ROTEL RSP-1098 - Manual (Page 37)

37 English
woofer for that mode) and a range of adjust-
ments from –9dB to +9dB and MAX (+10dB).
A setting of 0dB means that the specified sur-
round mode will use the master subwoofer level.
Any other setting is an offset to the master
setting. For example, an adjustment of -2db
for a particular surround mode means that the
subwoofer level will be 2 dB quieter than the
master subwoofer level when that surround
mode is selected. Use these subwoofer level
settings to adjust the relative bass output of
various surround modes. Changing the mas-
ter subwoofer level will increase or decrease
the level for all surround modes.
NOTE : Only the current surround mode can
be adjusted on this menu. You will need to
change surround modes using the front panel
or remote buttons to adjust a different mode.
We recommend starting with the settings for
all surround modes at the default 0 dB setting
during the test tone calibration of the system
and for a period of familiarization after that.
As you listen to a variety of source material
over time, you may notice that certain surround
modes consistently produce too much or too
little bass from the subwoofer. If so, then use
these menu settings to customize each surround
mode. In general, if the master subwoofer level
is set properly (i.e. not too loud), individual
settings for each surround mode should not
be necessary.
NOTE
: In Dolby Digital and DTS recordings,
the LFE channel is used to produce spectacu-
lar low bass effects, placing considerable de-
mands on your subwoofer system. If you hear
distortion or other signs of distress from your
subwoofer at loud listening levels, you may
consider reducing the subwoofer level for the
Dolby Digital and/or DTS surround modes.
In other surround modes, there is no LFE chan-
nel and the subwoofer will only reproduce
redirected bass from the other channels,
which is not as likely to tax the subwoofer.
To return to the MAIN menu, press the EN-
TER button. Press the MENU/OSD button on
the remote to cancel the display and return
to normal operation.
Test Tone
TEST TONE
LEFT:+ 1dB
CENTER:- 1dB
RIGHT:+ 2dB
R SURROUND:+ 5dB
R CTR BACK:+ 2dB
L CTR BACK:+ 2dB
L SURROUND:+ 4dB
SUBWOOFER:+ 9dB
MAIN MENU
This menu uses filtered pink noise test tones
to set equal volume levels for all speakers (left
front, center, right front, right surround, cen-
ter back, left surround, and subwoofer) to en-
sure proper surround sound reproduction.
Setting the output levels using the test proce-
dure provides the most accurate adjustment
so that digital surround sound material will be
reproduced as it was intended and is a criti-
cal step in calibrating the system.
NOTE : If you have configured your system to
use two center back speakers, there will be
an additional line in the menu, giving you the
ability to independently adjust the CENTER
BACK 1 and CENTER BACK 2 speakers.
To access this menu and perform the test tone
calibration, you can be in any surround mode
except BYPASS with any input except the MULTI
INPUT. Enter the OSD menu system and select
TEST TONE from the MAIN MENU to reach
this screen.
When you enter the TEST TONE menu, you
will hear a test tone coming from the highlighted
speaker. Highlight different speakers by moving
the cursor to the desired line using the UP/
DOWN buttons. The test tone will shift accord-
ingly to the selected speaker.
Seated in the normal listening location, shift
the test tone to the various speakers. Using the
one speaker as a reference, listen for any speak-
ers that are noticeably louder or quieter. If so,
adjust that speaker’s levels up or down (in 1dB
increments) using the +/– buttons. Continue
switching among the speakers and adjusting
until all speakers are the same volume.
To return to the MAIN menu, press the EN-
TER button. Press the MENU/OSD button on
the remote to cancel the menu display and
return to normal operation.
Calibration with an SPL meter:
Calibrating the system with an SPL meter, rather
than by ear, provides more precise results and
improves the system’s performance significantly.
Inexpensive SPL meters are widely available
and the procedure is quick and easy.
Both Dolby and DTS specify a standard cali-
bration level for all theaters to ensure that
soundtracks can be played at the volume level
intended by the director of the film. This ref-
erence level should result in spoken dialog
played at a realistic level for normal speech
with the loudest peaks in any single channel
at about 105 dB. The RSP-1098’s test tones
are generated at a precise level (-30dBFs)
relative to the loudest possible digitally recorded
sound. At the Dolby or DTS reference level,
these test tones should produce a 75dB read-
ing on an SPL meter.
Set the meter to its 70dB dial setting with SLOW
response and C-weighting, held away from
your body at your listening position (mount-
ing the SPL meter on a camera tripod makes
this easier). You can point the SPL meter at each
speaker as it is being measured; however,
positioning the meter in a fixed position pointing
at the ceiling is easier and probably produces
more consistent results.
Increase the master volume control on the
RSP-1098 until the meter reads 75dB (+5dB
on the meter scale) when playing the test tone
through one of the front speakers. Then, use
the individual channel adjustments on the TEST
TONE menu to adjust each of the individual
speakers, including the subwoofer, to the same
75dB on the SPL meter.
NOTE
: Due to meter weighting curves and
room effects, the actual level of the subwoofer
may be slightly higher than you measure. To
compensate, Dolby suggests setting the sub-
woofer several dB lower when calibrating
with an SPL meter (i.e. set the subwoofer to
read 72 dB on the meter instead of 75 dB).
Avoid setting the subwoofer level too high
(above 75dB). Exaggerated bass effects come
at the expense of proper blending with the
main speakers and place tremendous stress
on the subwoofer and its amplifier. If you can
localize bass from the subwoofer, the sub-
woofer level is almost certainly too high. Music
can be useful for fine-tuning the subwoofer
level as excessive bass is readily apparent.
The proper setting will generally work well
for music and movie soundtracks.