PIONEER VSX-AX10I-G/SDLPW - Quick Guide Immediate Download

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

Speaker positions based on recommendations of International

Telecommunication UnionRadiocommunication sector (ITU-R).

100

°~120°

Fig. 4

Fig. 5

Fig.1 ITU-R recommended 5.1 ch speaker positions (ITU-R

BS.775-1)

Listening

position

Contents of Reference Calibration Disc

For Multi-Channel (DTS Signal)

Signals (Pulse) for

Adjusting Speaker Distance

Signals (Pulse) for Adjusting Speaker Distance

1 FL and FR

2 FL and C

3 FL and LS

4 LS and RS

1 FL and FR

1 12 o'clock

2 1 o'clock

3 2 o'clock

4 3 o'clock

5 4 o'clock

6 5 o'clock

7 6 o'clock

8 7 o'clock

9 8 o'clock

0 9 o'clock

- 10 o'clock

= 11 o'clock

~ 12 o'clock

Speaker Orientation

(Direction) Calibration Signals

For 2-Channel (Linear PCM Signal)

This unit is equipped with the Pioneer Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System (MCACC)

allowing it to automatically calibrate your speaker system to create the optimum sound

space. The reference calibration disc is furnished as an accessory, however, to allow you

to achieve the best possible sound settings. While listening to the signals recorded on the

disc, adjust the physical position and orientation of your speakers until they produce the

subjectively best possible sound space.

See the accompanying sidebar [Setting Procedure] for a concrete example of the setting

process.

This disc has been uniquely engineered by Pioneer with special calibration signals to allow

you to use your own sense of sound balance to adjust your speaker position (distance) and

orientation (direction) without the need for special measuring devices.

The speaker installation positions used in the recording of this disc are those recommended

for 5.1 ch sound by the ITU-R (see illustration), and believed to be appropriate for playback

of multi-channel audio. When using this disc to calibrate your speaker orientation (direc-

tion), it is necessary to set your speakers in the ITU-R positions, other positions may be

used, however, when setting the speaker distance.

Fine Adjustment of Speaker Distance

If surround back speakers are connected, set the surround back speaker setting to "none" only while performing

this adjustment.

Connect the receiver and your DVD player via a digital connection, and set the receiver's play mode to the

pure decode mode, that is, STANDARD mode on this receiver. (Note: if surround effects or other signal pro-

cessing are implemented the sound imaging will change and proper adjustment will not be possible).

* The recorded calibration signals are pulse signals. To prevent speaker damage, do not raise the volume excessively.

Play the reference calibration disc and display the menu screen.

For 2ch stereo speaker positions, press the remote control

2 35 keys to select the lower right "Linear PCM

(for two-channel)", then switch to the 2-channel menu screen. In this case, set the receiver's play mode for

stereo play ("STEREO" mode).

Use the remote control

2 35 keys to select the FL/FR speakers on "1. Signals for Adjusting Speaker

Distance".

The pulse signal will be played simultaneously from both channels; as shown in the accompanying illustra-

tion, face the two speakers producing the sound, spread your arms towards the speakers, and look at the

midpoint between the sounds. In this posture, your

ears will be in the proper position with respect to

the two speakers, thus allowing you to adjust the

sound correctly. Always use this posture when per-

forming adjustments.

Adjust the speaker distance delicately so that the

sound image from the two speakers appears to be

located precisely in the midpoint of the two speak-

ers when heard from the listening position (using

the posture described above).

When performing this adjustment, leave one

speaker in place as a reference speaker and move

the other speaker (normally, make each adjustment

distance only a few centimeters forward or back).

Normally, the front left (FL) speaker should be used

as a reference speaker. For example, when playing

the FL/FR signal, if the sound image appears to be

located more in the FR position, this means that

the FR speaker is too close; in this case, move it

slightly away from the listening position, while leav-

ing the FL speaker unmoved. When adjusting LS/

RS speakers, use the LS as the reference, and move

RS to adjust distance.

The calibration signals are divided into chapters by

channel; when calibrating sound, you may find it con-

venient to use your DVD player's chapter repeat function.

Adjust the FL/C

= FL/LS = LS/RS speakers in the same way.

