41
ADVANCED FUNCTIONS
Setting Channel Output Levels Manually
For a conventional 2-channel receiver, the balance control enables the
user to control the stereo imaging by adjusting the relative loudness of
the left and right channels, as heard at the listening position.
With five main channels plus a subwoofer, imaging becomes both more
critical and more complex. Unlike the rotary balance control, the goal
of the AVR 145’s channel output adjustment process is to examine the
output level of each channel independently and ensure that each is
heard at the listening position with equal loudness.
If you followed the instructions in Step Four of the Initial Setup section,
then you let EzSet handle this critical task for you, simply and auto-
matically.
However, if you prefer to make these adjustments manually, the
AVR 145’s Channel Adjust menu allows you to do so, either using the
system’s test tone or while playing source material. In addition, this is
the only method for adjusting the level of the subwoofer.
You may use either the EzSet remote or a handheld SPL meter (avail-
able at most electronics stores) set to the C-Weighting, Slow scale.
1. Make sure all speakers have been connected correctly.
2. Use the Speaker Size menu, or press the Speaker Setup Button on
the remote, to make sure the correct speaker size has been entered
for each speaker in your system.
3. Use the Speaker X-over menu to program the correct crossover
setting for each speaker in your system.
4. Use the Delay Adjust menu, or press the Delay Button on the
remote control, to enter the distance between each speaker and
the listening position.
5. If you are using a handheld SPL meter with source material, such as
a test disc or another audio selection, play it now and adjust the
AVR’s master volume control until the
meter
measures 75dB.
6. If you are using the EzSet remote, either set the master volume to
–15dB, or you may play source material and press the SPL Button
once. Adjust the volume until the LED turns green. If it’s amber, the
volume is too low; if it’s red, the volume is too high.
7. There are several methods of adjusting the channel output levels,
using either the test tone or source materials. In all cases, you may
measure the channel levels in one of three ways:
a) By ear. Try to adjust the levels so that all channels sound equally loud.
b) Using a handheld SPL meter set to the C-Weighting, Slow scale. Try to
adjust each channel so that the meter reads 75dB.
c) Using the AVR 145 remote, press the SPL Button once so that the
LED lights steadily. When it’s amber, the level is too low and should be
raised. When the LED is red, the level is too high and should be low-
ered. When the LED is green, the level is correct.
A. Using the Remote Control With the Test Tone
While sitting in the listening position, press the Test Button on the
remote. The test tone will start playing at the front left channel. After
a few seconds, it will move to the center channel, then the front right
channel, surround right, surround left and finally the subwoofer, display-
ing the channel name on the front of the receiver and in the semi-OSD
display, as well as the current level setting (varies between –10dB and
+10dB). Press the
⁄/¤ Buttons to adjust the level setting, and the
tone will remain at that channel until several seconds after your last
adjustment. When you have finished adjusting the levels, press the Test
Button again to stop the tone. Measure the levels by ear, using an SPL
meter, or using the remote, as described above.
B. Using the Front-Panel Controls
You may adjust the levels by pressing the Channel Button on the front
panel, and the FRONT L LEVEL message will appear. Use the
‹/›
Buttons on the front panel to select the desired speaker channel to
adjust, and press the Set Button when the desired channel is displayed.
The current level for that channel will appear, and you may adjust it
using the
‹/› Buttons. Press the Set Button to return to the speaker
channel choices. This method is not recommended, as you will not be
able to measure the channel levels at the listening position. In addition,
this method requires that a source is playing.
C. Using the Full-OSD Menu
Next to EzSet, the full-OSD menu system offers the easiest and most
flexible manner of setting output levels. Press the OSD Button to display
the Master Menu, and then navigate to the MANUAL SETUP line. Press
the Set Button to display the Manual Setup menu, and then navigate to
the CHANNEL ADJUST line. Press the Set Button to display the Channel
Adjust menu.
Figure 67 – Channel Adjust Menu Screen
All of the speaker channels will appear at the top of the screen with their
current level settings. Any channels that have not been programmed
using the Speaker Size menu will display four dashes and will not be
accessible.
CHANNEL RESET: If you wish to start by resetting all of the levels to
their factory defaults of 0dB, navigate to this line and change the setting
to ON. The levels will be reset, and this setting will then revert to OFF.
