A Guide to Audyssey Auto Calibration & Other Technologies

[Johnny Vinyl]

Another great learning tool Frank!

John

[Tufelhundin]

Absolutely incredible, you definitely put in some over time to gather all the G2 and prepare it for "publishing". Thank you for your effort, like many of your sticky's, I will be using it as a reference for my system.


As a matter of fact, I played around with my ASEQ tonight.

[sptrout]

I agree with the other poster's; outstanding work and information!

May I make one suggestion? Could you add an explanation of Audyssey's Reference & Flat Curves? As I understand it, some AVRs allow the user to select one or the other, or is fixed to just one. The curve that is shown in your example below (post #2) is the Flat Curve, which can be difficult to find if it is available at all. The 805 as I understand it, for example, uses the Reference Curve and this can only be defeated (switched to the Flat Curve) by using specific listening modes none of which ever mention that the selected Curve is being switched.

I hope this was in your plans, but I think it would be helpful to explain these two Curves to make sure all understand what is happening. On another board many complain that Audyssey sounds like it is putting a blanket over the speaker and it was the general opinion that the AVR's in question was using the Reference Curve.

Thanks once again for great reference documents!

[LordoftheRings]

In most products there are three Audyssey target curves, but in Onkyo/Integra products, there is only one; the standard "Audyssey" curve; but two if you count the Audyssey "Flat" curve that is automatically engaged when in THX Cinema audio mode.

1. "Audyssey" target curve. This is the Reference Standard target curve; good with Movies.
[This curve has a gentle roll-off starting at about 4 kHz, and -2 dB at 10 Khz, and -6dB at 20 Khz.]

2. Audyssey "Flat" target curve.
[This curve tries to keep all your speakers flat and is the recommended one with Music audio modes.]

3. Audyssey "Front L/R Bypass" target curve. ...Used to be called simply "Front" curve..
[This curve turns Audyssey Off for the Front L & R channels and uses the Standard "Audyssey" correction curve for all the other channels.]

_____________________

* In NAD products, there is another "Audyssey" target curve, which is a custom "In-House" curve; which was developed by NAD with the help of Paul Barton from PSB speakers. This "Custom Audyssey" curve is similar to the standard "Audyssey" target curve as it too has a roll-off in the higher audio frequencies.

** In Onkyo/Integra products (pre/pros and receivers) which feature THX certification, there is only one Standard "Audyssey" curve, which of course is the #1 from above.
-> But, when you are using the THX post-processing Cinema audio mode, the Audyssey "Flat" curve is automatically selected as implemented by Onkyo/Integra products having the THX feature.
...This is good, because "Audyssey's" curve compounded with Re-EQ would result in a sound decidedly on the dryer side of things, with both the standard "Audyssey" target curve with its roll-off in the higher audio frequencies, and THX also with its roll-off in the very same higher audio frequencies (actually THX Re-EQ start the roll-off earlier than Audyssey, starting at 2 kHz).
So, even with Onkyo/Integra's omission in the choice of Audyssey full complement of the three target curves, they at least automatically revert to the Audyssey "Flat" curve when in THX Cinema mode.

~ And you cannot manually adjust those Audyssey target curves.
-> For some choice of adjustments and 'memory saved' Audyssey target curves, you'll need to invest in Audyssey MultEQ Pro with the software implemented and the help of your computer.
And you also need the Audyssey Pro kit with a specially calibrated microphone particular to your exact product model number. And up to 32 microphone positions are available with the Pro version.

*** I also should add that the Audyssey "Tower" type (Eiffel tower) microphone is calibrated
to better than +/-2 dB from 10 Hz to 24 kHz.
> This is much more accurate than the Radio Shack SPL meter.

_____________________

By the way, Audyssey MultEQ XT32 uses more than 10,000 FIR (Finite Impulse Response) filters all across the full spectrum of the audio range, from 10 Hz to 24 kHz! That is simply very sophisticated!

I am an Audyssey fan, can you tell?

P.S. Check this out: 32 mic positions (Pro version), MultEQ XT32 (highest Audyssey resolution), and 32-bit DACs (in flagship Onkyo/Integra pre/pros and receivers)! That is an interesting coincidence if you ask me.

[sptrout]

Originally Posted by LordoftheRings

In most products there are three Audyssey target curves......

Thanks LOTR, I think you just proved my point (vary well I might add) that Audyssey Curves can be confusing and a pain. I just want to easily pick flat. But, at least now I know how to get there......

[LordoftheRings]

Originally Posted by sptrout

Thanks LOTR, I think you just proved my point (vary well I might add) that Audyssey Curves can be confusing and a pain. I just want to easily pick flat. But, at least now I know how to get there......

Well my post was directly in response to your prior suggestion.
And I agree with you that it is a good point to make the difference and also to have a choice.

But I also wish that there was more; like more options to save lets say about six Audyssey target curves all together, and perhaps also with the choice to manually tweak them. ...But I know this is quite a tall order for now, but maybe in a near future when all cars will be flying!

...And with integrated REW into our pre/pros and receivers to see exactly (on-screen graphics) what is taking place in our room. So we can make the proper adjustments.

It'll come eventually with the DSP chip's advances in their increased computing power. ...Much much more memory will be possible and the number of MB, GB, TB, will reach the sky...

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by LordoftheRings

In most products there are three Audyssey target curves, but in Onkyo/Integra products, there is only one; the standard "Audyssey" curve; but two if you count the Audyssey "Flat" curve that is automatically engaged when in THX Cinema audio mode with Re-EQ engaged.

[B]1. "Audyssey" target curve. This is the Reference Standard target curve; good with Movies.
[This curve has a gentle roll-off starting at about 3 kHz.]

