Audyssey EQ

[Mat_F]

Has anyone tried one of these yet? The manufacturer that supplies the room EQ proccessing for Denon amps has released a stand-alone unit that goes between a Processor and Power Amp. The Denon version is fairly basic in comparison, but at £2500 you'd expect something a bit more special. I've had a demo of it and I was very surprised at the difference it made. It opens up the soundstage, makes everything sound much clearer and gets rid of any boom on the lower end. I was very sceptical about listening to it, thinking that it would only make a small difference, if any. But once you hear how it improves the sound, it's amazing how bad a system sounds without it.

 

[slingshot]

Got any links?

How does it work if it goes between a pre and power, does it have phono/balanced inputs and convert the signal back to digital, process it and then back to analog for the power amp. Just seems strange to have to go through so many D/A stages.

Slingshot

 

[Mat_F]

It goes between the pre-outs on the Processor and inputs on the Power Amp. It only has phono connections, no balanced ones. I know it seems like a bad idea adding it, which was one of the reasons I was so sceptical, but it really does make a big difference.

http://www.audyssey.com/soundequalizer.html

 

[AngelEyes]

BF do you have a link to a manual PDF?

Is there some kind of interface that allows you to set it up? Via PC?

Adam

 

[Mat_F]

Sorry, I don't have a PDF manual or link. The setup is done by a microphone and link to a PC. As it's such an in-depth process it needs the external processing power of a computer. I'm told it's done this way to keep the cost down. The microphone can be placed in up to 8 different positions, so if you have a larger room with multiple seats you can optimize for most or all of the seating positions. The setup kit does not come with it though.

 

[DustySox]

Hi,

I think room EQ is the new buzz word. I have Vers 5 with room EQ, and was surprised the difference it made. Unusual at first, but after time if you toggle backwards/forwards you get to hear how bad it was before.

I think that room EQ is going to play a major role in the world of home cinema.
You only have to look in the Sub forums to see how people are working on improving the sound of there rooms.

I'll be very interested to hear/see one of these Audyssey units in action.

atb

Darren

 

[Mat_F]

It is certainly the way forward. There doesn't seem to be much available yet and Audyssey certainly seems to be the ahead of anything else. Not sure how many dealers have this unit for sale/demo. I got a demo of one in the Midlands.

 

[Shin Akuma]

I thought that stand alone box was for pros(professional), which shop did you have a demo at?

 

[Mat_F]

It is aimed at professional installers, but can be used on any Processor and Power Amp combo.

 

[alexs2]

Interesting.....good to see other manufacturers following where TAG,Meridian and Lyngdorf have been going for some yrs now.

Good Room EQ makes a huge difference to what's attainable in an average house,and without resorting to room treatments etc.
Just the expense to contend with in many cases.

 

[slingshot]

I would have thought a digital version i.e. goes between say DVD and processor would have been a better option, then it can work on the digital signal.

Or is decoding, modifying and re-encoding a 5.1 channel signal too much processing to cope with? Which is why it's done on each seperate channel?

Anyway looks quite interesting, although I've never actually seriously thought about spending any hard earned on room EQ yet.

Slingshot

 

[Mat_F]

I'm afraid I am not that technical, so not sure why it has to be done this way. Maybe it has to be done after the processor because different processors affect the sound in a different ways. Maybe someone else with more knowledge might be able to explain. All I know is that it works wonders. I would never have thought about spending that kind of money on room EQ, until I heard it.

 

[Shin Akuma]

I'm afraid I am not that technical, so not sure why it has to be done this way. Maybe it has to be done after the processor because different processors affect the sound in a different ways. Maybe someone else with more knowledge might be able to explain. All I know is that it works wonders. I would never have thought about spending that kind of money on room EQ, until I heard it.

which shop was it where you heard that audyssey.

 

[AngelEyes]

Doing it digitally will create problems for people with legacy gear and imagine all the connections and cables you would need

At least this way it keeps it relatively simple although the new HD sound formats and HDMI 1.3 may be a more popular upgrade path than EQ to achieve 'better' quality sound.

Personally I think room EQ is a great idea although I have only every attempted it for my sub.

 

[Mat_F]

Shin, it was a dealer in the West Midlands. I am not here to advertise, I was just after other peoples views and opinions, and maybe to make others aware of such a product. I've considered upgrading my system and nothing has really made much of a difference at all, until now.

 

[HiFiRuss71]

I'm afraid I am not that technical, so not sure why it has to be done this way. Maybe it has to be done after the processor because different processors affect the sound in a different ways. Maybe someone else with more knowledge might be able to explain. All I know is that it works wonders. I would never have thought about spending that kind of money on room EQ, until I heard it.

