Center Channel Testing - Suggestions Needed Please

[jdono52]

I am trying to make some much needed adjustments on my center channel; however, my movie collection is limited. I can only get so far with the test tone provided in the manual setup and was hoping somebody would have some suggestions for movies/music to use in the lab. (a.k.a. my living room) More or less I am just trying to get the most dynamic range out of my center so I can adjust the settings accordingly.

Thanks for the help.

 

[Pyrrho]

Once you set the levels of all channels with test tones, and set any delay (based on placement; see your manual, or go to Dolby's website), no further adjustment is necessary. If you are not having an appropriate dynamic range, you will want to check the settings on your receiver to make sure that you have not selected "night" viewing (which may be called something else in your receiver) which compresses the dynamic range so you don't have loud explosions and such waking people up. Using movies to adjust levels is generally a bad idea.

 

[Sheep]

Once you set the levels of all channels with test tones, and set any delay (based on placement; see your manual, or go to Dolby's website), no further adjustment is necessary. If you are not having an appropriate dynamic range, you will want to check the settings on your receiver to make sure that you have not selected "night" viewing (which may be called something else in your receiver) which compresses the dynamic range so you don't have loud explosions and such waking people up. Using movies to adjust levels is generally a bad idea.

He may be talking about a center channel EQ.

Are you?

SheepStar

 

[jdono52]

He may be talking about a center channel EQ.

Are you?

SheepStar

Really I am just looking for some suggestions on DVD's/SACD's to test my center channels output, quality, and frequency levels. I have seen similar posts for subwoofer testing and was hoping for something along the same line. More or less, just some ideas of music/movies that other members enjoy playing in their home theater to impress their friends.

 

[Nick250]

You might consider a very well mastered concert DVD like the Eagles Hell Freezes Over. As you watch the concert you will hear the distinct instruments and vocals heard through your center speaker, left and right front speakers, and rear speakers for that matter. In particularly the opening number, Hotel Calif. with acoustic guitars from the left and right speakers, vocals through the center and side speakers as appropriate. An excellent test DVD as well terrific music IMO.

 

[zildjian]

If your center channel is full range (running your center channel set to "large" in your receiver or prepro's settings), and you're looking for low frequency tracks to isolate your center channel; get the DVD-Audio version of Blue Man Group's first album Audio: track 1 "Mandelgroove" and track 10 "Drumbone". The tubulum (long PVC pipe instrument with a deep sound) is isolated just in the center channel at a couple different points in these tracks as is the drumbone in track 10 (another PVC pipe instrument); and it's a very demanding reproduction. I think it sounds great but I'm biased cause I been around some of guys involved in the recording of this album (I was going to be a Blue Man, but a larger opportunity opened up, so ended my percussion days... ). Despite the bias, I still think it's a quality recording that's tough to reproduce at higher SPL levels unless you have plenty of power and speakerage, and it's the most demanding disc I have found for a center channel specifically.

High end frequency response demo... what type music do you like?

Norah Jones Come Away With Me on SACD sounds great with an airy and open sound as does Diana Krall's CD Girl in the Other Room, but if you don't like female vocalist jazz, then something else is in order... I just think those are two well recorded & engineered treble demo discs.

Regular movies are good; the center channel of course handles dialogue which in itself can tell you how your center's eq'd if voices sound too chesty (bassy) or tinny (too much treble). Post back what you are looking for music genre or movie wise.
Brad

 

[jdono52]

If your center channel is full range (running your center channel set to "large" in your receiver or prepro's settings), and you're looking for low frequency tracks to isolate your center channel; get the DVD-Audio version of Blue Man Group's first album Audio: track 1 "Mandelgroove" and track 10 "Drumbone". The tubulum (long PVC pipe instrument with a deep sound) is isolated just in the center channel at a couple different points in these tracks as is the drumbone in track 10 (another PVC pipe instrument); and it's a very demanding reproduction. I think it sounds great but I'm biased cause I been around some of guys involved in the recording of this album (I was going to be a Blue Man, but a larger opportunity opened up, so ended my percussion days... ). Despite the bias, I still think it's a quality recording that's tough to reproduce at higher SPL levels unless you have plenty of power and speakerage, and it's the most demanding disc I have found for a center channel specifically.

High end frequency response demo... what type music do you like?

Norah Jones Come Away With Me on SACD sounds great with an airy and open sound as does Diana Krall's CD Girl in the Other Room, but if you don't like female vocalist jazz, then something else is in order... I just think those are two well recorded & engineered treble demo discs.

Regular movies are good; the center channel of course handles dialogue which in itself can tell you how your center's eq'd if voices sound too chesty (bassy) or tinny (too much treble). Post back what you are looking for music genre or movie wise.
Brad

Thanks for the suggestions guys. Typically, I listen to all types of rock. Right now, I am jamming the new Chili Peppers CD, which I must say is absolutely outstanding and the new tool album. However, my car stereo usually plays the local classic rock station. Don't get me wrong, I can appreciate all types of music, but what I own in my collection is all rock: classic rock, contemporary, metal, and punk. For movies: I would think that Action/Adventure, SciFi, and horror flicks would be good sources of experimentation on the center. I did get to jam Robert Rodriguez's "Sin City" last night (another favorite of mine), and was pleasantly suprised with the minor adjustments I have been making. The dialogue sounds much clearer and distinct, but I think it needs just a little more tweeking. Thanks again for the help.

 

[indcrimdefense]

a bit off the subject, but something to ponder. i have at times run my system w/o a center channel, at times used one speaker & now use a pair of floor standers as a dual center channel sitting on either side of the tv. going to a dual center set up using a full range speaker made perhaps one of the largest sonic improvements for both multichannel music & movies that i have yet to experience. for certain movies it's almost like adding another set of front speakers, for others their is completely different information coming from the centers as compared to the center. one of the best movies i know of to check channel seperation & dynamics is Heat, either the scene where they take out the armored car or the scene towards the end with a gun fight in the street. may also want to check to see if your pre-pro or receiver has a center channel eq, which may or may not make a difference.