WHF Team, please explain re Denon 1910 review...

[Nick_Shepherd]

Hi,

I am confused by the following paragraphs in your review of the Denon 1910:

'This model uses Audyssey MultEQ to help set up your speakers, which allows the readings to be taken from up to six different seating positions.

We found, however, that the '1910 performed best with the Audyssey system turned off. We'd suggest you perform a manual set-up, or allow Audyssey to measure your speaker distances and levels and then turn the EQ off once the set-up procedure is complete.

We'd also recommend enabling the amp's Direct Audio mode for optimum sound quality'

Apologies if I am just being an idiot, but, does this mean that the Denon's auto set up is no good, and we should set up manually, or that the Audyssey EQ is no good, and should be switched off, but it is good enough to do the speaker set up? What is the link between the EQ and Set up?

I admit to not knowing exactly what Adyssey is, and why it would be used for a speaker set up and then switched off.

Please could the review team or any owners explain the above again for me?

I like the idea of a god auto set up you see.

Many Thanks!

 

[Andrew Everard]

OK, here goes:

The Audyssey Auto Setup is found in receivers from Denon, Marantz, NAD and Onkyo, among others. Audyssey is a California-based specialist in audio processing technology, whose products are used in domestic audio systems, car audio and the pro field. You can read more on the company's website.

When run as part of the initial set-up of the receiver, it measures speaker position, sound pressure level and in-room tonal balance.

Based on those measurements it then sets delay times for the sound to each speaker (to compensate for different distances to each speaker from the listening position), adjusts the level for each speaker, and also applies equalisation (Audyssey MultEQ) to normalise the frequency response of each speaker - ie to make them all sound as alike as possible.

The equalisation works over nine frequency bands, centred on 63Hz, 125Hz, 250Hz, 500Hz, 1kHz, 2kHz, 4kHz, 8kHz and 16kHz, and takes account of both the speakers' inherent tonal characteristics and how they are affected by the room in which you're using them.

As default, the system also turns on Audyssey Dynamic EQ, which adjusts equalisation according to volume - to compensate for the fact that speakers reproduce the frequency extremes, and in particular bass, less well at lower levels.

It's our view that these automatic set-up systems - not just Audyssey but also the similar systems used by other manufacturers -, while good at setting a base set of parameters automatically, have some shortcomings, which can be addressed by a level of manual intervention.

For example, it's my personal opinion that most of these systems set the rear-channel (surround L/R and surround back L/R) speaker levels too high, and it's advantageous to turn them down a bit to avoid the impression of too much sound coming from behind the listener, which can detract from a credible front soundstage.

One can also shorten the distance settings on the rear speakers, which will cause the receiver to introduce more delay: this can also make over prominent rear channels less distracting, as the ear responds to the first sound it hears, and to an extent masks the same sound slightly delayed.

In the opinion of the review team, the Denon's equalisation gave a less than impressive result, and they thus suggested running the auto set-up to determine speaker levels and delays, then going into the manual set-up menus and switching off the Audyssey MultEQ.

This doesn't affect the basic level and delay settings, but merely shuts down the equalisation, giving what the review team feels is a more pleasing result.

Sorry for the somewhat long-winded answer, but you did ask...

 

[Anonymous]

well if your making your 20,000th post , you may as well make it a long one

 

[Andy Clough]

A bottle of bubbly for Mr E, I'd say!

 

[Andrew Everard]

Kind offer gratefully accepted.

 

[dav1967]

I like what the Audyssey produces in my set up. I don't find the surround speakers over powering and are balanced very well.

I had to lower the input source audio levels in the set up menu as the overall bass sound seemed a little high, but now it sounds great.

Dynamic EQ does take a while to get used to, but once you do, turning it off makes the system sound weaker.

 

[kevinJ]

I used audissey too, but it made my sub overpower everything else. A footstep was like a gunshot, a gunshot like a bomb, and a bomb made everything rattle in the house. Conversations where also difficult to understand because of the overpowered sub.

So I re-ran the Audissey calibration to get the right speaker distances and soundlevel, and then turned it off. Sounds alot better.

 

[Nick_Shepherd]

Thanks Andrew for the detailed reply, I am grateful and all is much clearer.

Enjoy the bubbly!

 

[Andrew Everard]

Nick_Shepherd:Enjoy the bubbly!

I fear it was Cuv‚e Metaphorique...

 

[John Duncan]

Well Clare has promised us some of this when we finally launch the new website...

 

[Andrew Everard]

JohnDuncan:Well Clare has promised us some of this when we finally launch the new website...

Of course, by then it will be vintage...

 

[Anonymous]

JohnDuncan:Well Clare has promised us some of this when we finally launch the new website...

See I knew they paid her too much.

Me its white lightning and a drop of strawberry squash, and BOOYA pink champange.... LOL