Multi-Channel Audio
Speaker Setting Guide
This unit is equipped with the Pioneer Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System (MCACC) allowing it to automatically calibrate your speaker system to create the optimum sound space. The reference calibration disc is furnished as an accessory, however, to allow you to achieve the best possible sound settings. While listening to the signals recorded on the disc, adjust the physical position and orientation of your speakers until they produce the subjectively best possible sound space.
See the accompanying sidebar [Setting Procedure] for a concrete example of the setting process.
This disc has been uniquely engineered by Pioneer with special calibration signals to allow you to use your own sense of sound balance to adjust your speaker position (distance) and orientation (direction) without the need for special measuring devices.
The speaker installation positions used in the recording of this disc are those recommended for 5.1 ch sound by the ITU-R (see illustration), and believed to be appropriate for playback of multi-channel audio. When using this disc to calibrate your speaker orientation (direction), it is necessary to set your speakers in the ITU-R positions, other positions may be used, however, when setting the speaker distance.
Fig.1 ITU-R recommended 5.1 ch speaker positions (ITU-R
BS.775-1)
60°
100°~120°
Listening
position
Speaker positions based on recommendations of International
Telecommunication Union–Radiocommunication sector (ITU-R).
Setting Procedure
Speaker Position
When setting to the ITU-R positions, use the template on the reverse side of this page; in other cases, select speaker positions while consulting the receiver’s operating instructions. Also take into consideration the [Tips for Speaker Placement] printed on the reverse side of this page.
Initiate the Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System (MCACC)
Perform automatic sound space calibration in accordance with the receiver’s operating instructions.
Fine Adjustment of Speaker Position (Distance)
While listening to the calibration signals recorded on the reference calibration disc, move the speaker to produce the best possible distance setting.
For specific adjustment methods, see the section [Fine Adjustment of Speaker Distance].
Adjust Speaker Orientation (Direction)
While listening to the calibration signals recorded on the reference calibration disc, adjust your speakers’ direction as necessary to achieve the best possible sound imaging. When the sense of direction is aligned, the spatial information contained in the source will be accurately reproduced, resulting in a greatly improved sense of presence.
For concrete adjustment methods, see the section [Adjusting Speaker Direction]. Note that sound imaging is a function of the angle of speakers from the listening position. As noted earlier, this disc is recorded in accordance with ITU-R 5.1 ch speaker positions, with the result that using other speaker positions will make it impossible to properly adjust the sound imaging. This adjustment should only be performed when speakers are placed at the angles recommended by ITU-R (see Fig. 1).
Perform MCACC Once Again
Finally, implement the Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System (MCACC) once again in order to even out all the individually performed settings and assure that the optimally balanced sound field is achieved.
When the final step is completed, you will have produced a high-precision sound field. Now sit back and enjoy the superb sense of live presence capable with multichannel audio.
This speaker calibration guide is designed to help the user manually perform fine adjustments of speaker position while listening to recorded signals, so as produce even higher sound quality than that automatically optimized with the MCACC system. Note that some settings may be difficult to achieve due to differences in shape and furnishings of the listening room, and subjective differences in the perception of sound.
Fine Adjustment of Speaker Distance
If surround back speakers are connected, set the surround back speaker setting to “none” only while performing this adjustment.
1.Connect the receiver and your DVD player via a digital connection, and set the receiver’s play mode to the pure decode mode, that is, STANDARD mode on this receiver. (Note: if surround effects or other signal processing are implemented the sound imaging will change and proper adjustment will not be possible).
*The recorded calibration signals are pulse signals. To prevent speaker damage, do not raise the volume excessively.
2.Play the reference calibration disc and display the menu screen.
For 2ch stereo speaker positions, press the remote control 2 35∞ keys to select the lower right “Linear PCM (for two-channel)”, then switch to the 2-channel menu screen. In this case, set the receiver’s play mode for stereo play (“STEREO” mode).
3.Use the remote control 2 35∞ keys to select the FL/FR speakers on “1. Signals for Adjusting Speaker Distance”.
4.The pulse signal will be played simultaneously from both channels; as shown in the accompanying illustration, face the two speakers producing the sound, spread your arms towards the speakers, and look at the midpoint between the sounds. In this posture, your
ears will be in the proper position with respect to |
Fig. 2 |
|
|
the two speakers, thus allowing you to adjust the |
|
C |
|
|
|
||
sound correctly. Always use this posture when per- |
|
|
|
forming adjustments. |
|
|
|
Adjust the speaker distance delicately so that the |
FL |
|
FR |
sound image from the two speakers appears to be |
|
||
located precisely in the midpoint of the two speak- |
|
|
|
ers when heard from the listening position (using |
|
|
|
the posture described above). |
|
|
|
When performing this adjustment, leave one |
|
|
|
speaker in place as a reference speaker and move |
|
|
|
the other speaker (normally, make each adjustment |
|
|
|
distance only a few centimeters forward or back). |
|
|
|
Normally, the front left (FL) speaker should be used |
|
|
|
as a reference speaker. For example, when playing |
|
|
|
the FL/FR signal, if the sound image appears to be |
|
|
|
located more in the FR position, this means that |
|
|
|
the FR speaker is too close; in this case, move it |
|
|
|
slightly away from the listening position, while leav- |
|
|
|
ing the FL speaker unmoved. When adjusting LS/ |
|
|
|
RS speakers, use the LS as the reference, and move |
LS |
|
RS |
RS to adjust distance. |
|
The calibration signals are divided into chapters by channel; when calibrating sound, you may find it convenient to use your DVD player’s chapter repeat function.
