Help new to surround sound

Ninja617 · Feb 22, 2022

I am truly a newbie to all things audio. I have been reading a lot of basics, but am having trouble setting up my sound menu items. I have a Yamaha receiver RX-V461 and a 5.1 ceiling speaker arrangement, plus subwoofer. Following manual instructions for manual setup, and I don't understand some things. (SP level - the manual shows output level control range -10 to +10dB,
initial setting 0dB. What does this mean? I've read a lot that indicates comfortable listening range for tv is maybe 70 - 75, but when I look at the front panel display it's more like -50. What does this mean?
Also I know the front and surround need adjusting but I'm lost. Please help.

William Lemmerhirt · Feb 22, 2022

Ninja617 said:
I am truly a newbie to all things audio. I have been reading a lot of basics, but am having trouble setting up my sound menu items. I have a Yamaha receiver RX-V461 and a 5.1 ceiling speaker arrangement, plus subwoofer. Following manual instructions for manual setup, and I don't understand some things. (SP level - the manual shows output level control range -10 to +10dB,
initial setting 0dB. What does this mean? I've read a lot that indicates comfortable listening range for tv is maybe 70 - 75, but when I look at the front panel display it's more like -50. What does this mean?
Also I know the front and surround need adjusting but I'm lost. Please help.

We’ll quickly, SP level means speaker level. The range you see is the adjustable range to make sure all speakers are matched to each other via test tone. That should ensure you hear soundtracks correctly with speakers putting out the appropriate sound level(spl). If your AVR has ypao, it will set those levels and distances automatically. The reason you’ll have differences is because some speakers are more sensitive, meaning with one watt of powers some will be naturally louder or quieter. Also, greater distances will sometimes require slightly higher trim levels since volume is decreased by distance.
For comfortable levels, 70-75 is a measurement of db(decibel). The volume numbers that you’re using 0-100(for example) do not correspond with actual db’s. Most of will use the other scale that goes from like -70 to +10 or something to that effect. So -10 is louder than -50. Usually iirc, the range around -30 will be about 70db depending on the source material. Casually speaking, -0 is considered “referencel level and is very loud.
If you don’t have ypao, then you should have an spl meter to set sp level trims manually.

Wardog555 · Feb 23, 2022

The speaker levels are to adjust each individual speaker so that the sounds are even and are supposed to send the soundwaves at the same time. You don't want to have one speaker sound louder than the others.
Also it's pretty important to have the speakers in the most accurate positions possible. None of your speakers should be anywhere near the ceiling. The only time when you can have ceiling speakers is for Dolby atmos and dts x.