Randy just mentioned on another thread to someone, that when setting up his new speakers, be sure to have a Radio Shack SPL meter. How would you use an SPL meter along with Audyssey? Would it just be to corroborate Audyssey settings?

Phase I:
Thinking ahead to comparing 2-3 pairs of fronts in early April, any thoughts on what procedure I should take with regard to Audyssey and swapping between M60, M80 and hopefully Studio 100's? Whereas borrowing a speaker switch sounds cool, to get as fair a comparison as possible, I really should have the 'hooked up' in the best location by themselves. If I line them all up, the pair on the outside would benefit from the extra width, and would the center pair be hindered a bit being sandwiched in between? It would be quick swapping banana plugs, but hard do 'blind' test when you are moving the speakers. My memory is bad, but not that bad yet... what was I saying?

Anyway, just looking for ideas/scenarios for a good test where the differences are the speakers, not influenced by their orientation.

I guess as far as Audyssey, is concerned, I only need run it for a full surround test, not the stereo comparison of the fronts. For the surround test, as a starter, I had better, if not physically mount the 4 QS8's, should have them in place at best my guess to a final position, for the testing.

Phase II:
After a pair of fronts is decided upon (hopefully ;o), to test for the positioning of the QS8's would I need to re-run Audessey with each major or minor position change of any of the surrounds? For this testing process would I be able to use the RS SPL meter to do a quick manual revision to Audyssey?

Or maybe the surround placement test needs to be done over time. Where I one location, for a few days, then move to new location, run Audyssey, and listen again for a few days?

Any thoughts from you HT setter-up-erers?
Thanks

Dave

"In theory, practice and theory are the same. In practice they're not."