Hello,

I was curious to know what types of DVD’s you use when setting up an Surroud Sound System, such as setting speaker levels and such.  I have seen a few DVD’s in the past that contained several audio tests tones, and several video clips from good action movies to setup these systems.  Any suggestions on where to buy these would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

David Williams
A/V Solutions

We usually use a Sencore SP295 meter, and follow the HAA guidelines (if the client has paid for a calibration). If the system has an auto-cal (Bose, some Denon, Yamaha, etc.), we’ll use that.

We don’t use any sort of regular programming material for calibration, since it’s impossible to isolate any specific problems in the setup. For example, it’s impossible to set speaker timing using regular source material (there’s no way someone can calibrate a few milliseconds timing difference by ear alone).

The best you can get from a DVD test disc is to verify that all speakers are connected, and that the result is pleasing to your ear. I don’t think you can even validate polarity without a meter, much less find and diagnose room modes, subwoofer crossover frequencies, resonance times, or other such details. Of course, the ear can hear if the system “sounds right”, but the ear can compensate for poor audio pretty well. It’s just tiring to do so.

Thanks -
Rob

I am not into the market where every system is calibrated with a Sencore meter.  Although i would love to be able to provide these services to my customers, but in the area that i am in, i cannot.  Simply stated i am looking for a DVD disk that show several movie clips from different movies soi that i can setup the systems, and give the customer that “wow” factor.  Eventually i will get into the systems that i need a sencore meter, or a meter of another brand, but as of now, i do not have the customers that will appreciate this.  I am above the home theaters in a box systems, and are simply doing the 500-2500 dollar systems.

Thank You,

David Williams
A/V Solutions

AVSOLUTIONS - 14 January 2009 10:53 PM

I am not into the market where every system is calibrated with a Sencore meter.  Although i would love to be able to provide these services to my customers, but in the area that i am in, i cannot.  Simply stated i am looking for a DVD disk that show several movie clips from different movies soi that i can setup the systems, and give the customer that “wow” factor.  Eventually i will get into the systems that i need a sencore meter, or a meter of another brand, but as of now, i do not have the customers that will appreciate this.  I am above the home theaters in a box systems, and are simply doing the 500-2500 dollar systems.

Thank You,

David Williams
A/V Solutions

Have you checked out any of the THX Demo Discs?

Also: Joe Kane’s Digital Video Essentials: http://www.videoessentials.com/products_main.php

We use The 5.1 Audio Toolkit DVD from Gold Line / PMI.

Besides the a ton of test tones on all the 5.1 channels, it has 5.1 music and some Dolby trailers.

If you go to the Cedia ESD086 Home Theater Design Workshop by Anthony Grimani you get it with the class   I think you can buy it other places for around $149

http://www.gold-line.com/51atdvd.htm

-Steve

inspiredelectronics - 05 January 2009 06:27 AM

We usually use a Sencore SP295 meter, and follow the HAA guidelines (if the client has paid for a calibration). If the system has an auto-cal (Bose, some Denon, Yamaha, etc.), we’ll use that.

We don’t use any sort of regular programming material for calibration, since it’s impossible to isolate any specific problems in the setup. For example, it’s impossible to set speaker timing using regular source material (there’s no way someone can calibrate a few milliseconds timing difference by ear alone).

The best you can get from a DVD test disc is to verify that all speakers are connected, and that the result is pleasing to your ear. I don’t think you can even validate polarity without a meter, much less find and diagnose room modes, subwoofer crossover frequencies, resonance times, or other such details. Of course, the ear can hear if the system “sounds right”, but the ear can compensate for poor audio pretty well. It’s just tiring to do so.

Thanks -
Rob

You can actually do quite a bit with your ear, an SPL meter, and proper test tones from a setup disk like AviaII or DVE.  It is not a replacement for RTA, etc, but for a basic setup it’s more helpful and thorough than just internal testtones on a receiver and can allow you to check exactly what is going on with bass management, verify polarity, dial in timing very nicely, search for bad room resonance vibration with bass sweeps, etc.

This thread is mostly about display calibration, but includes a couple helpful tips for audio as well, if you scroll through it there are a couple helpful portions about subwoofer setup, speaker setup, etc:

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=585527

In addition to helping you set up your DVD-A or DVD-V sound replay system in more depth than any other disc I have seen so far, Chesky Records’ “Ultimate Surround Sampler and 5.1 Setup Disc” also includes eight diverse selections from the Chesky high resolution audio catalogue in 24-bit 96 kHz surround and stereo. With this combination, you really can’t lose: it would be worth it for either part.

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