SPL Meter

Sansui

I'm a newbie to this forum and setting up speakers so I put this request for information here. I hope I did so in the right forum section. I upgraded from a 2.1 RCA HTIB which was 8 to 9 years old.

I'm using "bass management" with a new RM-10 speaker set and an Onkyo amplifier (TX-SR304). All speakers are working as I expected them to thanks to a call to Polk's tech support. I've read quite a few of the messages in this forum's areas. I've read a couple of times that the use of a SPL meter is a better way to set my speakers as opposed to using my ears. The Polk Education area confirmed that.

I'd like to know if one has to be a "rocket scientist" to use one of these meters. If a "normal" person like myself could use one of these meters, are there any tips that would make things easier when I use one or what to watch out for when using it?

amulford

No rocket science. Try to set it up where your head will be. Go with "C" weighted and calibrate every thing with in 1 to 2 decibels of 85 db.

Do a forum search for some really in depth descriptions.

Welcome to the club

Frank Z

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

Kelley_Moore

SVS sells a bundle that contains the RS Spl Meter and the Avia calibration disk. Not sure if it’s the cheapest around but it goes for $80.00. Maybe even cheaper with purchase of other stuff

Sansui

Kelley_Moore wrote:

SVS sells a bundle that contains the RS Spl Meter and the Avia calibration disk. Not sure if it’s the cheapest around but it goes for $80.00. Maybe even cheaper with purchase of other stuff

Kelly, Who is "SVS"?

amulford

THIS is SVS.

janmike

Welcome. You can purchase the SPL at Radio Shack.

Kelley_Moore

Sansui,

Sorry about that, I should have been more specific. amulford has it covered.

Sansui

Amulford: First of all, thanks for the welcome then for the settings to use (I guess) to start with. Thanks also for the SVS link.

Janmike: Thanks for the welcome also and Radio Shack info. I notice they’re now selling a digital version instead of the analog version of their SPL meter. SVS bundles their DVD with an analog version of the meter. I’m tempted to go with the digital version and buy the DVD separately.

Frank Z: Thanks for the web site! I basically see why amulford suggested those settings. I foresee reading it again after X-mas.

Kelly: Have you used the Avia DVD? Is it worth buying by someone like me? The author of the article that Frank Z linked me to mentioned some other CD’s he uses. I’m more tempted to go with the Avia DVD if it’s worth it.

Sansui

Kelley_Moore wrote:

SVS sells a bundle that contains the RS Spl Meter and the Avia calibration disk. Not sure if it’s the cheapest around but it goes for $80.00. Maybe even cheaper with purchase of other stuff

This is my first quote here so I hope it turns out OK.

Kelly: Have you used the Avia DVD? Is it worth buying by someone like me? The author of the article that Frank Z linked me to mentioned some other CD’s he uses. I’m more tempted to go with the Avia DVD if it’s worth it.

Sansui

janmike wrote:

Welcome. You can purchase the SPL at Radio Shack.

Janmike: Thanks for the welcome also and Radio Shack info. I notice they’re now selling a digital version instead of the analog version of their SPL meter. SVS bundles their DVD with an analog version of the meter. I’m tempted to go with the digital version and buy the SVS DVD separately.

hearingimpared

Welcome to Club Polk!

Call me old fashioned but I like the analog meter better. Don't ask me why, I just do.:)

Kelley_Moore

Sansui wrote:

This is my first quote here so I hope it turns out OK.

Kelly: Have you used the Avia DVD? Is it worth buying by someone like me? The author of the article that Frank Z linked me to mentioned some other CD’s he uses. I’m more tempted to go with the Avia DVD if it’s worth it.

I'm a newbie as well and it worked just fine for me. I won't say it's the best since I have not used any other. Simple to use. Good Luck !

janmike

I have the digital version but that part of me is not old fashion. Too many other things are. Good luck.

McLoki

Avia or Digital Video Essentials are both good disks to get (make that either one, not both, they kind of redundant) and well worth using. Once set up, it is not something you need all the time, so it may be worth checking around in your area to see if you can rent them anywhere. (video rental store, Home Theater store, etc.)

I do recommend purchasing an SPL meter and digital or analog will work fine. (I personally like the analog, but get whatever floats your boat)

Welcome to Club Polk,

Michael

Sansui

hearingimpared wrote:

Welcome to Club Polk!

Call me old fashioned but I like the analog meter better. Don't ask me why, I just do.:)

Thank you for the kind welcome.

Over the years I've used an analog Simpson multimeter and I've now used a Fluke. I like my Fluke better. Hmmm...still thinking about this one.

Sansui

Kelley_Moore wrote:

I'm a newbie as well and it worked just fine for me. I won't say it's the best since I have not used any other. Simple to use. Good Luck !

Looks like I'm going to get it. Thanks for the reply!

Sansui

janmike wrote:

I have the digital version but that part of me is not old fashion. Too many other things are. Good luck.

One vote for analog and one for digital. Hmmm...

I can relate to "Too many other things are."

Sansui

McLoki wrote:

Avia or Digital Video Essentials are both good disks to get (make that either one, not both, they kind of redundant) and well worth using. Once set up, it is not something you need all the time, so it may be worth checking around in your area to see if you can rent them anywhere. (video rental store, Home Theater store, etc.)

I do recommend purchasing an SPL meter and digital or analog will work fine. (I personally like the analog, but get whatever floats your boat)

Welcome to Club Polk,

Michael

Thanks for your input. I'm finding out I have friends that are surprised that their systems could sound better and have no clue what I'm really speaking about. I'm going to buy the Avia.

So that's two votes for the analog and one for the digial. The screen on the analog, how precise is it? I mean to ask I guess is: Does the analog give you a way to tell if, let's say, one speaker is one or two db off from the other ones? Is it *that* important to want such a precise reading as that? I'd feel better knowing that all my speakers were "exactly" what they're supposed to be in my listening area.

hearingimpared

Sansui wrote:

Thanks for your input. I'm finding out I have friends that are surprised that their systems could sound better and have no clue what I'm really speaking about. I'm going to buy the Avia.

So that's two votes for the analog and one for the digial. The screen on the analog, how precise is it? I mean to ask I guess is: Does the analog give you a way to tell if, let's say, one speaker is one or two db off from the other ones? Is it *that* important to want such a precise reading as that? I'd feel better knowing that all my speakers were "exactly" what they're supposed to be in my listening area.

I grew up with analog, so for me it is just a preference without any real science behind it so take that for what it is worth.:)

danger boy

I use the digital spl meter.

cfrizz

I also use a digital meter. It works just fine!

ben62670

I like the digital one it holds the highest spl reading, and aslo has a slow setting to even out the readings. Taht can be very usefull for doing frequency checks with a tone generator.

mfeehl

I like the digital SPL . And I have a Cinema Grand too! Incredible Tot!

Sansui

Thank you all for your input. I'm going to get the digital one.