Pioneer MCACC

Pedler

Just curious how many of you pioneer users like the sound that the MCACC
performed?

I have tried it many times and don't like how it EQ's my speakers.:(
Have you given up and manually done it, or have you used certain parts of it.

Pedler

I even think out of the box default off it sounds better.
I have Given up and 10 min in to EQ-ing, it sounds better than the MCACC.

Toolfan66

I used it, and i like it. the only thing i did after was set my front stage to large, and readjusted the db on my front stage.

mantis

What I'm going to assume here if you never heard a properly calibrated system is the reason why most of you are not liking the mcacc results.

1st off I suggest you try to consider the room you are placing your system in. Is the speakers in there proper places? Do you know what the standard is vs where you have to place your speakers in your room? Most living space rooms are not even close to ideal for a theater system to perform correctly. There are many challenges that will ruin your systems performance. Mcacc will try to correct some of those problems and get you as close as possible.
Proper placement of the mic is very important. And when you run mcacc , there can't be ANY noise. Anything that can be heard will throw off the calibration.
Most people get uncomfortable with where or what size a speaker should be set at. For home theater 99% of speakers out there should be set to small and crossed over near it's low bass extention. Let the sub do everything under 80hz unless you have very good low clean and clear bass extention , then you can set the crossover lower.Mcacc tests your speaker in room response. Not what it's rated to do.

Think about a few things before you give up on MCACC. I usually find it to work great. And I have performed it in many different rooms.

Dan

Knucklehead

mantis wrote: »

What I'm going to assume here if you never heard a properly calibrated system is the reason why most of you are not liking the mcacc results.

1st off I suggest you try to consider the room you are placing your system in. Is the speakers in there proper places? Do you know what the standard is vs where you have to place your speakers in your room? Most living space rooms are not even close to ideal for a theater system to perform correctly. There are many challenges that will ruin your systems performance. Mcacc will try to correct some of those problems and get you as close as possible.
Proper placement of the mic is very important. And when you run mcacc , there can't be ANY noise. Anything that can be heard will throw off the calibration.
Most people get uncomfortable with where or what size a speaker should be set at. For home theater 99% of speakers out there should be set to small and crossed over near it's low bass extention. Let the sub do everything under 80hz unless you have very good low clean and clear bass extention , then you can set the crossover lower.Mcacc tests your speaker in room response. Not what it's rated to do.

Think about a few things before you give up on MCACC. I usually find it to work great. And I have performed it in many different rooms.

Dan

Great post Mantis....Im the new owner of a 816 and i too wasnt overly pleased with the MCAAC results, ive tweaked it a little hear and there, but I think im still batteling ignorance on my part of the AVR itself. One thing for sure the difference between the 816 and the 411 was night and day, it really brought my R50's to life. I guess the xover adjustment will be the next challenge.

Sherardp

I use it with amazing results. Afterward I tweaked even further with my SPL meter, I totally dig my setup.

ntculenuff

use mine have used mcacc in 3 different houses with a couple different speaker setups and the difference is there. much cleaner sounding with mcacc on.

Knucklehead

Also, someone please help me understand how the LFE adjustment and the xover adjustment work together on the 816 or are they completley different adjustments for the sub. (hope that makes sense)

Conradicles

I like it. After it runs, I make adjustments to crank up the low end to give my SDA's some extra bass.

jinjuku

I used MCACC EQ on my 1015 and it made a positive difference. I also went in a tweaked a bit more with the center channel and fronts. But the main thing is that MCACC got me most of the way there.

I am house hunting now so when I get new digs I will definitely add room treatments.

Knucklehead

Knucklehead wrote: »

Also, someone please help me understand how the LFE adjustment and the xover adjustment work together on the 816 or are they completley different adjustments for the sub. (hope that makes sense)

Anybody?

Conradicles

Knucklehead wrote: »

Anybody?

Example:

If you set your speakers to Small, and set your crossover to 80 HZ, the speakers will not dip below 80 HZ and the Sub will handle everything 80 and below.

The LFE level can give a boost to the low bass.

Knucklehead

thanks for the info, given my set-up would the R50's be set to small or large?

renowilliams

My reciever was the first to have MCACC and it worked flawless when I calibrated my speakers. Was a lot easier than my Yamaha was.

+1 on what Mantis is saying.

michaeljhsda2

Knucklehead wrote: »

thanks for the info, given my set-up would the R50's be set to small or large?

David, I would try both settings for the R50's and see how they compare. In my setup (SDA 2's) I ended up using the large setting, however, YMMV.

