Hmmm..
Kevin, I don't think a system's speaker levels would relate to your comments about etched highs or midrange.
That's usually releated to speaker's overall freq. response and associated equiptment sound quality -regardless of matching or unmatched surround levels.
I agree w/ the bass range though 'cuz then you can be talking about a sub's level being poorly leveled w/ the mains.

And I don't know Kevin... Human ears ain't that good? Specs are better?
I gotta disagree.

Most solid state amps all rate pretty much close to zero % dist. at normal list. levels, yet they do not all sound the same at this level to human ears. Are the lab tests wrong?

No, we just didn't also measure (probably many) other factors that our ears can easily hear when we switch one component for another.

Unlike our crappy human eyes that are easily duped into thinking we're seeing motion by still images switched as low as ~20 frames a sec. most (probably all of us) can tell very tiny changes in audio waves processed @ tens of thousands of times a second.

It may be possible to measure all of our equip. more accurately than our ears can hear, but these tests either don't all exist yet, and/or just aren't being done -hence the need for lots of human opinion reviews in add. to lab tests.

I really wish the human factor could be taken out of the equation, but it can't yet.
If it could then we'd be able to say the Outlaw 950 is just as good as pre/pro X and the long debates wouldn't be needed. We could just state specs and point to the winner.

This SLP meter thread's a great example.

The idea of perfectly setting all your speakers to the exactly same volume is a great idea, but 'real world' you see here all the probs that crop up in trying to do so...

The analog Rat Shack meter (prefered over the digital by everyone) is very inaccurate and needs correction after you (additionally inaccurately) read the meter.

Then do you point the meter up so it's more omnidirectional (though it's still not totally), or do you point it forward closer mimicing how are ears are 'aimed' forward?
Some say one way. Some say the other.
'A' or 'C' weighted?

Which brings us to the fact that identical main speakers placed behind you will sound different because of how your ears are shaped (muffling the high end in simplistic terms) so matching their volume isn't ever going to be totally accurate anyway.

Then you just calibrated w/ your pre/pro's test tones, BUT when you play a test DVD like V.E. or Avia, etc., you find it's calibrated differently, so you have to choose which to calibrate to 'cuz they both can't be 'right'.

And then you have the fact that after you do your very very very best you can to minimize all these inherent flaws in the calibration method, you have to contend with assorted DVD soundtracks that have diff. surround, sub levels anyway screwing up your effort far more than any previous variable.
And these DVD/CD's are what you calibrated you system for in the first place!
Almost a cruel joke it seems.

I can play one DVD and feel the rears are too loud. Play another and their too quiet. I'm sure others have found this to be the case also.
Some might say -'Well at least you know you're hearing it the way it was meant it to sound', but I'd bet that's not really the case.

And let's say 'system x' is calibrated 'perefectly' to 75 or 80db being -0.-most people still choose to lower the volume from this 'ref. level' altering the entire calibrated system anyway.
Do you ever tap the volume during a flick? I know I ain't the only one who can't put the damn remote down and just watch the freakin' movie! -heh

All these factors have stopped me from getting an SLP meter myself and calibrating my system to an assortment of these personally chosen variables.

Instead I listen to reference point tracks of several DVDs and CDs and adjust the surrounds and my dual subs so they sound well blended in on all these varied reference points.

Highly accurate? No, but not any less accurate that the current 'technical' method.

Just a thought I wanted to throw out there.
(i like to play w/ matches. let the flames begin -heh)

[This message has been edited by azryan (edited August 04, 2002).]