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Balancing sound to sharpen dialogue?

I've got a really simple system: an Integra DTM7 and a pair of Totem Dreamcatchers. The Totems are really warm and have surprising bass depth, but when watching movies, dialogue never sounds as sharp as it should. And sometimes music feels bottom-heavy. The DTM7 has minimal EQ capabilities. I've tried simply dialing down the bass, which made my neighbors happier, but I'm wondering if there's some way to improve the balance -- speaker position? something else? -- so I get more clarity for speech.
jmk2
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
The Totems are really warm and have surprising bass depth, but when watching movies, dialogue never sounds as sharp as it should.
You’ve just got fat lower mids, which takes away from the diction of the speech.

Use the audio or bass/treble adjustment on the Onkyo and take the audio off movie and onto music/speech if it has it, or drop the bass a little with the EQ and this will bring up the "sharpness" of the speech.
Or bring the speakers well out from any walls, this also will fatten up the lower mids with excess bass
Cheers George
erik_squires
16,370 posts
 
Try tilting them up so the mid-woofer is firing at your head.

If that's hard to do, as an experiment, put them on their side and try the same thing.  if that works for you then you know you need to put them on stands that tilt them.
fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,635 posts
 
In 5.1 get a better center where the dialogue is at. A simple compander helps like a dBx 117 or 119.
It's easier to optimize with seperate systems for A & V.
stringreen's avatar
stringreen
6,483 posts
 
Can't understand the words?   You're just getting old
mcroth
81 posts
 
Post a pic of your set up.
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