Cambridge Audio 650R user manual Level calibration, Auto speaker setup for Distance/Level

Level calibration

The 650R allows level calibration to match the acoustic level between different types/sizes or even manufacturers of speaker that may be being used for each channel. This is achieved by adjusting the relative level of each speaker. This can be done manually through the ‘Level Calibration’ menu in the OSD or automatically, see the following Auto setup section of this manual.

The basic process for manual adjustment is to listen to or measure with an SPL meter (more accurate and recommended but not essential) the level of sound produced by each speaker and set relative levels for each speaker so that they all sound the same loudness at the normal listening position. The 650R incorporates a Test Signal Generator (broad-band white noise) to facilitate this.

Set the unit to a normal listening level or half maximum volume approximately. Press the OSD button on the remote control then select the ‘Level Calibration’ menu. Now turn on the test signal by highlighting this item and pressing the Left or Right arrows:

Level Calibration

Test Signal	: Off
Front L	: 0dB
Front R	: 0dB
Surround L	: 0dB
Surround R	: 0dB
Centre	: 0dB
Subwoofer	: 0dB
Surr. Back L	: 0dB
Surr. Back R	: 0dB
Return	: [OSD]

A “rushing” or “hissy” sound should be heard, initially through the Front Left Speaker.

You can now move up and down the channels using Volume Up/Down on the remote. Each time a new channel is selected the test signal will be heard to move to that channel. Compare the loudness of all channels as heard at the listening position.

Now adjust the channels so they all sound the same (in terms of loudness only, channels of different frequency responses can sound different in terms of the “tone” of the sound i.e. more or less hissy).

Pick the channel that sounds most different and select it to listen to the test signal. Now adjust the relative level in dB (using Arrow left/right on the remote) and continue comparing it to other channels until it is of equal loudness. The level can be adjusted up to + or - 10dB in 1dB steps. Repeat the process with the next loudest channel etc. Once all channels sound the same in terms of loudness, press the OSD button again to save the settings and exit the menu.

Auto speaker setup for Distance/Level

The 650R includes our simple automatic speaker setup system called 'CAMCAS' (Cambridge Audio Mic Controlled Auto Setup). The system performs two sets of tests firstly checking which speakers are connected and whether they are wired correctly and in phase then automatically measuring and adjusting the speaker delay timings (i.e. distance setting ) and levels.

Before activating this feature the 'Decode Mode' (i.e. type of speaker package e.g. 5.1, 6.1, 7.1) of the 650R and Large/Small/None status of each speaker must be set correctly as per section 1. This is important as the unit will only look for and check the speakers you have told it you have.

To perform Auto Distance/Level setup first connect the supplied microphone to the front Left front panel audio input on the front panel and place it at your normal listening position in the room.

		Analog									/
										Mute
Direct	Stereo Direct		L		R				Display
	Video 3	Audio		Video		S-Video	Optical

Auto Setup

Press the OSD button on the remote control to access the OSD and then select the Speaker Setup Menu. Now select the option 'Auto Setup'. This will access the 'Auto Setup Menu' as below.

Auto Setup Menu

Plug the microphone into the left channel of Video3 on the front panel and place the microphone at normal listening position and height

Continue: [ENTER]

Cancel/Return : [OSD]

Follow the on-screen instructions and press 'Enter' on the remote control when ready to start the Auto Setup function.

Once activated the OSD will display the message below and the word 'AUTOSETUP' will also be displayed on the front panel of the 650R to confirm.

Auto Setup Menu

The unit is now checking which speakers are connected and their phase

Please wait........

A series of test signals will now be output from all of the connected speaker terminals of the 650R (including the Subwoofer output).

Once finished the unit will display a screen similar to the one below reporting which speakers were found and any that appear out of phase.

Auto Setup Menu

The speakers that have been found are:

L C R LS RS LB RB SW All speakers are in phase

Continue: [ENTER]

Retest/Return : [OSD]

If any speakers appear unconnected or out of phase carefully check the connections on the speaker and the back of the unit. Also check any bi-wiring links that might be present on the speaker. For any out of phase speakers check that the relevant + terminal of the 650R goes to the + terminal of that speaker and similarly the – terminal of the 650R goes to the – terminal of the speaker for that channel.

If necessary press the OSD button to perform a retest or press Enter to start the second part of the autosetup procedure as below.

Again a series of test signals will now be output from all of the connected speaker terminals and Subwoofer. The 650R uses these to measure the levels and distances (and hence introduce the correct delays) appropriate to your speakers and room characteristics.

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