Adjust the FL/C = FL/LS = LS/RS speakers in the same way.
*When surround speakers are located straight to the side of the listening position, the LS/RS adjustment should be performed by taking one step forward and turning around. When L/R sounds are heard straight from the sides of the listening position, the sound image tends to become located overhead, making it difficult to adjust properly. In other words, adjustments should be made from a position where your spread hands are in a position more toward your front, not directly to your sides. If the height of the two speakers is different, you might need to twist a bit so that you are able to stare straight into the midpoint of the two speakers.
*In the case of FL/C and FL/LS speakers, you may find it more difficult to determine the sound image compared to FL/FR if the sound image is hard to center, recheck your speaker connections. If one of the two speakers is connected with reversed phase (+ and – connections are reversed), it will be impossible to set the proper correct sound image. Also, listening conditions that subject the two speakers to extreme differences in wall reflection may interfere with achieving a central sound image. Likewise, when the front and surround speakers are of different types, the FL/LS image may become ambiguous. In this case, advance to adjusting the LS/RS speakers without attempting to further adjust the FL/LS speakers.
Adjusting Speaker Direction
As noted above in Step 4, this adjustment should be performed only if your speaker settings are in accordance with the ITU-R 5.1 ch placement angles shown in Fig. 1. Also note that the setting of sound image orientation is impaired if each speaker’s output level and distance are not correct; as a
result, be sure to set these items accurately before attempting to adjust the speaker direction.
These instructions are based on the image of a large clock face, with the listening position at the center and the “12:00” position straight ahead.
1.Connect the receiver and your DVD player via a digital connection, and set the receiver’s play mode to the pure decode mode, that is, STANDARD mode on this receiver. (Note: if surround effects or other signal processing are implemented the sound imaging will change and proper adjustment will not be possible).
2.Play the reference calibration disc and display the menu screen. Use the remote control 2 35∞ keys to select the calibration disc’s item “2. Signals for Confirmation of Direction Definition”, for the “12 o’clock” position.
3.Following an introductory narration, you will hear the sound of a clock ticking and a male voice. They should be heard coming directly from the 12 o’clock position.
4.As you go through the subsequent chapters, the voice and screen clock display will advance in a clockwise rotation (1 o’clock = 2 o’clock = 3 o’clock …). Confirm that the sound and voice are heard as clearly coming from the specified direction (for example, for the 3 o’clock position, the sound should be heard coming from your immediate right). If the sounds are not heard in their proper direction, adjust the direction of your speakers. It may be impossible to accurately adjust all of the 12 clock directions; emphasis should be placed first on accurately adjusting the 4 cardinal directions (12 o’clock, 3 o’clock, 6 o’clock, and 9 o’clock), and then moving on to confirm the remaining in between positions.
*When adjusting speaker directions, change only the speaker angle, taking care not to change the position of the axis of rotation. The axis of rotation should be located in the midpoint of the front surface of the speaker (See Fig. 4).
*Results of experiments performed by a Pioneer-organized research group have shown that favorable sound imaging can be produced when speakers are set in the orientation depicted in Fig. 5. The actual sound definition image, however, will change depending on the room configuration and speakers used; as a result, various orientations should be attempted while using this example as a reference.
Contents of Reference Calibration Disc
For Multi-Channel (DTS Signal)
Signals (Pulse) for |
Speaker Orientation |
Adjusting Speaker Distance |
(Direction) Calibration Signals |
1 FL and FR |
1 12 o’clock |
2 FL and C |
2 1 o’clock |
3 FL and LS |
3 2 o’clock |
4 LS and RS |
4 3 o’clock |
|
5 4 o’clock |
|
6 5 o’clock |
|
7 6 o’clock |
|
8 7 o’clock |
|
9 8 o’clock |
|
0 9 o’clock |
|
- 10 o’clock |
|
= 11 o’clock |
|
~ 12 o’clock |
|
|
For 2-Channel (Linear PCM Signal)
Signals (Pulse) for Adjusting Speaker Distance
1 FL and FR
Fig. 4 |
Rotate |
Axis of rotation |
Fig. 5 |
|
FL |
FR |
Straight lines from the speakers’ |
|
center axes intersect about 30-80 cm |
|
behind the listening position. |
|
LS |
RS |
Straight lines from the speakers’ |
|
center axes intersect about 30-80 cm |
|
behind the listening position. |
|
Loading...