** OFFICIAL ** -- Sound Quality (SQ) Discussion

This thread is a Technical Discussion of Sound Quality (SQ), and how we can IMPROVE our Quality of Sound within our Environment for Stereo, and all other Surround Modes.

So tell us what was your Biggest Improvement in SQ?

Definition: Sound quality is the quality of the audio output from various electronic devices. Sound quality can be defined as the degree of accuracy with which a device records or emits the original sound waves. Sound quality is also the physical pleasure or fatigue experienced by a listener.

Whether you are just starting out in Audio, or your an Audio Guru we all want to improve our Audio Sound Quality. Simply put we would all like to have the Best Sound Quality (DAQ5) for the Least Dollars invested in All of the Components that make up our A/V system.

DELIVERED AUDIO QUALITY [DAQ]
======================

Delivered Audio Quality, abbreviated as DAQ, is a measure of audio quality over a transmission medium. This metric is often used to quantify the quality of audio heard over a radio system. DAQ levels are defined by the following scale.

* DAQ 1: Unusable. Speech present but not understandable.
* DAQ 2: Speech understandable with considerable effort. Requires frequent repetition due to noise or distortion.
* DAQ 3: Speech understandable with slight effort. Requires occasional repetition due to noise or distortion.
* DAQ 3.4: Speech understandable without repetition. Some noise or distortion present.
* DAQ 4: Speech easily understandable. Little noise or distortion.
* DAQ 5: Perfect. No distortion or noise discernible.

Terms for Audio Quality Measurement
=======================

* Frequency response
* Signal to Noise Ratio
* Damping Factor
* IMD
* CMR
* Phase between Channels or Drivers
* Phase Input to Output
* THD
* THD+N
* Crosstalk
* Slew Rate
* FFT
* SPL
* Gain or dbG
* Flutter measurement (on analog tape systems)
* Rumble measurement
* Jitter (on digital systems)
* Impulse response (speakers) (Waterfall plots, MLSSA) (colouration)
* Latency (satellite links and codecs) (sound for live video)
* Headroom

Also please discuss --

** Room Acoustics
** Cabling - Power, Interconnects, Speaker
** All Sources (HD Radio, Sat. Radio, Sat/Cbl IRD's, BD Players, DVD Players, Turntables, Amplifiers, Preamps, Processors/Controllers, Internet Streaming Sources, etc.)
** Speakers
** Room Equalization -- (i.e.: Audyssey)

This will be a very interesting discussion from day one of our experiences with Audio, to some that have over 50 years in the Audio Field either as a Professional or Hobbist.

Let's make our AUDIO "EXTREMELY PERFECT" !!

DenPureSound
WA., U.S.A.

My biggest improvement was adding the EMOTIVA XPA-5 amplifier at $899 Delivered to door, which added Headroom, Punch in SPL, Opened up Front SoundStage Presence, just downright sounded better than the amps in the Denon AVR-3311CI for STEREO Mode - I now can feel the power coming through -- dynamically fast transients came alive.

I appreciate that there are many in the DO NOT BELIEVE in a Separate AMP Camp, but if you have not tried one of which many have not, try it first -- then tell us what you heard differently if anything per your ears.

Next biggest improvement was working Audyssey over and over again, to improve SQ. Tweak, retweak, setting Fronts to SMALL, and +-3db Xover to lower end of speaker design specs.

Setting source on BD Player to Pass-Thru vs. PCM seemed to help also.

Moved FRONT Main Speakers away from Wall about 12 inches, also made a nice difference at least to my ears, and others have stated this as well, especially if the speakers have a rear port on them.

I listened to the Denon AVR-3311CI in all modes, and then the EMO XPA-5 came in and blindly listened to the Denon with the Amp, and per our ears it DID MAKE A DIFFERENCE here.

Alot of people say ah it's just Placebo Effect -- to me NOT TRUE at All per my ears. I have not played with different interconnect cables or power cables yet, but I did use 12AWG OFC for Speaker Hookup Cables to (5), and ran AR's cables for dual SubWoofers.

Initially, only had one sub, and another addition which was worth the Money was ADDING the second sub on the other side of the room, just seemed to balance room with the low freq's a lot better, even though the lows are omni-directional from source. Seemed dispersion of lows was alot better with dual subs facilitating getting the PUNCH from ea. side of room, instead of just the one side of room.

MJPearce -- Very INTERESTING post. I would bet upgrading the Denon also gave you the latest Chip Processing for an improvement to SQ, plus Audyssey (which I find excellent).

I just measured my MAINS (FL/FR) Klipsch RF-82II Reference Towers and they are 5" from the back to the Wall.

What speakers do you have for Mains, and why would that make an improvement in SQ?

