A Guide to Audyssey Auto Calibration & Other Technologies

[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.]

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* 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.

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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.