Improve the dialogue in my HT (2 Viewers)

[rick1969]

Hi,

Here is my current set up

Denon AVR-X3500H
Klipsch RB-81II for right and left channel, RC-62II Center (I have Klipsch surrounds as well but I didn’t figure that impacted this conversation) and a HSU sub.

I used the Denon Audyssey method to set up my room to balance the audio, but it always seems like the dialogue is hard to hear, especially when it’s quieter vocals (like in Dune, for example). I manually increased the center channel volume to help but it still doesn’t seem quite right. What recommendations do you all have regarding equipment that is suggested for better, movie theater like, dialogue?

Thanks
Rick

 

[ManW_TheUncool]

Villeneuve's Dune (part 1) has some of the most difficult moments for dialog audibility, so I wouldn't use that to be a good gauge -- also, much of the (generally fairly sparse) difficult-to-hear dialog in that one isn't really that important to hear anyway.

Did you bump the sub up from the Audyssey calibration since many feel it's too low? IF you did, perhaps, you bumped it up too much, which might possibly make dialog more difficult to hear.

You might also try dialing down the surrounds a little bit, if the difficulty tends to be dialog being drowned out a little by sound effects and such.

Are there sizeable solid objects near/around or in front of the center speaker? I'd try keeping the center speaker away from anything else, including cabinets, TV screen, etc, if possible -- keeping it on its own dedicated stand away from walls, cabinets, TV, etc would be best, but might not be practical for everyone. This might be the last thing to consider (besides getting better speakers perhaps)...

_Man_

 

[JimJasper]

Rick, I've seen the advice of pulling the center speaker a few inches forward as well, per another home theater group on facebook. I ended up having to do that because I was running into the same issue, and it substantially helped.

Ultra-random, but probably the best dialogue recording I've ever heard from film or TV was from the TV show Alias (2001-2006) stunningly superb dialogue quality, while remaining natural in the mix between scenes with quiet/action/music. Even if a lot of it was redubbed in post (I couldn't tell). But after watching that from a DVD box set about 10 years ago, wow, did I get spoiled. Anyway, keep us updated!

 

[Malcolm R]

Does your Denon have a "dialogue enhancer" setting, or something similar? I have this on my Yamaha and use it when watching with older folks with hearing difficulties. It seems to help. This is a different setting than center channel level adjustment.

I've found over the years that TV shows are mixed in a much better balance of dialogue to music/sound than most films.

 

[rick1969]

OK...thanks for the replies. I'll respond to them here.

My model doesn't seem to have the dialogue enhancer. Can't find that anywhere.

Here is pic of my set up. Please ignore the irritating power cord that refuses to stay behind the TV. And if you look really close, you will see my amazing decks of playing cards giving the center channel just a bit of tilt The center channel is about 9" away from the wall.

If I decided to go down the road of equipment upgrades, where would I start and do you have any suggestions?


View attachment IMG_0221.jpeg

 

[JohnRice]

OK...thanks for the replies. I'll respond to them here.

My model doesn't seem to have the dialogue enhancer. Can't find that anywhere.

Here is pic of my set up. Please ignore the irritating power cord that refuses to stay behind the TV. And if you look really close, you will see my amazing decks of playing cards giving the center channel just a bit of tilt The center channel is about 9" away from the wall.

If I decided to go down the road of equipment upgrades, where would I start and do you have any suggestions?


View attachment 217105

Complaints about comprehending dialog are common. Unless the center speaker is damaged, it's highly unlikely it's a hardware problem, so I wouldn't jump in and buy new equipment expecting it to solve anything. I see nothing that should be physically causing a problem with the setup. So, it's always possible the tweeter on the center channel is fried, which will make it impossible to get decent dialog. Make certain clear sound is coming from the tweeter, which is the square driver in the center of the speaker

Auto room correction virtually always sets the center at too low a level, and the surrounds at too high a level.

What will help us immensely is to try and describe exactly HOW the dialog is difficult to understand.

If it's only on specific movies, like Dune, or pretty much any movie from Christopher Nolan, then it's probably 90% the movie.

 

[John Sparks]

CC is your friend. We use it on everything.

Good luck!

 

[rick1969]

Complaints about comprehending dialog are common. Unless the center speaker is damaged, it's highly unlikely it's a hardware problem, so I wouldn't jump in and buy new equipment expecting it to solve anything. I see nothing that should be physically causing a problem with the setup. So, it's always possible the tweeter on the center channel is fried, which will make it impossible to get decent dialog. Make certain clear sound is coming from the tweeter, which is the square driver in the center of the speaker

Auto room correction virtually always sets the center at too low a level, and the surrounds at too high a level.

What will help us immensely is to try and describe exactly HOW the dialog is difficult to understand.

If it's only on specific movies, like Dune, or pretty much any movie from Christopher Nolan, then it's probably 90% the movie.

Fair enough. I'll watch some other things and see if the dialogue is difficult to hear. Yes, Dune was likely an extreme case because it was so quiet. Other times in other shows or movies it's not about the volume as much as it is about the clarity. I'll keep messing around with it. Thanks!