I know my Klipsch are ported to the rear, and I need to touch basis with Klipsch what they recommend for distance from rear of spkr. to wall.

Great Point!!

Just spoke with Klipsch (Ryan) and he recommended to PULL the RF-82II's Reference Towers for FR/FL out away from the wall measured from the Rear of the Speaker to wall about 10-12". Was able to relocate Front Klipsch's at 11.75" away from wall --

Sound Quality was IMPROVED. Set the Dual Subs to 80 Hz., and the Front Xover on the Denon to 80Hz, after setting the Fronts to SMALL in Denon Setup.

Sound improved - Period

MJPearce - thanks for your suggestion regarding moving the fronts away from the wall.

Interesting, as one of the factors that Vincent Chen from EMOTIVA states is that the IMD is more of a factor to contend with than the THD+N Ratio in amplifier design, so he stated to me.

Moving the Front MAINS away from the wall is very interesting to me, and I will check with Klipsch on what Paul stated, [Grins]...

First and Foremost is the SOURCE as that is what is creating what we are listening to for sure... great speakers, great amp, great room acoustics, six digit cables, great pre/pro, but a very poor source - will not get you from point a to point b -- Period.
I listened to my DirecTV source for the Sonic channels and it sounds to me terrible, listened to my Technics TT ... not to good either even with clean vinyl, HD Radio still some noise (but no outside antennae), best source so far is my LG BD Player with a CD or streaming in from Napster, Pandora etc, which to me seems very clean, and the total source of music selections is Super beyond belief, and Napster is only around $50/yr. to me a great Deal.

=========== SQ Improvement Here !!

Just spoke with Klipsch (Ryan) and he recommended to PULL the RF-82II's Reference Towers for FR/FL out away from the wall measured from the Rear of the Speaker to wall about 10-12" vs. the 5" I had them at. Was able to relocate Front Klipsch Mains at 11.75" away from wall -- measured from Back of Speaker.

Sound Quality was IMPROVED. Set the Dual Subs to 80 Hz., and the Front Xover on the Denon to 80Hz, after setting the Fronts to SMALL in Denon Setup.

Sound improved - Period

MJPearce - thanks for your suggestion regarding moving the fronts away from the wall.

GeneralHead -- it sounds like your setup does not have a separate amp there!! What are you running in equipment there?
You can do a Blind Test at an Audio Store, buy it and bring it home, and connect it up, and ALL BETS ARE OFF.

AJ -- are you running a separate Amp there with an AVR, or totally discretes, or just an AVR?
What have been your experiences with a Separate Amp there, if you have used/tried one?
Interested in what your feelings/opinions are there on amplification.

Is anyone running the Denon AVR-A100?

How does it compare to the Denon AVR-4XXX, and the -3XXX Series in Sound Qualities?

WiWavelength - AJ

Did the Lexicon Pre/Pro vs. the Onkyo AVR change anything in regards to Sound Quality in your opinion?

My readings state that an Amplifier which has alot of IMD, THD+N, poor EMI/RFI rejection, etc. vs. the AVR's discrete amp section, of which are clean from Onkyo or Denon, etc. can actually harm the sound quality in those few cases of a poorly designed amp, but today I would say whether it is Anthem, Parasound, Emo, etc. they are well designed in so that you get more Voltage and Current to the speakers and in turn more Power RMS at virtually no loss in sound quality, and in all my readings and my personal tests here with and without an amp, I am convinced and very pleased to say like you, am a Happy Amp Camper, and the only thing that I will change going into the future is the Pre/Pro or AVR, and maybe a source or two as tech. chgs. on the front ends. Your doing the same thing as I'm doing.

One factor that is not highly discussed is with an AVR which many of them are only putting out around 50W per ch. or so, even though the specs are showing 100W etc. is that when the Back EMF is produced from the speaker the amp has to have enough power to overcome the Back EMF voltage spikes at that finite period of time, and dampen the speaker out quickly. With the separate amp, that problem goes away -- period, and with the extra headroom/power to each spkr. coil it can Punch the cone, dampen, and easily overcome any Back EMF, IMHO.

Generalhead - We would all really appreciate that your posts bring something to this discussion technically speaking on how to Improve Sound Quality, or what has degraded it.

If your just trying to increase your Post Count, you would be better off in the "Newbie" Threads as your contributions bring nothing to this Thread but One Liner Hasty Generalizations.

Suggestion: Maybe you could discuss for us here how the FFT's affect have an impact on Sound Quality?

You heard it here first!

MJPearce -- how do you look at Front Main speakers toe-in. Did you just use a Vector from the Centerline of the front mains to the Main Listening Position in so that the main listener is On-Axis with the Mains?
If so, do you think that also helped there?