Music overpowering voice

[dmbmay98]

I have a question. i have set up my system and i notice while watching movies that a lot of times the voices are a lot quiter then the music. So it seems the music is overpowering the voices. What settings would do that to make that happen. For example this happened in Boondock Saints. I am running in dolby digital 5.1. I have a HK 435 along with the RF-52 system. Any suggestions? Should i make the Center Channel louder perhaps? I also have all the speakers set to small.

[SilverSport]

Radio Shack SPL meter (mine was $47 bux)...preferrably an older analogue not the digital but I don't know why...digi should be just fine...then from your sitting (sweet spot) area follow the instructions...this should bring the center equal despite differing efficiencies in speakers...good luck...smarter heads will explain more I am sure...Bill

[DrWho]

The majority of the voices in movies come through the center channel so that'd be the first place to start.

What settings are you currently running on your receiver? And where are

your speakers positioned in the room relative to the listening position?

If all your speakers are equidistant from the listening position and

your mains are in the front corners of your room, then you could

probably anticipate needing to boost your center channel by +3 and your

surrounds by +1.

Do you have an SPL meter readily available? If not, you might consider

investing in one (~$30 at radio shack). Run the test tone setup thing

on your receiver and adjust all the channel volumes such that they read

the same SPL on your meter. It's a lot more accurate than trying to do it by ear.

[dmbmay98]

Ya the HK 435 has a built in equalizer with a microphone to automatically set it up. I think the front speakers have a +3 which is causing the music to be to loud. I will have to invest in a spl meter.

[j-malotky]

If your SPL is ok between your mains and center, look at your processor / receiver settings. Mine has a vocal enhance that can boost the vocal processing if needed. I have one preset with the vocals flat and a second that boosts vocals 3db if needed.

Some times the recordings / mixing are uneven.

JM

[Jay481985]

Radio Shack SPL meter (mine was $47 bux)...preferrably an older analogue not the digital but I don't know why...digi should be just fine...then from your sitting (sweet spot) area follow the instructions...this should bring the center equal despite differing efficiencies in speakers...good luck...smarter heads will explain more I am sure...Bill

digital rounds to the next db while the analog you an guesstimate if it should be rounded down or up.

[Buckeye_Nut]

I have a question. i

have set up my system and i notice while watching movies that a lot of

times the voices are a lot quiter then the music. So it seems the

music is overpowering the voices. What settings would do that to

make that happen. For example this happened in Boondock

Saints. I am running in dolby digital 5.1. I have a HK 435

along with the RF-52 system. Any suggestions? Should i make

the Center Channel louder perhaps? I also have all the speakers

set to small.

Unfortunately, your problem is most likely related to room acoustic

issues and unwanted room reflections providing you have already set

your channel levels evenly. Your auto calibration function will be able

to set channel levels close to where they need to be. Since

you've already stated that you have taken that necessary step,

purchasing a SPL meter and tweaking manually will not fix the above

problem.

In order to have crystal clear

dialog during loud segments of movies, you'll need to fix your room

reflection issues. Once you do, you'll be able to hear crystal

clear dialog even while music is playing & while things are

exploding all around in a scene. Cranking the center channel up in

attempt to hear dialog better during loud segments will only throw your

soundstage and imaging completely out of whack and it will destroy your

surround soundfield. The problem you are describing is a textbook

example of one of the many acoustic problems caused by an untreated

room.

Good Luck....

[Guest " "]

didn't notice if anyone mentioned speaker distance settings and listening position.

if your favorite chair is next to one of you main or rear speakers...the speakers nearest you will over shadow the ones that are furthest.

Most recivers have a distance setting where you can fine tune based on your seating arrangement.

for example in my office....I have my desk across one wall with the sub underneath the desk and have my system along the right side of the room. my distance settings are sub 2ft, left front 8 ft, right front 4 ft.

also, make sure you center channel is correctly connected...seen a case where the center channel was not as commanding as it should have been...turned out that the center was wired across the mains by mistake (depending on your reciever...sometimes the speaker connection terminal pairs are vertical, sometimes horizontal), so basiclly instead of having a true center channel....the config only provided the difference of the two front speakers across the center channel.