So I bought a SPL meter... NOW WHAT???

[mtbound10]

Well I finally found myself close enough to a Radio Shack to warrant a trip in to buy the SPL meter I so often hear about on here.

The big question is now that I have this thing... what in the name of audiophites everywhere do I do with it.

I would like to get my system balanced and really dialed in before I go out and by some new speakers so I know what I have before I go and make another foolish purchase.

Can someone offer me some guidance here?

 

[CraigV]

Here’s one article:

http://www.audiophilia.com/hardware/spl.htm

Or you could check out these search results

http://search.yahoo.com/search?p=how+to+use+an+spl+meter&fr=yfp-t-501-s&toggle=1&cop=mss&ei=UTF-8

 

[bandphan]

Your new speakers will need to be leveled matched.

 

[mtbound10]

Wow, looks like I have some studying to do...

Besides, for what I am about to spend on B&W's I figured they would come with a built in SPL meter and tell me what to set them at!

I will have to start playing with the meter, I still need to get a Calibration disc like Avia or similar... what is everyone using these days?

 

[josko]

I like to use Audacity: (do a Google search on 'Audacity') and a pair of microphones to do source and room calibrations. If you can find a way to make .wav white noise files, you're 99% of the way there.

Play a white noise file on the system, set up the microphones in typical listening locations, and try to get the Audacity averaged power spectrum as level as you can.

 

[Alex2507]

I still need to get a Calibration disc like Avia or similar... what is everyone using these days?

I have an Avia II. I'm kind of getting the feeling that you haven't read the manual for your receiver lately. What is your present system comprised of?

 

[mtbound10]

Alex Alex Alex... All I have been doing lately is reading manuals...

Fortunately people like myself who are still new to this world of "audiophile" have places like "audioholics.com" to turn to when these "manuals" start to sound more like physics and engineering guides rather than instruction guides.

I have absolutely no idea what most of the terms and theories in my "manual" do let alone how they might effect my system. I can read this stuff all day long but if I have no idea what "Adaptive DRC" is, how am I supposed to understand what it is supposed to do.

If you have made it this far...

Yamaha RX-V863
Panasonic TH50PZ77U (50" Plasma: 1080p)
DMP-BD30 (DVD)
EMP: ECA-4 fronts and surround
ECA-44 center
E-10 Sub
Scietific Atlanta Explorer 4250 HDF Cable box...

I am obviously not ready to start calibrating my own system which is why I am here trying to learn about all this...

 

[Exit]

I think the spelling you are thinking of is Audyssey.

 

[CraigV]

Why not just use the setup system built into the receiver?

 

[ParadigmDawg]

You can make setting up complex or easy. I used to make it complex, now I just run the auto-cal, change the speaker setting to small, change the crossover to 80hz and do a final level match with the old SPL and AVR test tones..... then enjoy the system.

 

[gixxerific]

You can make setting up complex or easy. I used to make it complex, now I just run the auto-cal, change the speaker setting to small, change the crossover to 80hz and do a final level match with the old SPL and AVR test tones..... then enjoy the system.

That is what I plan on doing! mtbound I myself just picked up an spl meter and the AviaII Disc. But as PDawg said I am going to use the reciever to auto eq iwht the supplied mic. Than check iwht the SPL. Never done this myself but it will be an experiment.

Oh yeah did I mention I will be doing this tommorow with some new speakers. That is if they show up. They told me they would be in late last thur or early fri, well no go now supposed to be tue they aren't open on mo.

Good luck To both of us.

Dono

 

[mtbound10]

I have played with the auto set up quite a bit. I always end up changing a few things here and there as I learn something new about " a few things here and there"...

I will play around with the SPL sometime this weekend and get ahold of one of the AVIA packages. Just thought I would try to get an idea of what I am aiming for. Part of the enjoyment of this audio/video stuff for me is learning about the theories and sciences behind it, besides the fact that I appreciate great sound and superior video quality. So I figured who better to ask then the pro's here at Audioholics for some insight!!!

Thanks guys!

Let me know how it works out for you gixxerific!

 

[jostenmeat]

FWIW, the supplied Audyssey mic is more accurate, overall, at setting equal levels than the RS meter is. Particularly in the bass range, I have read. If you are going to measure particular frequencies with a laptop or what not, then yeah, you need a meter.

 

[Alex2507]

Alex Alex Alex... All I have been doing lately is reading manuals...

Fortunately people like myself who are still new to this world of "audiophile" have places like "audioholics.com" to turn to when these "manuals" start to sound more like physics and engineering guides rather than instruction guides.

I have absolutely no idea what most of the terms and theories in my "manual" do let alone how they might effect my system. I can read this stuff all day long but if I have no idea what "Adaptive DRC" is, how am I supposed to understand what it is supposed to do.

