My VSX Pioneer comes with what is touted as one of the best and easiest speaker calibration setups. (that's what "they" say). Anyway, it come with a microphone and a dedicated port it plugs into and I move it around to the main listening positions and it sends out test tones, etc. and tweeks the speakers. I dont' know if this is measuring SPL (doubt it) or just using some sort of DSP matrix to match what is "heard" to a given table and setting the speakers accordingly. I have two questions.
1. Is this as good as having a modest SPL meter (like the radio shack) in setting up the cross-overs and such?
2. Would it pay to use an SPL anyway and manually adjust the levels?
Thanks. And as always, great information from everyone here. Wish I could contribute as much as I ask.

There's some debate on this, but if the Pioneer sounds good to you, I'd say go with it. If you're unsure, it's not a bad idea to do a calibration yourself.

I tried my YPAO system 2 nights ago, the room must be DEAD quiet for it to 100% effective. It actuall did really well, i checked my levels with an SPL meter and they were all pretty much bang on with the exception of the sub.

-Hutz

I have a VSX as well. I used the auto calibration tool, saved it to memory location 1, then calibrated by hand using the RS meter and saved to memory location 2. Switching between the two, I prefer the hand calibrated settings. Just my experience. Also, I have some crappy speakers right now, so this may change once I get my Axioms and recalibrate.

Great idea, krich. I'll have to try that - using the memory locations.

On my Denon 2805 I found the setup to do a great job on dB levels, distance(delay), etc. However, I do not use the EQ part of the results, I found this made my great Axioms sound worse, especially in the midrange category.

I also followed up with my SPL meter and made some minor adjustments...

quack,

does it calibrate your sub effecitvely too?

I have to say, I calibrated my sub to all my other speakers last night, and man it sounded so hot, I don't know what the deal is, but it is at 75db just like the rest of the speakers, but just so much bass sometimes (watching the matrix reloaded last night). Almost distracting.

Is this normal? Or does it depend on the movie?

Though not ideal, it is not unusual. I find myself adjusting my sub volume to suit the situation.

Robb, keep in mind that your sub is covering all sound from your crossover point (80Hz?) down to the lowest frequencies it can produce (like 20Hz?). Because of the dimensions and surfaces of your room, and the location of the sub itself, it is likely that the frequency response is not flat over that entire spectrum. So even though the average output of the subwoofer is 75dB, it is likely that some frequencies may be louder than others.

My sub is in a corner, and this corner loading increases the output of the very low frequencies (boomy). I used my Receiver's EQ, but I zeroed all settings it came up with above 80Hz, leaving the settings below 80Hz (with a little minor tweaking) and feel that it really smoothed things out. If I ever have $600 laying around, I'll invest it in a Velodyne SMS-1. Most of the subwoofer gurus I know swear by it (not at it )

Review

hmmmm, mabey I should try the auto EQ just for the sub on my Yamaha.

I wonder if I can do that...

-Hutz