Q. I hate the spikes in volume that occur when watching TV or a movie. I'm not impressed with Audyssey compensation feature on my Denon receiver as it compresses the sound and I still need to have the remote in hand at times for the volume spikes.
Is Pioneer's MCACC better at controlling these spikes then Audyssey?
--K.V., Lehigh Valley, Pa.
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A. If you are watching from a DVD or Blu-ray Disc check your player's audio menus for a feature called "Dynamic Range Compression," "DRC," or "Midnight Mode." They are all the same thing, just given different names by different manufacturers. Dynamic Range Compression will equalize the volume and eliminate the spikes more effectively than circuitry in the receiver. These modes also makes dialogue easier to hear when listening at lower than average volume levels.
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Most consumer complaints of sudden volume spikes are caused by commercials, which seem to be getting louder and louder these days. Before we get into that, I will discuss Pioneer's MCACC for readers who are unfamiliar with it.
Pioneer's MCACC is an automatic setup and equalization system found exclusively in Pioneer receivers. MCACC sends out test tones and measures them with an included microphone, taking note of the output of the speakers, their distance from the microphone, and the effect of your room acoustics on the sound. MCACC then adjusts the balance of the speakers while applying compensation to compensate for the acoustical shortcomings of the room. MCACC is dramatically superior to other systems selling in the under $2,000 price range (such as Audyssey) and is a very good reason to choose a Pioneer receiver. Not only does it make setting up a surround speaker system a breeze, it improves the sound quality noticeably.
As you have noted, MCACC incorporates a feature called ALC that is supposed to compensate for drastic changes in volume, such as those that occur when the program switches to a commercial. Though it helps somewhat, it is not effective enough to satisfy most TV watchers. In fact, I read stories online by Pioneer users who were still "startled out of their chair" when a commercial kicks in, despite the ALC feature.
The problem is really getting out of hand and lately I have been "startled out of my chair" myself when a commercial comes on. I wonder if the advertisers have no shame at all, nor the broadcasters who willingly transmit the commercials without applying any adjustment to bring the levels more in line with the actual programming. Complaints have made it all the way to Congress and legislation has been introduced with the goal of ending the problem for good.
The Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act (also referred to as CALM) recently passed unanimously in the House of Representatives is now in the Senate. CALM would require that ads not be "excessively noisy or strident" and includes terminology that would in essence mandate that commercials be the same volume as the accompanying program material.
An end to loud commercials -- that is something both sides of the political fence can agree on. Contact your senators and encourage them to pass CALM as soon as possible. Enough is enough.