If you have made it this far...

Yamaha RX-V863
Panasonic TH50PZ77U (50" Plasma: 1080p)
DMP-BD30 (DVD)
EMP: ECA-4 fronts and surround
ECA-44 center
E-10 Sub
Scietific Atlanta Explorer 4250 HDF Cable box...

I am obviously not ready to start calibrating my own system which is why I am here trying to learn about all this...

Not only did I make it this far but am encouraged by your diligence and convinced that you will be rewarded by an awesome A/V experience. I can say that because we have the same TV and I just set up a 663 rec'r for my sister but only with the receivers test tones and an SPL meter. I was crunched for time.

That DRC thing is dynamic range compression. That's worth googling as I'm not sure what the adaptive part signifies for Yamaha but you are at the right place. The search function is your best friend around here because you can check out what brainiacs have said in the past on certain matters when they may in fact miss the thread you are posting on a topic. You can also figure out who the brainiacs are and PM them with questions.

I'm not sure which calibration disk to get for a Blu ray player. I can think of at least 3 people whose input I would take without question.

Let's see if they come around ...

 

[gixxerific]

FWIW, the supplied Audyssey mic is more accurate, overall, at setting equal levels than the RS meter is. Particularly in the bass range, I have read. If you are going to measure particular frequencies with a laptop or what not, then yeah, you need a meter.

I'm not really sure what I'm doing but that is what learning is all about. Plus I have a cool new toy to play with.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

I have both the Avia and Digital Video Essentials in BD but I prefer to set up using the SMS in manual mode, then running Audessy, then manually checking and resetting everything to my liking. I haven't broken out either cal disc in 6 months.

I'm not sure which calibration disk to get for a Blu ray player. I can think of at least 3 people whose input I would take without question.

Let's see if they come around ...

 

[gixxerific]

mtbound if you are going to get a setup DVD you may want to look here http://www.kcdvd.com/tuneup.html they have several. I got the Avia disc from them it was half off everwhere else and 2 days to my door. I recommend them.

Dono

 

[Midcow2]

Easy Way - use your 863 and SPL to set all speaker levels the same

Alex Alex Alex... All I have been doing lately is reading manuals...

Fortunately people like myself who are still new to this world of "audiophile" have places like "audioholics.com" to turn to when these "manuals" start to sound more like physics and engineering guides rather than instruction guides.

I have absolutely no idea what most of the terms and theories in my "manual" do let alone how they might effect my system. I can read this stuff all day long but if I have no idea what "Adaptive DRC" is, how am I supposed to understand what it is supposed to do.

If you have made it this far...

Yamaha RX-V863
Panasonic TH50PZ77U (50" Plasma: 1080p)
DMP-BD30 (DVD)
EMP: ECA-4 fronts and surround
ECA-44 center
E-10 Sub
Scietific Atlanta Explorer 4250 HDF Cable box...

I am obviously not ready to start calibrating my own system which is why I am here trying to learn about all this...

You really don't need Avai II disk, go to page 89 in your Yamaha RX-V863 manual and manually set you speaker levels.

Sit in your favorite listening place, set the SPL meter to weigthing C and slow response and 90 dB range. Adjust all speakers manually to an 85 dB level ( you may want to boost your subwoofer 3dB to 10 db, depending on your listening preference).

Then your done ENJOY.


Later,

MidCow2

 

[josko]

I think the spelling you are thinking of is Audyssey.

I do use Audacity - a shareware program for sound editing. It has a spectrum analyzer mode which will scroll the entire audio spectrum and allow calibrations to better than 1 db across the whole audio range.
I used to use multichannel spectrum analyzers for room matching, but now find that Audacity does the job just fine, a laptop is a lot easier to lug around than a rack-mount analyzer, and is something many folks already have

 

[mtbound10]

You really don't need Avai II disk, go to page 89 in your Yamaha RX-V863 manual and manually set you speaker levels.

Sit in your favorite listening place, set the SPL meter to weigthing C and slow response and 90 dB range. Adjust all speakers manually to an 85 dB level ( you may want to boost your subwoofer 3dB to 10 db, depending on your listening preference).

Then your done ENJOY.


Later,

MidCow2

Thanks for the hook up MidCow2...

If I set up my SPL meter like you said, is there a baseline or range I should set the volume at to achieve this db level. When this "baseline volume" is set do I adjust db level per a speaker to reach 85db? with the provided test tones from the reciever?

I have been gathering different info and feedback about what speaker levels are set at... some people -7 db all the way up to 10+db probably. Mine are currently set at
3.5 db for the two fronts,
4.5 db for the center
3.0 db for the surrounds
1.5 db to the sub

Do I need to worry about overpowering when I bump up the db levels or is it just increasing power output to each individual speaker?

Cheers!