DEQX Beginner seeking advice

Al,

Thanks very much for the hints. They will be useful.

I have no doubt that I could master the DEQX software; however, I am less sure I can master it in two weeks -- two weeks of life filled with other activities as well. But I'll sure give it a try.

Again, I appreciate the tips and encouragement.

Regards,
--Mike

Hi Mike
In addition to Als' excellent advice, I can help you with point 3), it's actually quite easy if you are methodical...

A) Take a room measurement from the listening chair.

B) Then use the 'viewer' to display this & go full screen - it will default to the frequency response.

Now click on the 'step response' option (from the little row of buttons on the right edge of the second toolbar) which will show both the mains (spiky response) and the sub (longer wavy response). Normally the first peak of the sub will be further to the right than the mains, ie 'slower' because the wavelengths are longer and often the sub is further away from the listener as well.

Enlarge this view using the + view button (also on the second toolbar), so you can still see both the top of the sub plot and the first main speaker spike.

As you move the cursor over the tip of the sub response, make a note of the delay time which displays in real time in the bottom RH corner of your screen.

Now move to the first peak of the mains and again note the time.

Subtract the time of the mains from the sub and this then gives you the delay to add to the main speakers, ie 35.4-25.2 = 10.2 as an example.

C) Go to your speaker configuration setup view and select one of the main speakers. Double click & go to the time/level tab. Then add the delay from above into the appropriate box (it defaults dark blue ready for you to enter anyway)

Repeat for the other speaker.

D) Save to the DEQX and then repeat the process again, naming your next measurement something like 'verification xx.x' (xx.x being the time delay you added ie 10.2ms etc).

E) The verification window should now show the two peaks aligned together.

Your sub is time aligned!

Good Luck...

If you need any other help in the brief time you have available, drop me a PM - I can give my email address / you can mail me your .mzd file & I could do some of the basic setup for you. It will get you going

Thanks, drewan77, for the tips. Though I decided not to keep the DEQX (the relay clicks and dropouts when changing sample rate proved too distracting), the general principles you outlined are useful to know. I can use them for adjusting subs, whatever gear I wind up with.

BTW, I'm currently evaluating the Classé CP-800, which has much less DSP than the DEQX, but enough for my needs, and is delightfully simple to operate.

Mike

Drewan77, I would like to thank you !

I have been playing with my DEQX Express II for a while and I thought I knew most of the nuts and bolts, but in your post above on subwoofer time alignment, you offered a major league trick I didn't know and even ever think of: measuring the actual delay between mains and subwoofers at the listening chair : really smart !

So far, I have only used the DEQX utility to calulate the required delay based on the distance between the subs and the mains, which provided what I thought, a good result. When I modified those values with the actual measured values using your process, wow, much better, without any doubt! The result is a convincing demonstration of the benefits of a well  "time aligned" speaker system and while I will not describe those benefits because you all know them (!), I can't resist to say that the improved "soundstage"/"imaging" was what striked me the most !  

So again, thanks Andrew for sharing your knowledge with us and if Alan (Langford) is reading this... Alan, this is something that should be added in the DEQX user manual !

Regards,
Denis 

Thanks Denis, you're welcome & glad you're enjoying your system.

(I guess I must be telepathetic (!) or something as I rarely look into this site but just glanced at it within 30 mins of you posting!