I for one have greatly benefited from using an SPL meter, like 99% of you out there that have actually used one. I found that my sub settings were WAY to high (about 10 dbs)!

One thing that is slightly off subject, but not really - some of my friends (non A/V types) have occasionaly commented that they think my bass is too low. What they fail to understand is that when you turn the volume up, the bass also goes up. One of my friends inherited my first sub (Polk 10" - not bad), and he likes the settings WAY too high. He likes to hear his thumping bass, even at lower volumes. When he turns it up, the bass is out of control! So when he comes to my house, and puts on some bass-heavy music, he complains that it is too light. Then I proceed to turn the volume way up, and suddenly the bass is slamming!

I have noticed that in my A/V maturation process, bass has become quiter and quiter in my home. That is not to say that I don't like it, or don't have it - I have 2 15" subs in my family room! It's just that six years ago, I would have had the gain on the subs turned 3/4 the way up, and the sub level in my receiver at +5dbs.

When I measured my system with the meter, I found that at reference level (105 db peaks), my subs were putting out close to 115 dbs! I never (ok, rarely) listen to movies that loud (ok, once a week), as I find that smaller rooms like my 15' by 18' family room are uncomfortable at that volume.

The great thing about my subs, though, was that they were still cool, collected, and sounding great!

------------------
Benjamin King
benjaminking@yahoo.com