please help in speaker/subwoofer calibration

gonzalr

Hi All,

Been reading a lot with regards to speaker/sub calibration but still thinking I didn't do it right, so please comment/advise. I used the Avia DVD and the SPL meter. Below is the what I did.

1. Set the Master volume to -15 and SPL meter to 70dB. I'm thinking to calibrate up to 75dB only.
2. Play the test balance tone of the Avia disc for each speaker to have a reading of 0dB on the SPL meter. This is what I got:
FR - 0.0 dB
CC - 0.0 dB
FL - 1.0 dB
SR - +2.0 dB
SL - +2.0 dB
3. Play the test balance tone again to calibrate all the speaker to 75dB. This is what I got:
FR - +6.5 dB
CC - +7.5 dB( thought of making CC to 76dB to have a louder from the movie dialog)
FL - +6.5 dB
SR - +8.5 dB
SL - +8.5 dB

My question is, am I doing it right? Based from what I understand all the speaker should be all in the same sound level after calibrated, but my surround speaker is in-ceiling type, can no longer move it

Also, from the AVIA disk testing tone for subwoofer, it says whatever the reading i.e. for the front speaker should be the same for the subwoofer.

When I run the test tone for the subwoofer, it barely move the meter so I'm thinking now that the sub is not properly calibrated. What I'm doing just to have a bass, I adjust the volume level for the sub (+6.5 dB) same with the front and left speaker and the subwoofer volume knob is more than half.

Appreciate any advise and please have patience with my posting.

Regards,

RTi8/CSi5/TC60i/PSW404/Denon 2106

Ricardo

Welcome to CP..

Those are a lot of questions; I'd start by saying that you have those speakers adjusted way too high (6.5, 7.5, 8.5...); have you tried calibrating with the receiver's test tones? I would try this, just to see what kind of adjustments you need; you should be able to get all speakers (and the subwoofer) to reach 75 db with very little deviation from 0 db (+/- 2 db).
Also, do it with the main volume at 0 db.

try this and report back what you find.

gonzalr

Thanks for your reply.

I'd tried before calibrating using the receiver's test tone, and I set the reference volume level to -15dB, the SPL meter to 80dB coz the receiver test is loud (won't work for 70dB) and still get the +6.5dB for FR/FL, 7.5dB for CC and 8.5dB for SR/SL to get the 85dB in the SPL meter.

I will try to calibrate with 0dB on the Master Volume as my Reference and let you know what I will get.

If I calibrate with 0dB on the Master Volume, when I watch a movie should I set it to 0dB too?

How about the subwoofer? When I calibrate either receiver's OR Avia test tone, it barely move the meter, reading is always negative whether in 70dB or 80dB in the SPL meter.

Appreciate your help on this.

Regards,

Ricardo

If you calibrate at 0 db you don't need to set the volume at 0 when you watch a movie; just set it at the volume you feel confortable with.

How do you have your subwoofer connected? Where do you have the gain/volume control of the sub?

gonzalr

I've used a subwoofer cable to connect my sub from the receiver to the LFE input (unfiltered). The gain/volume control knob is set past half about 60%.

Also, I set my crossover setting to 80hZ and all the speakers to small.

Thanks again for your time.

gonzalr

I did some tweaking last night. I start by setting the master volume level to 00dB as suggested and played the test for each speaker. I tried to calibrate for 85dB when the master volume set to 00dB. This is what I got:

FL - +3.0dB/CC - +4.0dB/FR - +3.0dB/SL - +4.0dB/SR - +4.0dB

Still can't figure it out on how to calibrate the subwoofer. When the test tone played either from the receiver or Avia disc, the SPL meter always read on below 0dB to be exact it's -6.

Right now, I just set the channel volume for subwoofer to +5dB and volume/gain control to past half but not sure if this is the right way.

Will somebody please guide or advise on how can I use the sub to max.

Appreciate any help. Thank you.