I have a question on the level of the rear surround speakers. Just curious how many people run the auto setup on the receiver then increase the rear speaker levels. I ran the auto setup on my yamha receiver and left the speakers levels as they were. For the most part I don't really hear the rear speakers. I know they are not meant to be noticed but just perceptibly give you the surround feeling. Just wondering if I should bump up the level a little? As well how many use the Auto EQ on or should I simply just turn it off?
Check the settings against a SPL Meter and then readjust as needed. There are a few reports of the Yammie Auto EQ not working too well.
I ran the auto setup, listened to it for a couple of weeks, realized that I didn't like it and tweaked for another 4 months keeping careful notes. Now I'm happy. To answer your question, yes, I turned the channel gain up by 3dB.
. . . and tweaked for another 4 months keeping careful notes. Now I'm happy.
Dang, Tex! My tweaking cap is somewhere around the twenty minute mark. Four months!
I didn't mean 4 months continuous. I took a break after the first month
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The surround feeling is there at normal levels (you can hear it when you switch for stereo to surrounds). Many people like to "hear" the surrounds, which is quite alright. Personnally, I tired of it and now run my surrounds perfectly balanced with the rest and I swim in SACD/DVD-a and DolbyTrueHD bliss! There is nothing as rewarding (to my taste!) as NOT hearing any speakers, but just being put into the presence of the music/soundtrack as if coming form real-life and not from boxes with grills on.
But again, this is a matter of taste.
My QS8s surrounds are turned up about 1.5 db compared to the rest. Gives a little more effect for movies but still blends pretty well with music.
One of my favorite things to do when somebody says "Ya but I'd only ever play music in stereo.." is to play the "Only" video, an extra on the Nine Inch Nails concert DVD "Beside You in Time."
It is an amazingly excellent sounding tune in 5.1 and it is obvious that they mixed it, or remixed it, specifically for 5.1. I love to watch them spin their heads around like in "the exorcist" as they realize there is a pulsing reverby kinda noise inching its way around the room between all the speakers. It follows the wall lines like a bug. Very Cool!