How to Calibrate a Home Audio System
Having the right number and type of equipment is an excellent start to creating the ultimate home audio system. However, simply plugging in the equipment will not be enough to get the optimal sound and performance you want. The system you bring home is not automatically going to sound the same way it did in the showroom. This is where calibration comes in.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Consider rearranging the room or space to maximize acoustics. To calibrate a home audio system effectively, it is important to understand that the system does not just include the electronics. A home audio system also takes into account the walls, curtains, furniture and any other objects in the room that affect sound frequencies.
-
2
Call up the receiver or amplifier's set-up menu that appears either on the display screen or on your TV.
-
-
3
Indicate what kind of speakers you have by using the appropriate choices on the menu.
-
4
Enter the distance each speaker is from the primary listening position in the room.
-
5
Assess the sound level of each channel by ear so you can adjust each channel accordingly. The idea is to get an equal level of volume from each speaker.
-
6
Adjust the frequencies. You can alter the bass and treble controls on less sophisticated systems. Systems that are more complicated often have built-in equalizers.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Calibration involves several different functions, which include audio tones or subwoofer set-up.
If you do not trust your own hearing and senses to make the right adjustments, consider getting your system calibrated by a professional. This service can cost a few hundred dollars.
If you want to avoid the steps of calibration altogether, there are some sophisticated automated calibration systems on the market you can use instead.
You must have the essential components of the home audio system in order to begin calibration. These components include the appropriate speakers, receiver, amplifier and equipment (such as a CD player).
Keep in mind the types of distortions that can impede your system's sound quality. These include background noise, unequal speaker levels or too many hard surfaces that contribute to excess sound reflections.
If you like the way the equipment sounded in the store, do not assume that you should use the store's settings when you calibrate your system at home. The settings used in the showroom are not necessarily appropriate for your living room.