I makes sense to place it after the pre-amp so it's affects can be applied to the output of all sources, prior to power amplification and not just say, your DVD player. Otherwise, it'd have to have multiple source inputs and input types, surround decoding capability etc, etc. Before you know it, you've got a top of the line AV contol preamplifier, which is where this might ultimately end up.

At that price, I'd say professional installation was mandatory. I've found the, admittedly cut down by comparrison, MultEQ in my 3806 to be highly variable. You have to re-EQ after every component change or movement and I've found there to be no rhyme or reasonas to why it performs flawlessly sometimes and makes a real pigs ear the next. Currently, after introducing a new center speaker, it is doing a very capable impression of a 5.1 transitior radio.

Russell

 

[LoadofTosh]

I was a bit bemused by the set up Audyssey MultEQ XT gave me this weekend:

Just installed a Monolith DF sub so re-ran Audyssey to integrate it with my small B&W 300 series fronts and create a 3.1 setup.

Quite why Audyssey decided to set the B&W's as Large, with a 60hz crossover, was a bit baffling. FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, DIDN'T YOU NOTICE THE MASSIVE SUB I'VE JUST PLUGGED IN ???!!!

Jase told me that any speaker with an in-room response <80hz is set to Large. This is silly in the context of the sub I've just bought.

 

[Mat_F]

But the Audyssey EQ in an AVR2807 is a very basic version of what the external box does. That's why it uses a PC to do the processing and then you download those settings to the Audyssey unit. You can't compare the 2.

 

[Jase]

Quite why Audyssey decided to set the B&W's as Large, with a 60hz crossover, was a bit baffling. FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, DIDN'T YOU NOTICE THE MASSIVE SUB I'VE JUST PLUGGED IN ???!!!

Jase told me that any speaker with an in-room response <80hz is set to Large. This is silly in the context of the sub I've just bought.

Bear in mind the Sub isn't classed as either Small or Large like the other speakers. You've either got one or you haven't and if you have, the bass management options for it are LFE or LFE+MAIN.

Audyssey is picking up that your B&W's produce bass output below 80hz, hence it's set them to Large rather than Small. It's Denon that specified that they wanted speakers that produce bass below 80hz to be classed as Large. Audyssey just reports that part of it's findings to the bass management system and it does it's thing.

 

[Jase]

But the Audyssey EQ in an AVR2807 is a very basic version of what the external box does. That's why it uses a PC to do the processing and then you download those settings to the Audyssey unit. You can't compare the 2.

Well, not quite a very basic version as there are other Audyssey technologies that are indeed more basic (MultEQ, 2EQ etc). The standalone box and the MultEQ XT systems found in the Denon's are the same core technology but the amount of taps are greater for the standalone box. What also varies is the amount of positions you can take measurements at and the available processing power for the calculations. The big Denon's can take up to eight measurements (the A1XVA will also EQ up to three subs), the other Denon's up to six and the standalone box up to 32.

http://www.audyssey.com/multEQ_products.html

The Denon 5805CI will also have the ability to use MultEQ Pro in conjunction with a PC when it's released next year.

 

[jackal]

The dedicated 32bit DSP dedicated to Audyssey in the Denon AVC-A11XVA and A1-XVA surely has a decent amount of number crunching ability to not be considered basic? It can be a pain to get right but when you do the difference it makes is huge. Jase, it is a shame that they didn't see fit to extend the number of subs for the A11

 

[Mat_F]

I wasn't trying to offend anyone by saying the EQ in the 2807 is basic and I never even mentioned anything about the A11XVA or A1XVA. When you consider the 2807 is &#163;800 and the Audyssey EQ is &#163;2500, I would expect there to be a huge difference between them. Having compared the A1XVA optimised by the built in Audyssey to the Arcam AV9/P7, I heard a big difference. Adding the Audyssey box between the AV9 and P7 then made a big difference too.

 

[Jase]

Jase, it is a shame that they didn't see fit to extend the number of subs for the A11

I do wonder why they didn't. Just a case of re-assigning the SB Pre-Outs in the setup menu and you're away. Maybe they wanted it as an exclusive feature of the Flagship.

 

[Jase]

Going back to the Audyssey system in general. I wouldn't be without it to be honest, got it on for everything including music in Pure Direct Mode. It improves the soundstage and makes imaging more precise.

 

[Isco 3]

It definately makes a huge difference.
I have one in my system, between a Lexicon MC8 and the JC1 Parasounds.
I suppose if anyone lives close to Liverpool, could always come and have a look.
It is an expecting item to purchase, without hearing it first!