[plissken99]

1st off I have the SVS PB2+ sub, it's 2 downfiring 12in woofers with a 900w amp. With Klipsch RF-7 based 7.1 surround.


When I do the Audyssey calibration on my Denon 4310 reciever, it sets the sub waaay too low IMO. At half gain on the back of the sub, it reads at 95dbs or so, and has me dial it back to where it's 75dbs. Then it sets the sub speaker level to -1.5dbs. When this is done the sub is barely noticable in action sequences. So I turn it back up around half gain after calibration.


Audio in the end is personal preference, but I was wondering if the reciever is actually setting it right? That the sub is supposed to be a subtle accent? Because their awfully expensive to be setting that low lol. I don't turn it up so much the rest of the speakers get muddied, I just like a nice rumble, and some vibration in my seat.


So which is technically right, the reciever, or me?

 

[AvGeek07]

First off,when u use the automatic calibration you have to make sure your room area is quiet. because noise from out side can interfere. Or you can try setting your subwoofer volume knob about 9 o clock and adjust your sub woofer output on the receiver until the spl meter reads 75. I currently set my sub 2 db lower since the analog meter is 2 db hot.

 

[kgveteran]



Quote:
The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Plus ça change plus c'est la même chose


Rush Circumstances

KG

 

[Dynamic1]



Quote:
Originally Posted by plissken99 /forum/post/18262797


1st off I have the SVS PB2+ sub, it's 2 downfiring 12in woofers with a 900w amp. With Klipsch RF-7 based 7.1 surround.


When I do the Audyssey calibration on my Denon 4310 reciever, it sets the sub waaay too low IMO. At half gain on the back of the sub, it reads at 95dbs or so, and has me dial it back to where it's 75dbs. Then it sets the sub speaker level to -1.5dbs. When this is done the sub is barely noticable in action sequences. So I turn it back up around half gain after calibration.


Audio in the end is personal preference, but I was wondering if the reciever is actually setting it right? That the sub is supposed to be a subtle accent? Because their awfully expensive to be setting that low lol. I don't turn it up so much the rest of the speakers get muddied, I just like a nice rumble, and some vibration in my seat.


So which is technically right, the reciever, or me?

You

I finally got a center channel and front mains that can keep up with the bass I have on hand. I am always adjusting the subs volume.

Decided to pop in TopGun last night on Blu-Ray turned the subs up to half volume and it blew me away completely.

I did the Yamaha Calibration the way the book said and it was close but said I had the subs too low. Anyway I had it up to 3/4 volume on back of subs and it was way too much things were falling off the dressers 1/2 and the experience of the movie was amazing.

Now back to cable I had to turn it up a little. Anyway mabye I am nuts as my woman always asks why I have to spend 5 minutes adujsting things for every movie as she says she haers things she never heard before with movies and likes it without touching things

MY 2 cents says do what makes you happy.

 

[bluesky636]



Quote:
Originally Posted by plissken99 /forum/post/18262797


1st off I have the SVS PB2+ sub, it's 2 downfiring 12in woofers with a 900w amp. With Klipsch RF-7 based 7.1 surround.


When I do the Audyssey calibration on my Denon 4310 reciever, it sets the sub waaay too low IMO. At half gain on the back of the sub, it reads at 95dbs or so, and has me dial it back to where it's 75dbs. Then it sets the sub speaker level to -1.5dbs. When this is done the sub is barely noticable in action sequences. So I turn it back up around half gain after calibration.


Audio in the end is personal preference, but I was wondering if the reciever is actually setting it right? That the sub is supposed to be a subtle accent? Because their awfully expensive to be setting that low lol. I don't turn it up so much the rest of the speakers get muddied, I just like a nice rumble, and some vibration in my seat.


So which is technically right, the reciever, or me?

All speakers should be calibrated to 75 dB SPL. That is what Audyssey is doing. it is setting all speakers to "reference" level. Your "preference" is for louder bass or you may just not be used to what reference level bass sounds like. It can be quite powerful when called for. Read this for more of an explanation:

http://www.audyssey.com/blog/2009/05...vs-preference/


To answer your question, technically the receiver (Audyssey) is correct.

 

[Dynamic1]



Quote:
Originally Posted by bluesky636 /forum/post/18263848


All speakers should be calibrated to 75 dB SPL. That is what Audyssey is doing. it is setting all speakers to "reference" level. Your "preference" is for louder bass or you may just not be used to what reference level bass sounds like. It can be quite powerful when called for. Read this for more of an explanation:

http://www.audyssey.com/blog/2009/05...vs-preference/


To answer your question, technically the receiver (Audyssey) is correct.

Technically it is correct but realistically I felt like I was sitting on a runway with f-14s passing me by it gave me goose bumps the experience was amazing. So yes I am killing my ears but for me I enjoy it once in a while.

 

[plissken99]

Well the volume knob started at 12 o'clock, and ended up at 7 o'clock to get down to 75 db. I would imagine it would go to the same place everytime. I just wonder if Audyssey is set up to handle down firing subs, as they don't seem to be usual. The room was very quiet.


And yeah ultimatly doing what makes me happy is gonna win out, I'm just curious which is technically the correct way to go, like if I were completly 100% concerned with reproducing what the filmmakers intended. Subs can't really damage hearing can they? Doesn't seem like bass would have an effect on the ear drums.

 

[jpco]

From your description in the original post, it seems as though Audyssey's level was technically correct. 75db on an Radio Shack meter with a trim adjustment of -1.5db would be right about where it should be. Doesn't really matter much where the volume dial on the sub is actually set, especially if it's on the lower side of the dial.


Bass is supposed to be subtle most of the time and available for impact when needed. When I go to a movie theater, I do not hear the bass rumbling all the time, and I hardly ever "feel" the bass like I do in an A/V showroom where the subwoofer is more prominent in the setup. I prefer the subwoofer to blend with the complete system and not to call attention to itself at all. That's what I hear when all speakers are calibrated to 75db.


So I'd say that Audyssey's level is more correct, and your preference for more bass is just that, a preference.

 

[AvGeek07]

Totally agree,movie cinemas has very good sound stage.

But,my local amc must have their subs at 6 db hot. because when i saw star trek i can feel the floor vibrate a little bit.

 

[Napoleon D]

IMO the best sound in theaters are the newer AMC chains, as the ones in Northern VA are THX certified - at least, as the literature says they fit the certification without paying for the logo. The bass at these theaters is so tight it is almost non-existent, but you still feel it. I remember the bass in Star Trek was so subtle that it never called attention to itself. Yet it still felt like a perfectly balanced soundtrack. That to me is a sign of a well-designed theater. I'm trying to get that in the home enviromnemt as much as I can - as it brings far less complaints about bass. Other times, there are the older theaters which lack tonal-balance, or even any kind of low-end at all. Your ears will tell you when something is wrong if you've been around this stuff enough.


I've noticed that bass often feels undercalibrated at home when there is a hole/dip in the lower frequencies - the 50-80Hz range for example. I would then boost the sub level to fill in that gap to my ears, but then the 20-50Hz range is too much. So then when the auto-setup sets the subwoofer level much lower then you had it, suddenly you think it's under-calibrating. When everything is flat, the "lower" subwoofer setting comes across as just ample enough for me - not too high or low. When things in the room start shaking too much, then I know there is a setup problem.