mcacc settings question

[lunchbox]

pioneer 1018, polk monitor 50s, CS1, 30s and ED A2-300.

mcacc sets all speakers to large, crossover is at 80hz. I've messed with setting the crossover to 100hz. Does this sounds right? I'm not sure I know the difference between the small/large setting and how that factors into the crossover setting.

Personally I think the 100hz setting sounds better than the 80hz, this is based on sub output. I've been listening to bass intensive scenes to set up the ED A2-300 (dark knight hospital explosion).

one thing I did notice was even though the sub and Left front are next to each other mcacc saw the sub as 3 feet farther away.

any info would be appreciated.

[Blu-Dog]

Originally Posted by lunchbox

pioneer 1018, polk monitor 50s, CS1, 30s and ED A2-300.

mcacc sets all speakers to large, crossover is at 80hz. I've messed with setting the crossover to 100hz. Does this sounds right? I'm not sure I know the difference between the small/large setting and how that factors into the crossover setting.

Personally I think the 100hz setting sounds better than the 80hz, this is based on sub output. I've been listening to bass intensive scenes to set up the ED A2-300 (dark knight hospital explosion).

one thing I did notice was even though the sub and Left front are next to each other mcacc saw the sub as 3 feet farther away.

any info would be appreciated.

I've tried the auto mcacc and done it manually; both ways, I like the crossover at 80 Hz, speakers set to "small". If you set the speakers to "large", they will send the full range of audio to the Monitor 50's, which will make a heroic effort to reproduce low tones.

They're no match for the sub, and it just confuses the mcacc microphone, which will detect a delay in the output from the speaker to the sub itself.

So now you wind up with a weak, sub-100hz signal from your speakers, followed a split second later by the ed-200 raising real hell with real subsonic tones, and the mcacc is trying to slide-rule out how far the sub is actually sitting from the speakers and how to phase delay the sub sound so that everything comes to the listener at the right time, and the result is total chaos.

Set the speakers to small, so they're not wasting time competing with your sub. You don't need them to try to be subwoofers, too, even though they can reach down that low; there's just no point. They'll be a lot more efficient.

After you do that, re-run the mcacc, and you should get some settings that make a lot more sense. It should sound pretty nice, too.

I set the sub crossover at 80 Hz out of habit, but I don't know your setup; your sub may do well at 100Hz, or it may be some trick of room acoustics. Fool around with it - I did - it was louder at 100 hz, but cleaner at 80. Just get those speakers set to small, as soon as you can.

[jomari]

MCACC settings (and its counterparts like audyssey), are essentially built in tools used for the common clientele to calibrate their systems, including speaker distance, equalization (at times), and other parameters tailored towards your listening area, resulting in a good fine tuned environment.

quick reference towards what MCACC does...

pioneer link

IDEALLY.

its a great way to start figuring out the relations of your speakers and the acoustic environment you currently have. sure its not up to par to a calibration done by a professional, nor would it determine everything up to a precision, but its a start.

it does tho, most of the time, has a hard tiime evaluating the speakers size, and since subs produce a non-localized point, its difficult for it to determine where it is. remember: this is a tool used primarily for ROOM EQUALIZATION and not SPEAKER SETUPS. this is only an add on.

better results can be had tho using a SPL meter and a quick learning of how to use em properly.

the best results would be using an True RTA program paired with a good calibration microphone.

As stated by a very good colleague of mine, these 'built in' gizmos and products are simple add ons by these manufacturers to solve all problems, both realistic and well, relative. The most important aspects of it boil down to getting the basics done right. Acoustic treatments, placements, etc.

in a comparative example would be that of weight loss programs - these are the 'miracle diet pills' that are included, when all you need is a good diet and exercise.

[lunchbox]

I was able to set them to small but not sure how to run mcacc again with the small setting. when I run it again it sets it back to large. I set them to small and adjusted the SW distance to what it actually is, 80hz crossover and bumped up the sub output a little. Sounds really good to me.

[jomari]

may i make a suggestion as well?

IF you'd like to experiment, try spreading your front LR speakers, to get a better soundstage (as mentioned in the comments field), and see how that works for you. again, just a suggestion, but hopefully after doing so, and recalibrating it using the MCACC it would come out nicely.

great job on the center speaker stand tho.

[lunchbox]

I've spread them apart but was waiting on the sub and a few custom signs before I took more pictures. I should have my gallery updated sometime this week. thanks for the suggestion though.