Audyssey MultEQ Pro User manual

Audyssey MultEQ Pro
User Guide
for the Denon AVP-A1HDCI, AVR-5308CI, AVR-4308CI,
and AVR-3808CI
AVR-4308CI
Audyssey Laboratories, Inc, 350 South Figueroa Street, Suite 233, Los Angeles, CA 90071 www.audyssey.com

Table of Contents
Introduction..................................................................................................................... 1
MultEQ Pro Setup Guide .............................................................................................................................1
License Keys ...............................................................................................................................................1
Important Safety Precautions ......................................................................................................................2
The Audyssey Installer Kit ............................................................................................. 2
Setup Before Customer Installation.............................................................................. 4
Installing MultEQ Pro - Main Setup .............................................................................................................4
Installing Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0 ....................................................................................................4
Installing MultEQ Pro...................................................................................................................................4
Uninstalling MultEQ Pro ..............................................................................................................................5
Viewing the Setup Guide .............................................................................................................................5
Add Microphone File to MultEQ Pro............................................................................................................5
USB to RS232 Driver Installation ................................................................................................................5
Register on the Audyssey Installer Website................................................................................................4
Audyssey Registered Installer .....................................................................................................................8
Purchasing and Activating MultEQ Pro Licenses ........................................................................................9
Setup at Customer Installation Site............................................................................. 14
Connecting the Installer Kit Components ..................................................................................................14
Other Configurations .................................................................................................................................16
Before the MultEQ Pro Calibration ........................................................................................................16
During the MultEQ Pro Calibration ........................................................................................................16
The MultEQ Pro Application ........................................................................................ 17
Overview and Screen Sequence ...............................................................................................................17
Welcome....................................................................................................................................................18
Product Selection.......................................................................................................................................18
Select the Com Port...............................................................................................................................19
Communication Timeout Error...............................................................................................................19
Enter the Device Serial and License Key ..............................................................................................19
Job Information ..........................................................................................................................................20
Options ......................................................................................................................................................20
Zone Configuration ....................................................................................................................................21
Room Dimensions .....................................................................................................................................21
Equipment Info...........................................................................................................................................22
Measurement.............................................................................................................................................23
Before Measurements............................................................................................................................23
Position 1 Measurement ........................................................................................................................24
Additional Position Measurements ........................................................................................................25
Save and Load Measurements..............................................................................................................26
Detection Results.......................................................................................................................................27
Target Sound Options ...............................................................................................................................28
Target Curve Designer & Target Curve Editor ..........................................................................................29

Table of Contents
The Target Curve Designer ................................................................................................................... 29
Using the Target Curve Editor............................................................................................................... 30
Save Results ............................................................................................................................................. 33
Permanently Save the MultEQ XT Filters.............................................................................................. 33
MultEQ On/Off Demo ............................................................................................................................ 33
Dynamic EQ On/Off Demo .................................................................................................................... 33
Changing the MultEQ XT Filters............................................................................................................ 33
View Results – The Customer Certificate.............................................................................................. 34
Upload the MultEQ Pro Results ............................................................................................................ 34
Dynamic Volume Preset Configuration ..................................................................................................... 35
Appendix........................................................................................................................36
Audyssey Recommended Demos............................................................................................................. 36
Error Messages......................................................................................................................................... 37
Device Not Connected Error.................................................................................................................. 37
Input Signal Too Low............................................................................................................................. 37
USB Connection Failure (Connection Time Out) .................................................................................. 37
Polarity Errors ........................................................................................................................................ 38
Disconnect Microphone ......................................................................................................................... 38
Warranties ................................................................................................................................................. 38
Audyssey Installer Kit ............................................................................................................................ 38
Technical Support ..................................................................................................................................... 39
Notes ......................................................................................................................................................... 41
© 2008 Audyssey Laboratories, Inc.

