DIY Network

Programming the Remote Control and Calibrating Speakers Learn how to program your home theater's remote and how to calibrate the speakers. From "Home Theater" episode DHTW-105

(Continued from page 1)

	Figure D
	Figure E
	Figure F

Calibrating the Sound System

• With the final speakers in place, it's time to calibrate the surround-sound system. It's important to calibrate each speaker's output (figure D) so they all produce identical volume levels at your seating position. To do this use the surround-sound receiver to generate tone to each speaker one at a time. Then stand in the listening position and use a sound-pressure level (SPL) meter (figure E) to make sure the volume of each speaker is calibrated correctly--about 75 decibels for this particular home theater.

  Note: When the SPL meter reads "0", the speaker you are calibrating is producing 75 decibels to the listening position.

• For more dramatic surround effects, you can set the surround speakers 2 or 3 decibels higher than the front speakers.

• Once you've calibrated all the surround-sound speakers in the room, it's time to calibrate the subwoofer(s). A SPL meter is great for calibrating most of your surround-sound system, but you'll need a different type of meter to calibrate the subwoofer. A real-time analyzer (RTA) measures the frequency levels at all frequencies, and you use it to match the mid-frequencies and high frequencies with the low frequencies coming out of the subwoofer.

  Note: RTAs (figure F) cost approximately $1,000 so you'll need to hire a home theater specialist if you want to use one on your subwoofer.

• Whether you use a RTA or not, you should do a listening test using your favorite music or movies to set the subwoofer levels.

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Figure G

Programming the Remote Control

Now that all the speakers are sounding great with each other, it's time to program the remote control.

Q: Mark, we finally finished putting together out system, but now we have eight different remote controls for everything around the room. How do we simply this?

A: There are remote controls that are pre-programmed for many electronic components, or you can get a learning remote control where you can teach the remote control the commands to control the electronic components.

Q: What's the easiest possible remote control?

A: What I [Mark] recommend is an event-based remote control. You'll have a button on there--like "watch a movie"--and when you press that button it will trigger the DVD player, turn on the video projector, dim the lights and it makes it easy for everyone in the family to use your home theater.

Programmable remotes (figure G) use the same infrared signals as the components' remote controls. Programming is a simple process of entering the right codes in for all of your electronics--and then testing to make sure the new remote works properly with each component.

A "single" remote that's properly programmed can make your viewing experience all the more enjoyable!

In the next segment take a tour of the home theater of former college and NFL kicker, Fuad Reveiz.

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RESOURCES :

Don Fillers & Assoc.
Website: www.dfasolutions.com

McDougall Bros. Construction, Inc.
Website: www.mcdougallbros.com

Belden CDT Electronics Division
Website: www.belden.com

Kinetics Noise Control
Website: www.kineticsnoise.com

Middle Atlantic Products, Inc.
Website: www.middleatlantic.com

Terratex Fabrics
Website: www.terratex.com

Lutron Table Lamp Dimmer with Remote
Lutron Electronics, Inc.
Website: www.lutron.com
Website: www.crutchfield.com

GUESTS :

Mark Midyett
Engineer/Designer
Don Fillers & Assoc.
1003 North Broadway St.
Knoxville, TN 37917
Phone: 865-523-4470
Website: www.dfasolutions.com