Advice on using a SPL meter

sterling bug

Couple of weeks ago I upgrade my receiver to the Denon AVR-2805 and I also bought a SPL meter. Doing some research on the forum here I was able to find some direction on how to from the very knowledgable Doc. I set the speakers all to 0.0db and I used the Sound and Vision tune up DVD. The SPL meter was set at 70, c weighting, and slow response. Using the Front Left test tone and the spl meter I set the master volume to -12.0db and left it there. I then adjusted the other speakers accordingly, Center -1.0db, Front Right +0.5db, Surround Right -4.0db, Surround Left -1.0db, and the sub at -5.0db. The receiver crossover setting is at 80Hz. Sub volume level is in the middle, Low Pass at 160Hz, Phase at 0. Not sure if I have the sub settings accurate as I was a little confused in regards to the crossover in the receiver and the low pass on the sub itself. Speakers are set to small, sub-yes. Room EQ curve is set to off in the receiver although I'm not sure if it matters whether its on or off. My system is listed below in my signature. Basically what I'm lookin for is some input if I'm on the right track and if there is anything that I can do better.

Airplay355

you want the crossover on the sub as high as ti will go, or bypassed if there is a bypass switch. if 160 is as high as it will go then good job.

sterling bug

160 is as high as it will go, thanks for the reply Airplay.

Frank Z

http://www.audiophilia.com/hardware/spl.htm

HBombToo

Originally posted by sterling bug

1)Using the Front Left test tone and the spl meter I set the master volume to -12.0db and left it there.

2)I then adjusted the other speakers accordingly, Center -1.0db, Front Right +0.5db, Surround Right -4.0db, Surround Left -1.0db, and the sub at -5.0db.

3)The receiver crossover setting is at 80Hz. Sub volume level is in the middle, Low Pass at 160Hz, Phase at 0.

I always set my hk @ -15

whats up with surround right? my hk is within .5 on all channels...

at least no double filter action:)

1/4twin
BTW
is frizz around?

sterling bug

With further tweaking my settings are now FL 0.0db, C -0.5db, FR +0.5db, SL -1.00, SR -2.00db, Sub -3.00db. Kinda fun this tweaking stuff.

cfrizz

Yes Henry. I'm still around, just functioning in lurk mode. Thanks for asking about me.

Originally posted by HBombToo
I always set my hk @ -15

whats up with surround right? my hk is within .5 on all channels...

at least no double filter action:)

1/4twin
BTW
is frizz around?

sterling bug

I've finally got things set after a lot of trial and error. I played around with the placement of my speakers to try to get the best possible sound. Wish I had a dedicated HT room but right now the front room of our townhouse is where its at. We have pergo flooring and I'm wondering if an area rug would improve sound or not? Anyway here are my settings: Master volume was set at -11.0db. FL 0.0db, C -1.0, FR 0.0, SL -2.5, SR -2.5, Sub -5.0db. In regards to the master volume being set at -11.0db does this mean I should never have to have it louder than that? I know some DVD's are mastered hotter than others and the volume will have to be turned down because of it, but do you guys ever turn it higher than the volume setting you get from calibration. Thanks for the link Frank that was a good read. Glad I upgraded to the Denon, very happy with it.

Ken

audiobliss

I really don't know what that means, though I'd be interested in finding out. I don't have a SPL meter, but I could be interested in one. It sounds like it's pretty cool.

Sami

Remember that the reference volume only applies to DD movies as it is 'Dolby Reference Level'. DTS movies, in my experience, are much hotter and I have found that -10dB from reference is a good starting point.

If reference is too loud for you, don't be afraid to turn it down. It should be treated just that, a reference.

malikarshad

I think to proper calibrate you should set the Master Volume control on the receiver to 0 db and SPL meter to 80 db and the sub set to -5 db. All your speakers should be calibrated to 85db for DD reference using a calibration DVD like AVIA or S&V. This is what I have read and heard all over and over again for the calibration on this forum and other av forum.
Alternatively some people prefer to calibrate at 75db reference. But that's a personal choice. I prefer to do 85db since its a DD reference level.

Sami

Originally posted by malikarshad
Alternatively some people prefer to calibrate at 75db reference. But that's a personal choice. I prefer to do 85db since its a DD reference level.

That's the difference in signals. DVE uses 75dB signals.

A good practice is to set all your speakers to 0dB and then run left main signal and turn the master volume up/down until you reach reference (whether it is 75dB or 85dB). Then mark down the master volume level as this is your reference level (RL). Proceed to calibrate other channels to RL.

malikarshad

Originally posted by Sami
A good practice is to set all your speakers to 0dB and then run left main signal and turn the master volume up/down until you reach reference (whether it is 75dB or 85dB). Then mark down the master volume level as this is your reference level (RL). Proceed to calibrate other channels to RL.

Thanks Sami. I learned a new way to calibrate. I always used the method of setting master vol 0 and setting the each speaker level.
Do you think there will be difference if I calibrate your way? Or there are essentially the different ways to acheive the same goal.
Are there any upsides downsides for each of these calibration methods?

Sami

Originally posted by malikarshad
Thanks Sami. I learned a new way to calibrate. I always used the method of setting master vol 0 and setting the each speaker level.
Do you think there will be difference if I calibrate your way? Or there are essentially the different ways to acheive the same goal.
Are there any upsides downsides for each of these calibration methods?

The advantage with this is that once your left main (LF) is set at 0dB you shouldn't have problem calibrating the whole set within the limits of individual levels. With setting the master to 0dB you might have to go into extremes with the channel levels.

For example, if you set your left main to 0dB and discover that your master volume is at -10dB, this would mean that when master volume would have been set to 0dB your LF would have been at -10dB. My H/K AVR only lets me adjust the channels with in +-10dB so this would have been a problem.

sterling bug

I set my SPL meter at 70db because that is what my Sound & Vision DVD says to do. Most people here seem to like the 85db setting. Not sure which is better, never used Avia. All I know is the SPL meter makes a difference.

Sami

Originally posted by sterling bug
I set my SPL meter at 70db because that is what my Sound & Vision DVD says to do. Most people here seem to like the 85db setting. Not sure which is better, never used Avia.

The level isn't absolute value, it is relative to Dolby Reference Level. In theory both 70dB for S&V and 85dB for AVIA (plus 75dB for DVE) should result in same volume at DRL.