newb needs help

stonepimp

ok..so i am buying an spl meter in the morning and borrowing the avia calibration disc as well . my question is about tonal calibration between my csi3 center and my r30 mains. i have a yamaha reciever and i'm able to use a eq to match the freq. . the center seems brighter than the r30's. i have adjusted the test tones to ear and set everything to small etc. etc. but my center seems bright still in comparision to the mains. should i be messing with this and if so how should i be adjusting it?

ok..done some more reading it could be that its the fact i am watching dts movies at the moment to test things. i am reading also that yamamha receivers seem brighter than others .. but all that aside it seems as i said brighter? louder than the mains .. help please.

ps. i have been lurking around this site for a year and have found it so imformative that up till now i haven't had to even post a question.. so thanks to all.

aaharvel

Welcome. We all need help. We spend our spare times on an audio forum.

Oh yeah.. the speakers. Your csi3 does not timbre match the r30's.

michael_w

So are you saying the test tones seem brighter or just normal playback seems brighter?

stonepimp

during normal playback.. oh and according to the polk site its timber matched for any polk home theatre

louhamilton

Yeah, but if you go to the R30 page (http://www.polkaudio.com/homeaudio/products/r30/) is says that the CS1 is best matched for the R30 and the R15 for the surround. (Scroll to the bottom of the page for a chart). Take back the CSi3 and save a few bucks by getting the CS1.

-Lou

michael_w

You might just be noticing it is louder because over 50% of the dialog in a movie is played through the center. Fiddle around with the spl meter and the levels of your speakers to try and calibrate them all to 75dB or something like that and maybe it'll help a little.

I can't really comment on the EQ thing, since I've never really used one outside of tone knobs, but I'd suggest leaving the eq flat until you get the spl levels close. You might consider getting a program for your computer. It's designed to use your spl meter to calibrate eq's. The program is called Room EQ Wizard (link). It can be very handy to try and flatten the response in your room since every room, setup and listener is different.

The CS1 may be listed as the best match but realisticly it just doesn't do the job very well. A CSi3 will be much better suited to getting the job done, even if it isn't really bookmatched.

Just remember to follow your ears. It's all about whether or not it sounds good to you.

stonepimp

my thinking in getting the csi3 was along the lines of michael w and it would match the rti8's i plan to upgrade to in the future.. i guess i'll see how things sound after i calibrate with the spl and the avia disc. .. anyways thanks

michael_w

Yeah keep the CSi3. You'll be glad you did later. It's a much better center and it should keep you from upgrading for a little while. I think downgrading to the CS1 you would find that you'd loose more than it would be worth (the saved cash*).

stonepimp

i forgot to ask in my original post which will give me more accurate readings a analog spl or a digital spl . any advice ? ...nevermind just did another search and answered my own question.. wish i would have done a search before i wasted hundreds of dollars on monster cable :mad:

sorvino123

Hello I am new to this site and can't figure out how to start a new post. I would like some advice on purchasing a A/V receiver. Can someone please point me in the right direction where I should post my question.

Face

Sorvino, you should start your own thread. Also mention your budget and the rest of your equipment.

Welcome!

fossy

hello sorvino ---- the "button" for starting a new thread is located at the left just above the list of topics for that certain area of the forum ---- you do not see it after you have entered into a specific topic -- hope that helps