1
Introduction
Audyssey MultEQ
®
XT removes distortion caused by the interaction of sound from loudspeakers within the
room. This results in the playback of sound as it was intended, without distortion and coloration, not just in
one seat, but over a large listening area.
Audyssey Dynamic EQ™ is the first loudness correction technology to solve the problem of deteriorating
sound quality as volume is decreased by taking into account human perception and room
acoustics. Combining Dynamic EQ with a professional MultEQ XT installation results in unparalleled
clarity, detail, balance, and imaging, at any volume.
Audyssey Dynamic Volume™ solves the problem of large variations in volume level between television
programs, commercials, and between the soft and loud passages of movies. Dynamic Volume looks at the
preferred volume setting by the user and then monitors how the volume of program material is being
perceived by listeners in real time to decide whether an adjustment is needed. Whenever necessary,
Dynamic Volume makes the necessary rapid or gradual adjustments to maintain the desired playback
volume level while optimizing the dynamic range. Audyssey Dynamic EQ is integrated into Dynamic
Volume so that as the playback volume is adjusted automatically, the perceived bass response, tonal
balance, surround impression, and dialog clarity remain the same whether watching movies, flipping
between television channels, or changing from stereo to surround sound content.
Dynamic Volume is available through the Denon xx08 Upgrade version.
Audyssey Installer-Ready products greatly benefit from professional calibration using the MultEQ
®
Pro PC
application and the Audyssey Installer Kit. Installers bring the Installer Kit and a laptop to an installation
site, run the MultEQ Pro application, perform measurements, and transfer MultEQ XT filters from the
laptop to the Audyssey Installer-Ready device. The intuitive steps for completing this installation are
described in detail in this User Guide.
The latest MultEQ Pro User Guides for the Audyssey Sound Equalizer
TM
and Audyssey Installer-Ready
products are available to registered Audyssey Installers through the Audyssey Installer Website. After
signing in, click on Downloads in the left pane to view available documentation and software from the
Audyssey Website.
MultEQ Pro Setup Guide
The MultEQ Pro Setup Guide is included in the Installer Kit package. This guide
provides easy instructions for the installation and activation of the MultEQ Pro
application. Be sure to review this guide prior to installing MultEQ Pro on a laptop or
PC.
License Keys
The MultEQ Pro application is used to calibrate all Audyssey Installer-
Ready products.
Installation requires a valid License Key to perform a calibration using the
MultEQ Pro application. At the Product Selection screen of the MultEQ Pro
application, the Enter License Key window will appear. The serial number
should appear automatically while connected through the RS232 port.
License Keys may be purchased and generated by registered Audyssey
Installers through the Audyssey Installer Website.

2
Important Safety Precautions
Please review the product’s owner’s manual in detail to ensure safe operation before calibrating with
MultEQ Pro.
•Do not cascade other devices between the microphone preamp and the Audyssey Installer-
Ready device. Permanent damage may occur to each piece of equipment.
•Do not connect the calibrated microphone to the Denon front panel “V.AUX” left channel
audio input until instructed.
Doing so before you complete the Product Selection screen as part of the MultEQ Pro application (see
Product Selection, page 18) will cause microphone feedback at levels that could damage the
speakers
The Audyssey Installer Kit
The Audyssey Installer Kit contains the required equipment for calibrating the Audyssey Sound Equalizer
and Audyssey Installer-Ready products.
Audyssey Installer Kit Contents:
•MultEQ Pro Application Setup CD and Setup Guide
•Calibrated Preamplifier
•Calibrated Microphone
•Microphone Stand
•Mini-XLR to RCA Adapter
•Two Mini-XLR Cables (25 ft. and 50 ft.)
•USB to RS232 Serial Cable
•10 ft. USB Cable

