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I've read a few reviews but so far everyone is using a perfect or near perfect room.It would be quite interesting if someone with a less-than-perfect room did a review out of curiosity just to see how good the audysey correction system is and how far would it go correcting room acoustics.

I only have the rooms I have. Neither is perfect but each has benefited from some acoustic considerations and there's no easy way to remove them temporarily.

What I can say is the the majority of Audyssey demos have been in hotel rooms that are simply awful without it so I do assume it will make a bigger subjective improvement in a lousy space. OTOH, I make an equal assumption that acoustic treatments are a better investment ($$ and effort) since they make the room audibly better for conversation and tend to lower ambient noise levels, as well.

Kal

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just to see how good the audysey correction system is and how far would it go correcting room acoustics.

Besides the points Kal made, understand that "room acoustics" is a large subject that encompasses a wide range of frequencies. There's no way an electronic device can reduce outright echoes and room ambience, and these are generally perceived as the most damaging room acoustic problems. The most that systems like this can hope to achieve is EQ cut for modal peaks (those related to the room dimensions) to reduce the boomy quality many smaller rooms suffer from.

--Ethan

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Kal,Ethan,thanks for replying.I am aware of the pros and cons of Audyssey.What i meant was,the readers of magazines should be able to read reviews of such systems in a less-than-perfect acoustic enviroment to enable them to know what to expect and what not to,after purchasing such system.

Hmm. Mebbe I can wiggle some speakers into the spare bathroom................

Kal

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LOL Kal . But seriously now,you made me wonder how far the correction algorithms of such system would go in correcting a pair in such a bad acoustic space.

Well, there are two parts to what Audyssey does, imho. First and foremost, it attempts to correct the major room modes that are a consequence of room dimensions. Second, it attempts to correct the overall frequency response throughout the audio spectrum.

The first is usually below 200Hz, requires bulky acoustic treatment and is, imho, an issue in every domestic listening room. The second is a more variable problem and what makes a room seem subjectively bad at first hearing. The latter can be, and should be, fixed with acoustical treatment although a parametric EQ or Audyssey can be used. The former is where the Audyssey/MeridianRC/TAcT/etc. can make a bigger impact, especially if you are not using physical treatments.

Kal

Yes. The bass is the most problemmatic since it requires great bulk to do physically and great sophistication and care to do electronically. The major beef I have with Audyssey is its very convenience: I'd prefer to tweak it myself to get the bass where/how I want it. I can look at the room response with ETF or REW but only with a PEQ can I tweak it in real time.

Kal