Galaxy Audio CM-130

[JOHN FICKEL]

I purchased this meter, and I just want to make sure that I'm holding it correctly. Is it OK to hold while I'm sitting in my seat to take measurements? Also Should I hold the meter straight up or angling towards the speakers ? Thank you!!

 

[shadyJ]

You will want to point the SPL meter at the thing you are measuring, so angle it toward the speakers.

 

[JOHN FICKEL]

You will want to point the SPL meter at the thing you are measuring, so angle it toward the speakers.

Ok thank you. That's exactly what I did. Taking subwoofer measurements are quite challenging, meaning you don't get a constant DB rating. I have mine ranging from 87- 92 . And yes it's set to slow and C. I have all my speakers at 85.5-86. And I did use 0 on the master volume as reference. Is there a trick to getting more accurate sub measurements? Or is it impossible to get a constant rating

 

[shadyJ]

If you are measuring a pink noise, yes it is impossible to get a precise measurement. You need to use a steady test tone like a sine wave like this tone generator, or the one in Room EQ Wizard for a precise measurement. Also keep in mind that the C-weighting begins to roll off below 100 Hz, see this chart. If you really want to know what noise your are being exposed to, or what your subwoofer's frequency response is, you need a calibration microphone and some acoustic measurement software like Room EQ Wizard. You can still use C-weighted SPL meters, but you will need to compensate for the C-weighting.

 

[JOHN FICKEL]

Ok thank you

 

[JOHN FICKEL]

I think it definitely made a difference using the SPL meter. Especially with the subwoofer's. Thank you again. Still going back-and-forth between 60hz and 80hz. Right now I'm using 80hz.

 

[JOHN FICKEL]

I sent back the galaxy audio CM 130. My RadioShack one was better quality, and was just as accurate. Actually RadioShack one went down to 32hz . It's the digital RadioShack one

 

[PENG]

I sent back the galaxy audio CM 130. My RadioShack one was better quality, and was just as accurate. Actually RadioShack one went down to 32hz . It's the digital RadioShack one

If you use the RS SPL meter to set up your sub, you should obtain the correction file and the download the appropriate tones. IMO you won't get more accurate results than your YPAO.

http://www.avsforum.com/forum/113-subwoofers-bass-transducers/505236-spl-meter-correction-tables.html

IMO, trying to use those cheap SPL meters and tones to calibrate subs manually is a waste of time when Audyssey XT32, Anthem ARC and most likely the latest YPAO with R.S.C. can do a much quicker and better job. If you insist on doing it manually then go for something like REW and a decent mic such as the Umik.

 

[JOHN FICKEL]

If you use the RS SPL meter to set up your sub, you should obtain the correction file and the download the appropriate tones. IMO you won't get more accurate results than your YPAO.

http://www.avsforum.com/forum/113-subwoofers-bass-transducers/505236-spl-meter-correction-tables.html

IMO, trying to use those cheap SPL meters and tones to calibrate subs manually is a waste of time when Audyssey XT32, Anthem ARC and most likely the latest YPAO with R.S.C. can do a much quicker and better job. If you insist on doing it manually then go for something like REW and a decent mic such as the Umik.

Yes you are definitely right. I'm always trying to make it better. I should just leave well enough alone. I have taken your advice from a while back, and turned master volume on the back of each sub to slightly lower than 9 o'clock . Ran YPAO and I feel I got much better results this time. When YPAO was done running of course I wasn't happy with the bass, so I took the volume knob on the back of the subs and turned them to 10 o'clock . And then adjusted down to my liking in the AVR. I had to do it that way. YPAO finally put my sub levels high enough so low listening levels sounded great too. YPAO also adjusted all my other speakers accordingly.

 

[JOHN FICKEL]

I think I'm definitely going to purchase REW just because I want to learn how to use that. I should just call one of the guys at the store I used to work for, because he said he come over and do it. I just like to putter around. It's a hobbie. Although YPAO does do a great job with all the other speakers. Some manual tweaking is involved for the subs for me to be happy

 

[shadyJ]

I think I'm definitely going to purchase REW just because I want to learn how to use that. I should just call one of the guys at the store I used to work for, because he said he come over and do it. I just like to putter around. It's a hobbie. Although YPAO does do a great job with all the other speakers. Some manual tweaking is involved for the subs for me to be happy

You don't have to purchase Room EQ Wizard, it is free (but if you find it useful, make a small donation to the guy who writes it, John Mulcahy). You will want to purchase a calibration microphone to get the most out of it. I would look at one of the USB calibration mics out there. Room EQ Wizard + Calibration mic is so much better than trying to dial in your subs with an SPL meter, although it can be done with an SPL meter.

 

[JOHN FICKEL]

Ok. Thank you. Sorry I'm not more familiar with REW. I would have to buy a labtop, I only have IPads.

 

[shadyJ]

Ok. Thank you. Sorry I'm not more familiar with REW. I would have to buy a labtop, I only have IPads.

REW works with apple operating systems. I think you will only have to get a calibration microphone.

 

[JOHN FICKEL]

REW works with apple operating systems. I think you will only have to get a calibration microphone.

Ok cool. Do you mean it will work with my iPad Air ? What mic would u use with an iPad ? Or do I get a USB adapter ?

 

[shadyJ]

Ok cool. Do you mean it will work with my iPad Air ? What mic would u use with an iPad ? Or do I get a USB adapter ?

I believe that it will work with your Macbook air. Here is a USB calbration mic which is apple compatible.

 

[PENG]

John, below are the links, now go do some reading yourself.

http://www.roomeqwizard.com/
https://www.minidsp.com/products/acoustic-measurement/umik-1
https://www.minidsp.com/applications/acoustic-measurements/umik-1-hdmi-on-mac

You can definitely use it with a MAC PC but probably not an ipad. You can use it with ipad with other software though. https://www.minidsp.com/applications/acoustic-measurements/using-the-umik-1-with-signalpro-on-ipad

I use REW to compare the before and after effects of Audyssey XT32. From the results I was convinced that XT32 did much better than what I could achieve manually in the past. For you, I highly recommend getting an Anthem MRX AVR that comes with the software and mic.

 

[JOHN FICKEL]

Ok thanks PENG and Shadyj