Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion Home Theater Speaker calibration

Please help a newbie. Im running my Video Essentials DVD through my Yamaha receiver and testing the audio tones with an analog sound level meter. And I get nothing at the 70 setting unless I am right in front of the speakers. I own the MP22ti, VP100 & OS4. Any ideas?

Mike,

You may need to turn the volume up on your receiver so that the test tones can register at the 75 level. The volume level to get to 75 in the calibration exercise is probably much higher than you will ultimately use to listen to the speakers when you are done.

The key is to balance all of the speakers @ 75. After that, they will be calibrated/balanced at whatever level you choose for listening to music or movies.

Also, set the calibration volume at a level that gets you to 75 at the listening position you will use. Hold the meter at45 degrees (midway between vertical and horizontal) and point it directly at each speaker as the tones move around.

Thanks. I can't believe how loud it needed to be to register (18.5db). I appreciate the help.

Hi MikeSee,

If you using the analog Radio Shack sound level meter, you should NOT point the meter at each speaker. Hold the meter in front of you, almost vertical, or slightly angled at the same level as your head.

The idea is to get a cumulative or average reading of the combined direct and reflected sounds arriving at your listening location similar to what occurs when you play back music or soundtracks. And by the way, 85 dB SPL at your listening location is fairly typical of levels you'll be listening at. That is subjectively termed "quite loud" by listeners in acoustical tests.

Regards,

Yeah Mike, I had to set my receiver at 00 to get to 85.

Alan, I'm cringing in realizing I didn't give correct advice here relative to pointing the meter at the speakers in turn. I was speaking from memory based on an extensive article on Avia calibration that I read. I just tracked it down and reread it and you are absolutely correct. The meter should be placed in a single postiton as you describe.

Thanks for correcting my error. I'll need to limit my input to accurate facts from now on! I will also need to go back and re-calibrate correctly myself.