Pioneer VSX-AX10Ai-G Professional Acoustic Calibration EQ, How to interpret the graphical output

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07The Surround Setup menu

Professional Acoustic Calibration EQ

This setup minimizes the unwanted effects of room reverberation by calibrating your system based on the direct sound coming from the speakers. It can also provide you with a graphical output of the frequency response of your room.

Note

Before setting up with Professional Acoustic Calibration EQ, you should finish calibrating using the Auto Surround Setup on page 37.

How to use Professional Acoustic Calibration EQ

If you find that lower frequencies seem overly reverberant in your listening room (i.e. it sounds ‘boomy’), or that different channels seem to exhibit different reverb characteristics, use the auto pro setup to calibrate the room automatically. This should provide a more balanced calibration than simply using the standard Acoustic Calibration EQ. The manual setup allows you to customize your system calibration with the help of a graphical output that can be displayed on-screen, or using a computer (with software available from Pioneer—see Connecting a PC for Advanced MCACC output on page 86 for more on this).

How to interpret the graphical output

The graph shows decibels on the vertical axis and time (in milliseconds) on the horizontal axis. A straight line indicates a flat-response room (no reverb), whereas a sloping line indicates the presence of reverberation when outputting test tones. The sloping line will eventually flatten out when the reverberant sound stabilizes (this usually takes about 100ms or so).

By analyzing the graph, you should be able to see how your room is responding to certain frequencies. Differences in channel level and speaker distance are taken into account automatically (compensation is provided for comparison purposes), but the frequency measurements are always shown without the equalization performed by this receiver.

Note that due to an effect known as ‘group delay’, lower frequencies will take longer to be generated than higher frequencies (this is most obvious when comparing the frequencies at 0ms). This initial slope is not a problem (i.e. excessive reverb) with your listening room.

Setting Professional Acoustic Calibration EQ according to your room characteristics

Using the manual setup, you can set the time period at which the frequency response is analyzed for calibration. You can pinpoint the time that is best for calibration of the system for your particular room characteristics.

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The graph below shows the difference between standard acoustic calibration and professional calibration (the gray circles represent the point at which the microphone captures the sound for frequency analysis).

Level

 

 

 

 

 

 

Test tone

 

Acoustic Cal. EQ Pro

Standard Acoustic Cal.

 

 

calibration range

EQ calibration range

 

 

 

 

Time

0

80

160

(in msec.)

 

As soon as audio is output from your speaker system, it is influenced by room characteristics, such as walls, furniture, and the dimensions of the room. The sooner the frequency analysis, the less it is influenced by the room. We recommend an earlier time setting of 20–40ms to compensate for two major factors that will influence the sound of most rooms:

Reverberance of high vs. low frequencies – Depending on your room, you may find that lower frequencies seem overly reverberant compared to higher frequencies (i.e. your room sounds ‘boomy’). This may result in a skewed frequency analysis if the measurement is done too late.

Level

 

 

Low

 

 

frequencies

 

 

 

 

High

 

 

 

 

frequencies

 

 

Acoustic Cal. EQ Pro

Standard Acoustic Cal.

 

 

 

 

calibration range

EQ calibration range

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time

0

80

160

 

(in msec.)

 

 

Reverb characteristics for different channels – Reverb characteristics can be somewhat different for each channel. Since this difference increases as the sound is influenced by the various room characteristics, it is often better to capture a frequency analysis early on for smoother mixing of channel frequencies/sounds.

Level

 

 

Left

 

 

surround

 

 

 

 

Right

 

 

 

 

Surround

 

 

Acoustic Cal. EQ Pro

Standard Acoustic Cal.

 

 

 

 

calibration range

EQ calibration range

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Time

0

80

160

 

(in msec.)

 

 

If your room isn’t affected by the factors above, it is often not necessary to make a 20–40ms setting. Later time settings may provide a more detailed sound experience with your speaker system. It is best to try and see what works best for your particular room.

