Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Technical Questions Clarification on calibrating with SPL RS meter?

Ok, I've found a couple of websites that say to start with the left speaker with the receiver dB level at 0dB, and then adjust the volume up/down while listening to the test tones on the AVR until it reads 75dB's. Then you adjust the remaining speakers to 75dB using the level adjustment, not the volume.

Is this correct?

I guess with my Denon 2805, I've always just kicked off the tone test and adjusted all the speakers, including the left front to 75dB's using the level adjustment.

Also, I think I may have been running my sub to hot, as I like to put it about 4dB's above my other speakers, however, the RS meter is not as accurate in the low Freq's I'm hearing, so in reality I am probably more like +6dB's on the sub. I plan to re calibrate tomorrow night to adjust for the 2dB flaw of the RS meter.

Any advice is appreciated..Randy

ps: I'm sure you all have told me this stuff before, maybe this time I'll right it down.

That will work. I'm not sure that there is only one "best" way to do it.

I also see nothing wrong with adjusting the sub to your own taste. Why not have it sound the way that you want?

On most of the receivers, if using the receiver own tones the volume adjustment is not operational and you use levels only. If you're using using a test cd/dvd then you use the volume control.

As far as the sub I also keep it at +5db. Sounds just fine, especially at medium volume level.

Any other input from you other guys/gals?

You should be good Randy. Just be sure to be on the C weighting and SLOW.

I've had similar questions. I always hear the term set your AVR at reference levels. How do you know what that is? When I did my initial set up I put my Pioneer -20dBi and then set speaker levels to 85dBi on Avia.

I always assumed ths was correct according to dolby standards. But honestly I'm pretty clueless here.

To listen at "Reference Level" would be the volume setting you used to level match everything to 85 dB. Check your receiver manual for what they determine to the reference volume setting on the volume knob. Usually it's right at 0 dB if the receiver volume is designated in dB.

I guess you can use any volume setting on your receiver you want to to calibrate to. Just know that this will be what is considered reference volume (or 85 dB dialog playback).

Many receivers built in test tone is meant to be calibrated to 75 dB, with the volume automatically set to -10 dB. So that when you are done and run at zero on your receiver you are at 85 dB. This is just easier on the ears while calibrating.

I have calibrated my listening room to reference, but usually I listen to movies with my receiver volume anywhere from -10 to -5 dB, depending on the movie.

Maybe Denon is different, but with HK, you use the AVR’s tone generator.

Pull up the channel setting dialogue page and start the tone generator (it will default to the left front), run the volume up until the meter reads 75 with the speaker at 0 db.

Then cycle through each speaker by adjusting the channel db trim until they all read the same.

You want the first speaker to be at “0” though. Otherwise, your volume will be off. For clarification, (I know from my own doing)……if you start out with the first speaker 10 db lower than 0, go through all the rest and set them, when you back out of the settings screen and start listing to the system, your AVR’s volume control will by much higher than usual – but not as loud.

Make sense?

I'm probably just weird here. I like to know I have room to move louder on my AVR. Meaning, I want -30dBi to sound loud so I know I have a lot more room to go louder.

I guess it really doesn't matter what level you set the AVR on with Avia, just as long as all speakers read the same on the SPL. Thinking back, I think I have it set up so -20 on the Pioneer reads 75dBi on the SPL.

My sub is 3/4 + and my center is also a bit hot. I like the dialogue to stand out a bit more.

You want each speaker, including the first at whatever setting is needed to bring the meter to a steady 75 dB. If the volume seems different after the calibration, that's due to the calibration and the intended result.