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

I keep reading posts about using a meter to set up speakers properly and how it will eliminate many initial sound problems.
What I can't seem to find is what am I doing with this meter? I don't want to look like Spock walking around the living room searching for the Wavelings. Is there an article (I can't seem to find one) that explains exactly what I chould be looking for?

I will be setting up a 60/500 (7.1) in my new home. My biggest problem is that I can't order them for two more weeks. My home is about 8 weeks from completion and the last thing I want to do is stare at new speaker boxes without being able to do anything about it.

Here's a pretty decent article describing what the SPL is measuring and how it relates to setting up a room for audio ...
SPL Meter ... hope it helps.

Welcome aboard and congrats with the new digs Lohengrin.

buy something like this from radio shack:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/index....rentPage=search

the meter has a knob at the top that you turn to the appropriate DB level. If you turn the knob to 70 db it will read everything from 60 db - 80db. Most people calibrate their system to about 75 db so leaving the meter on the 70db mark will work fine.

Either sit in the primary listening position and hold the meter or place the meter there with a tripod. Make sure the meter is on "C" weighting not "A". Play test tones for each speaker through your receiver,and adjust the channel levels so that each one reads 75 db. Some people choose to bump up the sub by 5db.

What receiver do you have?

*Cue JohnK with his technical research paper links

Just curious...

Is there any point in doing this if you have for example a Denon 3808, and use Audyssey Multi EQ XT?

Even though my Denon 2805 has auto setup/mic, I still go back and verify SPL levels, distance, etc. Many times the receiver is a little off. I addition, I never use built in EQ features of receivers, to me it makes good Axiom speakers sound worse, and changes the original manufacturers design.

More info (some actually relevant to topic):

The room is about 4000ft3 (17l x 24w x 10h) with long end opening into the dining room. Seating is 14' from 65" tv (view axis is 17 side).

I am using a Pioneer VSX-1015TX (7.1, 125w/ch).

80% movie/television, 18% music (jazz, classic rock, classical), 2% Tiger Woods Golf.

One more thing.

Even though the receiver has the built in mic for set-up I would prefer (based on info read here and elsewhere) to do it manually.
I also have Avia 2.

You should be set then ... the Avia disc should include a step-by-step walk through for calibrating with your SPL meter.

Ahh, I have never even looked at the audio section. I used it to calibrate my television.

I will look it over and post any questions it leaves unanswered.

Thanks for all of the replies.

I ran the Audyssey first then double checked with an spl meter, the Audyssey was right on for the speaker setup.