How to think about room correction settings like frequency range and gain?

[Fralle]

Hi everyone!

I’ve been going through the instructions for my room correction software multiple times, but I feel like they assume you already have a solid understanding of room acoustics and how different settings interact. I’d really appreciate some guidance on how to think about these adjustments in a typical living room setup. Right now I have everythimg set to default but have measured each speaker individualy and charged the target to Harman.

For example, the instructions mention:

• Target Curve: Choose the desired frequency response curve before correction.

Ok I get this one and I think I like Harman the most.

• Frequency Range: Adjust the range to be corrected (and exclude frequencies if speakers have bass enhancement).

How do they mean about speakers having bas enhancement? Does this apply mostly to people with small bookshelf speakers? Any rule of thumb how to set this in a pretty standard living room with medium sized floor standing speakers? Or should I always apply correction across the full frequency range or just leave it at default?

• Gain: Set the volume level during calibration based on room acoustics and personal preference to avoid distortion.

Sure. But what should I set the gain to?

• Q Value: Lower Q values = smoother adjustments, higher Q values = precise correction but risk of "ringing."

This one is really beyond me and I have no clue what to set it to.

What I’m struggling with is understanding how to apply these concepts in a normal living room—not a dedicated treated space. Is there a general rule of thumb for a living room with some furniture but no special acoustic treatment?

I’d love to hear how more experienced users approach these settings in similar environments. Thanks in advance!

 

[Mamo]

Considering that for now it is not possible to make very accurate measurements, imho I would correct up to 400 hertz with a maximum gain of 3 db. In this way you will be able to have a sound without reverberations caused by the modal nodes.

 

[slartibartfast]

Considering that for now it is not possible to make very accurate measurements, imho I would correct up to 400 hertz with a maximum gain of 3 db. In this way you will be able to have a sound without reverberations caused by the modal nodes.

A maximum gain of 3dB isn't going to do a lot for bass humps in most rooms.
You can now load calibration files in the latest app update which might not be available for iOS yet.

 

[Fralle]

A maximum gain of 3dB isn't going to do a lot for bass humps in most rooms.
You can now load calibration files in the latest app update which might not be available for iOS yet.

I have both Android and iOS. You mean I can upload a calibration file for my Dayton audio mic? How?

 

[slartibartfast]

I have both Android and iOS. You mean I can upload a calibration file for my Dayton audio mic? How?

S

Post in thread 'Tech Tuesday: Deep Dive into Room Correction'

Feb 16, 2025

Just got a updated WiiM Home App. In the release notes I see this!

"External Microphone Calibration File: Import calibration files for improved Room Correction accuracy."

But no further instructions seems to be available.View attachment 17324

If you plug a mic in then some new settings appear in "Room Correction" settings

• slartibartfast

• 

 

[canard]

I have both Android and iOS. You mean I can upload a calibration file for my Dayton audio mic? How?

available on their website...

with the serial number of your mic, on the box...specific file...
(after wiim home seems to be able to use it now in principle, to verify its relevant use...)

 

[Fralle]

available on their website...

with the serial number of your mic, on the box...specific file...
(after wiim home seems to be able to use it now in principle, to verify its relevant use...)

This is what makes me feel I did the right choice going over to Wiim, the fact they are constantly improving. Now I just really hope they hear my prayer and removes "Are you sure you want to change to Phono" messages on the screen. After that this will be very close to perfect.

 

[Fralle]

Here is how my room correction curve looks right now with uncalibrated mic. Anything that looks really weird that I should correct manually?

 

[slartibartfast]

Here is how my room correction curve looks right now with uncalibrated mic. Anything that looks really weird that I should correct manually?

If you do it again with a calibrated mic you can compare the results.

 

[Fralle]

If you do it again with a calibrated mic you can compare the results.

I'll do that tomorrow for sure. But I see a lot of people seem to adjust unnescery dips or spikes in the curve but I don't really know exactly what to look for. Hope you get my question.

 

[slartibartfast]

I'll do that tomorrow for sure. But I see a lot of people seem to adjust unnescery dips or spikes in the curve but I don't really know exactly what to look for. Hope you get my question.

Next time post a screenshot of the original room.correction curves like this one. Then we can see the original frequency response and the proposed correction.

 

[tangens68]

I think this is one of the most useful topics on the forum. I tried to find information on this subject, something that would be explained in simple words, but I couldn't find anything. Everything is complicated, and here is age, you know)) I look forward to answers, thanks in advance.

 

[Fralle]

Here is how it looks now calibrated.

 

[Wiimer]

Here is how it looks now calibrated.

Is the speaker placement (room) asymmetrical? There seems to be a problem with the location of the right speaker. The volume balance between the left and right speakers also seems to be unbalanced due to the walls and other factors.

 

[Fralle]

Is the speaker placement (room) asymmetrical? There seems to be a problem with the location of the right speaker. The volume balance between the left and right speakers also seems to be unbalanced due to the walls and other factors.

I have a pair of rather unusual speakers that are quite obscure outside of Sweden. They are Carlsson speakers, designed with all drivers pointing upwards to create an omnidirectional sound effect.

About a meter diagonally above the right speaker, there is a wall-mounted bookshelf, and about a meter to the side, there is a storage unit. The left speaker, on the other hand, has completely free space both above and to the side.

Far from optimal which if why I think room correction seem to help quite a bit. When we move I hope to get a more optimal placement for both speakers and hopefully it can work without room correction. I'll include pictures with and without the grille so you can get a better idea.

 

[harkpabst]

Are the left and right speaker identical or are they built as mirrored pairs?

 

[Fralle]

Mirrored pairs.

 

[harkpabst]

Have you tried them left and right reversed, compared to how they are set up now?

Not asking because I think I know it better, but with asymmetrical speakers this can always be worth a try.

 

[Fralle]

That would completely mess up the direction of the element so that is not an option. Weird thing is that the left and right channel where much more balanced before I calibrated the mic. Left channel stayed pretty much the same before and after calibration but the right one changed a lot. Really not sure what to make of it or which room correction profile I should trust.

 

[slartibartfast]

That would completely mess up the direction of the element so that is not an option. Weird thing is that the left and right channel where much more balanced before I calibrated the mic. Left channel stayed pretty much the same before and after calibration but the right one changed a lot. Really not sure what to make of it or which room correction profile I should trust.

The mic calibration would affect both channels equally. You can easily check by setting the calibration file to "none".