3
Calibrated Microphone and
Microphone Stand
Each Audyssey microphone is
calibrated by Audyssey and comes
with a custom calibration curve that
matches the microphone to a high-
precision, ¼” reference microphone.
The calibration curve for your
microphone is stored on your
MultEQ Pro application CD. The
absolute sensitivity, including the
exact gain of each individual
Calibrated Preamplifier, is included
in the correction curve, ensuring that
the trims reported by MultEQ Pro
will result in reference SPL playback
level.
Warning: Only use the supplied
Audyssey Calibrated Microphone. Do not
plug in other microphones.
10 ft. USB Cable
The laptop running the MultEQ Pro
application connects to an Audyssey
Sound Equalizer via the 10 ft. USB
cable.
Previous Installer Kits
Items from previous versions of the
Audyssey Installer Kit (such as the
Audyssey MM01 Professional
Calibration Microphone) can still be
used for calibration with MultEQ Pro
v.25 or later as long as the
microphone calibration file is copied
into the new Audyssey directory.
Calibrated Preamplifier
This microphone preamplifier provides
phantom power to the microphone and
applies fixed gain amplification to the
microphone signal. It has no external
controls, making installation easy and
free of troubleshooting. The
microphone preamp’s Mic In mini-XLR
jack is where the measurement
microphone is connected. Use the
enclosed mini-XLR microphone cables
for both the Mic In and Line Out
connections to this preamp.
Warning: Only use the supplied Audyssey
Calibrated Preamplifier. Do not use any
other microphone preamplifier.
Microphone Mini-XLR Cables
The Installer Kit contains three 25 ft.
mini-XLR cables. The cables are used
to connect the microphone preamp
(from the Line Out interface) to the
Audyssey Installer-Ready device. The
cables can be linked together to
provide up to 75 feet of length for large
rooms or multi-room installations.
MultEQ Pro Application
CD and Setup Guide
The MultEQ Pro Application
and User Guide may be found
on the enclosed CD. A printed
Setup Guide is included in the
Installer Kit. The application is
installed on your laptop.
RCA to Mini-XLR Adapter
Use this adapter to connect the
Line out of the mic preamplifier
mini-XLR cable to the proper
Input on the Audyssey
Installer-Ready device.
USB to RS232 Serial
Cable
This cable connects Audyssey
Installer-Ready products to the
laptop running the MultEQ Pro
application.

4
Setup Before Customer Installation
Installing MultEQ Pro - Main Setup
Insert the MultEQ Pro CD included in your Audyssey Installer Kit into your PC’s
CD-ROM drive.
There are four possible options to choose from in the MultEQ Pro Main Setup
window (depending on the status of necessary installations). You will click on the
text itself to begin the operation desired.
•Install Microsoft .NET
•Install MultEQ Pro
•Uninstall MultEQ Pro
•View Setup Guide
•Add Microphone File to MultEQ Pro
The options to Install MultEQ Pro will not appear unless Microsoft .NET 2.0 is
already installed.
Installing Microsoft .NET Framework 2.0
Microsoft .NET 2.0 Framework must be installed before installing, uninstalling, or
running the MultEQ Pro software. The Microsoft .NET Framework is a software
component that can be added to the Microsoft Windows operating system.
The .NET 2.0 installation can be found on the MultEQ Pro CD. After inserting the
CD into your laptop, the ‘autorun’ function should launch the MultEQ Pro Main
Setup Window (see next page). If it does not automatically run, you can double-click
the disc (typically the D: drive) in the My Computer folder.
In the window above (Install Microsoft .NET), the option to install the MultEQ Pro
application is not available because Microsoft .NET (v2.0) is not installed.
Therefore, left-click on the Install Microsoft .NET option to begin the installation.
Note that during the installation process, highlighted items are shown with green
font. You must accept the End-User License Agreement (or “EULA”) to install the
.NET software.
It is highly recommended that the Windows Update is run after installation of .NET
Framework 2.0 in order to receive the latest service packs and security updates
from Microsoft. This is typically found by clicking the Start button and looking in All
Programs.
The option to install MultEQ Pro will only become available once .NET 2.0
Framework has been installed.
Installing MultEQ Pro
Click Install MultEQ Pro to begin the installation wizard. The software installation
program will guide you through the MultEQ Pro application setup. You must accept
the Audyssey End-User License Agreement (or EULA) to continue the installation
the MultEQ Pro application. Select the location you would like to install the
application to or install to the default location.
Once the MultEQ Pro installation is complete, the software application will appear
in the “Audyssey Labs” folder in the Start menu (unless other location was
specifically specified by you). Repeat the above MultEQ Pro install for each laptop
your company will use for installations.
Install MultEQ Pro
Install Microsoft .NET
Accept the EULA
Select Installation Folder

