing to keep in mind that not having enough sub for the room can show up on the meter as properly calibrated but when push comes to shove in the material you're left disappointed.

 

[yepimonfire]

they all sound the same to me, running any source hot sounds bad.

 

[lsiberian]

they all sound the same to me, running any source hot sounds bad.

That's an impressive confession.

 

[yepimonfire]

oh jeeze, this is going to be following me everywhere on AH now

 

[skizzerflake]

Question!

I typically find that I like movies run basically flat now and music I tend to boost the bass a bit. So Movies I run flat, music I run +3dB hot on the subs (generally). Is this because of preference or a difference between how bass is recorded on blu-ray versus redbook CD or flac? Or is it that I just always prefer a little extra bass but now movies are mixed with extra bass so I'm not having to adjust my levels for that?

It seems like most movies are mixed with a lot of bottom, especially in the "BOOM" frequency.

 

[supervij]

I'm quite the opposite: I prefer the bass in music to be flat, while I pump up the bass for movies by 2 or 3 dB.

cheers,
supervij

 

[STRONGBADF1]

I'm quite the opposite: I prefer the bass in music to be flat, while I pump up the bass for movies by 2 or 3 dB.

cheers,
supervij

Usually I'm flat for both but occasionally I'll boost the bass on a movie.

 

[Alex2507]

Sensi's music is mostly bass to begin with so him running the sub hot is like the rest of us simply turning up the volume.

I'm on the set it and forget it program but if anything I have tried to replicate one of those curves where bass is a little hot and high end roll off happens around 10KHz ... but my efforts are crude at best. At least I know that my curve isn't backwards.

 

[AJinFLA]

I shoot for flat for everything but I don't have a multi-thousand dollar analyzer to tell me what's flat.

Why would you have to spend "multi-thousand" $$, when you are using a computer right now, a solid USB soundcard like a Mobilepre can be had for $100 or less, a mic $40 and software like ARTA (trial), HolmImpulse and REW, etc....are free??

cheers,

AJ

 

[yepimonfire]

it sounds what it would really sound like if that were to happen in your backyard.

 

[tom67]

agree with Mcmillan.....Dolby Digital and DTS loaded with bass....I have had to reduce the dynamic range from max to average and and at that level the music still has the kick I want...

 

[darealest1]

Usually I'm flat for both but occasionally I'll boost the bass on a movie.

on movies i too like to leave it flat because if i boost it sounds out of balance on movies, but on music i increrase power to the sub by ten db to a -5 setting, as the odessy eq has it set at the minimum minus 15 on my onkyo ht r670 receiver

 

[gmichael]

I like a nice house curve on mine. With music not hitting as low as some movies, that leaves the system closer to flat for music and a little hot for movies.

 

[yepimonfire]

what kind of music isnt flat already in the bass region?

 

[krzywica]

Question!

I typically find that I like movies run basically flat now and music I tend to boost the bass a bit. So Movies I run flat, music I run +3dB hot on the subs (generally). Is this because of preference or a difference between how bass is recorded on blu-ray versus redbook CD or flac? Or is it that I just always prefer a little extra bass but now movies are mixed with extra bass so I'm not having to adjust my levels for that?

Depends on what I'm listening to man. I usually bump it up a few notches if I am listening to rock or techno and trying to jam out. If I'm listening at normal levels I'll leave it flat as a 12 y...nevermind.

Movies have a dedicated LFE channel so there will always be more bass in my experience anyway.

 

[yepimonfire]

true but the LFE channel is just rumbly stuff, not an actual crossover so bass is not hot per say.

 

[krzywica]

true but the LFE channel is just rumbly stuff, not an actual crossover so bass is not hot per say.

What?

LFE is a discrete channel. Something "music" does not have unless its mulitchannel music. If you incorporate a sub into your 2 channel music playback you are matrixing the LFE to the sub, which usually results in lower SPL subwoofer playback due to the weaker signal.

 

[CanadaGuy]

I am pretty new to the home theater world, but this thread seems to be indicating that bass levels will be much lower in music than in Dolby Digital/DTS encoded movies, is that true?

With my receiver calibrated to 75db with a radioshack SPL meter I find that the bass from playing back music (especially mp3s) is very weak to the point that it is almost non-existent however when watching movies the sub feels like it's shaking the walls down.

 

[yepimonfire]

its not a matrix its a crossover and the signal is as strong as it is supposed to be, its up to you to adjust the volume to flatness, most of the bass content in movies is not in the LFE track the lfe track is for deep rumbling sounds like explosions etc, most of the stuff is crossed over into the sub with the internal x-over.