Question Regarding LFE and how its mixed in different movies

[Beatmatcher247]

Stupid question here. Are some movies mixed extremely hot sound-level wise?

A couple of blu-rays come to mind, Master and Commander, and the new Tron Legacy.

Most movies I can run on my rig with the subs set at +2.0 dB in the channel level settings, preamp master volume at 0.0 dB reference level. However, the above 2 movies, I have to turn master volume on preamp down to -5.0 to -7.0 dB or I fear I'll have to pick my sub drivers off of the floor because of the distortion. Is it a good rule of thumb to just feel out each source material before you really dial it in? While most scenes are comfortable and distortion free at ref level, one scene, like the cannon battles in master in commander, will leave my speakers begging for mercy with no warning.

Is this just the way some movies get mixed or does it sound like I have something setup incorrectly.

 

[j_garcia]

I didn't find either of those mastered hot. M&C actually seemed lower than the previous DTS disc. Tron Legacy was clear as a bell; actually one of the better audio tracks I've heard recently.

As to the question though, YES, there are movies that are definitely mastered hot. Think: War of the Worlds

How have you calibrated your system?

 

[Beatmatcher247]

Manual setup with dB meter to match channel levels, and used positioning to find the best frequency response from the subwoofers. Speakers set to small and crossed over at 80 hz.

I liked the sound a lot better not using the JLF113's calibration. I run them with calibration off, "Defeat" set to about 10 oclock on the level dial.

Most stuff sounds awesome at reference level but some discs just kick their ***. Master and Commander cannon scenes and Tron when it gets rocking hard.

 

[j_garcia]

How big is your room? So you are saying you mess with the channel levels in the player to adjust or the speaker settings in the 7005? Cambridge connected analog or HDMI?

 

[its phillip]

I'm just guessing, but if you've got a large room/a room that doesn't really give you any room gain/you sit too far away, you might just be asking too much from your subs.

f113 power compression & thd measurements

 

[Beatmatcher247]

Room Dimensions 26x20x9 approximately 4680 cu. feet, plus stairway leading upstairs, stairway leading down, standard width... so in essence, do those speakers see my whole house as the room? Can't wait to build a properly dimensioned room with triple sliding plexiglass, tight *** doors leading into it, and no other openings besides an hvac vent in and out.

I adjust sub levels for contant on the marantz in the speaker settings: most movies I run at +2.0 dB on the subs at reference level. Tron I set them down to 0.0 and set volume on preamp to -5, -7 ish...

I use HDMI for Blu Rays/multichannel content, and analogue section of 650BD for

 

[j_garcia]

Well, sounds like it is the space that is the problem then. Those two films do have serious bass, so having that much space probably is a bit too much and you are reaching the limits of them as mentioned by its_phillip.