rx v2500 room optimzer

[smulth]

Here's the deal , I own an rx v2500, I think it's a great reciever. The problem I have is when using ypao my speaker levels are set in the high negatives ie, -8.5 on fl -9.0 for center -7.0 on fr, etc, my sub is boosted way up to plus 9. these mesurements are fine if thats what they are supposed to be, and I think it sounds fine but I'm not sure. The result of these mesurments is that I have to raise the volume to -10 up to -4 do get any decent volume. It appears that the system is compensating for the negative settings. I guess my questions is this, does this sound like there is a problem, or should I just enjoy it at higher levels to achieve normal levels. the reciever does so many things how do i know if its doing them correctly. By the way I had it on the other day, all day, at least a dozen hours and it was only warm to the touch.
Your comments, suggestions, and opinions will be greatly appreciated.
Thank you, Smulth

 

[rschleicher]

It sounds like the YPAO thought that it needed to attenuate all of your front, center, and surround levels, in order to get enough relative subwoofer volume to "balance". (I am guessing that your receiver is limited to boosting the subwoofer signal to +9 or +10 dB, and once it did that, the only option to deal with too little sub-woofer output was to lower all of the other channels.)

Two possibilities suggest themselves:

1. When you ran YPAO, the sub-woofer's own level adjustment knob (on the subwoofer itself) was set too low, so that YPAO needed to raise the signal to the subwoofer too much. Try putting the knob on the subwoofer to a higher volume setting, at least "half-way", or maybe even a little higher, and then re-running the auto set-up.

2. Possibly (but less likely) you have a phase issue with the sub-woofer. Try reversing the sub-woofer phase (should be a manual setting to do this), and then re-running YPAO.

I am betting on it being number 1, above, as the most likely culprit. An alternate method of fixing it would be to return all of the speaker level adjustments to 0, and then use manual test tones to manually set the subwoofers own volume knob so that it sounds about balanced to you. Then you can consider re-running YPAO to do fine adjustments. The basic root cause is that there are two volume adjustments for the subwoofer - one done inside the receiver, and the other done by the knob on the subwoofer. One being too low means the other needs to be too high to compensate.

 

[crashguy]

Either what the above post says, or you have some major differences in speaker efficiency that the system is trying to balance out.

 

[Leprkon]

I had a similar problem with my set-up. The sub was plus 6.5. The manual says to put the sub at under half volume. That is simply too low. Put it the first click past half and try again. Also make sure the coffee table is out of the way...

 

[smulth]

Rschleicher, thank you for taking the time. Im not near the reciever now but I belive I set the sub according to the manual instructions. I will redo the ypao with the sub volume setting a notch or 2 higher, hopefully this will fix the problem. From what I'm hearing it dosn't seem to be a serious problem. Once again thank you for all your responses.
Smulth

 

[smulth]

The coffee table...how did you know I have a coffee table.
Thanks for your suggestion.

 

[Leprkon]

The coffee table...how did you know I have a coffee table.
Thanks for your suggestion.

let's just say it takes 3 dB more to your sub to get through a coffee table to the YPAO mike.... or, uhhhhh, so I've seen posted by, ummmmm, someone else.....

 

[smulth]

It sounds like the YPAO thought that it needed to attenuate all of your front, center, and surround levels, in order to get enough relative subwoofer volume to "balance". (I am guessing that your receiver is limited to boosting the subwoofer signal to +9 or +10 dB, and once it did that, the only option to deal with too little sub-woofer output was to lower all of the other channels.)

Two possibilities suggest themselves:

1. When you ran YPAO, the sub-woofer's own level adjustment knob (on the subwoofer itself) was set too low, so that YPAO needed to raise the signal to the subwoofer too much. Try putting the knob on the subwoofer to a higher volume setting, at least "half-way", or maybe even a little higher, and then re-running the auto set-up.

2. Possibly (but less likely) you have a phase issue with the sub-woofer. Try reversing the sub-woofer phase (should be a manual setting to do this), and then re-running YPAO.

