Digital Video Essentials: HD Basics or Avia II

[crashkelly]

Hi all,

I am putting in an order for some movies at Amazon so I thought I would pick up a calibration disc for my soon-to-be finished HT space and I am wondering wich one to go with.

Digital Video Essentials: HD Basics for $16.95US on Blu-Ray

Avia 2: Guide to Home Theater for $30.99US on DVD

Now ease of use is very important as I have never done anything like this before.

To go along with this, I am in the market for an SPL meter as well, but up here in Canada they are few and far between. The Source (Radio Shack) does not seem to carry a wide selection, if any, anymore and have not been able to find another dealer in my area.

I was looking at the
GALAXY AUDIO CHECK MATE CM-130 SPL METER ($59.95US)
or the
Galaxy Audio CM130 SPL Meter ($59.95US)
or the
Extech 407730 40 Decibel to 130 ($79.99US).

I know that there are numerous online vendors for SPL meters and the calibration discs, but Amazon ships USPS and I have been stung a couple of times by UPS and FedEx.

Thoughts??

Thanks much
Michael

 

[jcPanny]

System Calibration

Either the DVE or Avia disc should work well to help calibrate your audio system and your display. I have the origional DVE and the origional Avia was more user friendly then the old DVE.

You receiver has a clibration mic that will automatically set the speaker levels (SPL) and distances and perform a PEQ based on the frequency response of the room so you don't need an SPL meter. However, you can go into the manual setup and adjust the speaker size (SMALL vs. LARGE) and sub crossover. For example, receivers tend to pick the LARGE or full range setting for any speaker that can play below 80 Hz, but SMALL is the correct setting for most applications. Avia II and DVE will have more information on these settings.

 

[Halon451]

I believe DVE has made major improvements with later releases, but most praise that I've seen seems to drift towards the Avia set. Most problematic was a confounding user interface that plagued earlier versions of DVE, not sure if and how much this has improved.

 

[engtaz]

SPL meter just pick one if you decide to hook it up to a pc then make sure it can. Avia is the one I went with and I am happy with it.

Good Luck,
engtaz

 

[Warpdrv]

Hey crash, I'm not sure how much you are interested in tweaking or not, but Sonnie over at HomeTheaterShack is getting a group buy going on the Galaxy CM-140 - SPL Meter for a good deal.
They are top notch meters and they make it easier to hook up to a laptop if you wanted to do the extensive type testing of your system in your room...



I think this might be too late... deal might be over... I just stumbled across it...

Yup.... sorry... deal is over... DOH...

 

[crashkelly]

Hey all and thanks for the replies.

So off the cuff, it sounds like either setup disc will do the trick for callibration . Since a lot of the choice of discs seems to be personal preference, and I currently have no preference, I could go both ways (wait a minute....) I will go for the cheaper one, at least to start.

Turns out I cannot get an SPL meter from Amazon as they will not ship across the border. I knew that for most electronics, but I didn't think they would have that restriction on SPL meters

Have checked a couple of other places on the net, partsexpress, techtoolsupply and the UPS shipping is almost as much as the meter

I will either try to find one locally or just go with jcPanny's suggestion and let the AVR set the levels itself and then switch all the speakers over to small.

Warpdrv: Thanks for the link. I will inquire about getting in on the deal and having the meter shipped to Canada. I am not really into tweaking, yet..... but knowing my personality I will have to join, or start, the "Tweakaholics" forum shortly after I start playing with an SPL meter (assuming I can get one up here )

Cheers all and thanks for the posts
Michael


Edits
Thanks anyway Warpdrv

 

[Warpdrv]

Hey no problem, now I feel obligated to find you what you need or at least partially.... how about this right there in your native land....

http://www.sonicboomaudio.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=537

 

[crashkelly]

Hey no problem, now I feel obligated to find you what you need or at least partially.... how about this right there in your native land....

http://www.sonicboomaudio.com/ProductDetail.aspx?ProductID=537

Hey Warpdrv,

Yeah I saw that one already. Actually, I remebered it from when I ordered my SVS sub from them. Just the the price, $99 + shipping ($15) + tax ($5) = $119 was a little steep for the original Avia disc and an SPL meter. I see them as a last resort, them or E-Bay.

Worst is the shipping. I mean it only cost me $50 to get my 20-39 Cylinder shipped from them which I thought was good, but they want $15 for an SPL meter!

Thanks much for looking though.

Cheers
Michael

 

[Warpdrv]

Good Lord, thats rediculus....

Good luck.... Patients is a virtue...

 

[crashkelly]

Good Lord, thats rediculus....

Good luck.... Patients is a virtue...

