Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Technical Questions Using an SPL Meter

I didn't find DVE all that useful for audio at all. For measuring and setting up your sub, I don't think you can beat REW. Its a free utility you can use on a PC in conjunction with a mic or spl meter to make in room measurements. You will see exactly where your peaks and nulls are.

I liked the sweeps and routines on DVE better than the ones on AVIA. Doing the set up through the 3808 is better than both and a very good place to start for tweaking after that.

I think I have put off using REW because I am afraid of what it might show

Thanks everyone. Now I just need to buy an SPL meter, install REW and take a deep breath and convince myself I can do this.

I will say that I have had to add a couple of db to my M80s and 4dbs to the EP350v3. Audyssey did only a decent job of calibrating the system. Maybe I should run the system again since I have moved and repositioned the M80s a little.

You could use mine if you were a bit closer to Wilmington.

I would suggest just sitting back and enjoy your system. I got all caught up in REW, Realtraps graphs, SMS-1, etc. You can drive yourself crazy trying to tweak this stuff. Just do an auto setup using Audyssey, verify the levels and speaker settings after the fact, and enjoy.

Meh, anybody can just sit down and enjoy. It takes a real pro to drive ones self crazy!!

From what I have read, the results of room treatments, if they are successful, can be dramatic. If you happen to have an ugly room like mine, it can be a never ending quest. We will see if I get anywhere or just drive myself crazy.

For the cost of a meter though, and if you are a DIY/tinkering kind of guy, its worth a try.

Hopefully dsbad and I will not get "all caught up".

Edit: There is a really good, if sometimes hard to follow thread, at hometheatershack.com by thewire where the outcome was good. Its in the REW forum.

If you moved the speakers after the initial auto setup, then you will need to do the setup again, it is that sensitive. Are you taking the readings with the mic from several seating positions? It appears to help smooth things out, if so this could be why you found you needed to adjust the M80s levels. The sub, well, Audyssey just strives for a flat response with it and has always set mine too low for my liking as well. You may also find that Audyssey will set the M80s to Large allowing for a full range speaker, which in turn, leads them to be set too low trying to keep the bass down to equal the upper end.

And take all of this with a grain of salt as I am very tired and it time for bed. I may want to change this when I get up.

Fred, I've been down the bass traps and acoutic panels path as well, long before you became a member. If you've looked at my website you would see pictures.

Yes, treatments did seem to make a nice improvement, if done correctly using the right material.

I've been a long time member at HomeTheaterShack, very familiar with the REW forum. Just running the software with your spl meter from one location does not resolve the rest of the room locations. Unless you plan to incorporate filters using a BFD or similiar device, it is unlikely you will see any positive outcome. The is similar to the video Ian talkes about on the benefit of using multiple subs on opposite walls to resolve frequency peaks/null issues. EQ'ing is not recommended.

So what you are telling Fred to do is buy at least one more sub, but even more desireable would be 3 more subs.

Donations are welcome.

I wish I could afford another sub, or even the parts for a DIY.