5
Uninstalling MultEQ Pro
A dialog with a progress bar will appear as the MultEQ Pro application is
uninstalled. The dialog will disappear once the uninstallation is complete.
Viewing the Setup Guide
An electronic version of the MultEQ Pro Setup Guide is available to view at any
time during the setup.
Add Microphone File to MultEQ Pro
If your company has purchased more than one installer kit, it is highly
recommended you save the microphone calibration file from each of your MultEQ
Pro CDs on each company laptop used for installation. This allows measurement
microphones to be shared and used with any of your laptops.
The “Copied One File” window will be displayed after each microphone calibration
file is successfully copied to your laptop.
It is important to have the correct microphone calibration file with the corresponding
microphone and preamp marked with the matching 5-digit serial number. Each
microphone and preamplifier set is measured by Audyssey and the unique mic
calibration file is stored on the installation CD of the installer kit.
Registered Installers may conveniently retrieve lost calibration files through the
Audyssey Installer Website.
USB to RS232 Driver Installation
These Denon products require the laptop running the MultEQ Pro application
connect to using the USB to RS232 connector provided in the Audyssey Installer
Kit.
In MultEQ Pro 3.0, and later, the driver to allow you to use the RS232 connector is
located on the MultEQ Pro Installation disc. Microsoft XP or Vista will prompt you if
needed to locate the driver. See Found New Hardware image.
Select the option: Locate and install driver software (recommended).
A new window will launch asking you to insert the disc that came with your USB
Serial Controller. Insert the MultEQ Pro CD. It is advised to not search online for
the driver as it is included on the MultEQ Pro CD and the result may differ greatly.
If a Windows Security warning appears stating that it cannot verify the publisher,
select to, “Install this driver software anyway”.
Once the installation is complete, you will be able to use MultEQ Pro with the
RS232 connection. It is only necessary to perform this procedure once on a PC.
After installing .NET & MultEQ Pro
Copied one file successfully
Locate and install driver software
Search online for driver?
Insert the MultEQ Pro setup disc
Windows Security
Install this driver anyway

6
Register on the Audyssey Installer Website
Before installing Audyssey products at a customer’s home, be sure to visit the
Audyssey Installer Website (A) at www.audyssey.com/InstallerWeb to register
your personal account.
You must register on the Audyssey Installer Website in order to:
•Purchase and activate product licenses
•Upload installation results and store customer certificates (B) (page 34).
•Download updates for the MultEQ Pro software
•Download user guides, manuals, and marketing materials
A B

7
Enter your Username (typically your email address) and Password to enter the site.
If you have not yet registered on the site, and therefore do not have a Username &
Password, click the Register button and follow the instructions. Upon completion of
the registration process, you’ll be taken back to the Sign In page.
To register, you must already be an Audyssey installer with an Audyssey Installer
Kit. Each Installer Kit has an assigned 5-digit serial number, located in three places:
1. the lower right corner of the outer box the Installer Kit is shipped
2. front of the Audyssey Calibrated Microphone
3. back of the Audyssey Calibrated Preamplifier
After entering the serial number of the Installer Kit, click the Create New Account
button.
Enter the required information and click the Submit button. The Sign-In page will
follow.

8
Audyssey Registered Installer
After signing in, the Welcome screen gives a brief overview of the Installer Website.
Use the links in the left-hand column to navigate the site’s functions.
Certificate Overview
This page explains the details of the Customer Certificate.
Create Customer Certificate
Upload MultEQ Pro calibrations results to generate a Customer Certificate. At
completion of the intuitive process, certificates can be printed.
View Customer Certificates
View archived MultEQ Pro calibration results by clicking the View Customer Certificate
link next to the name assigned to each job (see Job Information, page 20).
Purchase/Activate MultEQ Pro Licenses
Purchase and manage your MultEQ Pro Licenses and License Keys.
Download Microphone Calibration Files
Retrieve lost Audyssey Microphone Calibration files using the 5-digit serial number
labeled on the mic.
Edit Account Settings
Change account settings such as Username, Password, Company Name, Address, etc.
Contact /Tech Support
Contact Audyssey with questions or comments.
Downloads
Download Audyssey support materials.
Privacy
Audyssey does not sell, license, or rent personal information gathered from this
Installer Website.
Sign Out
Sign out of the Audyssey Installer Website.