I totally agree. I am waiting to hear back from these guys http://www.musiciansfriend.com/navigation?q=SPL+Meter&st= with regards to their shipping, UPS, FedEx, USPS.

Cheers and thanks again
Michael

 

[crashkelly]

What about this one??

I can pick up this one on E-Bay (NADY ASM-2 Analog SPL Meter ) for about $50 CDN + $10 shipping via USPS First Class Mail.

Any thoughts on this meter?? Any Owners??

Thanks much
Michael

 

[mouettus]

Everything seems to be easier to get when you live in the states. Damn wild shipping fees!!

Anyways... keep me updated on your choice if you finally make one because I am looking at the exact same thing.

BTW... I'd stay into the digital world... seems more accurate to me.

And yes... that SD DVE is a nightmare to browse into. Dunno about the blu-ray though...

 

[crashkelly]

Everything seems to be easier to get when you live in the states. Damn wild shipping fees!!

Anyways... keep me updated on your choice if you finally make one because I am looking at the exact same thing.

BTW... I'd stay into the digital world... seems more accurate to me.

And yes... that SD DVE is a nightmare to browse into. Dunno about the blu-ray though...

No doubt it's easier, and most of the time if you pick the right place, you get free shipping. You would never think that getting an SPL meter in Canada would be so difficult. I am sure they are sold in many many places up here, but I do not have the time or desire to call small electronics shops in my area until I find one, and SPL meter that is.

I was looking at the digital ones and they do seem easier to read anyway. I think the accuracy is about the same but the digital you get numbers to look at instead of a needle. Bet with a little practice on the analog there would be no issue quickly reading your SPL level.

Right now I just want to find one, analog or dogital, that I am not going to pay an arm and a leg to get shipped and then get nailed with brokerage if it is UPS or FedEx.

From what I can read, the Blu-Ray DVE HD got a new menu system over the SD version, however I did read that there were issues with it as well.

For $17 I think I will give it a shot.

I will let you know what eventually comes to pass with an SPL meter.

Thanks
Michael

 

[armaraas]

I can also vouch for the older DVE disc being a pain to navigate through. I just used it last night and was afraid there was something wrong with me, but thankfully it sounds like it's probably the disc...maybe...

I don't know much about this kind of stuff, but this seemed like a reasonably priced spl meter-
http://www.aperionaudio.com/product/Aperion-Audio-Sound-Level-Meter,43,48,146.aspx

However, I have no idea what shipping would be to Canada, it was free for me.

 

[jostenmeat]

crash, I don't think anyone mentioned it, but IIRC only the Avia has LFE sweep I believe (since I saw mention of sub).

 

[Alex2507]

There used to be a speaker company ( SVS or AV123)? that would sell you both for around $80. Somebody here must remember this deal.

The Avia II disc specifically mentions the use of a analog RS meter. I believe the thought is that they are easier to use.

I'll post this so that you know what you're after.

http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?productId=2103668&cp=&sr=1&origkw=sound+level+meter&kw=sound+level+meter&parentPage=search

I recently got the Avia II and my only regret is that I didn't do the combo deal for DVE also. I always wonder what I'm missing and now I'll probably end up paying full price for both before it's all said and done. In case it hasn't been mentioned, Amazon is the place to get the dics.

 

[rnatalli]

I use the Sound & Vision Tune Up disc which is really easy to use and a rat shack SPL meter.

 

[crashkelly]

Hi all and thanks for the replies.

Alex2507: The company was SVS and they still do offer the combo of Avia ans an SPL meter. Unfortunately up here in Canada the combo is $99 (not too bad) + $15 shipping (way too much) + 5% tax for a grand total of about $120. The combo up here includes the original Avia disc, not Avia II. Important to note that it is not SVS selling it up here in Canada, but rather Sonic Boom Audio (I have only had one transaction with the later, my 20-39 cylinder , and that purchase was great and would recommend them for SVS purchases up here in Canada.)

jostenmeat: Thanks for the tip about the LFE sweep. That will lean me to the Avia II once I know what an LFE sweep is

armaraas: Thanks for the link. I will look into the shipping. If it ain't USPS it is a no go.

rnatalli: Have not heard of that disc but I will take a search for it. Thanks

It may be important to mention that the TV I will be calibrating is a 48" rear projection CRT from JVC running at a humble 1080i. Does this matter?

Thanks again all
Cheers and good Monday (if that is possible )
Michael

EDITS
Okay feeling a bit daft about the LFE sweep. LFE sweep is when you have so much output from your sub that it sweeps the floor for you

Seriously though, I thought about it for a quarter of a second after posting and realized what an LFE sweep is.