Center speaker is too loud

[BenGlen]

New here. I have an older Sony HT-DDW750 system.

We recently moved, and in our house, I had only the receiver (STR-K750P) to the system, because the front and rear speakers were already built into the ceiling, and then I added a random speaker for the center. I could never calibrate the center speaker down to the same level as the R/L front speakers (which I understand is preferable, as long as you can hear dialogue clearly). I would set the level to -10 dB, the lowest it would calibrate, but the center speaker would be twice as loud. In addition, the left and right rear/surround speakers seemed way off, I had to calibrate one to +9 dB and the other to -10 dB to get them even.

In our new house (wired for 5.1), I decided perhaps the issue was perhaps the speakers (either those in the ceiling, or the center, or all of the above). So, I found the original center and surround speakers for the Sony HT-DDW750 system (Sony models SS-MSP75 and SS-CNP75) online in good shape. Individually they do sound good, so I'm confident they're working. However, I have the exact same issue. Even with the center speaker at -10 dB, it is about twice as loud as the front speakers, which will only balance, the receiver won't calibrate them to go up and down. In addition, I have the same issue with the rear/surround speakers as I describe above. I used both the test tone on the receiver and one of the surround sound calibration videos on Netflix, with the same result. It is also noticeable when watching a movie with 5.1 sound (although I suppose it's better than the center being muffled.) I am certain I set the distances correctly, too, and since the speakers are the same that came with the unit originally, I know their sizes are set per the manual as well.

This leads me to suspect something is wrong with the receiver itself. Unfortunately, I don't just have another one lying around to test out my suspicion. But given that I am getting the same exact behavior with different speakers (and different wire), I am considering just finding another second-hand receiver to use. I know it's impossible to know without physically looking at the unit, but does this sound like a receiver that's just not working correctly?

 

[William Lemmerhirt]

Are you measuring with an spl meter or just going by ear?
Didn’t know Netflix had surround calibration stuff. Any titles?

 

[BenGlen]

I used an app on my iPhone...not exact, but enough to confirm that what I'm hearing is correct: the center speaker is much louder than the L/R front speakers, even though I've configured the center speaker to be as low as possible (-10 dB).

You can find the Netflix test videos here: https://www.netflix.com/watch/80018499 (Note that the sounds to test surround channels only comes through on a surround system. I'm not sure how that all works, but the sound is different when played on a computer vs. our TV/receiver.)

 

[lovinthehd]

Be interesting to see sensitivity specs but doubt they'd account for that wide a swing. Something sounds broken.

 

[Teetertotter?]

Move the microphone up closer to the center speaker for calibration. You might have to experiment how close to go. Mine for example, with my center listening distance being 7 feet, for example, I positioned the microphone about 5/6 feet from the center channel. I have nice sound balance all around with nice temperament from the center. The surrounds have more life too.

 

[Kingnoob]

Move the microphone up closer to the center speaker for calibration. You might have to experiment how close to go. Mine for example, with my center listening distance being 7 feet, for example, I positioned the microphone about 5/6 feet from the center channel. I have nice sound balance all around with nice temperament from the center. The surrounds have more life too.

I got one bad amp we’re all my sound goes to center channel test it out unplugged see if surrounds doing anything....
I can’t afford to fix it ... probably selling it cheap

 

[nathan_h]

New here. I have an older Sony HT-DDW750 system.

We recently moved, and in our house, I had only the receiver (STR-K750P) to the system, because the front and rear speakers were already built into the ceiling, and then I added a random speaker for the center. I could never calibrate the center speaker down to the same level as the R/L front speakers (which I understand is preferable, as long as you can hear dialogue clearly). I would set the level to -10 dB, the lowest it would calibrate, but the center speaker would be twice as loud. In addition, the left and right rear/surround speakers seemed way off, I had to calibrate one to +9 dB and the other to -10 dB to get them even.

In our new house (wired for 5.1), I decided perhaps the issue was perhaps the speakers (either those in the ceiling, or the center, or all of the above). So, I found the original center and surround speakers for the Sony HT-DDW750 system (Sony models SS-MSP75 and SS-CNP75) online in good shape. Individually they do sound good, so I'm confident they're working. However, I have the exact same issue. Even with the center speaker at -10 dB, it is about twice as loud as the front speakers, which will only balance, the receiver won't calibrate them to go up and down. In addition, I have the same issue with the rear/surround speakers as I describe above. I used both the test tone on the receiver and one of the surround sound calibration videos on Netflix, with the same result. It is also noticeable when watching a movie with 5.1 sound (although I suppose it's better than the center being muffled.) I am certain I set the distances correctly, too, and since the speakers are the same that came with the unit originally, I know their sizes are set per the manual as well.

This leads me to suspect something is wrong with the receiver itself. Unfortunately, I don't just have another one lying around to test out my suspicion. But given that I am getting the same exact behavior with different speakers (and different wire), I am considering just finding another second-hand receiver to use. I know it's impossible to know without physically looking at the unit, but does this sound like a receiver that's just not working correctly?

Sure seems like the receiver may be broken. Did you try a complete factory reset of it? These things are just cheap computers, in many ways, and sometimes a complete factory reset does the trick.

Note that it might be necessary to do this procedure 3 to 5 times, and for good measure, after each re-set unplug the unit for at least an hour, to let any capacitors drain their charge, etc.

(I do NOT mean just setting everything back to zero, I mean a full factory reset.)

https://www.sony.com/electronics/support/articles/00025855

Or even better:

 

[Eppie]

Factory reset sounds like a good idea. An easy method for checking amplifier issues is to switch left and right speaker wires around on the receiver. If the problem moves to the other speaker, than the receiver is the source of the issue. If it stays the same, then the speaker has an issue. You could even switch around the center and one of the fronts to see if the center amp is supplying more power compared to the front mains. I'd also have a look at the speaker impedance. If the mains are 8ohm and the center 4ohm that would affect the balance.