Sound Meter

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controltestguy
controltestguy Posts: 3
edited March 2007 in Basic Hookup/Wiring Questions
I just ran the Auto-Speaker Setup on my Onkyo 804. I found that I still had to tweak the speaker configuration manually. I would like to measure the test sound level and retest the system. What's the best sound meter to use as this is my first HT setup? Is there anything in particular I should be looking for?

Setup:
L&R RTI6
Center CSi5
Surround L&R RTi4 on Sanus stands
Sub PS12
DVD Denon 1930C

Thanks,

CTG
Post edited by controltestguy on
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited March 2007
    Radio shack has a digital for $50. Set it for c weighting, and slow response. That should get you where you want to be.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • TN_Polk_Lover
    TN_Polk_Lover Posts: 243
    edited March 2007
    Hello, and welcome to the Polk Forum. Radio Shack sells 2 models, one analog and one digital. I think that the digital is about 10 to 15 dollars more than the analog. Either one will do fine. I bought the digital one and it has worked great for me. The digital one is $49.00.

    It is showing out of stock right now on their web site, but I think that all of their retail stores also carry it.

    http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103667&cp=&sr=1&origkw=SPL+meter&kw=spl+meter&parentPage=search
    Robert
    zombie boy 2000 wrote:
    You are officially in the high-end of the deep-end of the top-end.

    Bonus Room Over Garage:
    Toshiba 27" CRT TV
    Digital Source: Sony DVP-NS3100ES
    DVR: Panasonic DMR-ES15
    Denon 3806 AV Receiver
    - L/R Preamp out to Parasound HCA-1200 Amp
    Polk RTi70's, CSi40 Center, RTi38 Side Surrounds, RTi38 Back Surrounds

    Living Room: (2ch only)
    TV: Sony KV20-FV12
    DVD Player: Sony DVP-NS715P
    Yamaha R9 Receiver Polk RTi38's
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  • RuSsMaN
    RuSsMaN Posts: 17,986
    edited March 2007
    Get a meter, as suggested - and get a dedicated HT setup / calibration DVD. I think the consenus around here is Avia, if I'm not mistaken.

    I'm calibrated, but I still find myself tweaking the center, and sometimes the surrounds on certain films.

    Cheers,
    Russ
    Check your lips at the door woman. Shake your hips like battleships. Yeah, all the white girls trip when I sing at Sunday service.
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  • TN_Polk_Lover
    TN_Polk_Lover Posts: 243
    edited March 2007
    As Russman suggested, a calibration DVD can be very helpful. I have the Avia one. It also comes with 3 colored plastic filters that you use to calibrate your TV (monitor) screen.

    I did read somewhere that Avia is coming out with a newer version. The one I have is a liitle dated and only does 5.1 setups. It does not have signals for 7.1 setup. There is also another one called Digital Video Essentials which a lot of people seem to like.
    Robert
    zombie boy 2000 wrote:
    You are officially in the high-end of the deep-end of the top-end.

    Bonus Room Over Garage:
    Toshiba 27" CRT TV
    Digital Source: Sony DVP-NS3100ES
    DVR: Panasonic DMR-ES15
    Denon 3806 AV Receiver
    - L/R Preamp out to Parasound HCA-1200 Amp
    Polk RTi70's, CSi40 Center, RTi38 Side Surrounds, RTi38 Back Surrounds

    Living Room: (2ch only)
    TV: Sony KV20-FV12
    DVD Player: Sony DVP-NS715P
    Yamaha R9 Receiver Polk RTi38's
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  • Dennis Gardner
    Dennis Gardner Posts: 4,861
    edited March 2007
    Same meter as RS, but cheaper and in stock.

    http://www.bswusa.com/proditem.asp?item=SLM100
    HT Optoma HD25 LV on 80" DIY Screen, Anthem MRX 300 Receiver, Pioneer Elite BDP 51FD Polk CS350LS, Polk SDA1C, Polk FX300, Polk RT55, Dual EBS Adire Shiva 320watt tuned to 17hz, ICs-DIY Twisted Prs, Speaker-Raymond Cable

    2 Channel Thorens TD 318 Grado ZF1, SACD/CD Marantz 8260, Soundstream/Krell DAC1, Audio Mirror PP1, Odyssey Stratos, ADS L-1290, ICs-DIY Twisted , Speaker-Raymond Cable
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  • PSOVLSK
    PSOVLSK Posts: 5,341
    edited March 2007
    I have AVIA and a digital SPL and I'm happy with them...although I've read that the analog is better.

