Question about calibrating speaker level with sub

bryanr72

I searched, and didn't find exactly what I'm looking for. Do I use A or C weight for calibrating with pink noise? Also, once all my speakers are the same level, how do I calibrate the sub? I know I don't make the sub 75 decibels. Also, I have a floor sub, and 2 pairs of 8" subs in my Polk RT2000i. I read somewhere that I am to turn the level of the sub up until I ca tell where it is coming from, then down it back down a little so I can't tell where it's coming from.....does this sound right?

Thanks for the info!!;)

Fastmerc

you would actually run them a couple or 3 db higher than 75 at least for home theater. set them the same way as all the others as far as procedure goes...try the c wieghting and try to calibrate all subs at the same time

kberg

Yep, about 3dB higher on the sub than the rest of the spakers for HT calibration, and perhaps flat with all the rest for music, depending on your majority preference. C-weighted, slow response on the SPL meter. Also, I believe the Radio Shack meter reads on the low side for the sub, so you might want to consider upping the sub level another couple of dB's for HT.

Dr. Spec

Originally posted by kberg
I believe the Radio Shack meter reads on the low side for the sub, so you might want to consider upping the sub level another couple of dB's for HT.

Other way around, Kev. Yes, the meter reads low on the sub tone, so the actual SPL is higher than the meter is indicating.

So running flat - 75 all around including sub - will actually result in the sub already running about 2-3 dB hot.

Setting the sub to 78-79 dB on the meter is really more like 6-7 dB hot.

Doc

kberg

As usual, I stand corrected. Thanks, Doc.