Audyssey

The SR8001 uses the "Multi-EQ" iteration of Audyssey's room equalizer software (the stand-alone version of Audyssey's system, called Audyssey Sound Equalizer, is sold primarily to installers). There are several different versions of the software licensed to A/V manufacturers. In the "Multi-EQ" version found in the SR8001, you first connect the supplied microphone (shown below), which is different than the usual saucer-shaped calibration microphones found in most similarly equipped receivers.

Once connected, the Audyssey sends a series of test tones through every channel in the system (eight in my case, seven main channels plus the subwoofer). The test tones sound like a Star Wars blaster instead of the usual white noise tones found in other products.

The first set of tones confirm the speakers that are connected in the system, and that they are wired in phase. Next, you place the microphone in the prime listening location, then let the Audyssey send another series of tones to each of the channels.

Unlike many other products, this iteration of Audyssey allows you to select up to six different locations. In fact, the manual recommends that you allow the software to run tones in six different locations to maximize the utility of the software. Once completed, the system does the number crunching. If you use all six microphone placements, this processing can take up to ten minutes, but it's worth the wait.

Once finished, the OSD shows you the speaker size, distance, crossover, and EQ, then asks you to store the results. Once stored, the EQ function can be disabled with a single button push. Alternatively, you can use other automatic modes such as "Front" (which matches the characteristics of each speaker to the front speakers), or "Flat" (which flattens the frequency response of all speakers regardless of room acoustics, designed primarily for listening to multi-channel music such as DD or DTS encoded DVDs). You can also choose to ignore the Audyssey's EQ setting, and manually set each channel's EQ using the "Preset" function, which allows the user to adjust nine bands of EQ for each of the seven main channels.

Once Audyssey completed its mission, I double-checked its findings ("Trust but verify" says the old Russian proverb!) Audyssey's speaker distance (measurable in 0.1 feet increments) and speaker volume settings (adjustable in 0.5 dB steps) were spot-on. Viewing the EQ settings on the OSD (onscreen display), it appeared that Audyssey, while making only minor adjustments in the sub-1 kHz spectra, decided that my front channels needed a major boost in the upper frequencies.

Judged solely on the OSD settings, one might conclude that the MultEQ had added too much boost to the high frequencies. However, looks can be deceiving. The Audyssey program involves sophisticated time and frequency domain adjustments that don’t translate well into the simple, DOS-based graph shown on the OSD (rumor has it that Audyssey discourages manufacturers from including the on-screen displays for just that reason). In fact, a couple of two-channel white noise tests (our test equipment only allows testing two channels at a time), confirmed that the Audyssey's adjustments made only modest changes to the overall in-room response, as shown below in the room response graph.

Of course, part of the beauty of the Audyssey system is that you can use its settings as a starting point, then customize them using the "Preset" manual EQ settings to tailor the adjustments to your personal preferences. Once I accepted the Audyssey settings, the Marantz was clearefd for take-off. (Click on photo below to enlarge it.)

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