* When surround speakers are located straight to the side of the listening position, the LS/RS adjustment should be performed

by taking one step forward and turning around. When L/R sounds are heard straight from the sides of the listening position,

the sound image tends to become located overhead, making it difficult to adjust properly. In other words, adjustments should

be made from a position where your spread hands are in a position more toward your front, not directly to your sides. If the

height of the two speakers is different, you might need to twist a bit so that you are able to stare straight into the midpoint of

the two speakers.

* In the case of FL/C and FL/LS speakers, you may find it more difficult to determine the sound image compared to FL/FR if the

sound image is hard to center, recheck your speaker connections. If one of the two speakers is connected with reversed phase

(+ and connections are reversed), it will be impossible to set the proper correct sound image. Also, listening conditions that

subject the two speakers to extreme differences in wall reflection may interfere with achieving a central sound image. Like-

wise, when the front and surround speakers are of different types, the FL/LS image may become ambiguous. In this case,

advance to adjusting the LS/RS speakers without attempting to further adjust the FL/LS speakers.

As noted above in Step 4, this adjustment should be performed only if your speaker settings are in accordance with

the ITU-R 5.1 ch placement angles shown in Fig. 1. Also note that the setting of sound image orientation is impaired

if each speaker's output level and distance are not correct; as a

result, be sure to set these items accurately before attempting to

adjust the speaker direction.

These instructions are based on the image of a large clock face,

with the listening position at the center and the "12:00" position

straight ahead.

Connect the receiver and your DVD player via a digital

connection, and set the receiver's play mode to the pure de-

code mode, that is, STANDARD mode on this receiver. (Note:

if surround effects or other signal processing are implemented

the sound imaging will change and proper adjustment will

not be possible).

Play the reference calibration disc and display the menu screen.

Use the remote control

2 35 keys to select the calibration

disc's item "2. Signals for Confirmation of Direction Definition",

for the "12 o'clock" position.

Following an introductory narration, you will hear the sound

of a clock ticking and a male voice. They should be heard

coming directly from the 12 o'clock position.

As you go through the subsequent chapters, the voice and

screen clock display will advance in a clockwise rotation (1

o'clock

= 2 o'clock = 3 o'clock ...). Confirm that the sound

and voice are heard as clearly coming from the specified

direction (for example, for the 3 o'clock position, the sound

should be heard coming from your immediate right). If the

sounds are not heard in their proper direction, adjust the

direction of your speakers. It may be impossible to accurately

adjust all of the 12 clock directions; emphasis should be placed

first on accurately adjusting the 4 cardinal directions (12 o'clock,

3 o'clock, 6 o'clock, and 9 o'clock), and then moving on to con-

firm the remaining in between positions.

* When adjusting speaker directions, change only the speaker angle, tak-

ing care not to change the position of the axis of rotation. The axis of

rotation should be located in the midpoint of the front surface of the

speaker (See Fig. 4).

* Results of experiments performed by a Pioneer-organized research group

have shown that favorable sound imaging can be produced when

speakers are set in the orientation depicted in Fig. 5. The actual sound

definition image, however, will change depending on the room

configuration and speakers used; as a result, various orientations should

be attempted while using this example as a reference.

Setting Procedure

Multi-Channel Audio

Speaker Setting Guide

Adjusting Speaker Direction

Speaker Position

When setting to the ITU-R positions, use the template on the reverse side of this

page; in other cases, select speaker positions while consulting the receiver's oper-

ating instructions. Also take into consideration the [Tips for Speaker Placement]

printed on the reverse side of this page.

Initiate the Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration

System (MCACC)

Perform automatic sound space calibration in accordance with the receiver's

operating instructions.

Fine Adjustment of Speaker Position (Distance)

While listening to the calibration signals recorded on the reference calibration disc,

move the speaker to produce the best possible distance setting.

For specific adjustment methods, see the section [Fine Adjustment of Speaker

Distance].

Adjust Speaker Orientation (Direction)

While listening to the calibration signals recorded on the reference calibration disc,

adjust your speakers' direction as necessary to achieve the best possible sound

imaging. When the sense of direction is aligned, the spatial information contained

in the source will be accurately reproduced, resulting in a greatly improved sense

of presence.

