I have some M22Tis, Harman Kardon AVR-120 receiver.

I have set the sub (Currently EP-125) crossover to the low end of the M22s.

What volume level should I put it at? I find at lower RECEIVER volumes I'd ideally like the sub volume a little higher. What volume should be my "referece" volume?

The industry standard reference volume is 85dB (right guys?) And this is the level most people calibrate their speakers to. The reasoning behind this is that movie studios that produce the DVD movies also master their discs at this level. The easiest way to calibrate your speakers is by purchasing a Radio Shack SPL meter. They come in digital and analog versions, both of which work well.

One problem with calibrating your speakers and sub that high -- especially if you find 85db too loud and you never listen at that volume -- is that the sub will sound too soft when you listen at lower volumes.

What I did was adjust my speakers to the most comfortably loud level I ever listen to and calibrated to there. I think it ended up being somewhere around 70 - 75dB. That keeps my sub from sounding too soft even when listening at lower levels.

I'm more interested in music than movies.

So basically, I buy the SPL meter...and what? It tells me how loud the speakers are? But if I'm choosing my "happy" level by SOUND then why do I need the meter?

I know people often buy them to calibrate their HT system, but I'm not clear...

This meter: http://www.radioshack.ca/estore/Product.aspx?language=en-CA&product=3302055&category=Listening+Aids%2fAccessories&catalog=RadioShack

Is like $90.00 CDN...seems like a lot of money!

Hey Peter;

I thought most people actually were actually using the crossover bypass connection on the sub so you dont have to set the crossover and volume on the sub and let the receiver handle all that.
My receiver is crossed at 80hz sending all frequencies lower to the sub. My receiver has a high level peak sub setting so it doesnt go over a certain loudness. Keeps my neighbors happy. But the sub level is also adjusted in the speaker level setting and calibrated so that all speakers have the same SPL at all levels of volume.

In which case, what level do you set the sub at?

Saturn,

Sorry about the confusion. Yes, there are two places to set the sub level: on the sub and on the receiver. How you set each one doesn't matter so much as what the end product is. For example, setting the subs gain low and the receiver's level high has the same effect as setting the sub's gain high and the receiver's level low. I have my sub set medium low and the receiver's level set high because my SVS sub's auto-of/on signal detect circuit works better this way.

Saint,

Ideally, you want all your speakers and your sub to play a full-spectrum test tones (pink noise) at the same volume. This is where the SPL meter comes in. While it's possible to get speakers calibrated pretty well using just your ears, it's very hard to do a sub this way since our ears are less sensitive to low bass. This is why I suggest you use an SPL meter to achieve the proper balance.

At bypass ... both the sub level and crossover is by-passed so it doesnt work so I set both to 0 or lowest level. But in the speaker level of my receiver my sub is set to like -6db but my sub is really big for the small room that its currently in. In your case it may differ. So when you balance all your speakers at 75hz or whatever level....your sub should also be as high as that level so adjust your volume level till your sub level is as high as your other speakers at the same level.