I am betting on it being number 1, above, as the most likely culprit. An alternate method of fixing it would be to return all of the speaker level adjustments to 0, and then use manual test tones to manually set the subwoofers own volume knob so that it sounds about balanced to you. Then you can consider re-running YPAO to do fine adjustments. The basic root cause is that there are two volume adjustments for the subwoofer - one done inside the receiver, and the other done by the knob on the subwoofer. One being too low means the other needs to be too high to compensate.

I tried your suggestion and was very impressed with the result. Thanks again for taking the time. Just one additional question, is it possible to make manual adjustments , ie., speaker level and sizes and still have YPAO optimize the sound. Once again I appreciate your feedback

 

[rschleicher]

Good question. I THINK that whenever you run YPAO it will set everything to what it thinks is best, overriding any manual tweaking that you have done earlier. I believe there is a way to go back to the previous settings (from just before the most recent auto-set-up, so that you can do a little A/B comparing). What I don't know is if there is a way to just go through portions of the YPAO routine (for example, leaving the speaker size and distances at the current settings, while re-running the EQ portion). My receiver is a RX-V750, and so it doesn't do the EQ part anyway, so there's little reason for me to re-run YPAO. If I had a receiver with the full YPAO, I'd probably be tweaking constantly with the EQ, after nudging speakers around slightly, or playing with room treatments. It's probably better that I don't have this option!

 

[Quig]

Good question. I THINK that whenever you run YPAO it will set everything to what it thinks is best, overriding any manual tweaking that you have done earlier. I believe there is a way to go back to the previous settings (from just before the most recent auto-set-up, so that you can do a little A/B comparing). What I don't know is if there is a way to just go through portions of the YPAO routine (for example, leaving the speaker size and distances at the current settings, while re-running the EQ portion). My receiver is a RX-V750, and so it doesn't do the EQ part anyway, so there's little reason for me to re-run YPAO. If I had a receiver with the full YPAO, I'd probably be tweaking constantly with the EQ, after nudging speakers around slightly, or playing with room treatments. It's probably better that I don't have this option!

I used the YPAO to set up my 2500 and considering it took about 2 minutes and I didn't have to touch anything or turn my brain/ears on I was pleased with the results... for a while. After some time I started noticing little things like one channel being a bit louder than another or the sub wasn't quite loud enough for my ears etc, etc... At this point I went back into the EQ menu and started tweaking things a tiny bit at a time. Following this I am MUCH happier with the results. Granted, the sound may not be perfect by the YPAO's measurments but my ears take priority.

Happy Tweaking.

 

[crashguy]

I tried your suggestion and was very impressed with the result. Thanks again for taking the time. Just one additional question, is it possible to make manual adjustments , ie., speaker level and sizes and still have YPAO optimize the sound. Once again I appreciate your feedback

You can select what you want YPAO to adjust, and what you want it to leave alone. For example, it told me "CHECK WIRING" for my front (main) speakers, indicating they were out of phase (+ and - mixed up). They were wired correctly, so I disabled that function of the YPAO.

Short answer, yes, you can select the parameters YPAO will adjust, and things it will leave in the auto set-up menu.

 

[toquemon]

Well, the YPAO doesn't work. Try to run the YPAO a few times without changing anything (speakers position, furniture, whatever) and you'll get different results every time. So, don't trust YPAO, trust your ears (or a spectrometer, but it's very expensive). This happens also when you have different brands and types of speakers (differerent sensitivity) in your system.

 

[zumbo]

I have a 5.1 set-up with the same fronts & surrounds. Center is of the same brand & model line. I can run YPAO over & over. Same results. The only time it changes for me is if the fridge comes on or anything else.

1) I cut the power off to everything but the system.
2) I set it when I am alone.
3) I have the mic on a tripod.
4) I try not to move, or even breath.
5) The mic is very,very sensitive.