Hi Listener,
Always use the "C" weighting for measurements. The "A" weighting ignores deep bass response. And use the "pink noise" (NOT white noise) test signal rather than single-frequency tones from your Avia test disc or the AV receiver's Dolby test signal. Pink noise has equal energy per octave across the audible spectrum ("white" noise has equal energy per frequency, which means it exaggerates mid and treble response).
The Slow/Fast setting for your meter represents an averaging of sound levels on the Slow setting, but it takes a while and won't show you peaks. Use the fast setting to check peaks in sound levels, but the Slow setting for pink noise and test signals.
Your EP350 should not be clipping. You should not have to run the subwoofer level in the AV receiver more than a couple of dB above 0 dB. If you run the latter too high, you may overload the input of the EP350. So set the subwoofer output level in the AV receiver to about +3 dB max, and then use the EP350's volume control to reach a satisfactory sub level. Be sure to set Subwoofer "ON" in the receiver setup menu and all your speakers to "SMall", with an 80-Hz crossover. Turn the EP350 crossover control to max or Bypass, to remove its effects from the circuit.
I don't think much of Audyssey. It may help to set the overall speaker levels and distances, but turn off the auto-EQ, which with good speakers like Axioms, may degrade sound quality.
Regards,
Alan
