At what volume do you obtain reference level (75dB) on your test tones?

I have my setup as follows:
M60s : +2db (14 feet)
VP150 : 0db (13 feet)
QS8s : -2.5dB (8 feet)
Tannoy Rears : 0dB (8.5 feet)

With the built in test signal, volume at 0, I get a reading of about 72.5dB. Digital Video Essentials gives similar results.

This just seems really low to me for a 120w per channel amp. My previous amp, an old H/K AVR-65 (65w x 5), was hitting 75dB at around -10 although that was with my POS Cerwin Vega LS12s and required a +8 or 9dB boost on the Tannoys.

Should I boost all of my levels to obtain 75dB on each channel? I would actually prefer to have the mains at 0db and set everything else to match, but then I would only be pushing 70dB at 0 on the volume scale.

The amp runs up to +14dB, but is the signal still considered clean above the 0 point?

Thanks,

Dave

Dave,
With test tones using a friend's 3802 at the receiver 'reference' point, we were hitting about 74dB with his Tannoy Saturn S6 speakers just for you to note.
Although a receiver may be listed as 120W, these specs are misleading. It is highly unlikely that a full 120W is being delivered and it will likely become even less across a full five channels. The white paper specs on the receivers always tends to be very 'optimisitic'.
You also cannot compare the volume level mark b/w different receivers. They may use varying scales or even have a different volume:signal ratio.

In any event, it is more important that you match all the levels of your speakers to the same dB point. Do not worry so much about making that point exactly 75dB.

Chess,

I'm really just curious if others with the same receiver and speakers are getting the same kind of readings and whether I should recalibrate so the mains do not have a positive boost.

Dave

Dave, there is nothing wrong with using the boost in order to equalize the volume levels of all you speakers.

I don't think there's a reason to be concerned here. What you're measuring is the result of the combination of receiver, speakers, and room. It has nothing to do with whether the amp is really 120wpc---it's not putting anything approaching that out at 75dB.

By comparison, if you went with high-end Klipsch speakers in a very live room, you'd probably have over 75dB.

If you really want to have reference levels at 0dB, then adjust the levels on the mains to achieve that. A good processor *shouldn't* start clipping within the range it allows you to adjust each channel.

Bruce