Hi crazytiger,
Wow! You're not posting too often (only a handful or two of posts since Dec. 2006); perhaps I should follow your example (that would certainly keep me out of trouble).
I do have the same receiver than yours.
I love my 3805; great mids by the way.
Now, the mid-bass covers the region from about 60 to 160 hz, where your crossover of 80hz from your 3805 happens to be. Also this area of the audio spectrum is one of the most difficult to get right.
I've beem through the exact same thing than you. Many things are at play.
Here's what I did myself trying to circumvent the problem.
1. Very important: You have to find out the setting from your sub where the "Phase" gives you the most output from your listening position. If your Phase adjustment is the switch type with the 0 & 180 degree positions, get the right position. If it's the type with a knob that adjust constantly, it takes a bit more time and experimentation.
* Now I don't know your level of knowledge on this, so I'll ask you simply; Do you know how to get the right position?
Also, check some good articles right here at Audioholics on this very same matter, from "Subwoofer adjustments".
I have switched the phase on the sub, (0 to 180 and back - it's a toggle) but I can't tell any difference at all. I have tried it in real time during a movie, and also tried it with pink noise on my Sound and Vision calibration DVD. Maybe the switch is bad?
2. I don't know exactly which inputs from your 3805 you are using, but here's one that has to be made in about 95% of all cases. On the "Input Setup" from your 3805 menu, there is the #2 point, which is "EXT. In Subwoofer level", from page 40 of your manual; set this feature at +10 db.
This one was out of adjustment. I checked it this morning, and it was set to "0". It will actually go all the way to +15. Should I stop at 10 or go all the way to 15? What exactly am adjusting here? Is this the same as adjusting the sub level in the speaker level set up? This is definitely one of the features that I don't understand. Also, I have not had a chance to see what a difference the adjustment made. I had to leave for work - will do some test-n-tune tonight.
3. In my fairly mid-large room (actually, similar to yours in size), I also have my sub in the front left corner. BUT, I also have another same sub in the front right corner, which helps a lot, in the x-over region.
Can't do another $$$sub$$$ right now, but maybe down the road.
4. My two main front speakers are 5 feet (60") from the front wall; calculated from the front baffles of my loudspeakers. It's a position that was determined to provide the best balance for my particular room dimensions (by the way, mine is just over 23 feet long). And these two speakers are separated by exactly 8 feet and 2/3 (104"), again, calculated distance from the center of their tweeter drivers, and with great care as for best best balance in my particular room (mine is 13 feet and 1/2 wide).
* I use very precise measurements for all distances of all my loudspeakers in my room, using the right formulae. It's based on the nulls and peaks of our rooms' dimensions.
** For me: proper speaker positioning comes first, as my top priority. The rest; furniture and all that stuff, is secondary.
Unfortunately, asthetics take priority over functionality in the room. Somehow, I am going to have to find a way to overcome this obstacle.
5. The subwoofer gain (volume level), on my subs are set at 1/4 position of it's rotary knob position, or perhaps a little tiny fraction more, but not by much (in my case, 1/3 position is wayyy tooo loouudd).
Mine is set to exactly to half way - anything more is too much
6. In my room, on my Denon 3805, the subwoofer channel level was set to minus 7.5db (-7.5). And this, by adding an extra 2db for compensation, from my own set of ears, and prime listening position. Also taking into account my Radio Shack SPL meter, innacurate results, using the appropriate compensation chart.
Yeah, I like the idea of the SPL, but I still make the final settings based on what my ear tells me.
*** Now, I just give you the main points (there are others that affect the mid-bass region in our rooms), and some hints at trying to get the best compromise for that very difficult audio spectrum, which is very tough indeed to get right on correctly. BUT, because of your particular situation in your own room, your speaker's positioning (enclosed in built-in bookcases), the WAF, and all that derived from it; you are at the mercy of the biggest compromomises of all (women playing a very large role in your room).
~~~ These are my thoughts.
My advice to you:
............
.............. Take the 6 points that I just mentioned to you, and try to make the best of it. And of course, with the wife approval. So, that automatically means, trying to build a more solid foundation in your relationship with your wife, using sweet talking and gentle caress honestly feeled, tactics. If the heart is not there, forget it.
... You know what I mean...
Really, she will let me get away with just about whatever I want - as long as it is "camoflauge".
I honestly don't know what else to add at this point, as I really feel that you did try your very best with all the several adjustments.
But one thing I want to say to you; Thanks a lot, for your best description of all your equipment, settings, speakers, positions, your room size...
Not many people gave us those important tools to work from. That helps a lot to understand precisely the situation, in this case, yours.
Hopefully, my post will bring some needed light in your mid-bass issue.
Don't give up, it's a constant battle.
And some people go to extreme length, to win it; using sophisticated digital Room EQs and those kind of tools that I'm sure you're aware of.
I'll spare you the enumeration, as there are several good ones; but your room has to be a considerable part of this equation.
===>>> But here's my best shot: Get a new A/V receiver, like a Denon AVR-4310ci, or an Onkyo TX-SR876; which both have Audyssey MultEQ XT automatic room correction & calibration, included in their DSPs horsepower crunching numbers.
Best regards,
Bob
