Is fine tuning w/EQ, SPL Meter, and Test CD worth the effort?

DonEmmel
DonEmmel Posts: 2
edited March 2002 in Technical/Setup
All,
I recently balanced the SPL output from each of my speakers using the Test Tone(pink noise) setup on my Sony STR-875 receiver. I used a Radio Shack decibel meter. I am considering buying a test CD which hits the frequency response curve in several increments. Using the EQ on the STR-875 I was going to level the response curve of each of my speakers. The EQ has 81 steps per channel. If I did this for each speaker(except sub) I would have to adjust 405 steps total. Is this really worth the effort? Will I hear a significant difference in the quality of the audio output of my system?

Speakers: CS245i (Center channel)
RT55i (Mains)
RT35i (Surrounds)
PSW450 (sub)
Post edited by DonEmmel on
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Comments

  • jdog1
    jdog1 Posts: 15
    edited March 2002
    BY ALL MEANS YES it was the simplest and biggest improvement
    i made to my whole system

    my center was way to load and my rears need coming up a few notches,,,, and there is now way you can do it by ear


    :eek: :eek: :eek:

    i used video essentials and campared to my recivers internal test tones, well my recivers were way off...

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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited March 2002
    I bought a SPL from RS too. and it made a big difference in the sound on my system too. You'll never be able to do it by ear like jdog1 said. he is 100% right on.

    Also use a test/set up DVD for pink noise and phase test. I found it's more accurate than the one built into the receiver. I don't have the AVia one that lots of other folks have.. i will some day. use one from Discwasher.. it will help you set up your Dolby digital, prologic and DTS systems.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • juice21
    juice21 Posts: 1,866
    edited March 2002
    AVIA (or your set-up disc of preference) and a SPL meter are the cheapest tweak, with probably the greatest results for your effort. very worth the money and time! you can get a better result setting your system up properly rather than spending hundreds in an upgrade...
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  • lax01
    lax01 Posts: 496
    edited March 2002
    I concur with all of you. One must buy Avia or VE (or one of the other many setup discs) to properly set up a system. The internal test tones just don't cut it and can be off by as much as +-3 db!

    I don't know if an EQ is really necessary, but if you have the time and money, by all means, go do it.
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  • Billm57
    Billm57 Posts: 689
    edited March 2002
    What do these meters run price wise?
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  • Aaron
    Aaron Posts: 1,853
    edited March 2002
    $30 for the analog
    $60 for the digital

    Aaron
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