9
Purchasing and Activating MultEQ Pro Licenses
To perform a MultEQ Pro calibration for any Audyssey Installer-Ready product, you
must purchase a license and generate a license key for each unit you plan to install.
Sound Equalizer installations do not require a license key.
Step 1 allows you to purchase a MultEQ Pro license. Step 2 assigns this license to
the specific serial or MAC number of the product you are calibrating, and creates
the license key for you to use at your customer installation.
Log on to the Audyssey Installer website at http://audyssey.com/InstallerWeb. Once
logged in, click Purchase/Activate Licenses on the left menu bar.
You may purchase licenses, view previously purchased licenses, and generate
license keys for installations all from this screen.
Step 1: Purchase New MultEQ Pro Licenses
1. The table below shows your previously purchased license keys and
displays (1) what model the key is for; (2) how many purchased keys you
have remaining that need to be activated.
2. Click Purchase New MultEQ Pro Licenses to make a purchase.
3. Choose the license type and quantity you wish to purchase. To purchase
multiple license types, click Add Row to add another line item to your order.
Once you have all the license types and quantities selected, click
Recalculate Totals to verify your total. Then click Continue.

10
4. Enter your full name, credit card information and billing information. Click
Continue.
5. Review your purchase and billing information, then click Complete Order. It
may take a few moments for your order to be processed. Don’t close the
window, or click the browser’s “Back” button.
6. Once your order is complete, an invoice will be sent to your registered
email address. You will have the choice of printing out your receipt, and
activating your purchased licenses.

11
Change License Types
You can convert any license type to any other Installer-Ready product from the
same manufacturer. You must do this before activating a purchased key (see Step
2).
1. Underneath the “Purchased Licenses” table, click on Change
License Types.
2. Use the drop down menu to choose to which model number you
would like your license transferred.
Step 2: Create a Key
Activating a purchased license will generate a license key. These keys are tied to
each unique Installer-Ready product, and must be input every time a MultEQ Pro
calibration is performed on that product. License keys have unlimited use and do
not require you to repurchase if you recalibrate. However, these keys do expire in
30 days and can be regenerated free of charge.
Key Expiration& Regeneration
Keys expire after a period of 30 days. The license however, never expires. If a key
expires, you can generate a new key at the Audyssey Installer website.

12
1. Depending on the manufacturer, you must enter the serial number
or MAC address for the unit. If you do not enter the correct number,
an incorrect license key will be generated. Serial numbers and
MAC addresses are case sensitive, and be careful not to enter
extra spaces.
For Denon Products: Locate the last 6 digits of the MAC number for
the Denon product. The MAC number is a 12-digit number (MAC:
XXXXXXXXXXXX) and can be located in three places:
On the back of the unit, just about the serial number
In the setup menu of the receiver
Below the serial number on the outside of the box
Click Enter MAC # and enter the last 6 digits behind the prefix
provided:

13
2. Once you have entered the serial number or MAC address, enter
the name of the customer if desired and click Activate Key. The
license key will now appear in the “Activate MultEQ Pro Licenses”
table.
Note: You will be required to input this license key during each Audyssey MultEQ
Pro calibration you perform on that particular receiver. There are a few different
ways to keep track of your license keys:
•Click Print Table to print them out.
•Click Save Table to save them locally as a text file to your computer.
•License keys will always be retrievable when you log on to the
Audyssey Distributor website.
•Contact your manufacturer’s technical support or Audyssey by phone to
retrieve a lost license key.

14
Setup at Customer Installation Site
Connecting the Installer Kit Components
A Connect a mini-XLR cable to the microphone.
B Place the microphone stand upright and extend the boom arm. Attach the
microphone holder to the end of the boom arm. Insert the microphone in a
vertical position in the holder so that it is pointed to the ceiling.
Mini-XLR cables
The Installer Kit contains
two mini-XLR cables. One
mini-XLR cable is used to
connect the microphone
preamplifier’s LINE IN and
the other is used to
connect the microphone
preamp’s LINE OUT to the
Audyssey Installer-Ready
device.
Additional mini-XLR
cables may be purchased
separately and connected
together for a longer-
length connection.
The length of cable
needed depends on the
size of the customer’s
room.
Microphone Position
Place the microphone in
a vertical position with
the capsule pointing
directly at the ceiling for
all room measurements.
Make sure there are no
nearby obstructions or
large reflecting surfaces.
Make sure that the first
microphone position is
located at the main
listening seat. This is
where the delays and
trims will be calculated.
BA
C

