Mr. Whippy Posted June 15, 2008 Posted June 15, 2008 Hi there, just wondering if my mind (or ears) are playing tricks on me, but does anyone else find that the volume of the center channel (or dialogue tracks) on DVD's tend to vary? My centre channel is set to -9db, but lately I've found the dialogue too quiet on a few titles and I've bumped it up to -8db. Then I watched Hitman on bluray, and the dialogue was too loud so I dropped it back to -9db. Now I often seem to find myself playing with the centre channel volume settings +/- 1db, about 15 mins into every movie as a result. I watch a lot of movies at night when I have the volume turned down a bit more than during the day (when it doesnt matter how loud the special affects are) so I'm wondering if I'm bumping up the centre channel volume then and this is making it too loud for when I turn the volume up during the day, or if there are difference between DVD and BD audio mastering, or if its all just in my mind and I should stop mucking about with the bloody centre channel volume setting!!! Hope all of that made sense Best, Whipmeister
wheelz Posted June 15, 2008 Posted June 15, 2008 Have you calibrates your speaker levels? Once there calibrated everything should be set up nicely.There is a sticky somewhere on how to do it if unsure. ps.a $50 spl meter from dicksmith dose a lot better job than the mic set up that comes with some amps.
Mr. Whippy Posted June 15, 2008 Author Posted June 15, 2008 Yes, center speaker was calibrated to -9db
Cooksta59 Posted June 15, 2008 Posted June 15, 2008 Hi there,just wondering if my mind (or ears) are playing tricks on me, but does anyone else find that the volume of the center channel (or dialogue tracks) on DVD's tend to vary? My centre channel is set to -9db, but lately I've found the dialogue too quiet on a few titles and I've bumped it up to -8db. Then I watched Hitman on bluray, and the dialogue was too loud so I dropped it back to -9db. Now I often seem to find myself playing with the centre channel volume settings +/- 1db, about 15 mins into every movie as a result. I watch a lot of movies at night when I have the volume turned down a bit more than during the day (when it doesnt matter how loud the special affects are) so I'm wondering if I'm bumping up the centre channel volume then and this is making it too loud for when I turn the volume up during the day, or if there are difference between DVD and BD audio mastering, or if its all just in my mind and I should stop mucking about with the bloody centre channel volume setting!!! Hope all of that made sense Best, Whipmeister Maybe you are getting a lobing effect from your center.Have a read of the following link. http://www.avforums.com/forums/blog.php?b=201
SDL Posted June 16, 2008 Posted June 16, 2008 How is your centre placed? I found significant differences in just better placement of the centre, but I had an obstruction originally.
DZA888 Posted June 16, 2008 Posted June 16, 2008 what amp are you using? there should be a setting to seperately adjust channel volumes between each input source.
The D-Train Posted June 16, 2008 Posted June 16, 2008 How is your centre placed? I found significant differences in just better placement of the centre, but I had an obstruction originally. Sounds painful.
Meld Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 At night just turn on Dynamic Range Compression on your receiver. This will lessen the difference between loud and soft passages in the movie's soundtrack. Much more useful than changing the center channel level.
davidward Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 Hi there,just wondering if my mind (or ears) are playing tricks on me, but does anyone else find that the volume of the center channel (or dialogue tracks) on DVD's tend to vary? My centre channel is set to -9db, but lately I've found the dialogue too quiet on a few titles and I've bumped it up to -8db. Then I watched Hitman on bluray, and the dialogue was too loud so I dropped it back to -9db. Now I often seem to find myself playing with the centre channel volume settings +/- 1db, about 15 mins into every movie as a result. I watch a lot of movies at night when I have the volume turned down a bit more than during the day (when it doesnt matter how loud the special affects are) so I'm wondering if I'm bumping up the centre channel volume then and this is making it too loud for when I turn the volume up during the day, or if there are difference between DVD and BD audio mastering, or if its all just in my mind and I should stop mucking about with the bloody centre channel volume setting!!! Hope all of that made sense Best, Whipmeister I found the same thing on some movie sound tracks. I think it just comes down to how the sound track is mixed. Sometimes the dilaogue is clear and easily defined, other times it seems muddied by all the other sound effects. If you turn the volume up to hear the center channel better the louder passages in the soundtrack are too loud. If you boost up the volume of the center channel only then it becomes unbalanced with you other speakers. Movie soundtracks are the same as CD's etc. in that your at the mercy of the sound engineers. A good power amp like the Elektra can help the center channel cut through the clutter. Cheers CJ
Jeffie1503561482 Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 does your avr or bd/dvd player have night mode??
Mr. Whippy Posted June 17, 2008 Author Posted June 17, 2008 Maybe you are getting a lobing effect from your center.Have a read of the following link.http://www.avforums.com/forums/blog.php?b=201 Thanks, I will check it out
Mr. Whippy Posted June 17, 2008 Author Posted June 17, 2008 How is your centre placed? I found significant differences in just better placement of the centre, but I had an obstruction originally. Its under a 70" SXRD, angled towards listening position
Mr. Whippy Posted June 17, 2008 Author Posted June 17, 2008 At night just turn on Dynamic Range Compression on your receiver. This will lessen the difference between loud and soft passages in the movie's soundtrack. Much more useful than changing the center channel level. I seem to remember reading somewhere DRC was no good, which is why I've always left it switched off in the past. I'm also not convinced I've only got the problem with night watching, as I'm not overly concerned about my neighbours. I'm still semi convinced some dialogue tracks are louder than others. That and I'm a bit deaf.
Mr. Whippy Posted June 17, 2008 Author Posted June 17, 2008 3-way speaker? I think so? Its a VAF centre channel. I think I've posted more in this thread than my total for the last 3 years!
skipppy Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 (edited) I have same problem i actually put it down to my onkyo 705. I constantly adjust to because Audussey did a shithouse job -8, i think u just need to find your own balance good was to test is a good war seen with dialog Edited June 17, 2008 by skipppy
Mr. Whippy Posted June 17, 2008 Author Posted June 17, 2008 I found the same thing on some movie sound tracks. I think it just comes down to how the sound track is mixed. Sometimes the dilaogue is clear and easily defined, other times it seems muddied by all the other sound effects. If you turn the volume up to hear the center channel better the louder passages in the soundtrack are too loud. If you boost up the volume of the center channel only then it becomes unbalanced with you other speakers. Movie soundtracks are the same as CD's etc. in that your at the mercy of the sound engineers. A good power amp like the Elektra can help the center channel cut through the clutter. Cheers CJ Thanks, this most closely resembles what I think. I think! I've resisted a power amp at this stage until I move from a rented premises to a purchased premises where I can dedicate some space to a HT, plus a power amp would be bit of overkill in the space I have. I've set the centre channel to -8.5db as some sort of compromise in my mind... its like noticing a dead pixel and wishing you hadnt, I'm going to have to try and stop myself from obsessing over the dialogue volume every time I watch a DVD somehow
MACCA350 Posted June 17, 2008 Posted June 17, 2008 I've never had to adjust the center since calibration like you have mentioned.........although I do run 3 identical towers up the front(and Room EQ engaged), so maybe that makes a difference cheers
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