Room correction opinions

[panteragstk]

I have a cheap Pioneer with their low-end MCACC and IMHO it doesn't work very well. I got much better results from my trusty SPL meter. This is the very first receiver I've owned with room correction and I'm pretty disappointed.

I'm looking for a new receiver and have read up on the various forms of room correction, but I would like some opinions on what you guys have actually used and whether or not you'd buy a higher end receiver just to get better room correction. I know that Yamaha and Pioneer have their own brand of room correction that doesn't seem to be all that highly regarded (if that is not the case, I'd like to know). I know that Audyssey comes in many flavors, but the lower end versions don't seem to be all that great. I know Anthem has their own, but I'm not looking at going that high end.

So, as of now I'd like to get something with a minimum of MultiEQ XT. I've already got the model picked out, but if there isn't any reason to pay for the higher end version then I'd like to know.

What do you guys think? Which ones have you owned?

 

[Adam]

Hi. Which Pioneer do you own?

The only system that I've ever used has been MCAAC. I bought a Pioneer VSX-1015 back in 2005, and then upgraded to a VSX-23 in 2009 that had a more advanced (and newer) version of MCAAC. I've been really happy with it, but I notice a positive relative difference to what it sounds like without it on. I've also read that MCAAC is more limited than Audyssey, and the MultEQ XT32 system intrigues me because it will also apply EQ to subs - but it's still a bit too expensive for me.

 

[panteragstk]

Hi. Which Pioneer do you own?

The only system that I've ever used has been MCAAC. I bought a Pioneer VSX-1015 back in 2005, and then upgraded to a VSX-23 in 2009 that had a more advanced (and newer) version of MCAAC. I've been really happy with it, but I notice a positive relative difference to what it sounds like without it on. I've also read that MCAAC is more limited than Audyssey, and the MultEQ XT32 system intrigues me because it will also apply EQ to subs - but it's still a bit too expensive for me.

I've got a cheapo 521k that has the basic version. I only got the receiver because the center channel in my old one died, and I had to have something. Now that I can be picky I'd like to be as well informed as possible. I really like the pioneer, but if I can get something better I'd like to.

 

[KEW]

When I spoke with SVS about room EQ, Ed said that xt and xt 32 really did a superior job with room EQ/bass management.

 

[panteragstk]

When I spoke with SVS about room EQ, Ed said that xt and xt 32 really did a superior job with room EQ/bass management.

That's been the general consensus, but I'm looking for personal experience more than anything. I don't think that this stuff is magic or anything, just wanting to find out if it actually does what it says it does.

The only "good" room correction I actually have experience with is in the pro segment with the DBX driverack (awesome if you need it).

 

[ratso]

That's been the general consensus, but I'm looking for personal experience more than anything. I don't think that this stuff is magic or anything, just wanting to find out if it actually does what it says it does.

The only "good" room correction I actually have experience with is in the pro segment with the DBX driverack (awesome if you need it).

if you are running dual subs (or more) i would really go with xt32. one sub and you could just stay with xt.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

My opinion is that most RC either don't improve anything or the improvement is marginal and insignificant. That's my opinion. I do not use RC at all. I run Audyssey. Compare the modes vs off. And then end up with bypassing/ turning off Audyssey and any EQ.

Even if Denon offered me to upgrade my Denon AVP-A1HDCI to the latest greatest Audyssey for free, but require shipping my Denon to NJ, I would decline. That's me.

If it were a free firmware update, I would do it.

 

[jonnythan]

FWIW, I went from 2EQ to MultEQ XT and the difference in bass management is astounding. I had a huge room mode around 40 Hz that XT almost completely corrected.

 

[panteragstk]

Thanks guys. I only run one sub. Room is pretty small so dual would be overkill (not that that's a bad thing ) so if I opt for RC then I'd stick with my current plan for XT or above.

I'll do an on/off comparison as well. I do plan to get an XT32 capable receiver, but the newer high end receivers haven't all been released yet so I've got time to wait.

 

[slipperybidness]

I have the pioneer elite VSX-82TXS. I use MCAAC only for movies and find that it does improve the balance of my system.

For games or music, it just doesn't sound right.

 

[TLS Guy]

My opinion is that most RC either don't improve anything or the improvement is marginal and insignificant. That's my opinion. I do not use RC at all. I run Audyssey. Compare the modes vs off. And then end up with bypassing/ turning off Audyssey and any EQ.

Even if Denon offered me to upgrade my Denon AVP-A1HDCI to the latest greatest Audyssey for free, but require shipping my Denon to NJ, I would decline. That's me.

If it were a free firmware update, I would do it.

I agree with you. The benefit of Audyssey is speaker leveling and time delay, especially the latter.

