Quote:
Originally Posted by
ss9001 
^^
and the other thing of importance is HOW was the mic positioned when MCACC was run.
it HAS to be pointed directly to the ceiling, horizontal to the floor, and not tilted to the front or the back of the room. Someone posted they held it by hand at their nose and wondered why it didn't sound good
put the mic on a tripod, mic stand, or
on the seat back as last resort, sit the tripod in the main listening seat, and the mic should be above the height of the seat back, not below it so the back blocks the sound. and leave the vicinity of the mic or get out of the room when the test tones are playing, control the receiver by aiming the remote at it and not be in the path of all the speaker tones.
I disagree a bit: The mic should be at ear level. If that's below the seat back, so be it. That's the condition you'll be listening to the system in, presuming that one primarily listens from that point. Because if your couch is against the wall and you raise the mic above the seat back, the system will presumably be taking that wall reflection into account. But when you're seated on the couch, the seat back is absorbing high frequencies and there's unlikely to be any reflection, at least at ear level. (There'd still be reflection above your head).
I also disagree that someone should get out of the room. They should be sitting exactly where they would be when listening so the system can take into account the how your body absorbs sound signals. What I do agree with is that one shouldn't be walking around the room while the test tones are playing.
Having said that, let's not be unrealistic about what these auto adjustments are doing. For the most part, they're just adjusting the level slightly so that overall levels from each channel are the same at the listening position and they're adjusting frequency response across a few broad frequencies (which, as I've complained about many times before, should really be third-octave). In addition, they're probably doing some phase adjustment so that the signals reach you at the same time if the speakers are at different distances from listening position. However, if you're not sitting in one place while listening, these adjustments probably do more harm that good. Also, IMO, one should never take multiple position readings as all this will do is average out the results in a terrible compromise. I bet most people think that the system will somehow magically create a perfect listening environment at each listening position.
As for the person who is disappointed with the sound, I suspect that his kit speakers might be at fault, but I too have been disappointed with the sound of my SC55 (as I've also complained about before). It's fine for BD and Dolby Digital from the TV, but for CD music listening, analog radio, LPs, Pandora, etc., my old stereo Apt-Holman preamp and Crown power amp gave a much more pleasing, refined, tight, crisp, full, dry, more impactful sound, in spite of the fact that the Crown was only 37.5 watts per channel and the Apt-Holman was known for not having a lot of "personality". Even if I put the Pioneer in "Direct" mode, it still doesn't come close. And obviously, the old system had no room adjustment modes whatsoever. I'm an ex-recording engineer, but I still haven't quite figured out why the SC55 doesn't sound as good for traditional listening as that 30+ year old system. If I ever hear a reasonably priced better sounding system, the SC55 will be gone. But I don't expect to see the manufacturers come out with anything new except cosmetic changes and maybe some content additions in 2013.
using the android version, (apple to be debugged further). I fired the app up from cold and saw it sent out power status requests, I faked them and the app now fires up and I can see my zone power and volume requests.
