speaker level- always set at 0db?

[cerwinmad]

What channel first?

Hi, i have a Onkyo TX SR-503 reciever running cerwin vega VE-12 fronts, VE-5C center, VE-28S sub, and VE-5M surrounds. My question is, i have the fronts, center, and surrounds set at +6db and the sub at +3db. I want to set levels properly with a meter and know the procedure, but was wondering, when setting volume for pink noise test, which speaker do i take the initial reading off with all at 0db level to make sure im listening at 70 db? i feel im missin something obvious here but cant think wat.

 

[bandphan]

what size is your room, and har fair is the seating from the lcr? what did you use as a calibration method?

 

[cerwinmad]

Hi i did search and learnt about using the levels to get all speakers at same volume, and have edited post. as above, still a little confused!!

 

[bandphan]

http://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/speaker-setup-guidelines/setting-speaker-levels-distance-in-a-surround-sound-system


http://forums.soundandvisionmag.com/audiovideo/board/message?board.id=40&message.id=39820

 

[MDS]

Onkyo receivers let you adjust every channel, as do most other receivers. You start each channel out at 0 and then adjust them to whatever they need to be to get a reading of 75 dB on the meter for each one.

On older receivers the front channels often had no trims and you would raise the master volume control until you got the desired SPL reading and then go back and adjust the other channels to match. That way you were adjusting the other channels relative to the fronts but that is no longer the case with modern receivers.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Hi, i have a Onkyo TX SR-503 reciever running cerwin vega VE-12 fronts, VE-5C center, VE-28S sub, and VE-5M surrounds. My question is, i have the fronts, center, and surrounds set at +6db and the sub at +3db. I want to set levels properly with a meter and know the procedure, but was wondering, when setting volume for pink noise test, which speaker do i take the initial reading off with all at 0db level to make sure im listening at 70 db? i feel im missin something obvious here but cant think wat.

A THX receiver that I know about, the master volume control goes to its 0 position automatically when you start the calibration process and internal test tones. That would be called the reference point. The test tones would start with the left front speaker and go around in a clockwise mode. I would start setting that speaker to 75 dB spl on the meter, then with the master still at the same position do the other channels to match 75 dB spl, You may or may not have the same individual channel levels all the same.

Now with your receiver not being THX, you may have to manually move your master volume to a reference setting. This would also depend on the overall maximum indication on the display when fully turned to its max position. Some receivers max is 0 on the display, then you would not set your reference to 0 but say -10 or -15. Others will have a max indication someplace in the + 10 to + 18 range. Then you reference point for the master volume would be at 0.
This latter was the case with that THX Onkyo.

 

[chadnliz]

It doesnt matter were you set the levels or where your volume is as long as meter can read the signal, you just need to make them all the same.
I have a friend who is afraid of his kids playing his system too loud and damaging his gear so he runs his levels as low as possible, but the are all at same level which is all that matters.