Conradicles

I use large on my SDA's.

wingnut4772

I didn't like it as much when I had it.

Knucklehead

michaeljhsda2 wrote: »

David, I would try both settings for the R50's and see how they compare. In my setup (SDA 2's) I ended up using the large setting, however, YMMV.

Thanks Mike, I didnt want to be a pest with a bunch of e-mails, the AVR sounds fantastic, a few more tweaks and I think Ill be where I need to be.;)

michaeljhsda2

Knucklehead wrote: »

Thanks Mike, I didnt want to be a pest with a bunch of e-mails, the AVR sounds fantastic, a few more tweaks and I think Ill be where I need to be.;)

Cool. Glad to hear it's working out for you. Enjoy!
Mike

Knucklehead

DANG!!! Now youve got me thinking bout those pre-outs on this thing........will this vicisous cycle of upgrade-itis ever end?:eek:

Pedler

OK thanks for the reply guys. I didn't expect so many responses.

I used MCACC but the speaker sizes came as large. my sub was set to cross over at 80 HZ then I changed it to 50hz and it sounded better.

I put the Mic on a tripod were I sit. and I tried the AVSforum setups they recommend. It sounds flat neutral. But Dull I am not saying that MCACC didn't tame certain issues that I have but it took the signature sound away from my speakers. So now when i watch a movie it doesn't excite me.

When I turn it off I find it has the detail back, but it isn't 100% so I am trying to pick and choose certain parts of the MCACC.

Mantis, you said that most rooms are not setup properly. What way is the correct way to set it up? MCACC ??
My speakers are 20 inches from the side walls, and 12 inches from the back wall and 12 foot wide room by 9 feet high.

Knucklehead

Pedler, from what I gather its best to run the MCAAC then tweak the settings to your taste. Not everyone can be blessed with the perfect room or set-up for that matter. Im sure once you've messed around with it for awhile you'll get it right. Good Luck!

Pedler

Knucklehead wrote: »

Pedler, from what I gather its best to run the MCAAC then tweak the settings to your taste. Not everyone can be blessed with the perfect room or set-up for that matter. I'm sure once you've messed around with it for awhile you'll get it right. Good Luck!

Yep I agree I have done this.. I just find that after it has run I am adjusting the EQ point's and in doing so, aren't you defeating the purpose of MCACC?

Don't get me wrong, I am not saying that the MCACC doesn't work. It has corrected different sound issues I had but to do this it has to take away from something else.

Hopefully MANTIS can explain it seeing how he has more experience with it.

bsoko2

I have a Pio '94 and MCACC is about as fool proof as can be. Of course it also helps that I have the Anti Mode 8033 to handle the sub LFE bass, then I run MCACC. Love it and never have had any problems with it. For more info on MCACC, there is a MCACC thread on AVS at http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1112470.

Bill

superjunior

Knucklehead wrote: »

DANG!!! Now youve got me thinking bout those pre-outs on this thing........will this vicisous cycle of upgrade-itis ever end?:eek:

no

Pedler

For more info on MCACC, there is a MCACC thread on AVS at http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=1112470.

Bill[/QUOTE]



I have done this and if you follow the posts it is the consensus that after the MCACC has been run you have to change eg. the speakers to small and re-run it again keeping the speaker sizes.

Maybe I am just nit-picking... It's not like I would sell my receiver:eek:
I guess I am just trying to understand why they would have you do this.

Pedler

I have the stereo speakers sounding great now. I just have to tweak the surrounds some more.

I am going to try and figure out the graph/DL the results to the computer.

I think today is going to be tweaking day.
Wish me Luck!!!!:D:D:D

Pedler

xcapri79 wrote: »

I just ran MCACC with the SC-07 and 2xLSi25's/2xC's/4x15's/4xPSW1000s with a DSW600 off the LFE.
(The PSW1000's are connected to each of the front LSi25's and side LSi15's)
It set everything to large which sounds right to me.
The only changes I made was to set the DSW600 sub to plus.
The MCACC recommended I lower its volume, which I changed to 25 from a max of 40.
It produced some nice before and after graphs.
I'll download them sometime when I remember to bring my laptop home.
The difference with the Moody Blues I was playing was huge.
In another thread, I described it as audio heaven.
Everything sounded so right for me.

How big is your room??? :eek::eek::D:D 4 subs you are a lucky. I don't have the space. but i could do 2 subs.

Knucklehead

he either likes rap...or has a life size AMC theater in his house.