When I use the auto setup with my 990 I use a tripod and point the microphone forward. Looking at the design of the microphone it looks like it could be placed on a horizontal flat surface which would have the mic pointing up. I found a lot of threads about auto setup but don't see anything about the microphone orientation.

I apologize if this issue is covered somewhere and I missed it but I couldn't find anything.

Should the mic be oriented forward, like the listener's head or up?

Thanks again for all your help.

Up, at the sweet spot where you listen, preferable at your ear level.

Omnidirectional microphones are designed to be oriented at 90 degrees incidence to the source of sound for flattest response in the high end. In other words, pointed at the ceiling.

Thanks very much. All this time I've been doing it wrong.

Thanks for your help.

I'll add this: I have used a camera tripod, with the mic on top, so I could put the tripod in the listening position and set it to the same height as my ear.

Being that we are talking about calibration, what volume level are you guys using to auto calibrate?
I have noticed that the speaker levels will change depending on what you set your volume level to initially.
Has anybody else noticed this?

Calibration is usually done at 75dB SPL at the "reference" level of the main volume control (or whatever point on the main volume control which you wish to call the "reference" point).

At least in theory, this will yield movie playback levels which are the same as they were on the dubbing stage where the movie was mixed.

That is kind of what I have done.
I usually set the volume control to -25dB and calibrate from there.
I guess it all depends on what your "normal" volume setting is for movies.

Doesn't auto calibrate automatically set the volume for you?

Yes, and it is friggin' loud.

If you use CHANNEL CALIBRATE->TEST TONE->MANUAL option in the menu, the 990 uses whatever the current volume setting is.