? about YPAO

[Jacksmyname]

Hi all.
I have a Yamaha RX-V3800 AVR. I'm very pleased with it's performance, features, etc.
While YPAO does a pretty good job, I'd like to tweak the results it gives for my center channel.
I know the center is a pain, as sound (mostly dialogue) from that channel can be all over the place depending on what source I'm using: cable, DVD, Blu Ray etc.
Cable TV is probably the worst.
Anyway, I know this is really a noob question, and I don't mind being called a noob even though I'm not , but can anyone explain, or direct me to another source that can explain the process of adjusting the EQ on the receiver?
Is there a step one, step two, etc. process to follow?
I've run all three YPAO setups, and saved each to a memory slot so I can toggle amongst them and compare results. Natural sounds best to me.
In other words, what do I do first? Adjust Q? Adjust band? Adjust frequency?
What, exacly, is Q? Like I mentioned above, it's a noob question.
Overall, sound from my center is fine, but I have problems with dialogue in a lot of movies. I've read numerous threads over the last few years on various forums about this. Seems like I'm not alone with dialogue intelligabilty (is that a real word? ).
Also, is there/are there specific bands/frequencies where voices might typically be? IOW, which ones would be the best candidates to adjust for improving dialogue?
I hope I've explained clearly what I'm trying to accomplish.
Thanks in advance!

 

[jostenmeat]

To properly adjust your EQ, you will need measuring equipment, software, and mic, outside of the typical automated routines.

Q, as far as EQ goes, is the bandwidth of the filter applied. The higher the Q, the narrower the bandwidth. So let's say you have the most very specific in room peak at 93hz, but that 91 and 95 hz seem perfectly fine for instance. You would then apply a very high Q.

Not all EQ devices give the user the same limits of Q.

Q also must not be confused with the speaker world, where here it is a value of the magnitude of Fs. Don't worry about it for now. (Yeah, why are we using Q for at least two different things in audio, already?)

Speech will go all the way from below 80hz, up to as high as 4khz for intelligibility. IOW, that's a pretty darn big range. I have been taught it's not so much the fundamentals but the higher harmonics that allow for intelligibility. I forget where it starts down low, maybe it was 500hz or so, and then up to 2khz would be the sweetspot of intelligibility. 4khz would be for good measure according to some.

 

[Nomo]

The problem may not be the EQing of the receiver, but may be the quality of your center channel speaker itself.
Or the processing the receiver is applying.
With my Yammy 1800 I've had the best results overlaying Dolby PLIIx music to the source signal.
It seems to give more latitude for adjustment with regard to the role of the center channel for both music and movies. The center width and dimension parameters are pretty helpful in tailoring sound beyond what YPAO can do.

 

[M Code]

Before making any EQ adjustments..
Go into the speaker menu and try increasing the Center Channel level a touch..

Just my $0.02...

 

[Nestor]

If you don't want to lose your settings, save them first. It's easy for eq experiments to get out of hand.

Parametric eq'ing by ear is really tough unless you know exactly which frequencies need to be addressed. You could try the pink noise generator and switch back and forth between a front and the center in comparison.

YPAO adds the finishing touch but can't correct for a grossly mismatched center channel.

 

[Jacksmyname]

Thank you folks for the replies, I really appreciate it.