Hello

Maybe someone could help and tell me if i am doing it Right. I am using Radio Shack Analog sound meter. Meter set C-weighting Response-Slow
dial set at 90db
All speakers set to Small - Sub ON
Put the meter head high where i sit on the couch
on a stand.
Measure the distance form all the speakers and set the distance correct.
Next use the test tone and turn up volume to 0db
and adjust all Speakers so they reads the closest to 0db on the meter. I allso left the meter facing foward whiles adjusting the rears.
5.1 setup

Thanks for all your Help

Scott

Scottflhr,

Pretty much the same here. I set the master volume to 0 then intiate the test tones. I calibrate the speakers at 75 or 80db versus 90. Also, I aim the RS SPL meter at the ceiling for all speaker levels with the round microphone on the meter at what would be ear level. I put the meter on a tripod on my sofa to match the way sound is heard by the listener.

I've found the subwoofer and center channel levels are a matter of taste. I sometimes increase the center up a couple of db depending upon the DVD; sometimes the dialogue needs a little help. The setup gets the sub close then it too gets tweaked.

AvFan

So if i calibrate the speakers at to 75db
My Meter switch go in 10s - 60,70,80
So would i switch it to 70 and go to +5 on the meter to get the speakers calibrate at 75db instead of using the Zero as the referance mark on the meter?

Scott

I let the mains go to wherever they want to be at 0db on the volume control and no tweaking on the calibrate menu, which turns out to be 78db on the RS meter (-2 with the meter scale on 80).

Then I adjust each of the other speakers to match, but like AvFan, tweaking the sub and center to my ear and the specific movie soundtrack.

You've got it, Scott. Set the 990's volume to 0dB, set the scale on your meter to 70dB, and adjust each channel to +5dB on the meter's scale. You can also set the scale to 80dB and adjust it to -5dB.

Scott,

Have you had a chance to do the setup? Gonk was on the money with his directions. Let us know how it worked out.

Avfan,3no, and Gonk

What to thank everybody for there help on the speakers calibration.


Scott

Scottflhr, I have the same speakers only with Mirage sub. They do calibrate nicely. I also have two DBX 231 EQ's, Two channels for front, One for Center, and one for sub. Taht's four channels in all on EQ's with 31 freq's for each. I am also using a Phonic PAA2 handheld spectrum Analyzer. When it's all done nothing but heaven. The 990 is the best PRE I have ever owned.
Glenee

I always set my volume on the pre/pro to -5 and set the SPL meter to 70dB and try to center the needle on the zero mark of the meter. I feel this way allows me to dial things in a little better as the marks on the SPL meter are larger and more precise in this range. When the volume is adjusted to 0dB you still end up with 75db using this method as well. The marks just get harder to read towards the sides of the meter where the +/- 5dB readings are.

I always had a hard time getting the bass dialed in with the 990 for both 2-channel listening and movies at the same time. I could get one, but the other sounded too bassy or too lean. The stereo offset helped, but the issue was never fully tamed for me until the implementation of the SMS-1.

How do you calibrate using a DVD source for the pink noise? I'm assuming you do an initial calibration using the 990 generated sounds then switch to your DVD source, run the sounds and check with the meter. If any of the channels are off...then you go back to the 990 calibration and adjust accordingly. Switch back to the DVD source, run again and re-check. Re-iterate until your balanced. Correct?

The 990 uses white noise. I repeat white not pink. They do not mix for EQ purposes.
Glenee

Sorry..didn't know it was white not pink.
What is the difference between "pink" noise and "white" noise? I don't know off hand if the DVE calibration disk provides white or pink noise. Obviously I don't know the difference. Is it a frequency range that dictates the "color"?

Glenee - when you say "they do not mix for EQ purposes"...I'm not sure what you mean...can you please explain.

I had to look this one up. I found a couple sources that explained it to varying degrees of clarity. White Noise had one of the better explanations. Basically, white noise is a "flat" line all the way across the frequency spectrum, while pink noise is filtered to account for the behavior of human hearing.

heprat,
You are correct w/ the dvd source and adjusting the 990.

The signal from the 990 should be used for SPL only. If you are using another piece of EQ equipment use the pink noise from a dvd or cd for freq.adjustments.
Glenee

got it...thanks guys