Absolute surround sound virgin set up question

[banjaboy]

Hi everyone, new to the site, done a little lurking and hope you kind folks can help me. I have just entered the surround sound game and have a question. I bought a Samsung HTIB Hd-dt1255 and am about to set it up. I have a sound pressure level metre so hopefully things will go well. The system has what to me seems a very good interactive setup procedure you view via the TV, also a Samsung, LN52B750. Now the question I have is do I set up all the speakers to the same level or should I attenuate the front, rear or centre? I'm just looking for a good starting point. After watching and listening to a 25 inch 20 year old Sony TV my ears are not very cultured lol!!!! Any set up seems better than the old TV so my judgement is a little jaded. Hope this post is in the right forum and I look forward to your help. Thanks folks in advance.......

 

[markw]

When setting up using the test tones, you want all the speakers at the same level.

Of course, when playing a movie they won't all be playing at the same level. You'll hear from each speaker whatever the makers what they want you to hear.

 

[lsiberian]

Hi everyone, new to the site, done a little lurking and hope you kind folks can help me. I have just entered the surround sound game and have a question. I bought a Samsung HTIB Hd-dt1255 and am about to set it up. I have a sound pressure level metre so hopefully things will go well. The system has what to me seems a very good interactive setup procedure you view via the TV, also a Samsung, LN52B750. Now the question I have is do I set up all the speakers to the same level or should I attenuate the front, rear or centre? I'm just looking for a good starting point. After watching and listening to a 25 inch 20 year old Sony TV my ears are not very cultured lol!!!! Any set up seems better than the old TV so my judgement is a little jaded. Hope this post is in the right forum and I look forward to your help. Thanks folks in advance.......

The setup may have an auto setup feature if so you can use that. Otherwise you are just matching the volume of each channel. Remember that in 5.1 the 2 channels are to the sides not rear.

 

[audioholic212]

Remember that in 5.1 the 2 channels are to the sides not rear.

I am confused. Do you mean, the 'rears' (as my receiver manual calls it) are not really 'rears' but, should they be on the side?

 

[markw]

I am confused. Do you mean, the 'rears' (as my receiver manual calls it) are not really 'rears' but, should they be on the side?

Theoretically, they should be on the side walls, behind and above your head.

Practically, however, we do the best we can.

 

[banjaboy]

Thanks guys, appreciate the input. A little confused regarding the rears and sides stuff but I will figure it out. I eventually would like to use my NAD 1200 THX amp and NAD 1600 tuner preamp if I ever figure out how to do it. Then I will slowly upgrade the speakers but for now, hey its great!!!!!

 

[m_vanmeter]

a decent setup guide from Dolby Labs http://www.dolby.com/consumer/home_entertainment/speaker-setup-guide/index.html

Often, the layout diagrams in receiver manuals are not very compliant with what Dolby Labs expects when a movie is mastered in DD 5.1

 

[lsiberian]

I am confused. Do you mean, the 'rears' (as my receiver manual calls it) are not really 'rears' but, should they be on the side?

Yes. But if they are direct radiating you want to put them behind you a tad bit to where they hit the back of your ear.