I don’t know about you, but when I see a movie at the local multiplex, there’s an excellent chance that something will be wrong with the sound. Just as distracting as bad video (“Focus!!”), an improperly-calibrated sound system can seriously detract from the viewing experience. There’s nothing worse than explosions that physically hurt your ears or dialogue so soft you find yourself leaning forward to hear it. Thanks to the wonder that is home theater, you can now control what you’re watching, who’s watching with you, how it looks and even how it sounds. With the right receiver, an inexpensive sound meter and some audio test tones, you can fully customize every aspect of your audio system and make sure it’s optimized for your space and your ears.
Many new receivers, such as the Harman/Kardon AVR340 used here, feature automatic speaker calibration using a supplied microphone. HK calls this “EZ-Set” and their microphone conveniently plugs into the receiver’s front panel headphone jack. As with similar systems on other receivers, I recommend you use “EZ-Set” as a starting point, review the results, but then do your own test using a sound meter. For roughly the cost of two DVDs, a meter will ensure that your speakers are outputting equal volume and that your sub is providing the appropriate woof.
STEP 1: PREP & WIRING
Before you launch into on-screen displays (OSD) and crossover settings, make sure you have installed your speakers properly. Don’t play favorites with your speakers—treat them all as equals. That means use the same gauge (no thinner than size 16) of the same speaker wire for each of your main channels. (Different lengths are OK at these relatively short distances.) And keep your polarities straight—red to red and black to black. Your subwoofer should be happy with a single RCA-style subwoofer cable connected to your receiver’s line-level subwoofer output.
With everything connected, get out your receiver and DVD player remotes. Make sure you can navigate your receiver’s on-screen display and locate the relevant screens for speaker configuration. Find out exactly what can be adjusted and what your options are for each item. Consult the manual if necessary.
On the DVD remote, find the “A-B” or “loop” button and learn how it works. You’ll want to set up a short loop during the test tones for each of your channels. This will allow you to focus on reading the meter and give you plenty of time to make any necessary level adjustments. Finally, dig out the documentation on your speakers and research the “Frequency Response”—this will help you set the appropriate crossover point between the mains and the subwoofer.
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