Couldn't wait!

[lakercrackhead]

Well got my Onkyo 886 in last night, I gotta say it is incredible. It pairs with my Klipsch RF-83 system very well. The Audyssey calibration is spot on, and the dynamic EQ really does make sound pop, my wife watched our wedding video last night and she said she could hear peoples coversations in the background, we never heard that before, just shows the detail, it's awesome! My one complaint and seems like a problem inherent to enocoding and not necessarily the amp is the center channel dialogue is still too low, I don't understand why this is always a problem, I'm open to suggestions, all I could think of was to turn up the center channel volume, I can't go up on the master volume because then all the background sound effects get unbearably loud.

[monkeypimp]

Feb 5, 2010 9:15:21 GMT -5 lakercrackhead said:

Well got my Onkyo 886 in last night, I gotta say it is incredible. It pairs with my Klipsch RF-83 system very well. The Audyssey calibration is spot on, and the dynamic EQ really does make sound pop, my wife watched our wedding video last night and she said she could hear peoples coversations in the background, we never heard that before, just shows the detail, it's awesome! My one complaint and seems like a problem inherent to enocoding and not necessarily the amp is the center channel dialogue is still too low, I don't understand why this is always a problem, I'm open to suggestions, all I could think of was to turn up the center channel volume, I can't go up on the master volume because then all the background sound effects get unbearably loud.

To be honest It is likely your center channel speaker.

I had Klipsch speakers for a long time and the center channel never pleased me...I was constantly turning it up and down. I no longer have the Klipsch speakers and moved to av123 rockets and I have never had one problem with the center again.

[solidstate]

Feb 5, 2010 9:44:50 GMT -5 monkeypimp said:

Feb 5, 2010 9:15:21 GMT -5 lakercrackhead said:

Well got my Onkyo 886 in last night, I gotta say it is incredible. It pairs with my Klipsch RF-83 system very well. The Audyssey calibration is spot on, and the dynamic EQ really does make sound pop, my wife watched our wedding video last night and she said she could hear peoples coversations in the background, we never heard that before, just shows the detail, it's awesome! My one complaint and seems like a problem inherent to enocoding and not necessarily the amp is the center channel dialogue is still too low, I don't understand why this is always a problem, I'm open to suggestions, all I could think of was to turn up the center channel volume, I can't go up on the master volume because then all the background sound effects get unbearably loud.

To be honest It is likely your center channel speaker.

I had Klipsch speakers for a long time and the center channel never pleased me...I was constantly turning it up and down. I no longer have the Klipsch speakers and moved to av123 rockets and I have never had one problem with the center again.

You think you had center channels issues! Try a TMMMT arrangement with basement xover that one unnamed ID company builds... Can we say sibilance and absolutely HORRIBLE horizontal off axis performance. In all essence a lemon with shockingly poor design.

PS I guess it's bearable nearfield as in from 1' to 4' feet or from about 16' to infinity LOL if you stick a CD case in front of the center M driver ROTFL

[solidstate]

Feb 5, 2010 9:15:21 GMT -5 lakercrackhead said:

Well got my Onkyo 886 in last night, I gotta say it is incredible. It pairs with my Klipsch RF-83 system very well. The Audyssey calibration is spot on, and the dynamic EQ really does make sound pop, my wife watched our wedding video last night and she said she could hear peoples coversations in the background, we never heard that before, just shows the detail, it's awesome! My one complaint and seems like a problem inherent to enocoding and not necessarily the amp is the center channel dialogue is still too low, I don't understand why this is always a problem, I'm open to suggestions, all I could think of was to turn up the center channel volume, I can't go up on the master volume because then all the background sound effects get unbearably loud.

Increase center by +3db or more then. What you have not figured out how to trim each channel!

[NorthStar]

Feb 2, 2010 20:12:15 GMT -5 bootman said:

Is having Audyssey EQ really worth that much?

Big time YES. ;D

* Don't take my words for it, just get it.

[RadTech]

Feb 5, 2010 20:05:51 GMT -5 NorthStar said:

Feb 2, 2010 20:12:15 GMT -5 bootman said:

Is having Audyssey EQ really worth that much?

Big time YES. ;D

* Don't take my words for it, just get it.

IMO , Audyssey makes the sound lifeless and, flat. I let it initially set up however, I turn it off and, use my meter to finalize levels. I then manually EQ all channels to taste. Audyssey also, tries to set all my speakers to full range which, isn't going to happen because, I have 5 1/4" surrounds.

[klinemj]

I''m w/radtech on this...lifeless and flat is what Audyssey makes mine sound like. And, it gets different results (radically different) in multiple runs that might be just 30 minutes apart w/o anything changing. So, to me, it discredits itself in accuracy. I just can't trust its measurements.

