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

In reply to:

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Thinking back, I think I have it set up so -20 on the Pioneer reads 75dBi on the SPL.

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So in your case (using Avia to calibrate), reference level playback for a movie would be at -10dB, but you can listen wherever you like.

Seems about right, that would be VERY loud. I'm typically around -30dBi.

Trying to calibrate my system has been different than I expected. It seems very loud when I attempting to calibrate to 75db

So are you saying I should start a test tone at my front left speaker at a flat 0 setting and adjust my volume on the AVR until my meter reads 75db?

Through my several calibrations using S&V and then the yamaha 4600 mic set up each one seemed to be extremely loud. I was watching a movie around -20db (Very Loud) and the calibration was set to watch at -12db (even at 30 years old too loud) I used to push hi spl's with my car stereo and I found the 75db setting unbearable. I couldn't imagine 85db.

When i was playing back the pod racing scene under the -12 "reference level" though I was hitting 100db and peaks of 110db.

Any input is appreciated.

That was one of my questions Hay. I've read many Audio websites that say to do it exactly that way. Once you have the volume set for the left speaker to be 75dB's, then you calibrate the rest of the speakers with the level dB adjustments. According to some of the others, not all AVR's allow you to adjust with the main volume once you kick off the test tones.

I'm going to try it one of these nights on my Denon 2805.

I did my speaker calibration yesterday like what you said. Here is the setting when i did the calibration: Two M60tis large, VP150 small, QS8s small and no sub. Should I set the front speakers to small before i calibrate the speakers?

Thanks,

Han

With no sub, I'd set the M60s to large. I have a sub and have them set to large as I feel they sound much better with 2 channel music that way.

Sorry, I didn't make myself clear. What I mean is I did the calibration with the front speaker set at Large. Should I calibrate the speaker set at Small, then switch to Large after that?

Thanks,

Han

Han I think with my Denon, it always sets my 60's to large after calibration, no matter if I have a sub or not. Anyway, this is just me, but after calibration, I have all my speakers set to small, with a crossover on the receiver of 80hz. To me it is the best all around setting for both music and movies. I still get killer bass with my 60's on this setting.

Do you currently have a sub? You would be missing a lot with all speakers to set small, an 80hz x-over and no sub.

If you use a sub, you should set ALL the speakers to small. Use your AVR’s crossover settings to change how much LFE goes to the mains and other speakers. If you have the Avia test disk, you will soon realize why large full range speakers should also be set to small.

So, set them all to small, use a X-over setting of 80 or so, and calibrate all the speakers to read the same db on the meter. Then screw with the sub and different crossover settings to achieve a balanced sound.

And yes, start with one of the mains at 75 db (or whatever the test disk or avr instructions tell you to do) but make sure you are useing the same test tone generater with the same instructions as they will be different) with the trim at “0” via the AVR volume control. Then adjust the remaining speakers to match that 75 db.

All the talk about “having extra” is kinda silly if you ask me. You’re only going to get what the avr amps can give. But if you set the channels up with an exaggerated trim, you will not get the entire AVR volume control as they all have set limits on their range. Usually - 80 to + 10 (or there abouts). So if you set the channels up with a “ – “ db trim as a baseline, and then run the volume up to the max of + 10, that “ – “ trim setting is not allowing the AVR’s max volume to be reached.

And going the other way on the baseline trim will not allow the AVR to play louder. It will only give you the visual perception that it’s louder at a lower AVR db display.



It’s like setting a watch ten minutes fast so you always have ten minutes to spare but always running ten minutes late… I have yet to meet someone who does that ever makes a meeting on time……….makes no sense to me.