"How much difference would it make to have my home audio system calibrated?"
Most people wouldn't think of driving their car with the engine out of tune, the wheels misaligned, and the transmission slipping. Yet many folks don't realize how important calibration is for the enjoyment quality of their home theater system, despite having spent thousands of dollars on the system.
Too many home audio consumers are not getting what they thought they paid for, and worse, some systems simply sound bad. Proper calibration of a home audio system is more than a "tweak" just for audiophiles, it's the final component everyone should demand. There is really no substitute for the proper audio calibration of your home theater system.
Movie makers follow very specific guidelines to assure uniform product quality. Most elements in the sound recording chain follow very specific industry standards (SMPTE, Dolby, DTS, and THX). These standards exist to make sure the movie product arrives in a theater sounding the way it did on the movie sound stage. If your home theater isn't calibrated to these same standards, you are hearing something less than what the movie makers intended.
A properly calibrated home audio system, in a room with good acoustical properties, should provide:
Every audio system owner should be aware that proper setup and calibration of their audio sytem (which includes the room acoustics) is essential for good results. This is true despite the perception fostered by many in the AV industry who imply that the best way to solve a sound problem is to buy more expensive equipment.
With Pro A/V Calibration assistance, even a modest home theater system can look and sound like a system costing thousands of dollars more - providing you with a more life-like, engaging entertainment experience that you'll want to share with family and friends.