System Configuration; Speaker Placement; System Setup - JBL AVR580 Owner's Manual

SYSTEM CONFIGURATION

When all audio, video and system connec-
tions have been made, there are a few
configuration adjustments that must be
made. A few minutes spent to correctly
configure and calibrate the unit will greatly
add to your listening experience.
Speaker Selection and Placement
The placement of speakers in a multi-
channel home theater system can have a
noticeable impact on the quality of sound
reproduced.
The same model or brand of speaker
should be used for the left front, center
and right front speakers. This creates a
seamless front soundstage and elimi-
nates the possibility of distracting sonic
disturbances that occur when a sound
moves across mismatched front-channel
speakers.

Speaker Placement

Depending on the type of center channel
speaker in use and your viewing device,
place the center speaker either directly
above or below your TV, or in the center
behind a perforated front projection
screen.
Once the center channel speaker is
installed, position the front left and front
right speakers so that they are as far
away from one another as the center
channel speaker is from the preferred
listening position. Ideally, the front channel
speakers should be placed so that their
tweeters are no more than 60cm (24")
above or below the tweeter in the center
channel speaker.
Depending on the specifics of your room
acoustics and the type of speakers in
use, you may find that imaging is
improved by moving the left front and
right front speakers slightly forward of
the center channel speaker. If possible,
adjust all front loudspeakers so that they
are aimed at ear height when you are
seated in the listening position.
Using these guidelines, you'll find that it
takes some experimentation to find the
correct location for the front speakers in
your particular installation. Don't be afraid
to move things around until the system
sounds correct. Optimize your speakers so
that audio transitions across the front of
the room sound smooth, and sounds from
all speakers appear to arrive at the listen-
ing position at the same time (without
20
delay from the center speaker compared
to the left and right speakers).
When the AVR580 is used in 5.1-channel
operation, the preferred location for sur-
round speakers is on the side walls of the
room, at or slightly behind the listening
position. In a 7.1-channel system, both
side surround and back surround speakers
are required. The center of the speaker
should face into the room. The
No more than
60cm (24")
A) Front-Channel Speaker Installation With
Direct-View TV Sets or Rear-Screen Projectors
TV or Projection Screen
Center Front
Left Front Right Front
Speaker
Speaker Speaker
Rear-Wall Mounting
B) Rear speaker mounting is an alternate
location for 5.1 systems. It is required for 7.1
operation.
At least 17cm (6 inches) from ceiling
At least 60cm (2 feet)
speakers should be located so that the
bottom of the cabinet is at least 60cm
(2 feet) higher than the listeners' ears
when the listeners are seated in the
desired area.
Rear surround speakers are required
when a full 7.1-channel system is
installed, and they may also be used in
5.1-channel systems as an alternative
mounting position when it is not practical
to place the main surround speakers on
the sides of the room. Speakers may be
placed on a rear wall, behind the listening
position. As with the side speakers, rear
surrounds should be located so that the
bottom of the cabinet is at least 60cm
(2 feet) higher than the listeners' ears.
The speakers should be no more than
1.8 meters (6 feet) behind the rear of
the seating area.
If dipole-type speakers are used on either
the side or rear walls of the room, please
note that if there are arrows on the
speakers they should face the front of the
room for the side speakers, or toward the
center of the wall for the rear speakers.
Subwoofers produce nondirectional
sound, so they may be placed almost
anywhere in a room. Actual placement
should be based on room size and shape
and the type of subwoofer used. One
method of finding the optimal location for
a subwoofer is to begin by placing it in
the front of the room, about 17cm (6")
from a wall, or near the front corner of
the room. Another method is to temporar-
ily place the subwoofer at your normal
listening position, and then walk around
the room until you find a spot where the
subwoofer sounds best. Place the sub-
woofer in that spot. You should also fol-
low the instructions of the subwoofer's
manufacturer, or you may wish to experi-
ment with the best location for a sub-
woofer in your listening room.

System Setup

Once the speakers have been placed in
the room and connected, the remaining
steps in the setup process are to program
the AVR580's bass management system
for the type of speakers used in your sys-
tem, calibrate the output levels, and set
the delay times used by the surround
sound processor.
You are now ready to power up the
AVR580 to begin these final adjustments.