After you run Audyssey or YPAO (for Yammy owners) do you leave the sub level as is or do you run it 'hot' (i.e. add a few more dB). My settings:

Original: -10.0 dB
Movies: I add +2.5 dB
Music: I reduce -2.5 dB

Just wanna check what settings you all use.

jchong,

I normally set the gain on the sub to be ~75dB using a SPL meter. After Audyssey, I normally get the sub level +/- 1dB and leave it at that.

I assume you're using the pink noise in the "level calibration" menu of the 876 to set the ~75 dB point?

One thing I find is that there's quite a bit of fluctuation in the CM140 reading when it comes to the sub. Do you take the average between the min and max readings?

Yes, the pink noise in the level calibration. I also double check it with REW and it is normally close enuf.

Sub readings will always fluctuate. Especially if u r getting reflections due to a wall or head rest nearby. I recall that it would be slightly more stable when selecting C slow...Even then the fluctuation when I did was +/-3dB.

This post has been edited by anfieldude: Aug 17 2009, 10:41 PM

With C slow, I'm getting fluctuations about +/- 4 dB.

Anyway, earlier I did set the sub ~ 75 dB but that was not so satisfying. Hence I run the sub a little bit hotter for added "oomph". Just wondering what preferences fellow forummers have.

This is something that is common. Check out the house curve section in the REW. There are discussions that the .1 portion for most people shd be set +5dB from the rest of the speakers. It's not how the director intended but it is what a lot of people prefer in HT setup. For a music setup it is better if it blends in with the music, hence the flatter output compared to the rest of the speakers.

Mine is at +2dB against my other speakers, which is at 75dB since I only listen / watch movie at moderate volume level.

I set my at -15db ( min level for Onkyo 876 ) & turn up my Paradigm vol to 50%. Anywhere higher at either set, the bass is too much. He! He! For eg listening to Hotel California will sound like two big drum!

I ran the Audyssey and then I double checked with the SPL meter. Seems like the Audyssey set the gain at 80dB so I use that as my reference. All channels are quite accurate actually, except for the subwoofer which is 10dB too low so I had to adjust that. And the distance is the same, all accurate except the subwoofer. Audyssey always put it as 8m even though it shoud only be less than 3m. My listening volume is -27dB.

same goes to me... after audisi...have to pump up -0 db on SW... but volume on sub remain at 35

listening volume around 20-25

This post has been edited by megatron007: Aug 18 2009, 07:33 AM

What was the original sub level after Audyssey? I assume must be negative dB before you increase until 0 dB?

All speakers 75db. Sub 75-80db. Use slow and C weighted on SPL meter.
After than I run odisi which set the sub at -2.5db. That is within the recommended range +/-3db so I take it my setting using SPL meter is good.

After than I never touch the sub master volume again. For movie I just press EQ movie mode. Music I use Jazz/Classical EQ setting (which is flat no added gains). Some movies too much bass has to use flat EQ also.

aiman,

One thing to check, is your sub in a corner? Sub distances are not a reflection of true distances but a sense of your accoustical distances to your primary seating position. Whenever the sub is in a corner, you will be causing reflections that can throw off the subwoofer reading of Audyssey. What Audyssey is compensating for is the reflection, thus setting it much farther away and increasing the delay on the sub. This gives you a more accurate rendition of the soundtrack, else the .1 sound will reach you ear 1st.

If it is in a corner, I would suggest moving it at least 1ft (better yet, 1.5ft) from the corners. Then redo Audyssey and see what it sets.

The Onkyo 875 mic is not too accurate and it tends to give the problems of lower dB for the sub. The corrected Onkyo 876 mic will be more accurate. The response is quite a bit different. I had the Onkyo 875 and 876 side by side and did comparisons. The Onkyo 876 post Audyssey was much better.

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Added on August 18, 2009, 9:26 amWas this what Audyssey recommended? -15dB indicates a possible error for Audyssey shd the trims be set so low...I believe you have room problems. You might need to move the sub and redo Audyssey.

This post has been edited by anfieldude: Aug 18 2009, 09:26 AM

If not mistaken in corner with 2 walls will add 6db to sub.

arremie,

It also depends on your seating position and room accoustics.

Yes that is Audyssey setting ( with Para sub vol at 25%, increased to 50% after setting ). Agree with u that 876 Audyssey is much more accurate that 875.

I think I better relocated my sub. Now it is very lonely by itself at the back of my living room, against two wall in a corner. Will try to moved it out by 1.5' & see the result.

Tq for ur expert suggestion.

i used to add +4dB after audyssey setting using velo 10R.

now, i only add +1dB after audyssey using pb12nsd cos even +2dB will be too loud.

now that i got REW working, i'll re-do all settings again after putting in additional room treatments.

horny,

u might want to re-rerun Audyssey after you adjusted the gain and see if this time it increases to close to -3dB to +3dB. This is the correct gain setting on your sub.

Thanks bro, my sub is more than 1 meter from the corner, will try to re-run the Audyssey. Just thought the distance is supposed to be physical distance, and that Audyssey will automatically compensate all the reflections, etc based on that.

aiman,
The audyssey is trying to do that by indicating that the accoustic distance of the sub is more than the actual physical distance. It is trying to compensate for that by adding distance thus indirectly adding a delay of when the bass information reaches your ears. As such, you do not need to re-run, maybe you can try some other placement and re-run to see if it improves.

For the front speakers the distances shd be fairly close to the actual distance. That is important. If Audyssey is not getting the front distances correct, then you have something blocking the path of the sound between your 1st mic placement and the speakers.

Don't worry abt the sub distances too much as it indicating some room issues. Audyssey is taking care of it.