Audyssey MultEQ: Questions and Answers - Onkyo, Denon, et. al.

Joe Pick · 10-29-2007, 09:30 PM

I just got an Onkyo TX-SR705, and liked the idea of the Audyssey MultEQ feature. I have PSB Image speakers and an SVS sub. The Audyssey MultEQ set all 5 of my speakers to "full range" and set the sub volume so low, it was like it wasn't even there. I did three mic positions with the Audyssey MultEQ - in close proximity to each other. The distances were pretty close, but the sound wasn't good. I ended up setting them all to 80Hz, and my sub's LPF of LFE to 100.

Anyone had luck with Audyssey MultEQ? I wish I could force the speaker types to "stick" prior to running the setup.

JohnRice · 10-30-2007, 12:00 AM

People seem to have had rather mixed results with the auto setup features from all brands. I have never used it myself, but will be giving it a try on an Onkyo 605 in the next day or two. I can do calibrations myself, but was just curious how the auto route would work.

I've read several responses of them setting all speakers to large, and wonder if it is because a lot of people insist on using that setting and get downright belligerent if you suggest otherwise.

gene c · 10-30-2007, 05:25 PM

Quote:

The Audyssey MultEQ set all 5 of my speakers to "full range" and set the sub volume so low,

I've used the auto/eq with a Pioneer 1014 an H/K 435 and an Onkyo 702. All three set even my smallest speakers (Athena Point 5, 4" drivers) to large and also set the sub volume too low. Speaker distances were pretty accurate but volumes were a bit suspect. You can usually go back in and re-set the size, volumes, etc. after the fact but that kind of defeats the purpose. The other problem I ran into with all three receivers was the eq would produce a different sound every time I ran it. I'm more than willing to accept the fact that it could have been "user error" but can't imagine what I could have done so differently for it to produce such a different sound. The Pioneer and Onkyo allow for manual eq adjustments, which I prefer, but the H/K does not. Also, the Pioneer lets you see the auto's eq settings. The other two don't. I'm no expert but I still prefer to set things up myself. But they can be fun to play with.

RAF · 10-30-2007, 05:42 PM

It has been my experience that the Audyssey equalization works extremely well on the two Denons I own (a 3806 and a 3808). In fact, I will be using the Audyssey Pro calibration shortly on my 3808 (32 data points) because it also incorporates dynamic equalization which I first heard at CEDIA and which is a remarkable advancement in home equalization. Go to the audyssey site to learn more about the particulars.

BTW: Only the Denons (3808 and up) support Dynamic Equalization. The Integra and the NAD don't have processing speeds needed for this task.

Sidebar: I don't really think that your choice of wording for the title of this thread is very productive. It smacks of the attitudes present at some "other" HT forums and is very confrontational. You would have gotten the same point across with something like, "I have questions regarding Audyssey MultEQ on my Onkyo 705" without coming across with an attitude. You should consider editing the title in the spirit of civil dialogue.

Joe Pick · 10-30-2007, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RAF

Sidebar: I don't really think that your choice of wording for the title of this thread is very productive. It smacks of the attitudes present at some "other" HT forums and is very confrontational. You would have gotten the same point across with something like, "I have questions regarding Audyssey MultEQ on my Onkyo 705" without coming across with an attitude. You should consider editing the title in the spirit of civil dialogue.

I'm not trying to be confrontational, I'm just frustrated.

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mitch · 10-30-2007, 06:56 PM

Hi All,

This is an interesting thread because I had similar results. I recently purchased an Integra DTR-7.8 AVR with the Audysey. I ran it several times, but it also kept comming up with front mains and center on full [even Snell recommends that my speakers be set to small or 80 HZ crossover and the my SVS sub on 80 HZ].

This setting sounds best to me, but maybe to others, the Audyssey setting would sound better. It's all very subjective.

Brent_S · 10-30-2007, 07:08 PM

What exactly are you frustrated with?

The Onkyo implementation has been reported to be somewhat "optimistic" in identifying speakers as large when they're not. You've fixed that.

Same with the levels. The auto setup part of the Audyssey routine is calibrating the levels as the micrpophone measured them. Were you holding the mic during the measurements? Was there extra background noise...A/C, dog barking, planes overhead, etc....when you did any of the measurements. All of these can throw off level and EQ settings. Again, season to taste.

Lastly, Audyssey does much more than auto setup levels and distance delays. It attempts to achieve a flat frequency response at the measured locations using a combination of EQ and time alignment. That's a tall order in the typical home listening environment. Depending on how "flat" your frame of reference is prior to the EQ, you may not like it...and there's nothing wrong with that. Have you ever seen a monitor that had adjustable color temps? While 6500K is the broadcast reference standard, it probably looked much less engaging than the higher temps at first glance. Same thing used to be pretty common when people first moved up to real subwoofers like SVS or Hsu...with their flat frequency responses, people didn't feel like they had as much bass as the CC/BB one note wonders with big 35-40hz tuning peaks and then nothing below that.

In short, after making reasonable adjustments to the crossovers and adjusting the levels to taste, give yourself some time to acclimate to the EQ. The guys behind the math aren't exactly dumb. If, after giving it an honest evaluation, you still don't like the EQ, don't use it...nothing wrong with that.

BTW, I wouldn't start tweaking the EQ manually, if the 705 allows it. My understanding is once you do that, you wipe out the Audyssey calcuations. The manual EQ doesn't give you time domain adjustments and also doesn't have as much EQ flexibility as the auto routine. Only resort to manual EQ after you've given Audyssey a fair shake, IMO.

-Brent

Joe Pick · 10-30-2007, 07:09 PM

I ended up turning my EQ off, and I have had email conversations with SVS that sound similar. They recommend setting my speakers at 80Hz, and the LPF of LFE for my SVS sub at 100Hz - using an Onkyo TX-SR705.

I had another strange issue. I have had an audible and annoying hum sound coming from my sub, and I thought I had the dreaded ground loop issue - and I still may. When I switched my Onkyo's EQ setting from "Audyssey" to "Off", the hum sound decreased dramatically! I've had enough problems, so I set my distances manually, and used a SPL meter to set my levels. Sounds good to me! Now about that darn, now faint hum....