Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Calibrate speakers

Hello, I recieved my speaker system about a month ago.
2 M80'S
2 QS8
1 CENTER
1 350 EPV3
I need to know how to calibrate them. I got a digital sound level from radio shack.I am a neebie to the world of HT.

Thanks Pat

What receiver are you using?

If it has a pink noise generator, you turn on the pink noise and adjust each speaker level to read the same on the meter. Ideally the meter is on a tripod and positioned in your favorite seating postion about ear high. I usually stick the meter into the cushions of the couch, as I do not have a tripod.

The meter should be set to 'C' weighting and slow speed.

I'm using a onkyo 705. Thanks

I always wondered, should you point the meter to the speaker that is generating the tone?

Or do you just point it forward even when you are calibrating the surrounds?

It seems to me that pointing the meter at the surrounds would be more like a real ear facing to the side.

Use the included MIC to run Audyssey MultEQ XT. This will set the trims to make your speakers close to 75db and will do wonders for your overall sound. After running Audyssey, you should manually set your crossovers if the Onkyo sets any to FULL.

The included test tones are -30db. This means your meter should read 75db when using the tones.

I always leave the meter pointing forward. You could always compare a test tone from a surround with the meter pointing forward and then again with it pointing direct and see if it really makes much difference.

I leave it pointing up, on a tripod on the couch in the center position (which almost never gets used). But I'm weird.

SPL should be pointed straight up (towards the ceiling)

My Yamaha RXV 3800 comes with a SPL. Is it best to use the one Yamaha supplies or should i use a disconnected one like your all talking about?

Pat, the auto-calibration system on your 705 is excellent and gives results that should be at least as accurate with respect to calibrating sound levels as you could accomplish by setting the levels manually(taking into account the added factor of human error)with the aid of the SPL meter. Rather unrealistic comments are sometimes read concerning checking the auto-set levels with an SPL meter to see how far the auto setting was "off", when in fact it's the user who's off.

The digital RS meter(which I also use)is very useful for things such as checking average and maximum sound levels when playing various sound sources, but isn't essential for the calibration process if the receiver can do the job.