Treat your ears

  • Advanced Audio Calibration $600
  • Basic Audio Setup $200 (with display calibration only) 

 
For most systems including Dirac, ARC Genesis, MCACC, YAPO, Audyssey (including Audyssey Pro on legacy models), Mini DSP, Trinnov, and others, the Advanced Audio Calibration utilizes the equalization and bass management capabilities included in most late model receivers or processors to give a startling improvement over non tweaked, automatic routines.  REW, along with microphones individually calibrated by Cross Spectrum Labs, are used to measure and analyze each speaker. Multiple listener locations can be spatially averaged.  The system will be equalized to a "house curve", with a specific high frequency rolloff and / or a slightly elevated bass; and this can be modified to suit individual preferences.


Note from Chad B about the Advanced Audio Calibration: My normal method is to use whichever correction system is utilized by your equipment along with my own measurement equipment (REW and Cross Spectrum Labs calibrated microphone) for additional measurements and tweaking. For Audyssey, I use an Audyssey Pro mic, and for Dirac I use my own mic with its CSL calibration file. For other systems I may need to use the mic that came with the receiver or processor (Trinnov, Room Perfect, ARC Genesis, etc). I use my own equipment to first optimize your subs to make sure they are reinforcing each other properly and placed properly if there is placement flexibility. Then I run whichever automated system I am working with. I then run my own tests to optimize bass management, correction cut off ("curtains" to control the upper correction frequency of each pair of speakers), and house curve or tilt. Then I perform listening tests focused especially on tonal balance, dynamic range, and Atmos blending using the Spatial Audio Calibration Toolkit to listen for seamless panning between height and floor level speakers. I then go back into Audyssey, Dirac, etc and make any changes necessary and repeat that process (measuring, listening, tweaking) as necessary. The results are far superior to what one would get just by running Audyssey or Dirac without tweaks. 


It can be a long process, depending on your system.


One notable exception to this general workflow is with Yamaha equipment, where I do all of the equalization manually.


For Audyssey based systems, I can either use the App based calibration, which I generally recommend, or MultEQ-X, which requires an additional license purchase. For Dirac based systems, I can use it to whichever license level you prefer to go and have purchased the license for (Live, ART, etc) that is compatible. 


A typical Audyssey based calibration usually takes 3-5 hours, and Dirac, ARC, Yamaha, and Room Perfect usually take somewhat longer. Trinnovs, being the most complex, take the most time.”

  • Optimize and check system wiring, source settings and speaker placement
  • Optimize bass management, delay times, phase and other controls on your receiver or processor and subwoofer(s)
  • Measure spatially averaged (multi-point) frequency response of each speaker, including sub(s) and surrounds, and adjust any equalization capabilities in the receiver, pre/pro, or any add on equalizers


When you just want to know the basics are done right, the Basic Audio Setup will get things on the right track.

  • Optimize and check system wiring, source settings, phase, and simple speaker placement correction
  • Run receiver's auto setup (including Audyssey, MCACC, YAPO, and others) and make tweaks by ear or SPL meter as needed
  • Set channel delays and levels if not done correctly in the automated setup


Average time is 3-7 hours for Advanced Audio Calibration, or 1-2 hours for the Basic Audio Setup.

HDTVbyChadB