For concrete adjustment methods, see the section [Adjusting Speaker Direction].

Note that sound imaging is a function of the angle of speakers from the listening

position. As noted earlier, this disc is recorded in accordance with ITU-R 5.1 ch

speaker positions, with the result that using other speaker positions will make it

impossible to properly adjust the sound imaging. This adjustment should only be

performed when speakers are placed at the angles recommended by ITU-R (see

Fig. 1).

Perform MCACC Once Again

Finally, implement the Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System (MCACC) once

again in order to even out all the individually performed settings and assure that

the optimally balanced sound field is achieved.

When the final step is completed, you will have produced a high-precision sound

field. Now sit back and enjoy the superb sense of live presence capable with multi-

channel audio.

This speaker calibration guide is designed to help the user manually perform fine adjustments of

speaker position while listening to recorded signals, so as produce even higher sound quality than

that automatically optimized with the MCACC system. Note that some settings may be difficult to

achieve due to differences in shape and furnishings of the listening room, and subjective differences

in the perception of sound.

Axis of rotation

Rotate

Straight lines from the speakers'

center axes intersect about 30-80 cm

behind the listening position.

Straight lines from the speakers'

center axes intersect about 30-80 cm

behind the listening position.

100

120

C(Front = 0 degrees)

Published by Pioneer Corporation.

Printed in Japan

<ARH7060-A>

Speaker Placement Using the ITU-R

Template

Ultimate ITU-R Settings

2.83m

Speakers should be installed a

minimum of 10 cm away from any

surrounding walls, on a solid, stable

surface.

Adjust

speakers

that

the

tweeters are approximately at ear

level. If the center speaker's height

cannot be set at the same level,

angle it so that it is pointing directly

at the listening position. Depending

on preference, surround speakers

may be set somewhat higher than

ear level if desired.

Tips for Speaker Placement

Prepare two strings (the length of each string should be 3-4 times the

distance from the listening position to the front speakers), measuring tape

and felt pen for marking the string.

This method is more involved than the template method, but allows the

front 60-degree and surround 120-degree positions recommended by the

ITU-R to be set accurately.

As shown in Fig. 1, the ITU-R recommendations designate placement

angles for each speaker. The accompanying template can be used to easily

set speaker positions to these angles.

Before starting, prepare a string about 3 meters in length (the string should

be made of narrow, non-stretching material).

1 Open these Operating Instructions and align the ITU-R template center

with your listening position so that the position at 0 degrees is straight

ahead as shown.

2 Attach one end of the string to the center of the template and extend

the string out to the position at 0 degrees.

3 Install your center speaker along the extended string line (0 degrees).

4 Install your front speakers and surround speakers in the same way

along the appropriate extended string lines.

The ITU-R positioning method is based on the principle of setting each

speaker an equal distance from the listening position. It may be sufficient

to set the distance to the listening position electrically by means of

electronic delay circuits, but at least, the front two speakers and surround

two speakers should be set equal distances apart.

1 Using the string, prepare an equilateral triangle whose

leg length is equal to the distance from the listening

position to a front speaker. In the same way prepare a

right triangle (45°

× 45° × 90°) whose short leg length is

likewise equal to the distance from the listening position

to a front speaker. Use the felt pen to make a mark at the

midpoint of one of the legs of the equilateral triangle. (The

distances in the accompanying example illustration

represent those used when the distance from listening

position to front speaker is 2 meters).

(distance

1.414)

Equilateral

triangle

Right triangle

(45°

× 45° × 90°)

2 Install the center speaker at the front. Set the speaker dis-

tance with one leg of the equilateral triangle so that the

speaker is pointed directly toward the listening position.

3 Arrange the equilateral triangle so that the mark placed

on the midpoint of one leg of the triangle falls on the cen-

ter-line of the center speaker, then install the front speak-

ers at apexes of the two right/left angles as shown.

4 With the right triangle's 90° angle at the listening posi-

tion, place one of the shorter legs of the right triangle at

the centerpoint of the left front speaker (FL) as shown.

The other short side now points at the position where the

left surround speaker (LS) should be placed.

5 In the same way, align one short side of the right triangle

on the right side front speaker (FR) and install the right

surround speaker (RS) at the apex of the other short leg.