    Dennis: Wish I'd have known about this before I bought mine. Great link.
    Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.-John Wooden
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited March 2007
    Welcome to the Club, RAT Shack SPL meter is the way to go. I have the analog model but I don't think they sell that one anymore.
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited March 2007
    Is the analog better or just different. I have the digital and am very happy. Personally I think it would be a personal preference.
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited March 2007
    I kinda like the digital, because you can set it at slow response, and set it for max SPL.
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited March 2007
    I grew up on analog so it's really just a preference . . . you can set the analog for slow response too.
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  • ben62670
    ben62670 Posts: 15,969
    edited March 2007
    hearingimpared wrote:
    I grew up on analog so it's really just a preference . . . you can set the analog for slow response too.
    I learned something this evening:)
    Please. Please contact me a ben62670 @ yahoo.com. Make sure to include who you are, and you are from Polk so I don't delete your email. Also I am now physically unable to work on any projects. If you need help let these guys know. There are many people who will help if you let them know where you are.
    Thanks
    Ben
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  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,665
    edited March 2007
    I'll never grow up and bumps in life alway enhances my learning. Ha Ha

    engtaz
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
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  • louthewiz
    louthewiz Posts: 581
    edited March 2007
    Some helpful info below to get you started:

    http://www.techlore.com/article/10037/;jsessionid=1EB44AF24FE014D8DE008AB481B8A36F

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

    http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/34579/128211.html
    My gear,
    Acer PH530 720P PJ
    100 inch Da-Lite Video Spectra screen
    Yamaha HTR 5790
    Toshiba HD-A3
    Denon 1600 dvd player with sdi out,
    DVDO iSCAN HD+
    Panasonic Dmr E-80H
    Dishnetwork HD pvr
    1 Audiosource amp300 150 wpc Fronts
    1 Audiosource ampone bridged 200 watts powering center
    1 Onkyo M-282 105 wpc amplifier sides
    polk cs400 center
    polk RT400 mains
    Polk mkII back surrounds,
    Polk FX300fxi dipole surrounds
    Velodyne DPS-10 sub
    Klipsch KSW-10 sub.:cool:
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited March 2007
    louthewiz wrote:
    Some helpful info below to get you started:

    http://www.techlore.com/article/10037/;jsessionid=1EB44AF24FE014D8DE008AB481B8A36F

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

    http://forum.ecoustics.com/bbs/messages/34579/128211.html

    Thanks Lou, I know the middle link but definitely needed the other two.:)
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  • TN_Polk_Lover
    TN_Polk_Lover Posts: 243
    edited March 2007
    I bought my digital one about 2 months ago, and they still had the analog one also. I like my digital one.

    Robert
    Robert
    zombie boy 2000 wrote:
    You are officially in the high-end of the deep-end of the top-end.

    Bonus Room Over Garage:
    Toshiba 27" CRT TV
    Digital Source: Sony DVP-NS3100ES
    DVR: Panasonic DMR-ES15
    Denon 3806 AV Receiver
    - L/R Preamp out to Parasound HCA-1200 Amp
    Polk RTi70's, CSi40 Center, RTi38 Side Surrounds, RTi38 Back Surrounds

    Living Room: (2ch only)
    TV: Sony KV20-FV12
    DVD Player: Sony DVP-NS715P
    Yamaha R9 Receiver Polk RTi38's
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  • PSOVLSK
    PSOVLSK Posts: 5,341
    edited March 2007
    When I was looking for info last year before buying, most everything I read said to go with the analog meter, thus my earlier comment. I've been happy with my digital and my thought was always that it would be personal preference. I'm glad to see others have the same opinion...and I hereby retract what I said about analog possibly being better.

    Nice links Lou. I always enjoy learning a little more.
    Things work out best for those who make the best of the way things work out.-John Wooden
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  • Gaara
    Gaara Posts: 2,415
    edited March 2007
    I thought the only reason the analog was better because it was easier to see differences. The digital rounds to the nearest .5db, whereas the analog you can discern smaller differences.

    Jared
    The Basement HT
    PC Rig
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,136
    edited March 2007
    Analog is always better than digital.:eek: :D:p;)
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  • engtaz
    engtaz Posts: 7,665
    edited March 2007
    Dennis Gardner wrote:
    Same meter as RS, but cheaper and in stock.

    http://www.bswusa.com/proditem.asp?item=SLM100


    Very fast delevery.

    Thanks
    engtaz
    :):):D:D:):)
    engtaz

    I love how music can brighten up a bad day.
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