spl vs Audyssey MultEQ® XT32

CinderLyon

Is there any issue with correcting sound level with an spl after setting up with Audyssey MultEQ® XT32? I check and Audyssey MultEQ® XT32 can be off a bit.

John K.

The issue here would be that by using terms such as "correcting" and "off a bit", you're for some reason assuming that a manual measurement with an SPL meter is the more accurate one. This is quite unlikely. The meter in your XT32 processing is at least as accurate as the typical SPL meters sold for home use. The data it collects are then processed electronically and should have a very low margin of error. In contrast, using an SPL meter for a manual calibration adds the element of human error in reading the meter. The Audyssey calibration is likely to be the more accurate one.

CinderLyon

Well i went and tested it against a known source (test cd 3 from audiophile).

Basically my current conclusion supports using Audyssey and leaving it alone. I do have a pretty decent spl. but I don't think I can do much better than what this version of audyssey is doing with out some more expensive gear. I could see tweaking to personal preference such as increasing the surrounds bit.

tonyb

Actually, human error is involved in both ways. Never take an auto calibration as gospel and always tweek settings to your tastes. There's no rocket science here.

kuntasensei

Also realize that using Audyssey isn't as simple as you might think. You need to follow obvious steps to ensure that the data you're giving it is good, so you don't get a garbage-in/garbage-out situation. If you're not using a tripod or boom mic stand for the mic, you're doing it wrong. If you're not using all available positions, you're doing it wrong. There are plenty of places where you can read the proper steps to use Audyssey for best results.

tonyb

Exactly.....the calibration software can be thrown off by human error too. Where the mic is set up, if any noise is going on in the home while it's running the calibration, etc. I don't know how many times we have seen threads of people running the auto calibration and then complaining about their system sounding like garbage.

Always check/tweek settings, auto calibration is probably best described as a very good starting point, but not the end point.

John K.

The topic here was the possible use of an SPL meter, and has nothing to do with the complex Audyssey room correction process. The calibration for levels and distance delays is the relatively simple preliminary step taken at one position. Again, the added factor of possible human error in reading the meter, which doesn't exist in the Audyssey calibration, makes it highly unlikely that a manual reading of an SPL meter would be more accurate.

BlueFox

When I calibrated my new pre/pro it produced a steady tone. It wasn't very difficult to read a number on the SPL, and then make sure each channel provided the same number. If the tone sweeps through a variety of levels then manually reading an SPL meter would be error prone.

CinderLyon

For what it is worth i calibrated with Audyssey yesterday, and a dog started a few houses away. I then re-calibrated this morning when things were quite. Pretty big difference in the surround calibration. The dog started barking at position 7 and 8 and messed up my surround calibration. I spot checked this morning with my spl on slow, c and Hi and used a known reference CD pink noise playback. The DB was within 0.2 db for all channels.

I trust Audyseey if done in a quite environment.

spock 2054

Audyssey adjusts for time correction and delay - so if you measure with an SPL meter, all speakers might be off by a db or two.

How does Audyssey MultEQ measure and correct problems with room acoustics?

https://audyssey.zendesk.com/entries/73287-How-does-MultEQ-apply-room-correction-

Nach

lol, I havent ever plugged in my Audissey mic. I'm pretty intimidated by my receivers remote, really.