Speaker distance settings...

[roger06]

I've never been wowed by my home cinema. So about a year ago upgraded the amp to my current Yammy 1065. Still wasn't that impressed. It just didn't sound right and I've been forever thinking is it the sub? is it the centre? should I replace the rather old Kef rears that don't match the Dynaudio fronts?...

But the other day I went into the amp settings for speakers and with a tape measure, checked all the distances. Some were out by a long way - up to a couple of metres. So I put in the settings I'd measured manually and then suddenly 'wow'!!

What a difference! I assumed the distance settings were for volumes (which I'd manually tweaked) but clearly not. My rears are in far from ideal positions but now I can hear them working with the front three instead of being disparate sound sources...

So - get that tape measure out - it's well worth it!!

 

[Ronald Archiebald]

Roger06,

Shouldn't your mike have also calibrated the accurate speaker distances when used?

Ronald

 

[roger06]

Yes I supposed it should have!

Guess it got it wrong so I'm glad I double checked...

 

[sta99y]

It makes a huge difference. It is worthwhile to check setup in auto by choosing skip to distance and spk levels. Then let ypao do its stuff. Then go in manually check each setting. Spk small, bass to sub lfe channel set distance etc... Once done your distances will be as you set cause you skipped this in ypao mode but equaliser will done as you have different spks. I use an app on iPhone to set spk levels to 75db using analogue spl metre app. It makes a huge difference.

 

[roger06]

So I can run the auto set up again but tell it to leave the distance settings alone?

I also preferred the sound (marginally) with the front speakers (Dynaudios) set to 'large' but then this meant the sub wouldn't work when the TV was the input.

I was thinking about getting a £20 SPL metre from Maplin - do you reckon that's a good idea? and what are you looking to achieve - each speaker's volume the same with the test tone at the listening position?

 

[GW93]

Roger, where did you measure the speaker to?

 

[roger06]

To where I park my behind on the sofa...

 

[scene]

roger06:
To where I park my behind on the sofa...

Strictly speaking, should measure to where your head is (a metre above your behind, on average). And to the centre of the tweeter on the speaker.

 

[The_Lhc]

scene:roger06:
To where I park my behind on the sofa...

Strictly speaking, should measure to where your head is (a metre above your behind, on average). And to the centre of the tweeter on the speaker.

Well yes, but unless you're massively overweight or in the habit of lying on your sofa rather than sitting on it the difference in the distance from the speaker to your head compared to your butt should be negligible.

 

[roger06]

scene:roger06:
To where I park my behind on the sofa...

Strictly speaking, should measure to where your head is (a metre above your behind, on average). And to the centre of the tweeter on the speaker.

Yes I guess so - seeing as you can only specifiy the distance in increments of 10cms - is there any point in being quite so accurate?

What do people reckon to a SPL metre from Maplins?

 

[scene]

the_lhc:scene:roger06:
To where I park my behind on the sofa...

Strictly speaking, should measure to where your head is (a metre above your behind, on average). And to the centre of the tweeter on the speaker.

Well yes, but unless you're massively overweight or in the habit of lying on your sofa rather than sitting on it the difference in the distance from the speaker to your head compared to your butt should be negligible.
Yes, and no. Rear surrounds can be near the ceiling, and near the seating position. In my old place, the difference between butt-to-speaker and head-to-speaker was about 0.5m for the rear pair.

And I did say "Strictly speaking"...

 

[The_Lhc]

scene:Yes, and no. Rear surrounds can be near the ceiling, and near the seating position. In my old place, the difference between butt-to-speaker and head-to-speaker was about 0.5m for the rear pair.

Fair point, cogently argued...

 

[FunkyMonkey]

When Audyssey sets speaker distance, it does so using "acoustic distance". Now, I don't knwo what that means exactly, but it's not exactly the same as physical distance. I have read that you shoudl leave it set to teh acoustic distances. Go figure. Maybe different EQ systems have different meanings for speaker distance. Certainly, if manually setting the distance, one would use a tape measure for actual physical distance.

I let Audyssey do its thing at 8 position settings (i only have seats, but the spare 4 I put the mic at my main listening position to bias the audyssey towards that - the theory being that it will measure that 5 times, giving better overall average and bias towards main music listneing position). Then I tweak speaker cut-off frequency to see what sounds best. There's soem tweakign on sub also.

 

[scene]

FunkyMonkey:
When Audyssey sets speaker distance, it does so using "acoustic distance". Now, I don't knwo what that means exactly, but it's not exactly the same as physical distance. I have read that you shoudl leave it set to teh acoustic distances. Go figure. Maybe different EQ systems have different meanings for speaker distance. Certainly, if manually setting the distance, one would use a tape measure for actual physical distance.

