Need advice on calibration of PioneerVSX-92TXH

[lreinstein]

I just installed a new Home Theater which includes the VSX-92TXH, in-wall B&W LRC speakers, and a Velodyne SPL-1000R subwoofer. This is not my main HiFi music listening system which is in another room, but I do like to watch movies as well as listen to some concert DVD's and HD (Opera, Jazz, Rock) on this HT system.

My question is with regard to the MCACC auto-calibration process. I am a newbie so please be patient. I set the SW to "direct" so as to eliminate the Subs own EQ systems and then proceeded to follow on-screen instructions for the 92TXH. The results came out fine for Movie watching based only upon my ears. HOWEVER, when I listen to a Concert, very very little of the sound comes out of the SubWoofer.

Now my naive understanding is that the MCACC processor has decided that the in-wall Front speakers are producing enough sound in the low frequency range so does not call for th SW...that is the bypass frequency is very very low. BUT I THINK THE MUSIC WOULD SOUND BETTER IF THE LOW RANGE CAME THROUGH THE SUBWOOFER AS WELL. HOW WOULD I ADJUST THE PIONEER TO DO THIS?

Do I create another Preset and the just manually increase the "Level" of the SW? Or do I manually change to a higher crossover frequency? or some combination? Can the MCACC do this automatically? or do i do this "by ear".

Another possibility is to set the Velodyne preset to "music". what does this actually do?

Sorry for all the questions.

THanks

Larry

 

[bandphan]

in manual setup change all your speakers to small and sub to yes, not plus. Leave the rest of the eq settings alone and see how it sounds. Did you set this up or the dealer?

 

[engtaz]

I use a SPL meter to setup my speakers. I have found it to work better the the AVR's cal setup. Speaker setup s/b the way bandphan explained.

engtaz

 

[Midcow2]

agree with what others said ..

... HOWEVER, when I listen to a Concert, very very little of the sound comes out of the SubWoofer.
...

Larry,

From what I have found most auto-equalization programs set the sub output very, very low. You can further tune by using SPl or manuallly adjust the speakers in question. For example, increase the level of the sub in manual mode. I am not sure if you have noticed or not, but most auto-calibration progrmas also tend to put the rear surrounds at a lower level than most people like.

Good Luck!

 

[lreinstein]

I also notice that the rear speakers are lower than I like.

Followup questions:

Do I want to increase the LEVEL of the Subs or the crossover frequency?

Should I run the MCACC after saying I have small speakers? WHat does this do?

WHat about using the Velodyne adjustment and set the mode to "Music"...would that solve the problem.

the system was set up by an installer.

larry

 

[bandphan]

I also notice that the rear speakers are lower than I like.

Followup questions:

Do I want to increase the LEVEL of the Subs or the crossover frequency?

Should I run the MCACC after saying I have small speakers? WHat does this do?

WHat about using the Velodyne adjustment and set the mode to "Music"...would that solve the problem.

the system was set up by an installer.

larry

just change the settings for the speakers to small first. Then listen, then go from there. re-running the eq now doesnt help. If it comes down to re-running it, you will have to change your speaker sizes again, and if you do use it make sure the room is quite and the a/c is off. The only issue if have with the auto eq on pioneer is the sub distance. Their eq program did a descent job flating my rooms response, however, i re did it with REW and made improvements.

 

[itschris]

I have the Elite 94 so my setup is similar. I have Def Tech 7002 with the built in subs. We have multiple presets and you definately want to take advantage of them. Right now I have 3: Movie for just a couple of people, Movie for a lot of poeple, and music.

Each one changes the surrounds and the sub, so just tinker, get it to the way you like it, then just save the configuration.

Consequently, I got my neighbors business partner who's in HT in a big way to help with metering my system. He's pretty good at that stuff and told me that the auto eq the receiver did was pretty spot on.

 

[lreinstein]

thanks folks...

tchris---can you explain in some simple detail for me how you determined these presets. I am a real novice at this stuff. i really appreciate it...and feel free to write to me directly.

larry

 

[fmw]

If you want more bass, just turn up the subwoofer. It's as simple as that. Movies often have more bass content that music CD's. LFE or low frequency effects are common in movies so don't be surprised that movies have more low frequency content than music CD's.

 

[itschris]

thanks folks...

tchris---can you explain in some simple detail for me how you determined these presets. I am a real novice at this stuff. i really appreciate it...and feel free to write to me directly.

larry

Believe me, I am no expert. I basically ran the initial setup and got it to where I like if I'm sitting dead center like I would be if I was by myself.

Now let's just say there's four people on the couch, the folks on the ends are going to have overstated surround sound from their side. I moved the surrounds out and tried to position them differently actually a bit forward and out (since my couch is against the wall and I can't effectively put them behind the listening position). I then adjusted my surround settings for that position. I also played with the center channel dynamics. I'm not sure about the 92, but on mine you can play with sound field settings which kinda alter the dimension of the center. I haven't really messed with it and I'm not sure it really does anything worthwhile just yet... but I'm willing to keep an open mind.

Now for music, when I really just want to sit and listen to music, I move my speakers in a different position and again, I just tweak the settings for that setup and save that as a preset.

Believe me, it's a bit overwhelming at first, but you just figure a little bit out each time you mess with things. Be patient (not my best virtue) and it'll come to you.

 

[lreinstein]

Thanks folks. A few more questions.

I followed the suggestions and auto calibrated (MCACC AUTO) and afterwards on speaker setup set my left, center, right AND surround speakers to SMALL. This made a big difference.

1. Should I auto-calibrate AFTER doing the speaker setup?? does this make a difference?

2. What crossover frequency is suggested? I use B&W LRC speakers.

3. If I have different calibration PRESET settings stored in 3 different Memory slots, HOW DO I SELECT A PRESET BEFORE WATCHING A PROGRAM? DO I HAVE TO GO TO THE SETUP MENU OR IS THERE A MORE DIRECT WAY?

THANKS

Larry

 

[itschris]

Look at the bottom of your remote, there's MCACC button that toggles the presets.

If you auto calibrate, it will determine all the settings, so if you changes your speakers, it'll change them again once you recalibrate - that's what it does. Now like we've been talking about, you can save different setups under your MCACC presets.

The manual goes over this pretty well. I'd give it a re-read. It'll help take out some of the guesswork on the setup and how to do it.

I'd first try you crossover at 80. I played with mine, but felt that this magic number seemed to work for me just fine like with most setups.

 

[bandphan]

Thanks folks. A few more questions.

I followed the suggestions and auto calibrated (MCACC AUTO) and afterwards on speaker setup set my left, center, right AND surround speakers to SMALL. This made a big difference.

1. Should I auto-calibrate AFTER doing the speaker setup?? does this make a difference?

2. What crossover frequency is suggested? I use B&W LRC speakers.

3. If I have different calibration PRESET settings stored in 3 different Memory slots, HOW DO I SELECT A PRESET BEFORE WATCHING A PROGRAM? DO I HAVE TO GO TO THE SETUP MENU OR IS THERE A MORE DIRECT WAY?

THANKS

Larry

1. What does the setup sound like now? Did the settings create a flat in room response?
2. What crossover setting did the eq select?
3. The remote as chris mentioned.

Is the full phase control active currently? Also did the dealer do your install? If so you can ask if the AVR was supposed to be setup, as with most installs it is. Did you get your universal remote? If so, IMO i would have them program the presets to it under each device