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Let me ask everyone... how WRONG were you when you went from 'by ear' calibration to trusting the SPL meter results? And how do you know that factoring in some/any/all of the variables I listed, that you are still far more accurate (if any more) than you could get by ear?

I think HT crazed answered that one when he started this thread! Myself, I did set levels by ear initially and wasn't very close (according to the meter). Wasn't very happy with the results either. If you use the SPL meter you will eliminate one of the biggest variables going- our inability to set levels by ear only. IMO most of us just can't do it. Go get a meter az and give it a try. The way I see it, I'm way ahead of you- I've already done it both ways