5.1 sys I have a ? about setting the delay, and the audio level search all over.

[JOE.G]

Hi, I normaly don't post links to other boards but if you could look at my post on the other site and give me some feed back, I am real lost and the people on the AVS forum have been great and are still working with me, I was just wondering if maybe some one over here had any input. Thanks a lot



http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=7323539&posted=1#post7323539

 

[j_garcia]

Set the speaker distances as close as the receiver will allow (1ft, .5ft?) to the true distance that they are from where you sit. To set the levels, if your system does not have an "auto setup" feature, you need an SPL (Sound Pressure Level) meter which can be found at Radio Shack.

 

[Swerd]

Joe
I just read the thread in your link and I'm not surprised that you are confused. The manual was not much help either.

Think of it this way. Multi-channel surround sound in movies involves making moving objects sound realistic. The relative arrival times of sounds from the different speakers is important for this. It requires that you tell the processing chip in your receiver how far away each speaker is from a single central seating position. It can be easily done with a tape measure. Don't rely on the preset factory setting because you must adjust for the room size and furniture arrangement that you have. Your reciever manual calls it setting the delay time. Sound travels 1 foot through air in 1.1 milliseconds (ms). Your manual says you have a range of 0 to 15 ms to work with, which is about 13.6 feet if you divide distance in feet by 1.1. I think you got all of that correct.

The diagram in your manual is OK if you ignore the ms values it shows. I think that was a big part of your confusion. The diagram does show that the front left speaker is the same distance from the listener as the front right speaker, and likewise for the surround left & right speakers. They are both equal distance from the listener.

If I understand you manual, one setting adjusts the delay time for both front speakers, another sets the delay time for the center speaker, and the third setting sets the delay time for both surround speakers. It assumes that the distance for the front left and right speakers is the same, and likewise for the two surround speakers. Just like the diagram. If the left & right speakers aren't the same distance, try to move them so the distance for each is nearly the same. If you can't do that, use the average distance for the front pair, and the average distance for the surround pair. It doesn't have to be perfect, but do the best you can.

Did you figure out how to use the Radio Shack sound meter?

It's a good idea to write down all your settings. If you have a power failure, your reciever may loose what you entered in it. The next time you turn it on, it may revert to all the original factory settings. Some receivers loose this info quickly and some can remember it for a week or two without power. I hope your receiver has the longer memory, but just in case, write it down.

 

[JOE.G]

if you could look at post #19 has a diagram, which is the better way to go? do they produce the same results? thanks

 

[Swerd]

if you could look at post #19 has a diagram, which is the better way to go? do they produce the same results? thanks

I don't see a post 19. There is a diagram for post 15. Was that it? Would you post the diagram here? I'm not registered at avsforum.

 

[JOE.G]

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/attachment.php?attachmentid=54131

It says it is to big, ithas my speaker set up 11 ft for the fronts and the center then the rs is 3 and the ls is 6

it has the ms as follows 10 ms for teh fronts and center 3ms for teh right and 5 ms for teh left rears

then with the same speaker set up it has the fronts and center at 0ms
rs at 7 and the ls 5


and says the realtive delay is the same with both set ups, I could put either and it would be the same results.

P.S I can adjust each speaker sepreatly.

 

[Swerd]

It has my speaker set up 11 ft for the fronts and the center then the rs is 3 and the ls is 6. It has the ms as follows 10 ms for teh fronts and center 3ms for teh right and 5 ms for teh left rears. Then with the same speaker set up it has the fronts and center at 0ms rs at 7 and the ls 5. And says the realtive delay is the same with both set ups, I could put either and it would be the same results. P.S I can adjust each speaker sepreatly.[/QUOTE]The distances in feet and the sound travel time from your speakers to the listener are: LF - 11 ft - 10 ms RF - 11 ft - 10 ms C - 11 ft - 10 ms LS - 6 ft - 5 ms RS - 3 ft - 3 ms 4 ms would be the average for surround speakers. If I understand the intent of the diagram, the speaker farthest away from the central listener should have a zero delay time. For you that would be the 3 front speakers (10 – 10 = 0). For the surround speakers, subtract their distance in time from 10 ms (10 – 5 = 5 and 10 - 3 = 7). set the delay times to: FL 0 ms FR 0 ms C 0 ms SL 5 ms SR 7 ms If you can only make one setting for the surrounds, use the average delay time of 6 ms. Does that make sense?

 

[JOE.G]

That diagram was made up by a guy trying to help me out, so i could use either settings or the ones you suggest? thanks

 

[JOE.G]

What is a good way to check to see if the delay is set up right?

I also was wondering do i set the sub to 75 db just like the rest of the speakers?

 

[Swerd]

What is a good way to check to see if the delay is set up right?

I also was wondering do i set the sub to 75 db just like the rest of the speakers?

I don't know if there is an easy way to check if the delay times are set up right. Try this. Sit in the central listening position and listen to a single drumbeat (or other single isolated sound). You should hear it from all the speakers simultaneously without any hint of echo or reverberation. For this to work, you need a CD or DVD where the sound is in all the channels. You may not be able to tell if things are only slightly off, but you probably will be able to tell if it is wrong in a big way.

Set the sub at 75 db like the others, but be ready to adjust it higher if needed. The Radio Shack meter is not as sensitive at picking up the lower frequencies as it is at higher ones.

What delay time method did you end up using? Or are you going to try several and see what works best? Good luck and I hope I helped some.