"Official" Audyssey thread (FAQ in post #1) - Page 1755

On those Audyssey vs. no EQ graphs, were they taken back-to-back without moving the mic and just flipping Audyssey on and off? Also, what is the smoothing and is it the same on all runs?

I just updated Audyssey vs no EQ to remove smoothing from the no-eq curve. All curves on all graphs now have no smoothing applied. you might have to refresh the page to load updated picture.

"Audyssey vs no EQ" and "AUdyssey vs plain antimod" are from different Audyssey calibration runs. The first one is with 6 measurement positions. The second one is done after antimod calibration and only 3 measurmnts were taken, all at the MLP.

Each of the graph though contains only measurements taken at the MLP at the same time just flipping Audyssey on and off.

Those Audyssey FR's are seriously FUBAR. My guess would be a mic problem, but that's pure speculation.

You know anyone with an Audyssey AVR you could borrow a mic?

Have to say your native FR looks darn good! I would just run with Audyssey off until you can locate another mic, wouldn't be surprised if it doesn't sound great without it.

I have two mikes. The same story with both - every once in a while I get good readings but more often than not the results are audibly wrong. It maybe that both of my mikes are damaged. I guess to get conlusive results I'd need my mic tried with known good reciever.

Any Onkyo owners in Chicago area willing to help?

Some of your graphs mention an AntiMode being used. Others refer to a MiniDSP. Are you using either or both of those in conjunction with Audyssey?

Craig

oops,my bad.
I only have AntiMode 8033. I have no idea why I kept referring to it as minidsp. I guess DSPeaker somehow morphed into minidsp in my mind.

sorry for the confusion

Are you using the AntiMode in conjunction with Audyssey?

yes, I am. purple curve on this graph is of antimode corrected FR. Audyssey was ran after antimode correction was applied

OK, I assimilated that information at first, but then it was getting too wordy. I bet you guys never thought you would hear me say that!

Anyway, I settled upon this...let me know your thoughts.

F. Most seating configurations can utilize the following microphone placement methodology:

1. The first microphone position (#1) should be at the Main Listening Position (MLP) at approximately ear height, as this measurement is used to set the levels and distances for the speakers. Ideally, the MLP will be on the center line of the center channel speaker, and halfway in between the left and right front speakers, as noted in the diagram. If you do not have a seat in this general location, visit the thread for position #1 placement assistance.

2. For the remainder of the measurements, use the approximate pattern in the below diagram to surround position #1, while ensuring you follow the guidance above.

3. After the first measurement, the order in which you make the subsequent measurements does not matter: The diagram below only serves to ensure each location is measured.

4. The distance between the measurement positions is variable; no measurements required.

5. In general, Audyssey does not recommend putting the microphone in "every seat", except (possibly) in a dedicated theater with rows. In typical living rooms, some seats are positioned either off-axis, too close to a room boundary, or both.

6. Feel free to experiment with other microphone placement patterns. Just ensure you follow the guidance in sections IV and V. The basic goal is to surround measurement position #1 with the maximum number of microphone measurements allowed by the particular Audyssey version used to create an acoustic bubble.

7. If you have additional microphone placement questions, visit the Official Audyssey thread on AVS Forum; please see the link at the beginning of this document.


Mark

Looks good to me. My stuff was just a suggestion. You're doing all the work and it is your call to make on final wording. I think you're doing a great job with it. Thx

I would suggest you remove the Antimode out of the audio chain completely if you haven't done it already. I doubt its your problem, but for troubleshooting purposes I would be sure.

That's were I was going also.

The last graph with the craziest oscillating curve has no antimode in the chain.
but then again, this one was done without antimode too.

Chris Kyriakakis of Audyssey thinks that it maybe my receiver that is causing the problem.

https://audyssey.zendesk.com/entries...#post_21201243

Well, good you've isolated the problem, too bad its your AVR! Well, look at it positively, if you didn't have this problem who knows how long you would have gone without optimizing your subs...

I was just thinking about that

that's a great bargain if you ask me

I have three reclining seats and the way I did the calibration is that I reclined them way back and then used the camera tripod at its shortest height which happens to be where my ears would be. The Mic is about 10-12" away from the back and it does clear the reclined back by about an inch. I did this for position 1,2,3. For positions 4-8, I raised the tripod height to the listening height.

