Speaker Levels

pm8546
pm8546 Posts: 14
edited September 2009 in Speakers
I have a Sony STRDG820 7.1 Audio Video Receiver 100 Watts X 7 Amplifier Power (8 ohms, 1Khz, 1.0% THD) hooked to a Polk Audio PSW10 10-Inch Monitor Series Powered Subwoofer, Polk Audio RM8's for my surounds and center speaker, My mains are new Tsi400's

I hope that I am not posting to much, I just have alot of questions now that I can get them answered.
With regards to my system above I have used the auto calibration to set the speaker levels but it seams to be off. For example I get two different settings for my mains and and two different settings for my surounds.
Is there a better way of doing this, maybe just using my ears?
Is there a guidline as far as certain level for certain speakers?

Again Thanks for your help....
Post edited by pm8546 on
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Comments

  • Monster Jam
    Monster Jam Posts: 919
    edited September 2009
    Most people use the auto-calibration as a starting point, then adjust with their ears.

    I have a failed battery in my Harmon Kardan AVR, so when I lose power, I have to reset everything. So it should be no surprise that I've memorized my favorite speaker settings, and they have nothing to do with the original auto-calibration settings.

    Point: go with your ears.
    Do you hear that buzzing noise? :confused:
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  • mmadden28
    mmadden28 Posts: 4,283
    edited September 2009
    ^^^^ +1
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    HT:Onkyo 805, Emotiva XPA-5, Mitsu 52" 1080p DLP / polkaudio RTi12, CSIa6, FXi3, uPro4K
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  • xj4094dg
    xj4094dg Posts: 1,158
    edited September 2009
    Ears are good. You can also buy a Home Theater calibration or "tune up" DVD and a sound pressure level meter. Radio Shack makes an inexpensive meter and Sound and Vision has a decent DVD. Google both if interested or search this forum.

    Welcome to Club Polk, BTW. There are a lot of very knowledgeable folks here who are generous with their knowledge. Enjoy!
    "The good thing about science is that it's true whether or not you believe in it." Neil deGrasse Tyson.
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  • messiah
    messiah Posts: 1,790
    edited September 2009
    I've never used an auto calibration feture. Manually set it up the way YOU want it to sound.
    "They who can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety."
    Benjamin Franklin, February 17th, 1775.

    "The day that I have to give up my constitutional rights AND let some dude rub my junk...well, let's just say that it's gonna be a real bad day for the dude trying to rub my junk!!"
    messiah, November 23rd, 2010
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  • wutadumsn23
    wutadumsn23 Posts: 3,702
    edited September 2009
    I agree with Chris (Messiah) on this one. While programs like Audyssey are nice they are by no means an end all to speaker settings. I ran it when I first set up my HT and then fine tuned it from there. The programs give you a good starting point, then the final tuning is up to your ears. Good luck.

    -Jeff
    HT Rig
    Receiver- Onkyo TX-SR806
    Mains- Polk Audio Monitor 70
    Center- Polk Audio CS2
    Surrounds- Polk Audio TSi 500's :D
    Sub- Polk Audio PSW125
    Retired- Polk Audio Monitor 40's
    T.V.- 60" Sony SXRD KDS-60A2000 LCoS
    Blu-Ray- 80 GB PS3


    2 CH rig (in progress)
    Polk Audio Monitor 10A's :cool:

    It's not that I'm insensitive, I just don't care.. :D
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