OK finally got my 5.1 Aperion system. So far I love it, however one complaint is that the dialog isn't loud enough (during Dolby Digital format only).

I find I need to crank the volume up to get good dialog however when I do this during an action scene it's way too loud. I have calibrated all my speakers with the SPL meter and set up the distances properly. I've also tried turning up the center channel db level up a few however not to crazy about this as it then throws the balance with the left and rights off some.

So far the only thing I can do which helps is to use the night mode on my Onkyo, but I don't know if this is the solution as wouldn't I be loosing some of the dymanic range.

533 VAC

532 Left and Right

10" sub

422 surrounds

Onkyo 602

Also I'm sitting about 16' away from my front speakers and my room is 14' by 22' with 15' high catheldral ceilings. Also I have wall to wall carpet.

 

Is there anything else I can try, possibly the EQ settings in my Onkyo that would help?

Would switching to a 532 center solve this problem?

I would try one of your 532 speakers as a center just to see how it sounds.  If it sounds better, then you know what you need to do.  If not, then perhaps it is a receiver or parameter setting issue.

Normally, I set my center channel a few dB hotter than the main L/R.  This helps with your issue, it all comes down to dynamic range.  The reason it seems 'better' with the night mode on is because the dynamic range is compressed, loud parts made softer, making the soft parts seem louder.

Use your test tone and tweak your center channel level to +3dB over the front L/R and see what happens.

I agree with the above posts on both comparing the 532 vs. the VAC and experimenting with the center channels' Db level. 

I would also suggest, if this is the case, to either aim your VAC up or down (depending on location) at your listening level.  You may be losing some of the center channels capabilities by throwing it into the carpet/coffee table or the air above your ears, again depending on location.

Great thanks for the tips guys.

I'm going to try the following tonight.

Play a scene from DVD with the current VAC, then rewind and play the same exact scene with the 532 as a center and see if I notice a difference in dialog volume.

Also I will play with the placement/tilting downward.

Currently it's sitting on top of my 48" rear projection, which does point down, but it could go more IMO.

 

I'll let you know

Unless they've done a complete revoicing of the VAC, I would imagine your dialog would be even 'less' evident with the 532.

It will be interesting to hear the results.

 

I tried the 532 for the center and it did not make a different in dialog volume.

I switched them back and forth and I definatley think the VAC is better.

I did tilt it down some as you can see from the pics in gallery and I believe it helped some. I think between that and turning the db up a notch or two and using the late night mode I'm good to go.

Very happy so far.

Did you notice a timbre difference between the VAC and the 532?

If any, very little.

Chris,

You should not have to use the night mode, nor should you want to.  You are losing a lot of the soundtrack's dynamics.

Also, you should not have to make your center channel hotter than the others.

Are you noticing this problem with both DD DVDs and DD HD broadcasts?

What DVD player are you using?

One common source of "weak" dialogue in multichannel soundtracks is actually not a function of your center channel at all.  It is not unlikely that you are getting some mean first-reflection from your two front speakers.  In essence, you are getting two signals from each of your front speakers...those coming directly from the speakers and those coming from the first reflection points.  They are hitting your ears at different times and are muddying things up.  Small accoustical panels placed at the first reflection points could really help out.  I can nearly guarantee that you'll hear a significant difference.  In my opinion, treating your room is the single best "upgrade" you can make.

You can look in my gallery.  I have some installed, albeit they are bigger than you may need.  Let me know if you want some more info.

James

I'm only noticing the problem when I play DD 5.1 DVD's, not during HD DD 5.1 Broadcasts.

For example I was watching Law and Order last night on TNTHD (5.1) and dialog was perfect.

My DVD player is just a standard cheap model. I think it was under $100. It's connected via optical tosslink for audio. I've tried the dialog enacement feature but it didn't seem to do much.

 

It seems to me that it has to do with the way the movie was created and not the speaker itself.

I would agree that by putting acoustic treatments would overall help my sound. But I beleve that my problem is that the dialog is just not loud enough and not bad acoustics causing the dialog issue.

 

Sounds like the DVD player to me, or an incorrect set-up.  Do you know of anyone with another player you can try?

If your DVD player has analog direct outputs, you may have something in the setup for speaker management.  Check out your DVD menus and make sure everything is 'zero'd' out.

a shot in the dark...