Measure speakers - you have to take that into account

As an audiophile, measure your speakers in order to enjoy the full sound. We explain what happens during the calibration and give you tips so that you can experience the best sound.

What happens when you measure your speakers?

When calibrating speakers, an audio system is optimized for the given speaker layout, room acoustics and the frequency response of the speakers used to achieve the best sound under the given circumstances:

• A calibration system consists of test signals, a measurement microphone and software in your power amplifier that can filter all audio signals before they are sent to the speakers.
• First, the system measures the sound energy per frequency range, usually per octave or third-octave band, at one or more positions for each speaker.
• It usually uses pink noise or an exponential sweep as an excitation signal. These have approximately the same amount of sound energy in each frequency band.
• Deviations in the sound energy at the microphone position result from the room acoustics and the frequency response of the respective loudspeaker.
• The measuring system compensates for the deviation from an even energy distribution by means of an equalizer and thus makes the sound homogeneous.
• Especially with room modes, very strong amplitude adjustments in the equalizer are necessary.
• Next, for example, a series of Kronecker Delta impulses ensure that the wave fronts of all speakers arrive at the listening position at the same time.
• If not, individual channels are delayed until they all arrive at the same time.
• When you have successfully calibrated your speakers, your hi-fi system has the optimal sound.

You should pay attention to this when measuring loudspeakers

Always measure loudspeakers in the place and under the circumstances that correspond to the later use:

• Don't make it too difficult for the measuring system: Make sure that the speakers are set up correctly for your surround system or Dolby Atmos or Auro-3D.
• No false shame: leave the room with its usual furniture, arrangement and disorder. Because every object is both an absorber and a diffuser and influences the room acoustics.
• Place the measuring microphone on the sweet spot, i.e. on your desired listening position. If you listen to two people on the couch, you can usually measure in both positions and the loudspeaker measuring system sets a compromise solution.
• To achieve a high signal-to-noise ratio, measure the speakers at the highest possible volume. If necessary, warn your neighbors.
• Measure your loudspeaker anew every time you move, buy new furniture or place the loudspeakers differently.
• Although the influence of the loudspeaker cables is slight, you should keep cable runs as short as possible and lay them far away from power lines.

When setting up dipole speakers, there are special rules that we will explain to you in the next post.