Ok I have read tons of threads on calibration but none seems to be able to answer these questions: It appears to me that if I calibrate my system, I have all the necessary speakers (2 front, center, 2 rear, sub and DD 5.1/DTS amp) and enjoy basically the way it sounds, I would want all the speakers at the same volume? Is that correct? However if I do that then won't I have to play it even louder to hear the voices better, because I will have to turn down the center speaker to match the other 2 front speakers. Now isn't that what the dynamic range of the amp is for? I thought that using the dynamic range setting is supposed set the volumes to all the speaker the same? Or am I missing something here? I know you can buy a meter from Radio Shack that will monitor the sounds so that I can set them to the same level but again I thought that was what the dynamic range setting was for. Also what distance do most people sit back from the front and center speakers(me about 15 feet)? I know that my hearing is about 10 db's lower than most peoples and I seem to have to have the volume up to 45+ range which to me seems like that is really up there considering that the amp only goes to 90.
Thanks in advance to anyone who can help me here! :D
Iron Chef
03-07-01, 11:42 AM
I suggest that you go and pick up the Avia HT Calibration DVD. I love it. It is quite informative, and will help you calibrate your system.
DigIt
03-07-01, 12:04 PM
Because all speakers perform differently in different settings, it is necessary to calibrate them to the proper levels for your room with your equipment when you set up your HT. You calibrate all of the speakers to the same db level using a test tone or white noise. Then, when you play an actual soundtrack, you will hear everything at the correct and appropriate volume. The sound engineer who created the mix has compensated to allow you to hear dialogue over effects. So just because your center and main speakers are the same reference level, the mains may be more active than the center during a scene in a movie (or the mains can be silent while the center speaker is very loud). This is all determined by the sound engineer who created the DVD. Your receiver should have a test tone button that allows you to calibrate all of your speakers to the same volume. Do it. Once your speakers are all equal, then you are hearing the sound mix exactly as the filmmakers intended.
(Some people boost the center channel speaker a bit just to enhance dialogue or to keep the rest of the speakers at a courteous volume. If you are hard of hearing, boosting the center channel a few db will probably be beneficial.)
Dynamic range compression is a like a compressor. It can make all of the levels the same, but this has little to do with your speaker settings. If you turn the compressor on and then turn your center channel all the way up (to +10), it will be louder than the rest of the speakers (at 0). The purpose of dynamic range control isn't to make all of the speakers the same volume, it is to eliminate the peaks and dips in volume that are normal in a movie soundtrack, so that everything is more even. This is helpful when you're watching an action movie late at night and don't want to startle the neighbors with a loud explosion. The compressor can subdue the explosion so that it is no louder than the dialogue. It can also raise whispers to normal dialogue levels as well. Think of it as making a "wild" soundtrack more "tame". In normal situations, you should turn it off because an explosion should be louder than dialogue, and you will want the more realistic sonic experience.
(Not all soundtracks can benefit from compression, it has to be specifically flagged or encoded or something. In that sense, it is not a true compressor. I know that Armageddon:CC is capable, so you can use that as a test. Try watching explosive scenes with and without compression.)
Most people have their speakers near or on top of the TV. Depending on how big your TV is, your speakers may be near or far away. If you have a 36" TV, then you are probably sitting about 50-60" away. I would say anything between 5 and 10 feet is average. As far as listening at volumes that are too loud, reference level is 75 db I think, so if you have an SPL meter and you are listening at anything above 75 db, then I guess you could consider that "loud".
[Edited by DigIt on 03-07-01 at 09:15 AM]
JimRochester
03-07-01, 12:45 PM
On some discs the dialogue is tough to hear or the effects can be too loud if the the dialogue is up. Also because I have trouble hearing out of my right ear, I have the RR speaker turned up. I used Video Essentials and I still recommend it as a good place to start.
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