Radioshack Digital SPL Meter

hamzahsh

I bought Radioshack Digital SPL Meter today for $69.99 CDN. Out of the box simply loves it. The manual is pretty straight forward and easy to read. The first thing I measured the SPL of my computer power supply and dam case fans which was 53 db max. I'm off for 2 days and will play with my new toy. Haven't done any test on music or movies yet but will be doing it tomorrow.

Now my question is how to set all my speaker levels using my new RS DSPL meter. I don't have a AVIA DVD but my Yamaha RX-V1400 do have some test tones for all the speakers. Also I do have THX optimode feature on some of my DVDs. How about using that as well.

but How do I begin with and re-calibrate the levels of my speakers and sub.

Need help!

disneyjoe7

I think it maybe best to get the AVIA DVD disk. It can be done with the receiver test tone but I think the disk setup is more accurate.

Frank Z

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

or

http://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/forum/search.php?s=&action=showresults&searchid=206237&sortby=lastpost&sortorder=descending

hamzahsh

Frank Z your links are very helpful, specially the Club Polk threads. My only question is, how do you calibrate sub using the SPL meter.

Thank you very much!

I highly recommend to everyone to get this wonderful SPL meter from Radioshack. It is a very helpful tool if you love sound.

LOVE it!:D

Frank Z

Most test tones for subs (receiver, pre-amp, or Cal. DVD) are warble tones, basically a range of low frequency tones. Imagine what would happen to a sub if fed a constant 20hz tone, it wouldn't be pretty!! Most of the threads that I've read have suggested running the sub 5db hotter that the the rest of the speakers in your system. It's a trial and error process really and you'll have to spend some time listening after each adjustment and deciding what sounds best to you.

I'm not sure about the Digital meter, but analog meters tend to bounce around a little bit when measuring warble tones. This prevents getting very accurate readings so patience is a big plus. I've been using the high side of the measurement and so far the results are pretty good.

BTW, How is your sub connected to the receiver, and does your receiver have a Peak Bass Limit feature?

hamzahsh

Frank Z, another question for you, I read the Calibration thread but didn't understand how people got the values of

Front L= 0.5
Front R = +1
.............................etc.,

How and where do you get the values from. Are they displayed on your SPL meter.

LethalLee

how accurate is the radioshack to the termlab meter

malikarshad

Originally posted by hamzahsh
Frank Z, another question for you, I read the Calibration thread but didn't understand how people got the values of

Front L= 0.5
Front R = +1
.............................etc.,

How and where do you get the values from. Are they displayed on your SPL meter.

These values are the individual speaker level.
When I calibrate I set my receiver master volume to 0db and set the meter to 85db level. Then i run the test tone and adjust the speaker level on the receiver so that the meter reads 85db.

hamzahsh

I've just calibrated my all speakers using internal test tones of my Yamaha 1400 pre/pre and this is how!

I set all the individual levels of my speakers to 0 db and then I ran the test tone for all the speakers. On my RS DSPL meter I set dial to 70 db and Response at Slow and Weighting was at C to get the 75 db reading for all of my speakers. In order to get 75 db reading on my SPL meter I turned up the volume as high as possible, the volume level itself is actually the value when you reach the 75db reading on the SPL meter. For the sub I had to set the level at -5 db on the pre/pro instead of 0 db. On SPL I set the dial at 80db to get the 80 db reading.

Front L: -3.0 db
Front R: -3.0 db
Center: -4.0
Surr. L: -3.5
Surr. R: -3.5
Surr. BL: -1.0
Surr. BR: -1.5
Sub: -7.0 db

Later on sub I add -2 db and sub vol. at 12'o clock to make it slightly hotter. Sub is at -5db now.

Calibration is done!

To test, I played the ICE AGE DVD and forced the EX to run back surrounds. Now when the movie starts my jaw simply dropped! :eek: unbelievable difference, every note that I was listening was perfect to the video I was watching. All speakers came alive as if I was hearing surrround sound for the first time. Day and Night difference! and now I'm a believer! Love it and what an investment! Perfect sound!

:cool:

Frank Z thanks again for your great help on that Club polk link. I really appreciate.:)

Frank Z

Sweet! Glad you got it figured out!

And your welcome!