or should we just keep what the $20 app suggested by turning off the mids

This. I've tried all the evo variations and they are not for me.

 

Deciding which version of Audyssey to use

... I have a denon x3800H with a 5.2.4 setup in my home theater ...


Wanted to see which one do you all audiophiles use..
What seems to work best for you all? ...

I'm no "audiophile", but I use Audyssey MultEQ XT32 because it works very well...for me.

YMMV, of course.

 

I think MultEQ XT32 with the app worked good but I really enjoy the results of Dirac Bass Control, which the 3800 supports. Also supports ART now but not sure when I will upgrade to ART.

Don’t be afraid to experiment, create several different curves, including some with really elevated bass in the 20–80 Hz range from the subs, to see what sounds best to you.

 

I heard many people say Audyssey with $20 app does what DIRAC does for so much more money. Hence I dropped that option.

 

Depends. Audyssey does not fully integrate your sub(s) with the mains. It will level match and EQ the subs, but does not select the optimal crossover nor does it phase align the subs at the crossover. I would say that Audyssey XT32 is equal to Dirac Live Full Bandwidth. If you want automated sub integration, then that would be Dirac Live Bass Control. Audyssey does not offer an equivalent product.

Have you tried A1 Evo Express yet? That's the most straightforward version to try. Acoustic is also good, but has a lot of advanced options.

If you stick with the Audyssey app, then I'd invest in a UMIK microphone and learn to use REW if you haven't already. There are some tweaks you should do after running Audyssey that require measuring equipment (e.g. look up "subwoofer distance tweak").

 

Wanted to see which one do you all audiophiles use..
What seems to work best for you all?
or should we just keep what the $20 app suggested by turning off the mids

The app is for much more than that. But please see the following on that topic:

Basic (Midrange Compensation) MRC talk, things to know before turning it off:

This one goes into more detail on why Midrange Compensation exists—what physical properties of a speaker is this feature responding to—and why we need to be careful to not boost a directivity mismatch around the woofer-tweeter crossover (MRC off):

 

Basic (Midrange Compensation) MRC talk, things to know before turning it off:

My take on what they are saying is "many speakers kick up the midrange to compensate for narrowing woofer directivity so we put in a dip"-is that correct? My corollary then being if you have a midrange (or large waveguide) then you don't need...

Our experience is that both Audyssey XT32 + App, and ARC Genesis, both ameliorated problems in one living room where a tower is unavoidably in a corner.

 

@taipei71 as others have already suggested, xt32 with subeq ht is an excellent solution on it's own (free). If you need more, there is an A1 Evo app (free) that a member here designed (I think) which is supposed to make your Denon sound even better. One of the many threads on the A1 Evo can be found HERE

Good luck!

 

Using the $200 Windows MultEQ-X app with $80 ACM1-X calibrated mic (found out that my stock mic was significantly miscalibrated), MiniDSP and MSO/UMIK-1/REW to integrate my 4 subs. This is probably not the most cost effective approach, but is very effective. I did this before OCA's tools came out.

 

So those contributing to the new thread know what's already been discussed in the last 2 weeks:

Here's the OP's discussion on Audyssey vs Dirac:

https://www.avsforum.com/threads/considering-dirac-over-audyssey.3333257/?post_id=64214093#post-64214093

Discussion on Audyssey EVO One:

https://www.avsforum.com/threads/considering-dirac-over-audyssey.3333257/?post_id=64214093#post-64214093

DIscussion on Audyssey App Guide:

https://www.avsforum.com/threads/step-by-step-to-use-audyssey-app.3333593/?post_id=64225433#post-64225433

 

Good grief. Somebody need a hobby that doesn't involve the forum? Life is to short. (Pounding the ignore button)

 

I remember in the early days of A1 evo, it kept getting the relative delay between my subs wrong and introducing a null. When that was finally fixed, I gave it a proper try and I have been hooked since! I also love tinkering with code and my current go to is a heavily modified version of the MJ variant - it checks all my boxes.

Edit: prior to A1, this is how I used to use vanilla audyssey - How to implement a house curve in the audyssey multeq editor app (tip to overcome auto leveling) | AVS Forum