When Should I Do Another Calibration Run?

June 14, 2024

Setting up a home theater system can be a thrilling experience, offering cinema-quality sound in the comfort of your own home.  To achieve the best possible sound quality, calibration of the AVR is essential. But when should you recalibrate? Let’s explore the critical moments that call for another calibration run.

  1. The Initial Setup
    The first and most obvious time to calibrate your AVR is when you first receive it. Fresh out of the box, your AVR isn’t yet attuned to the unique acoustics of your room. Calibration at this stage involves setting the correct levels, distances, and equalization based on your room’s size, shape, and characteristics.

  2. Changing Speaker Placements
    Your room’s acoustics are heavily influenced by the placement of speakers and subwoofers. If you decide to move your speakers – whether it’s a slight shift or a complete rearrangement – a recalibration is necessary. This ensures that the sound from each speaker is optimized for its new position.

  3. Introducing New Speakers
    Upgrading or adding new speakers/subwoofers to your system is another pivotal moment for recalibration. Different speakers have varying characteristics and power-handling capabilities. When new speakers are introduced, your AVR needs to be recalibrated to accommodate these changes and balance the sound field, ensuring a cohesive audio experience.

  4. Room Acoustic Changes
    The acoustics of a room can be significantly altered by changes in its furnishings and layout. Adding or removing items like rugs, curtains, or large pieces of furniture affects how sound waves travel and are absorbed or reflected in the space. Such changes can subtly or drastically change the sound quality. Recalibrating your AVR after making these changes helps in adapting to the new acoustic environment, and maintaining the fidelity and balance of your home theater’s audio output.

In conclusion, recalibration of your home theater AVR isn’t a one-time task. Whether it’s the initial setup, a change in speaker placement, introducing new speakers, or altering your room’s acoustics, each of these moments is crucial for recalibration. By staying attentive to these changes, you can continually enjoy a top-notch audio experience in your home theater.