[moe]

Feb 5, 2010 9:44:50 GMT -5 monkeypimp said:

Feb 5, 2010 9:15:21 GMT -5 lakercrackhead said:

Well got my Onkyo 886 in last night, I gotta say it is incredible. It pairs with my Klipsch RF-83 system very well. The Audyssey calibration is spot on, and the dynamic EQ really does make sound pop, my wife watched our wedding video last night and she said she could hear peoples coversations in the background, we never heard that before, just shows the detail, it's awesome! My one complaint and seems like a problem inherent to enocoding and not necessarily the amp is the center channel dialogue is still too low, I don't understand why this is always a problem, I'm open to suggestions, all I could think of was to turn up the center channel volume, I can't go up on the master volume because then all the background sound effects get unbearably loud.

To be honest It is likely your center channel speaker.

I had Klipsch speakers for a long time and the center channel never pleased me...I was constantly turning it up and down. I no longer have the Klipsch speakers and moved to av123 rockets and I have never had one problem with the center again.

If he's got an rc64 center I seriously doubt that's the issue.This has been an issue with every avr/pre since the begining of time,till the UMC,which is the best I've had for dialog.

[ratmice]

I've not used Audyssey, my Pioneer Elite uses MCACC (same idea). I have found that it effects the sound in my room in a positive manner. I think it may be very room specific, as to the amount of improvement you get. We should also take into consideration that it's possible that you are used to colored sound without the correction, and hearing the (allegedly) correct sonic signature may sound different at first, but with time one may find it to be superior. As always, YMMV. The good news - you can always defeat the room correction.

Now if we were talking about THX modes - lifeless and dull fer sure!

p.s. not meant to be a MCACC vs. Audyssey comment, just a general room correction opinion.

[RadTech]

I had a Pioneer Elite receiver as well and, I thought the MCACC's end result , IMO sounded far better then the Audyssey on my Onkyo. I should say however, the room correction software is designed to achieve a flat room response, so it is quite possible I don't like it flat. Also, with my Onkyo , I can go into the menu and change the setting for IntelliVolume . I crank it up a couple of db and, it helps with the dialogue from the center channel.

[ntrain42]

Feb 6, 2010 8:17:42 GMT -5 RadTech said:

Feb 5, 2010 20:05:51 GMT -5 NorthStar said:

Big time YES. ;D

* Don't take my words for it, just get it.

IMO , Audyssey makes the sound lifeless and, flat. I let it initially set up however, I turn it off and, use my meter to finalize levels. I then manually EQ all channels to taste. Audyssey also, tries to set all my speakers to full range which, isn't going to happen because, I have 5 1/4" surrounds.

Does your EQ curve resemble a big smile? ;D

[ntrain42]

All I got to say is 3 letters: R T A .........................link: cgi.ebay.com/AUDIOCONTROL-SA-3052_W0QQitemZ220549888320QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3359cc3940

People spend thousands on all their AV equipment, and leave room correction to poor built in AVR implementation that I have found does a poor job overall be it MCACC, Audessy EQ, you name it. If you want to really get your system tuned in perfectly you need a real time spectral analyser of some type. The Audiocontrol piece in the link is a few hundred bucks. Buy it once and your good from this point on. No matter how many times you change your speakers, amps AVRs etc, this tool will never become outdated and will allow you to tune your system perfectly everytime. Its worth its weight in gold to the AV fanatic.

[billmac]

Feb 6, 2010 8:43:59 GMT -5 moe said:

This has been an issue with every avr/pre since the begining of time,till the UMC,which is the best I've had for dialog.

I have to ask are you kidding or serious? So you are saying the UMC-1 is the first processor to handle dialog correctly?

Bill

[billmac]

Feb 6, 2010 8:17:42 GMT -5 RadTech said:

IMO , Audyssey makes the sound lifeless and, flat. I let it initially set up however, I turn it off and, use my meter to finalize levels. I then manually EQ all channels to taste. Audyssey also, tries to set all my speakers to full range which, isn't going to happen because, I have 5 1/4" surrounds.

I find the opposite with Audyssey in my room. No room correction system is perfect and some might like using some form of room correction and some might not. I have always set my levels with a SPL meter after running Audyssey as many people do, not a big deal.

As far as Audyssey setting your speakers to full range I have seen that in my system and I just change the crossover to what I feel is correct. Audyssey does suggest that you do not lower the crossover settings but raising them will have no adverse effects.

I think many issues people run into with auto room correction systems is that they do not do them correctly. After reading the Audyssey thread over at AVS (I know AVS : I found I was not even close to doing the calibration properly. I still think I could spend more time learning about the system and tweaking for better SQ. But I am lazy and find that my system sounds pretty good for now . If Emotiva had gone with Audyssey as their room correction system for the UMC-1 I think the opinions would be a little different inregard to its quality but thats just my opinion .

