I just received my Axioms last week and have everything temporarily set up. Much props to people on this board (sushi) and the great service at Axiom (Noreen, Amie, Alan, etc). Very excited to listen to my new setup. I've got M22's, QS8's, VP150, and VTF-2 in the Mansfield Beech. Got the VTF-2 b-stock so I was able to upgrade to VP150: It's all running from a VSX-45TX.

I must say in the first few days, the M22's are OUTSTANDING in 2 channel, especially w/ the sub. I find myself listening to more music. Now, I'm trying to run the MCACC and was wondering what suggestions people have for starting this off. I used defaults (no MCACC) and was not "wow'ed" by the surround sound experience. Now I want to calibrate to improve the sound. I'm moving the QS8's around for proper placement before I mount them.

1) What setting should I have on the sub before running MCACC? Someone suggested putting the dial at 3 o'clock.
2) After running MCACC, what are the target values I should be looking for? I read that the goal for the sub should be 0 dB.
3) How long does a MCACC session last? I have to "empty" the house of wife, baby, and dog to be able to do this...
4) What volume level should i have on the 45TX or is this automatic?

Thanks for the help. Hopefully, this is the right place to post, since I know there a people out there w/ similar setups.

Cesar

Cesar, sushi is quite knowledgeable on MCACC and may have some helpful suggestions, but since he's off the board at this time I'll throw out some thoughts.

1)The sub has to be definitely on, but the precise starting setting shouldn't be crucial. At one point the owners manual suggests half way.

2)There aren't any "target values". MCACC sets whatever values the speakers and listening room need. You don't need to think about it.

3) I understand that it takes about 5 minutes. Everything should be as quiet as possible so that MCACC can do its job. I suspect that the baby and dog will be okay, but you'll have to decide whether you can keep your wife quiet for 5 minutes.

4) The volume levels are set automatically during MCACC.

In addition, since the MCACC will probably set the M22s "large" for the process, you should manually set them "small" afterwards(you don't repeat the MCACC process).

I don't know why JohnK knows so much about the MCACC (which he doesn't own AFAIK), but here are some additional comments:

1) If the VTF-2 is like my VTF-3, the level knob at 9 o'clock will likely give you a MCACC sub level of +/- 3dB.

2) It doesn't matter as long as it is within +/- 10dB (maximum adjustment by MCACC). However, it seems that the auto-power-on detection circuit on the Hsu subs is located upstream of the level knob. So, if your VTF-2 seems to have difficulty "waking up" in quiet passages, you may want to set the level knob further down (e.g. 8 o'clock) and let MCACC set the sub level higher.

3) The calibration session is in fact fairly noise resistant (programmed very redundantly). Unless somebody in house is making a constant and/or repetitive noise, it should be okay. Just try to be quiet.

Everything is MUCH easier than you initially think (if you are like me). Just try to place the mic as close as your head position at the primary listening seat.

Just my fascination with MCACC(and now we'll have to learn YPAO),so reading(and listening to WRR, incidentally)some tax stuff here I decided to share my thoughts. I suppose you saw that curious report from the new 55TXi owner that it has only 5 bands? I doubt it, but does the Japanese info confirm the 9 bands?

So is that 9 o'clock thing a general rule? I'm new to having a receiver that can adjust the sub output volume, and I don't know where to set the sub's volume control. I've got a Cambridge Soundworks Powered Subwoofer 1.

Sorry to divert the topic, but...

Congratulations to you too, Ken; you've topped all the boards, but your 525 doesn't do the sub(automatically).

Ken,

Yeah, I would say, between 9 and 11 o'clock is a good starting point for most subs.

Wow. I don't think I've ever had this thing up above 7 or 8 o'clock (2 or 3 on the volume knob)

Well, Ken, as long as your H/K receiver's sub level setting isn't above +10dB (or whatever max available) after calibration, 7-8 o'clock should be just fine.

i re-ran again w/ the sub at ~8 o'clock and it came out to about -6 dB.