Hi,

The Radio Shack SPL meter coupled with a good set of test signals just enables greater precision. Lots of enthusiasts run their surrounds and subs at levels that are too high--they think they have to hear them as sources of sound--and then complain about center-channel dialogue intelligibility.

With practice, you can adjust levels by ear fairly accurately, but even I find that the SPL meter and the Sound&Vision Home theater tune-up DVD let you fine-tune levels even better.

Regards,

Alan Lofft,
Axiom Resident Expert (Retired)