The leveling is dead accurate. The time delay being correct, really improves 360 image depth and localization.

I spent last winter really tweaking the crossovers in an over the top obsessional fashion. And have response within +/- 1 db for fronts and rears and +/- 2 db for the surrounds.

Room correction on Audyssey causes a significant downgrade to the listening experience, with listener fatigue fast setting in. With the frequency correction disabled this never happens.

As far as I'm concerned Audyssey is only any good for leveling and delay.

There are good reasons why this should be so.

 

[PENG]

Audyssey XT does not change much in my room, that's by looking at the EQ graphs after I ran it. I use it mainly because I don't want to spend hours and hours trying to dial in my subs using a bunch of knobs that comes with them and tones. It seems to have made significant improvements for many users though, base on forum member reports.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Audyssey XT does not change much in my room, that's by looking at the EQ graphs after I ran it. I use it mainly because I don't want to spend hours and hours trying to dial in my subs using a bunch of knobs that comes with them and tones. It seems to have made significant improvements for many users though, base on forum member reports.

Yes, I also compared the Audyssey EQ graphs. They looked almost exactly like no Audyssey at all. And they sounded exactly the same to me.

The Harman Kardon EZ RC sucks, though. That thing made everything sound like crap.

It doesn't hurt to apply Audyssey. But we just have to compare and use what sounds best.

 

[Adam]

Room correction on Audyssey causes a significant downgrade to the listening experience, with listener fatigue fast setting in. With the frequency correction disabled this never happens.

In my system, MCAAC has had the opposite effect. I used to dislike listening to certain types of music on my NHTs, but after applying MCAAC, it has been very enjoyable.

So, I guess it's great that we know have the option to use those systems. For some people, it isn't an improvement - for others, it is.

 

[TLS Guy]

Audyssey XT does not change much in my room, that's by looking at the EQ graphs after I ran it. I use it mainly because I don't want to spend hours and hours trying to dial in my subs using a bunch of knobs that comes with them and tones. It seems to have made significant improvements for many users though, base on forum member reports.

The problem is you don't have to change much to make a mess of things.

Up a db or two here and there and things are wrecked.

My biggest objection is that Audyssey makes now allowance for the fact that HF drops of faster with distance than the other frequencies which it should.

Audyssey raises the top end in relation to a speakers distance from the listening position. This makes the sound top heavy and a big downgrade.

It might not be so bad for the pop rackets, but for what I listen to it is highly deleterious.

There is just no substitute for really good speakers and you can not eq poor ones.

 

[M Code]

The Harman Kardon EZ RC sucks, though. That thing made everything sound like crap.

Are you aware there are (2) different HK EQ schemes...
The 1st is basic generic as it is off-shelf from Cirrus Logic, found in the HK price-point AVRs. The 2nd called EZSET/EQII was developed in-house by Dr.Toole's team and is also used in certain high-end JBL Synthesis products. The EZ II runs on the TI DSP chip set.

No real comparison..
Kinda like comparing a GM built Impala to a Corvette ZR1..

Just my $0.02..

 

[3db]

I use room correction when watching movies on TV, BluRay, or DCVD. I turn RC off when listening to music running pure direct mode. I like the sound of my speakers better with RC off in 2 channel mode as they sound much fuller, not so lean and so brittle in the top end.

 

[cpp]

I've got a 4311 and have found I leave Audyssey XT32 off most of the time when listening to music. I have found my room acoustics since I do use traps just seems to handle the sound better and not as artificial as with the XT32 on. It all depends on your listening room. I was told by a wise acoustic engineer, fix your room acoustics first then invest in equipment.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Are you aware there are (2) different HK EQ schemes...
The 1st is basic generic as it is off-shelf from Cirrus Logic, found in the HK price-point AVRs. The 2nd called EZSET/EQII was developed in-house by Dr.Toole's team and is also used in certain high-end JBL Synthesis products. The EZ II runs on the TI DSP chip set.

No real comparison..
Kinda like comparing a GM built Impala to a Corvette ZR1..

Just my $0.02..

Yes, I'm definitely talking about the cheaper RC in the AVRs, not the high-end RC used in the JBL Synthesis.

I would not even compare Audyssey, ARC, or any other RC to those high end Harman RC used in the JBL Synthesis system.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

I've got a 4311 and have found I leave Audyssey XT32 off most of the time when listening to music. I have found my room acoustics since I do use traps just seems to handle the sound better and not as artificial as with the XT32 on. It all depends on your listening room. I was told by a wise acoustic engineer, fix your room acoustics first then invest in equipment.

DenPureSound had the same experience as you with his Denon 4311. He complained it was holding back his speakers - like they were compressed. When he turned off Audyssey XT32, the sound was improved for him.