Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Technical Questions Channel balancing / trim settings

I went through the set up on the HK 7300 audio settings and not sure what’s going on.

I took my time, strapped the digital RS meter to a camera tripod, bumped the AVR’s volume up to 75 dbs, use the C weighted with the response on ‘slow’, just like the manual instructed (I actually read a manual). I set all the channels the same.

So then I played with the different surround options the receiver has (Dolby dig, Neo6, Logic 7, DTS, Pro logic, etc….) and on all except Dolby Digital, the channels default to 0 db. But if I go back to DD, they are as I had previously set them. If I go back to one of the others and re-calibrate the channels, the previous settings for DD are changed. What’s going on?

Shouldn’t the initial calibration carry over to all the other surround modes? It’s quite frustrating haven’t to trim channels when I want to use a different surround mode.

Channel setting are usually saved "per input" and not "per mode." Are you, by chance, switching inputs when you switch surround modes?

On the 630, you have a bass management option for "global" or "independent". I forget the details, but I think global uses the same settings for all inputs while independent allows different settings for every of input...

... or something scary like that. Anyways, always start with "global" and only go to "independent" when you are 100% sure you are in control of the receiver

Yes, I’m using the global setting and no, I’m not changing inputs. It is quite baffling to say the least. I doubt the 7300 is any different that the rest of the HK’s. Can you guys check yours to see if they are doing what mine is? I’m wondering if this is part of the way the different surround modes direct and bypass the channel settings?? Or should all speakers be balanced in the different modes?

For instance, when watching the super bowl, it sounded like crap in DD (sounded like a bunch of non-detectable hum and chatter in any speaker but the center), but it sounded pretty darn good in Logic 7. But, when I changed to L7, the center was much louder. I went in and trimmed the center down and when I went back to DD, I had to re-calibrate.

With my luck, I probably have another bad receiver. But it’s more than likely that I’m doing something wrong.

Mike, on my 7200 it saves different settings for each sound format. Before adjusting each channel I have to make sure it is on DD, then DTS, then Dolby. It's a bit labor intensive. Lot's of switching.

Don't know if your 7300 is the same, but I'm guessing it probably is.

My 525 is the same. You set it for each type of surround mode, and it holds (I think) for each input when on global.

This is strange, but will check on my receiver tomorrow (it's at the new house, I'm at the old house). The different surround modes do differ significantly in terms of how much energy goes into center vs surrounds vs main (ie they react differently to different content) but I'm pretty sure the actual channel settings don't change. Will let you know...

Ok, so to clarify……

When you guys set up your HK’s channels, you have to do it for every surround mode? And if you switch back and forth between these modes after set up, the channel settings are as you previously set them for each mode?

If that’s so, I’m doing something wrong. There’s also no mention of having to set up the channels for each mode separately in the manual. It mentions setting up the channels differently for different inputs, but nothing about the same input and using different modes.

Oh absolutely different modes/different settings, if you mean DTS vs. Dolby Digital vs. DTS Neo 6. Dolby PLII is treated as part of Dolby Digital on my 525.

Thanks Ken. I'll give it another try and see what happens. I've also sent a question to HK and will post that responce (if I get one).

Here’s HK’s response…….


My question –

While in Dolby Digital, the + / - channel settings do not change. However, if I switch to any of the other surround options on the HK (logic 7, Neo, etc) and then pull up the OSD, the channels are all at the factory setting of 0. Can you explain this to me? Is this supposed to happen due to the different surround processing? Am I supposed to re-calibrate the speakers in all the different surround settings?

Response –

Good evening. When in a digital surround format it is possible that the level setting is allot lower due to the amount of data compression. The analog formats like Logic 7, DPL II …will have a higher input level which give you a setting from 0 and then depending on the level input from the source you are using you will be able to trim the level from 0 to prevent the input from being over loaded.

Channel reset simply returns all of the calibration levels for the receiver to 0 all over again.

I hope this helps.

Best Regards,
Web Support Specialist JBL / INF / HK


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I can't make heads or tails of it.

Well, that's allot clearer.

I kind of like the idea of having independent level settings for each speaker in each mode (if that is exactly what's happening)... I've never owned an HK receiver.

But it makes sense. Not only will your speakers be different distances away/reinforced by room placement (which will stay they same throughout program audio modes), but each mode will assign signals to the speakers differently (Neo6 Cinema sends more to the centre than Neo6 Music for instance).

To quote Martha "It's a good thing"

Bren R.

Just got done playing with the channel adjustments again. Here’s what I had to do.

First off, I could not switch between the different modes without an input selected. Meaning, the damn thing will not let me change any settings but DD if just using the OSD without an input being routed through the receiver to the TV. When trying to do this, I could select the other surround modes, but after setting up the channels for the first mode selected and then going back out to the main audio set up screen and selecting a different mode then selecting the channel option, it would not bring up the menu to change each channel. Clear as mud??

So for a work around this, I selected the satellite input and then hit the OSD. I could then go into each different mode and set up each channel for all the different surround modes. Strange, but that’s the only way I could do it.

There is a remarkable improvement now when I’m watching the satellite and I switch back and forth between the different surround modes. All sound different, but it isn’t overpowering on one channel or the other anymore. Some modes seam to send sound to the speakers differently, but none are “louder” than the others now.

Now I just need to get a disk that will send pink noise to the sub so I can set that. I’m currently running back and forth to the sub and playing with its volume control, but that’ll get old real quick. We are watching the lord of the rings movies again with the new system. What’s up with these movies? They sure seam to have a hell of a LFE channel. More so than any of the other movies I’ve watched yet.

What disk should I buy to generate pink noise for the sub? Do any DVD’s have this, or do I have to buy a special disk?

Glad you kinda figured it out, Mike. I feel bad because I own an H/K but didn't offer more help. Sorry, but I've been in and out of the house over the past week.

It can be time consuming to properly set up (and confusing and frustrating), but once completed it offers a good level of control for each input.