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Who boosts the center channel output?
#386042 11/22/12 06:10 PM
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GregM Offline OP
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As it is the holidays I may treat myself to a speaker or other HT upgrade.

One thing I have always tried to do is set my speakers to the reference level (used to be 75db pink noise through all speakers except the sub which is supposed to be 85) and just live with it. In many movies, it seems dialog comes across as muted and if I turn the main volume up, the rest of the soundtrack is deafening when the bombs begin to drop.

I am sure I am not the only one who experiences this. So how many of you ignore the exact reference level and boost the center by a few db to get it to where you want it to be?

Greg

Re: Who boosts the center channel output?
GregM #386043 11/22/12 07:00 PM
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Sure do, about 1.5 db for me.
I think this is very common practice as movie producers are always trying to overwhelm us with sound vs. dialog.


With great power comes Awesome irresponsibility.
Re: Who boosts the center channel output?
Murph #386045 11/22/12 07:37 PM
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Ditto what Murph said. I leave mine at +3dB, not because the vp160 is lacking; just the opposite. It improves intelligibility and because the sound quality is so good, I don't feel like the sound quality is taking a hit by boosting the 160 a little over my M60s.


::::::: No disrespect to Axiom, but my favorite woofer is my yellow lab :::::::
Re: Who boosts the center channel output?
GregM #386047 11/22/12 07:55 PM
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C
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I don't boost mine, but I still understand people. I'm not sure if that's a gift or a curse.

Re: Who boosts the center channel output?
GregM #386049 11/22/12 08:41 PM
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Charles, maybe your center's wiring is reversed, because none of us understand you!


::::::: No disrespect to Axiom, but my favorite woofer is my yellow lab :::::::
Re: Who boosts the center channel output?
GregM #386053 11/22/12 10:29 PM
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With my current configuration, I've not needed to boost my enter.

Re: Who boosts the center channel output?
MarkSJohnson #386054 11/22/12 10:34 PM
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Short answer - I boost mine as needed, but return it to calibrated level after use (I do not like it boosted for music listening).

Longer answer (in case anybody finds it useful) - When I calibrate, I do it so that the center is at 0dB and offset all other channels relative to that. That way I can easily note if my center is boosted and by how much rather than by trying to remember what the calibrated offset is. I have shortcuts on my Harmony remote for center up and down in all of my programmed activities which is extremely useful.


Dan
On-Wall M5HP LCR, QS8 & EP500 in 7.1
Re: Who boosts the center channel output?
cb919 #386057 11/22/12 10:49 PM
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Yeah, I should have mentioned that I return it to "calibrated" for multi-channel" music listening.


::::::: No disrespect to Axiom, but my favorite woofer is my yellow lab :::::::
Re: Who boosts the center channel output?
GregM #386065 11/23/12 01:47 AM
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Before i had a VP-180 i did boost my center. However, since getting a VP-180 i have no longer increased the level on the center higher than it needs to be.. The larger center made a HUGE difference.

Re: Who boosts the center channel output?
GregM #386069 11/23/12 02:36 AM
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Glad I am not the only one. My VP-150 is a top notch performer and since my hearing isn't the best, it could be me.

I am also watching the Harry Potter movies and with many words softly spoken with a British accent I miss more than I normally would. That is the nice thing about Stallone movies . . . not much dialog to miss.

Greg

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