System Configuration
22
Speaker Output Adjustments
Adjustments and calibration of the
speaker output levels is important to
proper surround operation. During this
process, the unit is adjusted so that the
output levels from each channel have
a reference level that is as close to one
another as possible. A small amount of
time spent to properly calibrate the
AVR55’s output levels will enable the
unit to deliver all the performance it is
capable of within the environment of
your specific listening room.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
Many listeners
are often confused about the operation
of the rear (surround) channels. While
some assume that sound should always
be coming from each speaker, most of the
time there will be little or no sound in
the surround channels. This is because
they are only used when a movie director
or sound mixer specifically places sound
there to create ambiance, an effect or to
continue action from the front of the
room to the rear. When the output levels
are properly set it is normal for rear/
surround speakers to operate only
occasionally. Artificially increasing the
volume to the rear speakers may destroy
the illusion of an enveloping sound field
that duplicates the way you hear sound
in a movie theater or concert hall.
Before beginning the adjustment process
make certain that all speaker connections
have be properly made. The system
volume should be set to the level that
you will use during a typical listening
session. Finally, make certain that the
Balance Control
Ù
is set to the center
“12 o’clock” position.
1. Press the
Test Tone
button
k
on the remote to begin the adjustment
process. A test noise will circulate from
one speaker channel to the next, as indi-
cated in the
Information Display
F
.
2. Take a minute to listen to the test
noise from each speaker as the location
indicated in the display changes. Check
to make certain that, for example, when
the display reads
TEST-FRONT L
,
that the test noise is coming from the
front left speaker. If the test tone’s loca-
tion does not match the display for any
channel, press the
Test Tone
button
k
to end the adjustment and turn
the unit off using the
Main Power
Switch
1
. Check all connections to
maker certain the
Speaker Outputs
fi
are connected to the proper speaker.
Installation Hint:
While the test tone is
circulating among the channels, make
a note if it sounds reasonably equal in
volume, or if one channel or more
channels seems significantly louder than
the others.
3. When you have verified that all
channels are properly connected, press
the
Channel Select
button
l
to
begin the adjustment process.
4. When the
Channel Select
button
l
is pressed, the test tone will stop
circulating and will be heard in the front
left channel only. Use the
Volume
Controls
˘ n
to adjust the test noise
so that it approximates a normal listening
level. If you are using a sound pressure
level meter to calibrate the system, set the
volume level so that the meter reads 75dB,
C-Weighting, Slow.
5. Press the
Channel Select
button
l
again, and note that the test tone will
move to the center channel, as indicated
by the
TEST-CENTER
indication in the
Information Display. Use the
Speaker
Level Adjust
buttons
m
to raise or
lower the sound level so that it is equal to
the level just established in the front left
channel. DO NOT use the
Volume
Controls
˘ n
for this adjustment, as
they control the main system level, not the
individual channel outputs. As the adjust-
ments are made, the display will indicate
the positive or negative offset from the
reference level set in the previous step as
CENTER : +2 DB
. When the adjust-
ment is complete, press the
Channel
Select
button
l
again to move to the
next channel.
