How do you know SPL ..Readings..are correct
I probably was not very good at it, but assume with repetition, it will become easier, (although it seemed easy enough) and more familiar.

Faith…despite a bazillion variables…
I would say I’m a control the things “I can change” kind of person, and “not worry about the things I can’t.” (or am not ready to attempt yet…).

to your ears, ..find surround field ..much better..
Yes, is that bad?

How can you trust ..your ears…when your were wrong..about trusting ..before..more correct
I was hearing what I thought sounded wrong, or flat, or dead spots frequently, I could affect it, but not with any consistency…again remember my unfamiliarity with several (novel to me) controls I have no finesse adjusting… and my current difficulties grasping all parameters that might effect how moving one setting can often effect 3 things related.
You might say, I highly recommend a meter for someone like me, and I would not be surprised if I am unlike anyone elseanywhere. I do see that many who appear to me to be at different levels of expertise or for whatever rational suits them, post satisfaction with the results they feel they get from calibrating. I don’t know how else to validate my personal liking for calibration other than the fact that I ponder what anyone has to say on any given subject… then if I have time or ability…test the waters myself..accept/discard and continue on.

..now you don’t mess with it at all-or-not much…
Less, since after calibrating the sound became more pleasing to me, over a broader range of recordings.
I try to be a mouse in those settings now instead of an elephant, for …however long into my future,…it continues to please me.

dead center (I assume exactly where your SPL meter was…since I calibrate at dead center but watch 100% of DVD’s with my wife…neither of us are sitting dead center….
Nope, I’m selfish, you see there is one area all try to claim first in this house, My husband and I sit close together, and we’re the alpha male and female..I let all other ‘ears’ fend for themselves.

I don’t judge by eyes my distance settings
This made me laugh (due only to family characteristics) when we set up the 950, I said to himself,..”Get the tape measure”. His response was in the same vein he treats directions, don’t need a tape measure, its this and this …just set it…..(He was in a hurry to power up). When I calibrated, I got out my tape measure.

have him screw up all the settings so that they’re obviously ‘outta’ whack and try to set it back
Just my kind of game, some long winter night…I love that stuff….when I’m more centered on what’s just right for me, and what works smoothly together to get it there.

guessing no one here corrects for these faulty readings by doing some very detailed math..
Do you mean measuring gain that occurs from the sum of the mains factored in with the SW combined? If I got that right, math is not my strong point and I don’t feel ready to go there yet. My understanding is the Radio S meter, is not the choice if you get into that amount of precision. I’ve seen a Sound Engineers rule of thumb for a +2 or +3 (I think) setting for the SW above the rest of your set reference levels. That this setting or close enough is used by engineers when mixing, and generally works best with many sources. I tried this but changed it back as it was too much for my ears currently.

They judge with their ears that this is more accurate than when they judge with their ears. Odd ain’t it?

That is a GREAT Line, well-said, it’s a mystery to me.

PS. I did contemplate why Outlaw would recommend “point to ceiling” Vs the Meter manuals direction to “point to each speaker”….My logic (not necessarily understandable to any but me, went like this) What I’m hearing is a blend somewhere out there in the sweet spot, so if the sound I’m aiming for is the best blend at that acoustical crossroad I’m concerned with. I want it measured THERE, I felt that pointed to each speaker would weight the results more towards their individual locations. That’s why I went with Outlaws recommendation. For kicks, I should try the ceiling (I meant, towards the speakers)


[This message has been edited by Smart Little Lena (edited August 07, 2002).]