Sound level meter advice

[stonehound]

I've already used Audessy to set up but am going to use an sound level meter to tweak this evening. Does anyone know the best way to do this using the amps test tones? E.g what db levels should I aim for from the sepakers and sub.

Thanks

 

[margetti]

dB levels about the 70 mark... but use your ears too!

 

[ElectroMan]

The WHF 'Set up your AV receiver' video has a section about using a meter.

 

[carter]

i used a sound meter on my onk and found my center was very low .dont no if i have set it up perfectly but at least i i dont have to adjust the volume when waching a film .

 

[stonehound]

Used the SPL meter and have adjusted all speakers considerably.....the Audessy set cant be very accurate!

 

[margetti]

I've found it pretty unreliable too - it gets you started (speaker distances are usually accurate) but certainly further adjustments are necessary!

 

[Andrew Everard]

The Audyssey settings are pretty good as a starting point, but not infallible, and IME not as accurate as the stereo version of Sony's DCAC system, for example.

I have always tweaked by ear after running these auto-calibration systems, as I find they all tend to set the centre level a bit too low and run the surrounds too 'hot'.

If using an SPL meter I've always found the readings to be more accurate at higher levels - I usually aim for 75/80dB as a base level, and adjust other channels accordingly. Use the slow response if your meter has this option, and A-weighting if there's a choice between this and C.

 

[stonehound]

Andrew, why would you use the A-weighting rather than C. The SPL meter instructions state the A is for voices and C is for more sustained sounds, i.e. music? I would have though C would be more appropriate for the test test tones??

 

[Andrew Everard]

Simply because I have found A-weighting to give better results, I guess because it's better suited to sound you listen to rather than endure (ie noise).

 

[stonehound]

Thanks Andrew

 

[Tom Moreno]

Andrew Everard:
The Audyssey settings are pretty good as a starting point, but not infallible, and IME not as accurate as the stereo version of Sony's DCAC system, for example.

I have always tweaked by ear after running these auto-calibration systems, as I find they all tend to set the centre level a bit too low and run the surrounds too 'hot'.

If using an SPL meter I've always found the readings to be more accurate at higher levels - I usually aim for 75/80dB as a base level, and adjust other channels accordingly. Use the slow response if your meter has this option, and A-weighting if there's a choice between this and C.

I found this on my Denon's Audyssey setup. Ran the auto-setup and it was really off. I only have 3 real listening positions in my small room so I ran it again taking measurements at each position 2x and it was much better. But I was convinced the rears were too hot. Got out the SPL meter and sure enough the rears were 2 dB too hot and the centre was 1dB too soft. The speaker differences and the Room EQ were spot on though. My speakers have always been a bit over enthusiastic in the mid-bass and border on sounding artificial, but Audyssey picked this up straight away and rolled out the offending frequencies and now they sound much more natural and detailed.