Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Technical Questions SPL Calibration Procedure

I've got a HK AVR-65...If I calibrate it to 0db "reference level" on the AVR-65, then the SPL meter is probably going to be somewhere ABOVE 75-85dB...should I calibrate it to whatever the SPL is reading WHEN the AVR-65 is at 0dB (reference Level)?

Thanks Jack....I see where you are coming from now and can see why folks would calibrate in this manner.

You're welcome Rick. I apologize for not doing a better job of explaining.

Mitch, we are dealing with 2 different volume controls. The receiver's master volume which adjusts all speakers at the same time, AND the individual speaker volume settings in your receiver's speaker setup menu, each of which adjusts the volume of only one given speaker (see page 20 or your manual or this online AVR65 manual).

If, with the master volume at "0," a test tone produces a meter reading more than 75dB for any speaker, then turn that speaker down using the individual speaker settings in the receiver's speaker setup menu until your meter reads 75dB.

These settings usually run on a scale of from -12dB to +12dB, though that will vary from receiver to receiver. It doesn't matter what that setting is (-2, -5, +3, +6 etc.) as long as that setting produces 75dB on the meter.

Mitch, don't worry about the 0db reading on the receiver. Set one of the speakers at 75db on the spl meter and match from there. Like Jack explained, there is no universal volume setting between different brands of receivers.

If John(EMC)is still reading this, note that you should follow the specific directions in your manual for using the EzSet setup procedure before you think of making any changes manually. As the manual states, you'd simply set the volume to -35dB(which is about the mid-point)and let the calibration proceed.

I read this thread yesterday and pulled out my analog spl meter (Radio Shack)...attached it to a tripod at listenening position and went to work. After looking around it was apparent that the HK AVR7300 needed to be at -10 on the master volume for calibration at 75db.

I set the spl properly and moved on to calibrating...shockingly enough all of my speakers were set way to high. I had to back everything down..some are now below zero and some at zero.

The results were amazing in that if I held the spl meter without a tripod, I had to up the levels on everything for it to get to 75db...

Definately get a tripod and get to work.

-Tarun