SPL Meter to Set Levels; Question re: Sub
msg
Posts: 10,020
Do any of you use an SPL meter to setup your speaker levels?
Where do you normally like the sub's level in relation to the mains/front output level?
I've seen some say +3dB on the sub in comparison to the fronts, and thought I read something a while back saying up to +6dB, but that sounds like a lot.
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I just got an SPL meter from Amazon a couple of months back, and have been playing around with a bit lately. I didn't really know what to do with it at first, and it sat around for a few weeks. I ended up using it a couple of weeks ago to test functionality of a couple of pieces of gear I was having some trouble with, but having a difficult time confirming by ear
Using an SPL meter for a quantifiable metric for comparison works a little better than changing around a bunch of stuff and trying to remember how it sounded minutes earlier.
Another neat thing I just used it for was to the see the difference in a track's overall SPL output when the sub was out of phase. With the sub out of phase, the sound for a track dropped by almost exactly 3dB for the room, according to the meter. It's neat to actually see the difference.
I don't fully understand the difference/relationship between intensity and loudness. I saw that +3dB has twice the sound energy/intensity/power, but it takes +10dB to be twice as loud.
What does +3dB mean in plain terms?
Here are a couple of articles I was reading:
https://pulsarinstruments.com/en/post/understanding-3db-rule
http://www.sounddeadsteel.com/what-is-a-decibel.html
Where do you normally like the sub's level in relation to the mains/front output level?
I've seen some say +3dB on the sub in comparison to the fronts, and thought I read something a while back saying up to +6dB, but that sounds like a lot.
===
I just got an SPL meter from Amazon a couple of months back, and have been playing around with a bit lately. I didn't really know what to do with it at first, and it sat around for a few weeks. I ended up using it a couple of weeks ago to test functionality of a couple of pieces of gear I was having some trouble with, but having a difficult time confirming by ear
Using an SPL meter for a quantifiable metric for comparison works a little better than changing around a bunch of stuff and trying to remember how it sounded minutes earlier.
Another neat thing I just used it for was to the see the difference in a track's overall SPL output when the sub was out of phase. With the sub out of phase, the sound for a track dropped by almost exactly 3dB for the room, according to the meter. It's neat to actually see the difference.
I don't fully understand the difference/relationship between intensity and loudness. I saw that +3dB has twice the sound energy/intensity/power, but it takes +10dB to be twice as loud.
What does +3dB mean in plain terms?
Here are a couple of articles I was reading:
https://pulsarinstruments.com/en/post/understanding-3db-rule
http://www.sounddeadsteel.com/what-is-a-decibel.html
I disabled signatures.
Comments
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It is said that for someone to notice a change in the volume level it must change by 3dB. I strongly disagree with that.
It is also said an increase of 3dB in volume takes twice the power. I generally agree with that.
Let's say your speaker is 90dB efficient @1 watt/1 meter. Therefore,
90dB -1 watt
93dB -2 watts
96dB - 4 watts
99dB - 8 watts
102dB - 16 watts
105dB - 32 watts
108dB - 64 watts
111dB - 132 watts
114dB - 264 watts
117dB - 528 watts
120dB - 1056 wattsPolitical Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
I have only used an app on my Android phone to set the R and L channel levels the same by playing mono recorded songs with the phone centered between the midrange and the tweeter and exactly 1 ft from the baffle. Play the song, record the max. dB level and then move the phone to the other speaker and repeat. Worked pretty well even though it may take a few iterations to get it dialed in.
Another alternative would be to use an online tone generator generating pink noise but that's pretty monotonous and harsh to listen to at normal listening levels and I haven't tried that method yet.
PS: I made a support for the phone that holds it in precise orientation to each speaker and attaches to the speaker stand.George / NJ
Polk 7B main speakers, std. mods+ (1979, orig owner)
Martin Logan Dynamo sub w/6ft 14awg Power Cord
Onkyo A-8017 integrated
Logitech Squeezebox Touch Streamer w/EDO applet
iFi nano iDSD DAC
iPurifier3
iDefender w/ iPower PS
Custom Steve Wilson 1m UPOCC Interconnect
iFi Mercury 0.5m OFHC continuous cast copper USB cable
Custom Ribbon Speaker Cables, 5ft long, 4N Copper, 14awg, ultra low inductance
Custom Vibration Isolation Speaker Stands and Sub Platform -
Spl meters are a big time saver when setting up a home theater. Even the free apps that work with your phone. Just hold the meter where you listen and toggle thru the speakers adjusting as you go. You just need to to get them to the same number not the specified test tone level. Of course you can do a just as good (or better) job by ear but to get you dialed in a meter is easier. I checked my system that I first tuned by ear and the fronts and center were dead on but the rears were off. Probably due to psychology and comparing sounds in the front where you can focus and something behind you.
For subs I only do it by ear. I don't trust that my free cellphone app is accurate with low frequencies.
