Yes, this is exactly the thing to do. Do it before setting levels.
The distance setting also adjusts the volume level for matched-sets of speakers. Of course you can customize the speaker levels with the volume slider, but if you set the distances, they're going to be pretty close even if you don't calibrate with a decibel meter.
My surround speakers are different brand/set than my front speakers. Their much more sensitive than the front. When I'm using that test sound under Room Correction/Tools, should front/surround/center sound equally loud or doesn't it work that way?
How come that test sound sounds different in tone coming from the front left or front right speaker?
I have an Essence ST and H6 and like them. They currently aren't in use in my systems, though. I need to bring them to work and install in my work computer.
According to pages 99-100 of your receiver manual, the Multi CH Direct mode that is used for analog inputs bypasses all of the DSP on the receiver. This means the receiver's crossover isn't in effect for the analog inputs. You should be able to set it where you need it for other sources.
Thanks. Appreciate your feedback, but you did hit a nerve by mentioning the Denon manual
. It's all meant in good fun though so read it with a wink
.
The Denon manual. It's one of the worst manuals I have ever read. I passionately hate it. It is THE worst manual evah. I had it burried in a far away corner of the house but I just dug it up to read up about it
.
I don't read anywhere that The EXT IN 8ch analog inputs are automatically direct mode. The table on page 100 that you refer to lists the mode selections on the receiver and they apply to all inputs in general. I can choose direct mode or pure direct mode on digital inputs as well, including HDMI.
The page for direct and pure direct modes begins with the following phrase:
The AVR-4306 is equipped with 3 2-channel playback modes exclusively for music. Select the mode to suit your tastes.
The modes are, STEREO, DIRECT MODE and PURE DIRECT MODE. The opening phrase on this page suggests that these modes do not work for the surround channels. I haven't tested that yet but I'm already pretty sure that this is not the case.
Direct mode is described as follows:
Use this mode to achieve good quality 2-channel sound. In this mode, the audio signals bypass such circuits as the tone circuit and are transmitted directly, resulting in good quality sound.
Pure direct mode is described as follows:
This mode reproduces the sound with extremely high quality. When this mode is set, all circuits and processes not required for the selected input source (FL tube, video circuit and tone control, as well as digital circuitry and other unnecessary circuits for analog audio inputs) are automatically turned off so the music signals can be reproduced with high sound quality.
In the receivers' setup I can configure direct mode to use EQ or not. So there goes that idea that DIRECT MODE should bypass all signal processing circuitry.
See, this manual is such a load of crap. It contradicts itself on several points and it's never clear what certain things do exactly. Take that description for pure direct mode. Why can't it simply say whether it bypasses room correction or not? How should I know what Denon considers "unnecessary"? What's their difference between "not required" and "unnecessary" anyways? It says it bypasses video circuitry, but further down it says:
If the HDMI input terminal is selected, video outputs are outputted in the PURE DIRECT mode.
And
The channel level and surround parameters in the PURE DIRECT mode are the same as in the DIRECT mode.
I want to burn that manual, ritually, in the night and dance around in circles chanting. But maybe it doesn't even want to burn, wouldn't surprise me at all
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Oke, frustration about that manual aside, I see the following processes:
- Speaker config small/large
- Room correction for distances and channel levels
- Equalizer per channel
- Crossover frequencies per channel.
I have no idea which parts the STEREO, DIRECT and PURE DIRECT modes bypass. I can make an educated guess but that is simply not good enough. I hope I can bypass *everything* on the analog inputs and I can somehow figure out how to actually confirm that.
If you don't have any other sources you don't really need the receiver and should sell it immediately and get a multi-channel amp.
Ow how I wish I had the money to replace that thing. It's been a burden since the day I bought it. I considered sending it back a day or 2 after I bought it, and I wish I did but at the time I didn't know what else to buy so now I'm stuck with it.