Emotiva XMC-1 User Manual page 29

Manual Room Correction
The XMC-1 offers two separate Manual Room Correction Presets; each Preset can be labelled
with a user-defined name; and each includes 11 bands of independent Parametric EQ for each
speaker/channel, and Tone Presets (which are applied to all speakers). Each Input on the XMC-1
can be configured to use either of the two Presets, or the results of the Dirac Live Automatic Room
Correction.
The parametric equalizers (parametric EQ or PEQ for short) offer 11 independently adjustable
frequency bands for each channel/speaker. The center frequency, the width of the band, and
the gain or cut, can be independently adjusted for each of those bands. The center frequency
for each band is specified in Hz; the width of each band is specified in both Q and in Hz; and the
gain is specified in dB. A band with a Q of 1.4 is approximately equivalent to a band in an old-stlye
graphic equalizer; a higher Q value corresponds to a narrower band.
Note: you may adjust the width of each pEQ band by changing either the Q or the width in hz.
Because of the way the XMC-1 updates the display, only the value you are working with will
change in real time on the display; the other value will change to match when you exit the field
you are adjusting.
There are many different ways in which you can determine the proper values required to calibrate
your system and your room using a parametric equalizer. A wide variety of textbooks are available
on the subject of room equalization for those who are interested. Some audiophiles prefer to take
manual measurements using a sound pressure level (SPL) meter or real-time audio analyzer (RTA).
For them the XMC-1 includes sophisticated calibration tools, including a pink noise generator and
a highly configurable sine wave generator. Some audiophiles prefer various software solutions;
one very popular and incredibly flexible software room calibration tool is Room Equalization
Wizard (REW). Some basic tools, including a simple SPL meter, only provide the information you
need to manually determine what corrections to make; others, like REW, can provide you with
specific values to enter into each PEQ filter on the XMC-1 to achieve a specific result.
The configuration controls for the Parametric EQ on the XMC-1 have been optimized to make this
process as simple and efficient as possible - and to minimize the number of buttons you have to
press to get the job done:
• You may, of course, adjust all of the filter bands for one speaker, then move on to the next
speaker. However, if you prefer to adjust a specific band for all speakers, then move on
to adjust the next band for all speakers, the XMC-1 facilitates this by remaining set to the
particular EQ band number you're working on when you switch between speakers. For
example, if you're adjusting Filter 3 for your Front Right speaker, and you then switch to
the Front Left speaker, you will be taken directly to the settings for Filter 3 for the Front Left
speaker; this way you can very easily adjust each Filter band sequentially for all your speakers.
• Test Tone Level and Test Tone Frequency settings are global; even though the controls for the
Test Tone Generator appear on several different menu screens, there is only a single Test Tone
Generator which you are accessing from different places. Therefore, as you move from place to
place in the menu system where the Test Tone Generator is used, the Test Tone Generator will
remain set at the last Level and Frequency you select until you change it. When you exit the
area of the menu where the Test Tone Generator is used, it will automatically switch Off.
Operating the XMC-1
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