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[mandrix]

So far, I’ve only used the system to watch the AbuDabi Formula 1 race off my DVR. I haven’t set up diddy yet, still dealing with wiring and all the spousal duty projects (in spite of her despair over the theater being a work space at the moment). Sound was not impressive, but again, zero setup, just passsing signals.

The room has four seats, with the MLP in the left front, so I do move the mic around when I’m running the calibration. Back right is way too close to the back right speaker, but back left sounds pretty good in 5.1 - in fact that’s where I sit when I’m listening to surround sound alone. The front seats have high backs - something I hadn’t considered when I bought them 15 years ago.

Probably you already know how you're going to go about it, but I guess normally the speaker delays are captured from wherever you pick the MLP to be, which to me should be the center of the listening area. Then subsequent mic placement can be as broad or tight as you think it should be at different elevations.
I confess I don't know much about Audyssey and their recommendations. But at some point down the line I'd highly recommend getting a minidsp UMIK-1 mic, they have a good rep and come with calibration file.
Usually around the $100 price range.
But I know for now you just want to dial in what you have as time permits.

 

[barfle]

Probably you already know how you're going to go about it, but I guess normally the speaker delays are captured from wherever you pick the MLP to be, which to me should be the center of the listening area. Then subsequent mic placement can be as broad or tight as you think it should be at different elevations.
I confess I don't know much about Audyssey and their recommendations. But at some point down the line I'd highly recommend getting a minidsp UMIK-1 mic, they have a good rep and come with calibration file.
Usually around the $100 price range.
But I know for now you just want to dial in what you have as time permits.

Usually the first thing I do is follow the directions. Then, I’m likely to fiddle with stuff as I grow dissatisfied.

 

[mandrix]

Yesterday I made adjustments to speaker locations/heights for my base speakers. Which means today, everything willing, when my wife goes to town to pick up the grocery order, I'm going to have to do a new 9 point calibration. I've worked with Dirac Live enough to get through it usually without hassles if there is no background noise interfering. (someone at the neighbors is running a trackhoe right now!)
Though my sub's volume pot gets flaky sometmes....of course it will pick the time I'm doing calibrations usually.
Dirac has a sort of learning curve, like a lot of things, but I know it fairly well now.

 

[ar surround]

when my wife goes to town to pick up the grocery order, I'm going to have to do a new 9 point calibration.

if there is no background noise interfering. (someone at the neighbors is running a trackhoe right now!)

Some things are universal: Wife needs to be out of the house. Dog needs to be locked up so it won't start barking at squirrels and other random noises. Construction equipment, etc. Amazing it ever gets done at all.

 

[mandrix]

Some things are universal: Wife needs to be out of the house. Dog needs to be locked up so it won't start barking at squirrels and other random noises. Construction equipment, etc. Amazing it ever gets done at all.

Brother, ain't that the truth.

 

[mandrix]

well anyway I just finished the calibrations before the trackhoe moved up close to my property line.
Should be good unless/until I start moving stuff around in the room.

 

[weekendtoy]

...I have a couple of camera tripods that the mic fits on...

A good tripod is essential to achieve the most accurate measurement data.

 

[mandrix]

I use a cheapo camera tripod for my calibration mic. But one of those boom mic stands would be super handy as well.

 

[mandrix]

I know this is deviating from the subject at hand, but wanted to add something about calibration techniques.
Note my experience is with Dirac Live...I use the pc app to run the software and a UMIK-1 mic....I have almost zero knowledge about other calibration methods these days.

I sit in one place when I listen to music, in a chair, not on a couch, and I'm the only one in the room so I use generally a "9 point" calibration in what Dirac calls a "tightly focused" listening area.
This is with the mic placed in 9 different positions, both at ear level, higher and lower.
The problem, if you can call it one, is you don't want to do all the mic placements too close to the MLP, even for a single sitting position.
My total spread is about a two meter radius around the MLP. Mic placements all clustered very close to the MLP makes for a somewhat "dry" sound, IMO.

Of course to encompass a larger listening audience, say multiple seats or couches, one would want to expand the area of measurements and choose even more mic placements if the software used allows.

Moving the base 5 speakers off the walls a ways (where possible) can sometimes have a marked result on the outcome. Sub placement can make a big difference as well.
Never place rear ported speakers right up against a wall.

Just FWIW.