15
C Connect the mini-XLR cable from the microphone to the MIC IN input of the
microphone preamp.
D Connect another mini-XLR cable to the LINE OUT output of the mic preamp.
Connect the mini-XLR-to-RCA adapter to this mini-XLR cable.
E Prepare to connect the mini-XLR-to-RCA adaptor to the Denon front panel
“V.AUX” left channel audio input (but leave disconnected for now).
F Connect the laptop to the Installer-Ready device via the RS232 connector.
Note that the AVP-A1HDCI and AVR-5308CI have two RS232 connectors.
Please connect to "RS-232C 1".
Warning: Do not connect the Mini-XLR to RCA Adapter (E) to the Denon
front panel “V.AUX” left channel audio input yet. Doing so before
completing the Product Selection screen of the MultEQ Pro application
(page 18) will cause microphone feedback at levels that could damage the
speakers.
USB to RS232 Connection
Any of the laptop’s USB
ports may be used for this
connection.
Provide enough slack for
the cable so that it will not
suddenly disconnect
during MultEQ Pro
calibration. Accidental
USB disconnection will
likely require the
calibration be restarted.
It is not advised to
substitute a different USB
to RS232 cable than the
one included in the
Installer Kit. However, an
active extension or hub
may be used to extend
USB length.
The Mini-XLR-to-RCA
Adapter (E) connects the
LINE OUT output of the
mic preamplifier to the
Audyssey Installer-Ready
device. This connection
should be made at the
Measurement screen of
the MultEQ Pro application
(see Measurement, page
23)
C
E
MIC IN
D

16
Other Configurations
The MultEQ Pro application is responsible for measuring the room response and
computing the complex equalization filters for the room.
Before the MultEQ Pro Calibration
Please set the Amp Assign, Pre-out Assign, XLR Out Polarity, and Subwoofer
Configuration in the Denon receiver menu if necessary. If you change these after
completing the MultEQ Pro calibration, MultEQ XT cannot be enabled.
If the subwoofer has a built-in lowpass filter it should be bypassed, or set to the
THX setting. Sometimes there is an input called “LFE” that has the lowpass filter
already bypassed. This must be done before MultEQ Pro measurements are made.
If the subwoofer lowpass filter cannot be defeated, set it to its maximum frequency.
Any subwoofer gain controls should be set to their nominal settings, such as at the
THX position, or at 12 o’clock on a conventional level control. Phase controls, if
they exist, should be set to 0°.
If the subwoofer has any sort of “Auto”, “Standby”, or “Sleep” mode that turns the
power to the subwoofer off after it does not receive any signal for some period of
time, disable this mode. This will ensure that the subwoofer is always on and ready
to output the MultEQ test signal. Failure to disable this mode could chop off the start
of the test signal and this would result in inaccurate subwoofer measurements.
During the MultEQ Pro Calibration
The MultEQ Pro application not only performs room equalization, but also measures
various parameters which are automatically set within the Audyssey Installer-Ready
device so that the playback system is calibrated. MultEQ Pro measures the
distance from each loudspeaker to the primary microphone location (or position 1);
the recommended optimum crossover frequency for each channel to the subwoofer;
the level trim for each loudspeaker channel; and the absolute polarity of each
loudspeaker.
After the MultEQ Pro Calibration
Instruct the customer to select THX Cinema for movies and turn it off for all other
sources, such as music and television.
Defeating the lowpass
filter in the subwoofer
ensures that the
MultEQ Pro software
has the best possible
chance of producing
the smoothest
response through the
crossover region
because the only filter
to be applied is the one
in the bass
management system of
the pre/pro.
The crossover
frequency in surround
controllers often
defaults to 80 Hz.
MultEQ Pro examines
solutions across a
range of frequencies to
optimize the match
between subwoofer
and satellites both in
magnitude and in
phase. This often
results in a different
recommendation, but
results in a smoother
amplitude and phase
crossover blend.
After the MultEQ Pro
Calibration, look at the
end credits of a DVD. If
it carries a “Dolby
Stereo In selected
theaters” or similar
logo, then THX Cinema
On is virtually always
the correct condition.
MultEQ Pro is intended
to produce a response
that is to a particular
target response curve.
THE Re-equalization for
correcting the balance
of most movie program
material is still
required, even with
Audyssey Sound
Equalization in use.