Audyssey Issues and Ultra Surrounds..

[Pogre]

Do I set the crossovers and levels after or before Audyssey Calibration?

Also I always find myself bumping up the levels a bit after Aud sets them (too low) - is that bad?

What levels are you bumping?

Doesn't matter where you set crossovers before running Audyssey. It's going to make its own adjustments through the setup process. I can already tell you it's gonna set your towers large and apply too low crossover points. I go in after running Audyssey, set speakers small and crossovers 80 hz to start.

 

[Pogre]

What levels are you bumping?

 

[lovinthehd]

As mentioned Audyssey will reset things, so no point in setting levels/delays before running it. Afterwards I'd change all speakers to small if using sub(s) and start with an 80hz crossover and experiment from there....and with the avr suggested crossovers (if it were up to Audyssey they'd simply set speakers to small and start with 80hz, but the avr manufacturers have generally done otherwise). You can raise suggested crossovers, but lowering suggested crossovers can leave a gap in eq.

 

[fast fred]

What levels are you bumping?

Doesn't matter where you set crossovers before running Audyssey. It's going to make its own adjustments through the setup process. I can already tell you it's gonna set your towers large and apply too low crossover points. I go in after running Audyssey, set speakers small and crossovers 80 hz to start.

I seem to always bump the CNTER channel after calibration
And yes I have done the necessary pull the center up, away from cabinet, etc

 

[Pogre]

I seem to always bump the CNTER channel after calibration
And yes I have done the necessary pull the center up, away from cabinet, etc

Gotta pic of where you have your centre channel right now? If that's all you are bumping, it's not too unusual. Still sounds like a placement issue to me tho...

 

[fast fred]

Gotta pic of where you have your centre channel right now? If that's all you are bumping, it's not too unusual. Still sounds like a placement issue to me tho...

You seen it before
Here.

 

[Trebdp83]

Still a very nice room.

 

[ryanosaur]

There could be other things going on in there... we can't see the whole room, but if you are backed up against a wall or just sitting in a null, for example, you won't be able to boost your way out of it.

How high are you boosting the center?

 

[fast fred]

+4

 

[ryanosaur]

Way too high.
Remember, a +3dB boost requires a doubling of power, and this augmentation is usually done in the digital domain which can increase distortion. If your Amp starts to clip and does so with a distorted signal: #POOF-goes-the-tweet


I'm not meaning to scare you, but there are possible consequences.
Something is not right in your room.

 

[Pogre]

View attachment 46085
You seen it before
Here.

Yeah, that looks a lot better than where you had it before. All three of your tweets are ~the same ear level which is good. You could try angling up a little bit to see if it helps. Otherwise I shall refer you to Ryan's post above.

 

[fast fred]

Way too high.
Remember, a +3dB boost requires a doubling of power, and this augmentation is usually done in the digital domain which can increase distortion. If your Amp starts to clip and does so with a distorted signal: #POOF-goes-the-tweet


I'm not meaning to scare you, but there are possible consequences.
Something is not right in your room.

Well I have been bumping for a while

Lucky I am I guess.....

 

[fast fred]

Way too high.
Remember, a +3dB boost requires a doubling of power, and this augmentation is usually done in the digital domain which can increase distortion. If your Amp starts to clip and does so with a distorted signal: #POOF-goes-the-tweet


I'm not meaning to scare you, but there are possible consequences.
Something is not right in your room.

so like you mean pop goes the weasel? Is that the consequence you are referring to?

 

[ryanosaur]

The Ultra Center and Towers are 87 and 88dB sensitivity, respectively, per SVS site. If your room is set up properly, you should have very little differentiation between their Trim Levels in Audyssey.
I've not heard negative things about the intelligibility of that center, and considering how popular their speakers seem to be, I would expect many more complaints if this were an issue that extended beyond the boundaries of your room.

If you do not already have one, I would recommend getting an SPL meter to help you in checking your levels. Again, something isn't right.

This is what I bought:

https://www.amazon.com/RISEPRO-Decibel-Meter-Digital-Sound/dp/B01EZZ8B5Q

Though if I had planned ahead, I may have bought a more expensive meter like this based on Reed's reputation for measurement devices:

REED Instruments R1920 Sound Level Meter, Compact Series: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

REED Instruments R1920 Sound Level Meter, Compact Series: Amazon.com: Industrial & Scientific

www.amazon.com

 

[ryanosaur]

Hey, you asked, we offered.
It is your system. Do with it as you wish.

Cheers.

 

[Pogre]

so like you mean pop goes the weasel? Is that the consequence you are referring to?

Yes, that's what he's referring to as an extreme example. I think a 3 or 4 dB bump won't cause you too much an issue unless you're really cranking it up. @ryanosaur is absolutely correct that a 3 dB bump requires a doubling of power tho, so if you're getting close to limits the center will be receiving double the power of say, your main speakers and that can be an issue for sure.

 

[fast fred]

Still a very nice room.

Thanks

 

[fast fred]

Maybe this will help?

I propped up the front end of the center

 

[Pogre]

Maybe this will help?

I propped up the front end of the center

That was one of my suggestions, yes. It might help.

Another thing to consider, not all recordings are created equal and sometimes the way it's mixed/mastered might just suck for dialogue. If you're watching a movie like "Tenet" good luck trying to make the dialogue clear with that one. A lot of movies are like that. I think "Master and Commander" is known to be a good source for the way it's mastered on the Blu Ray. Otherwise I'll bet a Google search will turn up other movies with clear dialogue you can check out too.

 

[fast fred]

Thanks

What about Dialog enhancer setting with the Denon AVR?
Do you use that?
Does that help?