— and What Calibration Can and Cannot Fix

Calibration is one of the most misunderstood aspects of high-performance audio-visual systems.  When applied correctly, it plays a critical role in achieving accuracy, balance, and long-term satisfaction. When misunderstood or oversold, it often becomes a source of disappointment.

“Can calibration turn our background music system into a party system for evening events?”

“Can calibration make the system sound better in a space with a very low ceiling?”

“Can I calibrate the system myself?”

These are common and reasonable questions, but calibration is often misunderstood. 

At AV Intelligence, we approach calibration as a technical discipline within a larger system design process, not as a shortcut or cure-all.

What Professional Calibration Actually Does

Calibration is the process of measuring and fine-tuning a system that has already been correctly designed and installed. When the underlying system is sound, calibration can balance audio levels and timing, align frequency response for tonal accuracy, optimise video colour and brightness, adapt performance to room acoustics and lighting conditions, and verify that the system performs in line with its design intent.

Effective calibration relies on objective measurement, not listening alone. Professional calibration uses calibrated measurement microphones, reference instruments, and specialised software to assess how a system actually behaves in the room. These results are then interpreted by a technician with the experience to translate measurements into meaningful performance improvements.

In simple terms, calibration ensures a system performs accurately and consistently within its environment. While basic adjustments can be made by users, meaningful calibration requires proper tools and expertise; without them, changes are often preference-driven and may introduce new imbalances.

What Calibration Cannot Fix

Calibration is powerful — but it is not magic.

There are clear limits to what calibration can achieve, regardless of software, algorithms, or processing tools.  Calibration cannot reliably correct:

• Poor speaker placement dictated purely by aesthetics
• Inadequate room acoustics or untreated reflections
• Incorrect screen size, projector choice, or viewing geometry
• Insufficient power, ventilation, or thermal management
• Network instability or signal integrity issues
• Fundamental design compromises made late in construction

When these conditions exist, calibration may improve symptoms slightly, but it cannot overcome structural or architectural constraints.

Why Calibration Must Follow Proper Design & Commissioning

Calibration is only meaningful when it follows:

1. Correct system design
2. Proper installation and integration
3. Thorough commissioning

Commissioning ensures that every component functions correctly as a system.
Calibration then fine-tunes performance within that correctly functioning system.

Attempting calibration without proper commissioning is similar to adjusting a precision instrument before it has been assembled correctly — results are unpredictable and often misleading.

The Risk of Over-Expectation from Calibration

Many AV systems underperform not because calibration was absent, but because calibration was expected to compensate for earlier compromises.  Over-reliance on calibration can:

• Mask underlying design issues temporarily
• Create unrealistic expectations
• Lead to repeated recalibration without lasting improvement
• Increase long-term maintenance cost and frustration

A well-engineered system should sound and look fundamentally correct before calibration begins.

Our Approach to Calibration

At AV Intelligence, calibration is treated as part of a holistic engineering workflow, not as a standalone service.  Our process typically includes:

• Objective measurement using professional tools
• Calibration aligned to recognised technical targets
• Verification against real-world usage, not test tones alone
• Documentation of settings and system behaviour
• Re-calibration where environments or usage patterns change

The goal is not to chase perfection in isolation, but to achieve stable, repeatable performance over time.

When Calibration Delivers the Greatest Value

Calibration delivers the most impact when:

• Systems are planned early with correct infrastructure
• Speaker and display placement are resolved properly
• Acoustics and lighting are addressed at the design stage
• Equipment is ventilated, serviceable, and stable
• The system is used as intended, not forced into compromises

In these conditions, calibration transforms a good system into a reference-grade experience.

Calibration as Stewardship, Not a One-Time Event

Environments evolve. Furniture changes. Usage patterns shift. Software updates occur.  For this reason, calibration should be viewed as ongoing stewardship, not a one-off adjustment at handover.  Long-term performance depends on:

• Periodic verification
• Responsible updates
• Re-alignment as spaces evolve

This is how systems remain enjoyable years after installation — not just impressive on day one.

In Summary

• Calibration matters — when applied correctly

• Calibration has limits — and should never be over-expected

• Design, commissioning, and supporting infrastructure come first

• Long-term performance depends on system thinking and ongoing stewardship