Is Auddessy EQ any good?

[ric71]

Hi all,

Is it me or am i just old skool, I am not sure if I like the results of using Auddessy room calibration with my Denon 3310. I have calibrated it several times now and yes the bass is tighter but the sound on music is not as open as compared to when i turn it off.

I have checked the measurements with an SPL meter and have had to make a few db adjustments, about 2db on some speakers, and after using a tape measure for distances again i have had to make admitedly some small adjustments.

I know its personal preference but i would be interested to see if any one else switches Auddessy off. I listen to mainly multi channel music. I cant stand the Auddessy Dynamic EQ

I am considering the Antimode sub EQ any thoughts?

Many thanks guys in advance

 

[Chewy]

It depends how you listen to music through your AV amp I guess, and what setting you're listening with.

I have played around quite a bit with various options on my amp, and by far the most detailed and open setting on my amp is Pure Direct, which effectively bypasses the various room calibration settings, and send the untouched stereo (or in your case multichannel) signal to the speakers. Your Denon must have a similar setting?

The Antimode might help (considering getting one myself), as it will allow you to apply room correction just to the sub, which is fairly key I would have thought, to ensure the timing is in line with the other speakers (probably why the bass sounds 'tighter' with Auddessey on).

 

[kinda]

Hello, I've found the EQ to be OK for me on flat for music on the 1911, and so haven't experimented much in turning it off.

I don't have any dynamic EQ on though. This seems fine for films, and enables me to watch at lower volumes, but for music it seemed to make the presentation thicker and less clear.

Haven't really tried the pure modes much as I like to have the multi-speaker presentation of stereo.

 

[kevinJ]

On my 1909, I only use Audyssey to set the distances and speakerlevels and turn off any eq (MultiEQ, DynamicEQ,...) afterwards.
I always found that the Audyssey settings made the sub way too loud (ok, it's nice to hear you whole house vibrate when watching a movie with alot of explosions in it), but it also muffled the voices in my fronts and center.

And when I'm listening to stereo music, the avr is set to "direct" or even "pure direct". Sound MUCH better.

Oh btw, that dynamic EQ is designed for low volume listening. It makes silent sounds louder and loud ones quieter, and that is horrible when you listen to music.

 

[Anonymous]

To kevinJ, do you prefer the small green/red audyssey light totally off? I don't listen to music with mine, just TV/Xbox and blu ray viewing. I use the auto cali to set mine up but like you am thinking of having a tinker.

 

[kevinJ]

Well, if the green light is on, you have Dynamic Volume and Dynamic EQ on. With the red light you only have the Dynamic EQ on. And there is also an Audyssey MultEQ setting that can be set to normal, flat and off.

And I have everything set to off because I think it sound much better like that.

 

[Anonymous]

I didn't know you could turn it off. Thanks for that. Just given it a go. The missus says its sounds a bit thin on TV viewing, and i think she's got a point. I'll put a Blu ray in and see how it goes

 

[Anonymous]

a good question and this is my experience of it.

when I first set my cinema room up it was with an Onkyo 905, I was always aware that when just using audyssey I wasn`t really happy with its settings so like others used a tape measure to adjust distances and an spl meter for the levels and left audyssey to see to the frequency and time domain.

Now I`ve recently upgraded to Onkyo`s 5508 processor and 5500 power amp which uses Audyssey XT32 technology and everything has changed for the better, leaving audyssey to its own devices everything just seems to be spot on, steering, detail, separation although I did lift the sub up 3db`s and use an Antimode as well.

So is the new audyssey better than the old, well the answer has to be from me a resounding yes and also with Audyssey DSX as well and now 5 speakers across the front its all coming together perfectly.

Conclusion is; old audyssey mmhh!! ok but with tweaks, new version gobsmackingly good

 

[Petruchio]

I have the AVR-3311, and I find the Audessey to be excellent. I have Dynamic Vol and EQ both set to OFF, but I've never been quite sure what Dynamic EQ does... if Audessey sets the dynamics for the room, and Dynamic Vol keeps the dynamic range in check for when listening at low volumes, what does Dynamic EQ actually do??!

 

[Tom Moreno]

Petruchio:I have the AVR-3311, and I find the Audessey to be excellent. I have Dynamic Vol and EQ both set to OFF, but I've never been quite sure what Dynamic EQ does... if Audessey sets the dynamics for the room, and Dynamic Vol keeps the dynamic range in check for when listening at low volumes, what does Dynamic EQ actually do??!
Dynamic EQ uses the measurements that Audessey took about the frequency response of your speakers at reference volume and applies adjustments to the EQ of each individual channel at varying levels as you turn the volume down from reference level so that you system sounds as full and rich at lowers listening volumes as it does with no EQ applied at 0db. I find that it works pretty well at this and allows me to enjoy my system without turning the volume up as high. I only use Dynamic volume on my Sky input on the AVR on Day mode to prevent the scolding wife when ads come on.

 

[Petruchio]

Thanks for the info.

Dynamic Vol on Sky sounds like a good plan - I'll give it a go...

I'll keep Dyn EQ and VOL off for Bluray and Music, methinks.

I play around with Audyssey (what a weird word!) quite a bit, sometimes turning it off altogether. However most of the time I leave it on Audyssey XT as this tends to give the better sound for my room.

Thanks again.

 

[ric71]

I find that everything sounds so much more natural and open with all the Audyssey settings switched to off. Yes my sub is not quite as tight but i think i will get the Antimode in the New year.

I suppose it is down to personal taste and the listening environment!!

 

[Petruchio]

Absoloutely - I've never been a fan of any kind of EQ in the past (on my old sony 5200ES I had everything set to off) but with the Denon the Auddyssey seems to make it sound fuller for me. It's all up to personal taste.

 

[lesmallett]

Hi Petruchio, sorry to hijack this post a little but I have the same TV as yours and was wondering if you notice any significant improvement in picture between your BDP-570 and PS3? Keep holding off buying a dedicated blu-ray as always felt my old TV wouldn't show the improvement, especially as it lacks 24fps.

In relation to the post I have switched all the Audessey off on my Onkyo 606 as it made the sub too boomy. Haven't tried it now I have a new sub. Sounds better with music but the surround sound lacks something with everything off.