Many believe that once they pay for and install a high-level digital receiver and top-end speakers they’ll automatically hear breathtaking sound. But that’s like expecting a Jag to purr like a kitten before the engine is tuned properly. Making things more complicated is the fact that not rooms are the same, meaning their acoustics are completely different. Audio optimized for great performance in one home theater could sound terrible in another.
The only way to get all the sound you’ve paid for in a home theater is to have the equipment professionally calibrated.
How Is Home Theater Audio Calibrated and Optimized?
Maximizing audio performance isn’t a hit-or-miss process that you can do on your own by listening to music or a movie soundtrack, and then moving a speaker or changing a setting. Most modern A/V receivers actually provide an auto-calibration function, but just letting the equipment make decisions for you isn’t the way to go, either. Auto-calibrate doesn’t usually do a very good job with crossover settings (which decide whether to send low frequencies to speakers or the subwoofer) or sound equalization.
Setting up a home theater for truly optimal sound requires a mixture of measurements, analysis and experience. DTV Installations is expert at combining the three to calibrate home theater audio, particularly when surround-sound systems are involved.
Measurements include determining the size and shape of a room, the natural acoustics of the space, the capacities of the speakers being used and the distances between components and preferred listening locations. We also use equipment like an SPL (sound pressure level) meter to measure actual audio levels throughout the room.
We use that information and our years of experience to place the speakers in what should be their proper positions, make sure there are no equipment issues like incorrect polarities or driver defects, and then begin the detailed calibration process. We set crossover levels, polarity, phase and delay, adjust channel levels with pink-noise tones, and apply the proper equalization to each speaker to ensure a proper balance. Only then will we (and you) be ready for an ear test. If things aren’t quite perfect, we’ll reposition the speakers a little and start all over again.
As you can see, proper home theater audio calibration isn’t something you can leave to an automatic function on your equipment, if you want the volume, clarity, detail and balance you have every reason to expect. Our DTV Installations experts can get it right, every time.
How Expensive Is Professional Home Theater Calibration in New York or New Jersey?
Actually, calibration is FREE – if you’ve purchased your home theater from DTV Installations. Professional audio calibration is included with every theater we deliver and install.
If you have an existing theater (or, heaven forbid, you hire someone else to supply and set up your equipment), our professional calibration services start at $899 for a normal 5.1 home theater; charges are higher for more channels and more speakers.
We’d be delighted to perform a free site inspection and provide a no-obligation quote for calibrating and optimizing your home theater. Even better, why not ask us about updating your current setup or installing a brand-new system that delivers the audio and video you deserve?