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Contents VSX-AX10Ai-G Operating Environment Risk of Electric Shock Do not OpenVoltage selector Information to UserContents Advanced setup Surround Setup menuUsing other functions Controlling other equipmentFeatures Our philosophyBefore you start Checking the supplied accessoriesUsing the remote control Before you start ChapterBefore you start Setting up the remote controlCalibrating the remote control screen Press CalibrateSetting the time-out setting Setting the clockSetting the button alert volume Restarting the remote control Resetting the remote controlLocking the remote control Press Reset to DefaultReplacing the lithium-ion batteries Rear panel Connecting your equipmentConnecting your equipment Chapter Connecting your equipment When making cable connectionsConnecting your equipment Connecting your TV Connecting your equipment Connecting a DVD player AssignableConnecting the multichannel analog outputs STB Connecting your equipment Connecting a VCR or DVD recorder VSX-AX10AiConnecting your equipment Connecting other video sources Connecting your equipment Using the component video jacks About the video converterConnecting your equipment Connecting digital audio sources Connecting your equipment Connecting analog audio sources TurntablePortable DVD player, etc Connecting your equipment Installing your speaker system Connecting the speakersBare wire connections Placing the speakersConnecting external antennas Connecting your equipment Connecting antennasFM wire antenna AM loop antennaAbout the supplied AC power cords Plugging in the receiverControls and displays Controls and displays ChapterControls and displays ToneControls and displays Display TunedHome menu screens Controls and displays Remote controlBasic remote control displays Digital NR SetupReceiver menu screens Speaker A/B Remote control displays for the tunerDisp Mode Display DimmerRemote control displays for other components TV control menu screensOperating menus for additional components Search Mode 10 CLRGetting started Automatically setting up for surround soundSwitch on the receiver and your TV Getting started ChapterGetting started EnterPlaying a source Checking the settings on your DVD or other playerOther problems when using the Auto Surround Setup Change the receiver input to the source you want to play About the listening modes Listening to your systemListening to your system Chapter Listening in surround soundListening to your system Dolby Pro Logic IIx Music settingsNeo6 Music settings Adjusting the Advanced Surround effect level Using the Advanced surround effectsUsing the Home THX modes Use the Option +/- buttons to adjust the effect levelPro Logic IIx Movie Listening with headphonesListening in stereo PRO Logic NEO6 CinemaUsing the Stream Direct mode Press Multi CH Input on the remote control Home menu screenSelecting the input signal type AnalogChannel Listening to high-sampling formatsSelecting USB and multichannel analog input channels Auto Listening to your system Using the surround back channelPress SB CH Mode repeatedly to cycle through Surround back channel optionsVSB Auto VSB on VSB OFF Use the Option +/- buttons to change the settingCreating a center speaker effect Using the tone control Listening to your system Using Hi-bit and Hi-samplingUsing Midnight and Loudness listening Switching the tone control on or offTreble Adjusting the bass and trebleReducing noise during playback Listening to your system Listening to dual mono soundtracks Finding a station Using the tunerUsing the tuner Chapter Changing the frequency stepMPX mode Using the tuner Tuning directly to a stationMemorizing station presets Naming station presets Using the tunerListening to memorized station presets AbcdefghijklmnopqrstuvwxyzMaking receiver settings from the Surround Setup menu Surround Setup menuSurround Setup menu Chapter Select ‘Surround Setup’ then press EnterSurround Setup menu Speaker SystemsLarge Channel Level Select ‘Channel Level’ then press EnterSpeaker Distance Setting the Acoustic Calibration EQ automaticallySetting the Acoustic Calibration EQ manually Acoustic Calibration EQSelect CUSTOM1 or CUSTOM2 then press Enter Copying your Acoustic Calibration EQ settingsSelect ‘Manual’ then press Enter Select ‘Data Copy’ then press EnterProfessional Acoustic Calibration EQ How to use Professional Acoustic Calibration EQHow to interpret the graphical output Select ‘Professional’ then press Enter Using Professional Acoustic Calibration EQSelect a manual setup option and press Enter If you selected ‘Auto Pro.’, select ‘Start’ and pressUse Cursor left/right buttons to select Switch the X-Curve on or OFFCurve Select ‘X-Curve’ then press EnterCycle through the settings screen by screen Checking your surround settingsSelect ‘Check’ from the Surround Setup menu and press Enter Controlling other equipment Using the remote control with other componentsRecalling preset codes Controlling other equipment ChapterSelect a setting type Controlling other equipmentPioneer-1 DVR-7000 Programming signals from other remote controlsPress Learning on the remote setup menu Press OK to confirm the settings Editing remote control button namesPress Direct Function on the remote setup menu Press KEY Label on the remote setup menuChoose how you want to change the look of the button Press OK when you’ve finishedSelect the button you want to rename Input function LD if the multi operation is being used to switch onFrom the ‘Select Function’ screen, choose This will be the one that starts the multi operation whenFrom the remote control Home menu press Using multi operationsPress OK when you’re finished Multi OperationUsing System off Switching components on and offUsing the 12 volt trigger System OFFMaking an audio or a video recording Using other functionsUsing other functions Chapter Monitoring your recordingAdjusting the delay of a soundtrack Use the Option +/- buttons to adjust the amount of delayEnhancing Sacd playback Press Option repeatedly until Sacd Gain shows in the displaySwitch the SD1 Normal Stream Direct mode Using other functionsSwitching the speaker impedance Dimming the displayDefault receiver settings Using other functions Checking your system settingsResetting the system Bypass Using speaker system B in another room Using speaker system BSwitching the speaker system Other connectionsBi-amping your front speakers Select the ‘ITU-R’ setting from the Speaker Systems menuOther connections SP B ITU-R is selectedConnecting additional amplifiers Bi-wiring your speakersUsing the pre-outs Using the i.LINK interface Connecting an external stereo pre-amplifierCreating an i.LINK network About i.LINKAbout Pqls rate control Using the USB interface Press ‘USB’ on the remote control Home menu ScreenConnecting a PC for Advanced Mcacc output Advanced Mcacc output using your PC Select ‘PC Output’ and press EnterMake sure your receiver and TV are both switched on Advanced setupAdvanced setup Chapter Input Assign menuAssigning the i.LINK inputs Advanced setupAssigning the component video inputs Assigning the video inputs Expert Setup menuSelect ‘Expert Setup’ then press Enter Multi in OFF USB OFFOSD Adjustment Bass Peak LevelOSD Overlay Dynamic Range ControlFunction Rename Volt Trigger THX Audio SetupSelect ‘THX Audio Setup’ then press Enter THX Ultra2 Subwoofer Setup Surround Back Speaker PositionAdditional information Optimizing your speaker setupBasic surround setup Additional information ChapterTHX speaker system setup Additional informationNo sound Additional information TroubleshootingPower Listening in surround sound on Symptom Other audio problems Symptom CauseSettings VideoRemote control JackDisplay Select buttonLink interface Link messagesUSB interface MiscellaneousAdditional information Surround sound formats DolbyPCM Pulse Code Modulation About THXWindows Media Audio 9 Professional Advanced Speaker Array ASA Maintenance of external surfacesTHX Ultra2 Cinema mode THX MusicModeAdditional information Specifications 04B00001 ARB7292-A