I let Audyssey do its thing at 8 position settings (i only have seats, but the spare 4 I put the mic at my main listening position to bias the audyssey towards that - the theory being that it will measure that 5 times, giving better overall average and bias towards main music listneing position). Then I tweak speaker cut-off frequency to see what sounds best. There's soem tweakign on sub also.

I actually looked up "Acoustic distance" and basically it's a measure that allows for the reflection of sound by surfaces in the room that changes the perceived distance to a sound source. So although your speaker is 3m away, the reflections in your room make it seem nearer, or further, or just somewhere else. (The document I was reading was fairly technical and I glazed over on page 45...)

 

[sta99y]

The Maplin spl metre is rubbish. Had one took it back. It has no slow on it so only measures fast. C weighted and slow is one you need. The app for phone or touch (if you have) works fine for £1.19. I measured from centre of speaker to my listening position (head) set these in meters. Allowed amp to skip this setup along with distance. As your using different spks I would suggest for the amp to EQ these so they can be near as tonally.

I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong.

 

[aliEnRIK]

roger06:
I've never been wowed by my home cinema. So about a year ago upgraded the amp to my current Yammy 1065. Still wasn't that impressed. It just didn't sound right and I've been forever thinking is it the sub? is it the centre? should I replace the rather old Kef rears that don't match the Dynaudio fronts?...

But the other day I went into the amp settings for speakers and with a tape measure, checked all the distances. Some were out by a long way - up to a couple of metres. So I put in the settings I'd measured manually and then suddenly 'wow'!!

What a difference! I assumed the distance settings were for volumes (which I'd manually tweaked) but clearly not. My rears are in far from ideal positions but now I can hear them working with the front three instead of being disparate sound sources...

So - get that tape measure out - it's well worth it!!

Id make sure the sound levels are correct too

 

[roger06]

Actually I've just ordered one from Amazon. Had v good reviews especially from a couple of guys who'd used it to set up their home cinema.

Yes I have a Touch - but it doesn't have a mic so I can't see it working on there!

 

[FunkyMonkey]

scene:I actually looked up "Acoustic distance" and basically it's a measure that allows for the reflection of sound by surfaces in the room that changes the perceived distance to a sound source. So although your speaker is 3m away, the reflections in your room make it seem nearer, or further, or just somewhere else. (The document I was reading was fairly technical and I glazed over on page 45...)

So we should conclude that the speaker distance as obtained using mic calibration should be left as is.

 

[scene]

FunkyMonkey:
scene:I actually looked up "Acoustic distance" and basically it's a measure that allows for the reflection of sound by surfaces in the room that changes the perceived distance to a sound source. So although your speaker is 3m away, the reflections in your room make it seem nearer, or further, or just somewhere else. (The document I was reading was fairly technical and I glazed over on page 45...)

So we should conclude that the speaker distance as obtained using mic calibration should be left as is.

Not sure, that's just what I found out about "acoustic distance". I must admit, like the OP now does, I tend to rely on my ears. The methods that these automatic equalisers use, while good - and getting better - are still based on what the manufacturer thinks are the best settings. And sound is a subjective matter, so my view is use the Audyssey/MCACC/YPAO/etc to calibrate your system, and if you're not happy with it, tweak it until you are.

 

[aliEnRIK]

FunkyMonkey:
scene:I actually looked up "Acoustic distance" and basically it's a measure that allows for the reflection of sound by surfaces in the room that changes the perceived distance to a sound source. So although your speaker is 3m away, the reflections in your room make it seem nearer, or further, or just somewhere else. (The document I was reading was fairly technical and I glazed over on page 45...)

So we should conclude that the speaker distance as obtained using mic calibration should be left as is.

Not if setting them manually sounds better - no

 

[Anonymous]

I`m quite a believer in Audyssey if used and set up correctly, I think its a very subjective thing though this room correction thingmybob. I`ve always thought that using audyssey which sets the time domain then adjusting each of my 8 speakers using distance and spl levels at 75db always gives the best results, for me anyway.

That said, i`ve also heard that if you let audyssey do its job and then percivere with what its doing in your room for a couple of weeks you`d never go back to anything else.

As I said its subjective though and we`re all different and hear things differently.

 

[Anonymous]

roger06:
Actually I've just ordered one from Amazon. Had v good reviews especially from a couple of guys who'd used it to set up their home cinema.

Yes I have a Touch - but it doesn't have a mic so I can't see it working on there!

Cheers for that just got myself one

 

[roger06]

stu31:roger06:
Actually I've just ordered one from Amazon. Had v good reviews especially from a couple of guys who'd used it to set up their home cinema.

Yes I have a Touch - but it doesn't have a mic so I can't see it working on there!

Cheers for that just got myself one

Hi Stu

The one that's about 14 quid ? will be interesting to see how we both get one...

 

[Anonymous]

Yeah thats the boy !

 

[roger06]

Yours arrived yet Stu?

Mine came today - seems simple enough. Hoping to have a play later when little 'un is in bed...