Would getting a boom mic stand gain me anything?? The camera tripod is definately thicker but it goes completely under the microphone. I just finished my 10th room calibration trial and am not looking forward to my 11th!

+1 on all that! Thanks Mark.

Jeff

There are a few issues here.

1. Measure with furniture where it will be when listening, including reclining seatbacks.

2. I don't understand what is 1" from what. The mic needs to be about a foot (9" at least) from any reflective surface including seats and seatbacks.

3. For MLP mic pos #1, in order to get exact distances and levels, I place the mic right between where my ears would be at my normal reclined angle, but that places it too close to the seat back. So for that 1 measurement only, I tilt the seatback further than normal.

4. A mic with boom and adapter, and having run at least a dozen calibrations are basic requirements for admission to the Audyssey Perfectionists Club. Deal with it.

A mic stand would make it a lot easier to do the measurements. If you are happy with the result you have, then I'd probably leave it. If you plan on doing more measuring, the boom stand will make life easier and might give a slightly better result.

WRT to your current measurements - I take it that positions 1, 2 and 3 are with the mic at not ear height? The mic needs to be at ear height for every measurement.

Take a look at the FAQ for a lot more info on mic placement, especially here:

3. Where should I position the mic for best results? (click here)

The MLP is a few inches below the back seat when unreclined. So the the only way to make it clear the top of the back seat and to be a foot away from any surface is to recline it all the way back. The same thing applies to the other recliners. If I don't recline them, they will be too close to the microphone. I mostly watch by myself with the MLP seat reclined all the way and the others not reclined.

All positions are taken at ear height however, which happens to be lower than the height of the recliner back. To avoid this I reclined them all the way to make the mic clear the back of the recliners.

Ah, OK - thanks for the clarification. My recliner backs are higher than ear height too. I recline the seat to where it normally is during listening too, before I run the measurements. The alternative is to pull the mic forward of the seat back by about 12 inches. Either solution is a compromise - it depends which compromise you prefer I guess. FWIW, I have tried both ways and get a great calibration either way, with no discernible differences due to this aspect of mic placement.

I'd still suggest a boom mic stand though. 20 bucks isn't much in the context of a HT system setup and it really does make life easier. It also, as SoM points out, dramatically raises your cred as a fully paid-up member of Audysseyholics International.

Thanks everyone! Here is the document finished and ready for final comment before posting.

High seat backs are problematic in that, although very comfy, they impede your ears' access to the room. They can cause reflections of sound from the front and block the sound from the rear. In your case unreclined unoccupied recliners may contribute even more problems. I removed the tall seatback (see pic 1) of my Human Touch Zero Grav recliner. I modded the chair with a small headrest neck support pillow (see pic 2) and the SQ is considerably better for both front soundstage, surrounds and surround bubble.

That's probably impractical for you. In your case, If the other seatbacks block the surrounds, I'd both measure and listen with them normally reclined. There is no need to measure where heads actually are other than for MLP=mic pos#1. Rather, after MLP, I'd place the mic at ear height (with some variance up and down by a few inches on a few measurements) far enough forward of the other seats (while they are at normal recline angle) such that the mic is not too close to the seat.

Mark, is the link still the same or do I need to change my sig?

giomania,

In a nutshell, what has basically changed from the previous Audyssey Set Up Guide?


...Glenn

Jef, I am going to keep it in the same spot.

Mark

Glenn,

I guess the main thing was just updating with knowledge gained over the last three years since we originally assembled the guide. For instance, nuggets about XT32.

I think the only major addition is the notation about adjusting sub distances post-calibration to increase the sub/sat response at the crossover point. That may cause some controversy, but I am going to attach a lengthy word document with many posts and graphs that prove the relevance of this technique.

Mark

No, I had not seen this. Interesting. Have you heard it?

Some thoughts that come to mind ...

Do they only produce the higher frequencies via the slots (the ones that are directional enough to be focused on just one seat or another? I.e., it still needs a subwoofer, maybe below 200 Hz?

It seems the more seats you have the more slots you need?

How are the slots aligned to focus on their assigned seat? The slots must be adjustable and there must be an alignment procedure?

They only mention music. Is it two-channel only (for now)?

Is there more information on it? I didn't see links to more details.