HTM-200s (x5) Calibration ?

[shane55]

Change to a 100Hz crossover and that should clean up the dip.

I agree.. if you're not already there. Or... just for s&g's try 120hz.

Otherwise... looking pretty good. Of course the most important thing is how it sounds, and if you think it sounds good, not much else matters!

Great news re. the wife.
Cheers.

shane

[JeffD2]

Here are the results for the 100 and 120Hz crossovers. That 45Hz seems tamed a bit (not sure why). I suppose It could just be a matter of inches with the spl meter.

I also did readings on the HTM-200s from one meter, and a single speaker from two feet- AVR set to large, sub off.





I know that the many variables in rooms have an effect on readings but the readings on the HTM-200s give me pause.

Click my sig to see placement of the fronts, and thanks again for your advice.

[Jorge59]

Hi Jeff,

Nice job calibrating your system. I'd be interested in knowing how do you feel about the 5 HTM-200 package. What receiver and player do you use? How big is the room? Do you play more music or movies? What kind of music (style, DVD, CD)? What speaker system did you have before? I'm about to buy an Ascend package and have considered a 5 HTM-200 set like yours (with STF-2 sub). Thanks.

[JeffD2]

Hi Jorge,

Almost all your questions can be answered by clicking my signature.

You have to understand where I came from before I purchased the HTM-200s, a Pioneer HTIB. So of course I'm thrilled with them. I considered the usual recommended (at the time) 340 center and 340/170s for mains and either 200s or 170s for surrounds. BUT, I have a small living room, I did not want it converted to a speaker room, this was a major factor in my decision along with Ascend's impeccable reputation. I considered those "orb" speakers, didn't want to make that statement though .

Please don't think I was never familiar with audiophile quality. My next audio project will be to ressurect my Dahlquist M907s and reignite my Carver 150w Magnetic Field Amplifier which has been in mothballs for longer than I care to remember- True old school power and sound, heck yeah!!

Your Ascends will sound great out of the box, the trick will be sub calibration.

Location, location, maybe rotation and calibration, right Shane?

Oh yeah, 80-20 music/movies.

[shane55]

"Location, location, maybe rotation and calibration, right Shane?"

Right you are Jeff...
Seriously, your graphs have improved tremdously since you began this 'quest'.
Also, you now have a great record of what your components can do, and how they behave under certain circumstances.

Of course, as we have all said in the past... at one time or another, it's not just what the graphs look like, it's how it sounds. I hope it's not still "Horrible" , and that the sound has improved with the charts.

Cheers

shane

[JeffD2]

"Location, location, maybe rotation and calibration, right Shane?"

....... I hope it's not still "Horrible" , and that the sound has improved with the charts.

Cheers

shane

Actually, the sound is quite good now. The "Horrible" comment was when I had a horrible graph to back it up. I gonna try a phase adjustement to smooth out the dip from the graph posted on 7-9-05 (Post #9) with those particular settings. I'll try at 80 and 100Hz xover and decide then. I'm a bit concerned about localizing the sub, but we'll see. THANK YOU for all your help here on that "other" forum. Couldn't do the final tweak tonight, but will advise if the phase changes anything in the graph.

Thanks to everyone here for their suggestions and sharing their knowledge.

Jeff

[JeffD2]

Jorge59 ".......What kind of music (style, DVD, CD)? ......."

As I have an SVS PB10-ISD it may not be a just comparison (no knock, just a different sub), but I found that most contemporary music like hip-hop, rap, etc sounded awesome before I even attempted calibration. However, rock music in general just didn't have punch, whether it was new or old, CD stereo, PCM, DD2.0, DTS, or DD5.1. Movies have always sounded great as I tend to purchase "big sound" movies that shake the house. This was not due to anything from the Ascends, but from placement/calibration (or lack of) the sub itself.

[davef]

I also did readings on the HTM-200s from one meter, and a single speaker from two feet- AVR set to large, sub off.

Hi Jeff,

Congrats on the tweaking.. You are getting some nice responsive curves. Any real-world in-room response measurement of +/- 10dB is very respectable.

I wanted to make one comment from looking at your measurements...

Notice how smooth the response is when you measured a single HTM-200? This measurement is on spec for an HTM-200. Notice how you get a 10dB peak at 180Hz when you measured both of them and also a 10dB dip at 90Hz compared to the single speaker measurement? It is no coincidence that 180Hz is exactly one octave higher than 90Hz...

At 180Hz you are getting additional reinforcement while at 90Hz you are getting cancellation between both speakers... Without question, this is a sure sign of a large reflection and I suspect it is being caused by the large TV sitting directly between the speakers (or possibly the side walls)...

Try moving the speakers forward 2 feet and taking another measurement, you might also try changing the vertical height of the speakers. Also take a measurement of just a single speaker and sub... I bet you will see an even smoother transition between single speaker and sub (using an 80Hz crossover)...

If *aesthetics* will allow it, there is definitely room for even more improvements...

One last question, what are using to take these measurements?

Thanks

[JeffD2]

Thanks for the input Dave,

I'm using the RS analog spl meter, C-weighted, slow, tripod mounted, me out of the way. I'm also using the Excel spreadsheet for meter compensation from the other forum posted in the subwoofer section.

Apparently you've seen my setup pics. Moving the speakers outward not really an option but higher than the TV is. I'll give it a shot and report back.

"If *aesthetics* will allow it" - C'mon Dave, we know what that really means .

Oh well, more homework!

[JeffD2]

I started this calibration quest on June 24th and consider myself finished after numerous sub placements (7) and rearranging furniture in my living room. Coincidentally the final sub placement gets highest mark on the WAF scale. Below is chart where I started and what I have finally decided on. This was done without spending any $ on hardware.



I took Dave's suggestions and did some new readings. I moved the speakers forward two feet away from the TV. I won't use this setup, but wanted to do justice to the HTM-200's. I believe I mistakenly measured about 75dB when it should have been about 85dB on the 200Hz frequency when the speakers where right along side of the TV. I've done many other tests and the 200Hz is always higher than the 160. Please ingnore ANYTHING below 80Hz as it just fill. Dave was right on.



I tried raising the mains higher in the original postion but this did not accomplish anything positive in the higher frequecy dip region.

I am very happy with my overall sound now with the MINOR exception of movie dialogue which seems a little less than full (Yeah, I know 340C!). What I am wondering though, IF I decide to add an EQ to level the 90-125 region (if it will work at all), will that be detrimental to HTM-200s?