Bill

[billmac]

Feb 6, 2010 9:30:34 GMT -5 ntrain42 said:

All I got to say is 3 letters: R T A .........................link: cgi.ebay.com/AUDIOCONTROL-SA-3052_W0QQitemZ220549888320QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3359cc3940

People spend thousands on all their AV equipment, and leave room correction to poor built in AVR implementation that I have found does a poor job overall be it MCACC, Audessy EQ, you name it. If you want to really get your system tuned in perfectly you need a real time spectral analyser of some type. The Audiocontrol piece in the link is a few hundred bucks. Buy it once and your good from this point on. No matter how many times you change your speakers, amps AVRs etc, this tool will never become outdated and will allow you to tune your system perfectly everytime. Its worth its weight in gold to the AV fanatic.

Looks like an interesting piece. But it looks like it is more than a few hundred bucks by that ebay link. But as you mention buy it once and no matter the equipment changes it will be there. I am sure it works well but perfectly, is there such a thing in audio? .

Bill

[LCSeminole]

Feb 5, 2010 9:44:50 GMT -5 monkeypimp said:

Feb 5, 2010 9:15:21 GMT -5 lakercrackhead said:

Well got my Onkyo 886 in last night, I gotta say it is incredible. It pairs with my Klipsch RF-83 system very well. The Audyssey calibration is spot on, and the dynamic EQ really does make sound pop, my wife watched our wedding video last night and she said she could hear peoples coversations in the background, we never heard that before, just shows the detail, it's awesome! My one complaint and seems like a problem inherent to enocoding and not necessarily the amp is the center channel dialogue is still too low, I don't understand why this is always a problem, I'm open to suggestions, all I could think of was to turn up the center channel volume, I can't go up on the master volume because then all the background sound effects get unbearably loud.

To be honest It is likely your center channel speaker.

I had Klipsch speakers for a long time and the center channel never pleased me...I was constantly turning it up and down. I no longer have the Klipsch speakers and moved to av123 rockets and I have never had one problem with the center again.

Monkeypimp, Are you saying this is inherent to Klipsch center channels??? If so, I have to say my KLF-C7 actually has to be tamed in the trim settings in my home theater experiences. Maybe you could expand on your statement.

[moe]

Feb 6, 2010 9:39:29 GMT -5 billmac said:

Feb 6, 2010 8:43:59 GMT -5 moe said:

This has been an issue with every avr/pre since the begining of time,till the UMC,which is the best I've had for dialog.

I have to ask are you kidding or serious? So you are saying the UMC-1 is the first processor to handle dialog correctly?

Bill

No Bill,no kiddin',show me one unit thats been released(I may be unaware) where owners did not have lots of complaints of having to crank the center to hear dialog.The umc is the first Ive had that at low/normal volume I can hear dialog clearly.

[billmac]

Feb 6, 2010 10:19:50 GMT -5 moe said:

No Bill,no kiddin',show me one unit thats been released(I may be unaware) where owners did not have lots of complaints of having to crank the center to hear dialog.The umc is the first Ive had that at low/normal volume I can hear dialog clearly.

Moe,

Funny you should ask ;D. I just fired up my 886 and checked my speaker levels with my SPL meter and they are L Front -1.0 Center -2.5 R Front -1.5 (75dB). I have no issues with dialog for movies or TV viewing at any volume. So I think I just showed you one unit that the center level does not have to be cranked to hear center channel dialog .

Now you are the one that claims NO processor since the beginning of time has handled the level of center channel dialog correctly. Do you realize how inaccurate that statement is? There are more variables in the level of center channel dialog than just the processor. You have to consider the speaker ( ), its placement as well as the room and its acoustics. And if the dialog is low just raise the level, thats what trim levels are for ;D.

Bill

[ntrain42]

Feb 6, 2010 10:08:15 GMT -5 billmac said:

Feb 6, 2010 9:30:34 GMT -5 ntrain42 said:

All I got to say is 3 letters: R T A .........................link: cgi.ebay.com/AUDIOCONTROL-SA-3052_W0QQitemZ220549888320QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item3359cc3940

People spend thousands on all their AV equipment, and leave room correction to poor built in AVR implementation that I have found does a poor job overall be it MCACC, Audessy EQ, you name it. If you want to really get your system tuned in perfectly you need a real time spectral analyser of some type. The Audiocontrol piece in the link is a few hundred bucks. Buy it once and your good from this point on. No matter how many times you change your speakers, amps AVRs etc, this tool will never become outdated and will allow you to tune your system perfectly everytime. Its worth its weight in gold to the AV fanatic.

Looks like an interesting piece. But it looks like it is more than a few hundred bucks by that ebay link. But as you mention buy it once and no matter the equipment changes it will be there. I am sure it works well but perfectly, is there such a thing in audio? .

Bill

It only does one thing, give you a perfect measurement of in room sound response and amplitude from 20hz-20khz at the mic position.

[DYohn]

Feb 6, 2010 10:08:15 GMT -5 billmac said:

Looks like an interesting piece. But it looks like it is more than a few hundred bucks by that ebay link. But as you mention buy it once and no matter the equipment changes it will be there. I am sure it works well but perfectly, is there such a thing in audio? .

Bill

There are much cheaper ways to get into using an RTA for room analysis, such as: www.hometheatershack.com/roomeq/