Calibrate your surround sound

As no two home theatre rooms are exactly alike, setting up a system for optimal sound can be a real challenge. But now we're increasingly seeing clever automated audio calibration systems to help eliminate the hassle of an audio setup routine.

Buying a top-of-the-line surround sound system does not necessarily guarantee a kick-ass sound system. The showstopper here lies in the fact that not a single room is similar to one another and the manufacturers aren't able to use an ideal model to design their entertainment systems.

This is where calibration comes into the picture. Unfortunately it can also be a complicated business to many. Some manufacturers have taken the lead to introduce an automated audio calibration system to address this issue.

Step 1: What is automated audio calibration?
It is a hardware and software solution designed to reduce or eliminate the hassle of an audio setup routine. The objective is to enable the system to automatically configure the onboard audio processor with the various speaker parameters, such as the distance of the speakers from the couch or the type of speakers used for the various audio channels. Step 2: How does it work?
The system normally revolves around an external microphone hooked up to the home entertainment box. Different test tones are played through the speakers and measured via the microphone. The data collected will be analysed and translated into vital parameters for the processor. Step 3: What are the various brands featuring automated audio calibration?
Automated audio calibration is gaining momentum and being adopted by an increasing number of manufacturers with their own proprietary technology. Bose, Marantz, Denon, Yamaha and Pioneer are currently the leaders in this field, featuring such capability in their line-up of A/V receivers. Step 4: Pioneer and MCACC

Multi-Channel Acoustic Calibration System or MCACC is Pioneer's version of the automated audio calibration system. It was first conceived for the company's flagship A/V receiver, the VSX-AX10Ai-G, and covers a comprehensive set of speaker parameters including sound level, delay and size matching. To top it off, it also includes a multi-band equaliser for fine-tuning the audio quality. The entire calibration process takes approximately 2 minutes to complete and is highly accurate based on feedback from many Pioneer MCACC users and reviewers.