I am not sure if the 3 kHz roll-off is correct. According to Chris Kyriakakis of Audyssey, the roll-off starts after 10 kHz.

http://ask.audyssey.com/entries/9346...re-interaction

Audyssey MultEQ creates room correction filters to two specific target curves. One is the Audyssey Reference curve that has a slight roll off in the high frequencies above 10 kHz.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by sptrout

Thanks LOTR, I think you just proved my point (vary well I might add) that Audyssey Curves can be confusing and a pain. I just want to easily pick flat. But, at least now I know how to get there......

Originally Posted by sptrout

I agree with the other poster's; outstanding work and information!

May I make one suggestion? Could you add an explanation of Audyssey's Reference & Flat Curves? As I understand it, some AVRs allow the user to select one or the other, or is fixed to just one. The curve that is shown in your example below (post #2) is the Flat Curve, which can be difficult to find if it is available at all. The 805 as I understand it, for example, uses the Reference Curve and this can only be defeated (switched to the Flat Curve) by using specific listening modes none of which ever mention that the selected Curve is being switched.

I hope this was in your plans, but I think it would be helpful to explain these two Curves to make sure all understand what is happening. On another board many complain that Audyssey sounds like it is putting a blanket over the speaker and it was the general opinion that the AVR's in question was using the Reference Curve.

Thanks once again for great reference documents!

I added significant amount of information to Post #2. Hopefully, this will help.

Originally Posted by sptrout

Thanks LOTR, I think you just proved my point (vary well I might add) that Audyssey Curves can be confusing and a pain. I just want to easily pick flat. But, at least now I know how to get there......

The confusion is not entirely the fault of Audyssey. It is mostly the fault of Onkyo and the way their receivers handle Audyssey Reference Target and Audyssey Flat curves. Go back to post #2 and find out how Onkyo handles the curves. In my Denon receiver, you can easily and manually choose whichever option you like.

[crazyBLUE]

I don't have audyssey But that's ok because my MCACC works great

Another great Sticky Big Daddy

[sptrout]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

I added significant amount of information to Post #2. Hopefully, this will help.


The confusion is not entirely the fault of Audyssey. It is mostly the fault of Onkyo and the way their receivers handle Audyssey Reference Target and Audyssey Flat curves. Go back to post #2 and find out how Onkyo handles the curves. In my Denon receiver, you can easily and manually choose whichever option you like.

Thanks Bid Daddy for staying up all night to add the great new content! Post #2 is a big help and needs to be linked to any Onkyo discussion/thread. I knew that different manufacturers handled Audyssey differently, but I did not know that Onkyo was off in a field by themselves on the curves issues. (Naturally, their manuals never mention any of this (or much of anything else Audyssey-specific) so no wonder some are disappointed with the Onkyo's Audyssey results.)

Thanks again, and I hope you get some sleep!

[LordoftheRings]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

I am not sure if the 3 kHz roll-off is correct. According to Chris Kyriakakis of Audyssey, the roll-off starts after 10 kHz.

http://ask.audyssey.com/entries/9346...re-interaction

Fixed! => But that roll-off actually starts at about 4 Khz, and it is already slightly down at 5 Khz,
and it is -2 dB by 10 Khz, and finally -6 dB at 20 Khz.
(So I was not very far off, only by one Khz.)

* What Chris called a slight roll-off at 10 Khz and above is already down by 2 dB at 10 Khz.
But that actual curve 'roll-off' starts really just above 4 Khz.
=> @ http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showp...ostcount=34047

_____________________________________________

* THX with Re-EQ engaged starts its roll-off at 2 kHz?

________________________________________________

~ Also, you mentioned (from post #2 above) the Manual EQ on some products; but you said it was a traditional Parametric Equalizer. In your Denon receiver, do you have a separate "Q" adjustment?
Isn't it instead a Graphic Equalizer? In my Onkyo pre/pro and receivers it is in fact a Graphic Equalizer.
I also believe that the same applies for Denon and Marantz receivers and pre/pros as well.
...And Integra too.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by XOHum

Professional work. Fantastic. I learned a lot of knowledge from this thread. great sticky

Thank you. It was a lot of work.

[MelloFellow13]

This is awesome, thanks a lot Big Daddy!

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by John72953

Another great learning tool Frank!

John

Originally Posted by Tufelhundin

Absolutely incredible, you definitely put in some over time to gather all the G2 and prepare it for "publishing". Thank you for your effort, like many of your sticky's, I will be using it as a reference for my system.


As a matter of fact, I played around with my ASEQ tonight.

Originally Posted by MelloFellow13

This is awesome, thanks a lot Big Daddy!

Originally Posted by sptrout

I agree with the other poster's; outstanding work and information!

May I make one suggestion? Could you add an explanation of Audyssey's Reference & Flat Curves? As I understand it, some AVRs allow the user to select one or the other, or is fixed to just one. The curve that is shown in your example below (post #2) is the Flat Curve, which can be difficult to find if it is available at all. The 805 as I understand it, for example, uses the Reference Curve and this can only be defeated (switched to the Flat Curve) by using specific listening modes none of which ever mention that the selected Curve is being switched.

I hope this was in your plans, but I think it would be helpful to explain these two Curves to make sure all understand what is happening. On another board many complain that Audyssey sounds like it is putting a blanket over the speaker and it was the general opinion that the AVR's in question was using the Reference Curve.

Thanks once again for great reference documents!

Thank you guys for your compliments.

Sprout,

I will try to do that. Unfortunately, I will be out of town most of today and will not return until very late. Perhaps I can add some more information to the thread later.