I thought some of you might find it interesting to see what DEQ does to your frequency response in the lower ranges.

The graphs below were taken before I started equalizing my EP800 again recently, so these show Audyssey effects unaltered by any outside equalization.

The series of graphs below begins with showing the effects of DEQ at -20 receiver gain and progresses through -10, 0, and +10. In my mind, I had imagined a more complex "algorithm" (since that's the word they use to describe the processing) than what the charts show, which is a flat x dB bump in all of the low frequencies based on the volume. Lower volumes = bigger value for x, with x reaching 0 at 0 dB receiver volume, and x becoming negative at values greater than 0 dB receiver volume.

Contrast the graphs above with the effect of "night mode"



In night mode, there is less "algorithmic" processing going on by the Denon as it's almost exactly a 1.5 dB attenuation from approximately 20 Hz through the end of this frequency spectrum (~80 Hz). Regardless of volume, the same cut is applied.

I have to admit that I'd always thought night mode would apply more of a cut than 1.5 dB. No wonder my wife still complains that I wake her up watching movies after she's gone to bed!

Those Audyssey stats are very impressive.

so do you like the DEQ feature? I am still on the fence about whether or not to buy.

I don't understand the technicalities in any of your writeups Jason, but they are very impressive, keep it up!!

Don't worry, I don't either Cam. I'm waiting for someone to call BS on my whole series of posts.

But since no one has yet, I suppose I'll go on.

I tested DEQ (Dynamic EQ) today with my current settings (i.e. BFD equalizing the subwoofer after Audyssey had been run) and was happily surprised to see that it worked exactly as intended.

Below is one more comparative graph showing the DEQ does at -30 dB volume (on the receiver), which is the volume I normally listen to on DirecTV.



When listening at -30 on the receiver's volume, Audyssey is applying a ~15 dB bump starting around 12 Hz ranging down to a 6 dB increase at 80 Hz. This does result in really nice bass at low volumes, so it is a feature I enjoy.

Jay, you asked above if I like it / if it's worth it. To me, it is. I think the easiest way to think of it is the difference between having to turn your SW level up and down to match the volume level at which you are listening. While I've done that in the past before I had this feature and it wasn't that awful, this is a bit more convenient way to get more consistent bass at any volume level without having to adjust your channel level settings.

I suppose there's a good argument to be made that you're not getting the intended flat bass response when using this feature, but as someone who just plopped down some serious money on a subwoofer, I don't mind feeling the EP800 rumble at lower volumes as well.

Jason

What frequency ranges does DEQ apply - only the lower bass frequency range? Or does it also boost other frequency ranges? Is it configurable or does it simply rely on "past statistics" that Audyssey has compiled to determine which frequency ranges required boosting at lower listening levels?

Admittedly, I don' know much about Audyssey. I have an Outlaw 990 pre/pro that does not do any dynamic equalization. I have to admit that when listening to TV at lower volume levels I feel that I'm losing the subwoofer effects. To compensate I've turned up my subwoofer. But then its too loud when I watch a DVD (well, too loud for my wife :)). Having looked at some of the Denon products for my next purchase, I was interested in whether or not the Audyssey solutions work well enough to sway my decision.

Also, how well does Dynamic Volume work? Another annoyance with cable television is the constant volume level differences between programs and commercials. I'm constantly having to turn the volume down during commercials. Does Dynamic Volume address this well enough?

Thanks!

Bryan

Jason, I love to call BS, but no need here. The Audyssey Dynamic EQ appears to work as advertised and as subjective listening comments indicated.

The Dynamic Volume must work very well as that is the one thing most people seem to really like about the upgrade. I guess I need to buy it so I can try it out.

Bryan, a few answers from what I know...

Which frequencies does DEQ work with?

It works across the spectrum according to Denon's press releases on the topic, but I experience it most in the lower regions. It also affects surround volume to give you better surround at lower volumes. Quote below from Denon:



It is not configurable, it is either on or off, and from what I've experienced, there's no need to configure it.

As to Dynamic Volume, yes, it works as advertised, and it has 3 different modes (high,medium,low). The downside to using Dynamic Volume is that it cuts the dynamic range present in source material, so if you are watching something that is supposed to have a sudden and loud explosion compared to the "regular" volume, Dynamic Volume will compress the dynamic range so that it doesn't blow you out of your seat.

HOWEVER (yes, a "big" however), you can set Dynamic Volume and Dynamic EQ by source on the 3808, and it will remember your preferences for each source. So, on my cable input, I always have DEQ and Dynamic Volume on, as I'm not worried about my dynamic range suffering on cable, but I am worried about annoyingly loud commercials. On my BluRay input however, I definitely don't want the Denon compressing the dynamic range, so I use only DEQ here, and not Dynamic Volume.

All in all, they are very nice features, and if I was comparing two receivers with all other things equal, these features would definitely be a factor I'd consider when purchasing.

Jason

Jason,

Thanks for the reply. I did some further investigation after my last post and came to the same conclusions you have identified. However, it's nice knowing that owners using the features actually use them and find them useful.

I'm happy with my Outlaw pre-pro/amp combination but the lack of these features (particularly Dynamic Volume for cable) has me pondering the purchase of a Denon (or equivalent) product with these features for my next home theatre project.

Again, thanks for the response.

Bryan

Bryan, just continue waiting for the new Outlaw pre/pro as I suspect it will have a similar feature, if it ever gets out to the public.

Is there any way to utilize Dynamic EQ (audio normalizing) without using Audyssey?

Thanks guys

No. But you may have the new Dolby Volume, which is kinda, sorta similar.

The only thing is that I believe that is only going to be available on 2 high end $$$$ receivers.

Well ok Jason, since nobody else will call BS on you, I guess I have to... at the top of the graph is says Green = DEQ off, Red = DEQ on. Well sorry my friend, but one of those lines is definately BLUE!!!

Cam, you may be thinking of Dynamic Volume(e.g., limiting loud commercials)rather than Dynamic EQ(varying frequency response and relative levels of surrounds to mains as volume varies), but in either case they depend on the measurements that Audyssey takes and can't be used independent of it.

A less sophisticated volume leveler on the 3808 is the "night mode" which offers a choice of three arbitrary levels of volume compression.

Thanks, sounds like I can rule out "night mode" as a helpful option.

Thanks John, I'll pass that along to my friend and he can test it out; I'm pretty sure he'll either love it or hate it.