Level-matching without SPL meter.

[Bluesmoke]

Ok, I don't have an SPL meter. Is there a "ballpark" figure for where the Sub's DBL needs to be in regards to the other speakers?

For example, with my Energy S10.3's volume 1/2 way, the YPAO auto setup set my mains and surrounds at 1.5+DBL and my sub at -2.0DBL. It didn't seem to have much impact on bass, so I brought it up to +4.0DBL. Now it kicks for movies, music etc... Is this normal or am I running it too hot? Xover is 80hz.

 

[Epetrone]

Your opinion is what counts

I had the same auto setup as you whe i got my new sub. I was using the 3808ci and noticed after the auto calibration it just did not sound upt to par. I was nervouse that i bought a crappy subwoofer. I went in and ajusted my sub level to around +3 or +3.5 and now i am very ahppy with the way everything sounds. I guess if your happy then that is all that matters, i know i am.

 

[MinusTheBear]

Ok, I don't have an SPL meter. Is there a "ballpark" figure for where the Sub's DBL needs to be in regards to the other speakers?

For example, with my Energy S10.3's volume 1/2 way, the YPAO auto setup set my mains and surrounds at 1.5+DBL and my sub at -2.0DBL. It didn't seem to have much impact on bass, so I brought it up to +4.0DBL. Now it kicks for movies, music etc... Is this normal or am I running it too hot? Xover is 80hz.

Running the SW gain at +4 is common, I would not worry about it. Is the volume control still at half way? On my AV123 x-sub i have my SW gain is set at +10 but the sensitivity on the x-sub is whacky.

 

[Bluesmoke]

Running the SW gain at +4 is common, I would not worry about it. Is the volume control still at half way?

Yea, you can't go any higher on the S10 without choking off the bass.

 

[MinusTheBear]

Yea, you can't go any higher on the S10 without choking off the bass.

Yeah the AV123 x-sub is very wierd about that, you have to throw a ton of voltage to get it going. In your case a setting of +4 does the trick. With the other subs I have had usually SW gain was set anywhere between 0-4. I would still recommend however investing in an SPL meter and manually calibrate your system. It will be far more accurate.

 

[timone]

I would still recommend however investing in an SPL meter and manually calibrate your system. It will be far more accurate.

I AGREE. It would be a worthwhile $50 expenditure for a much better audio calibration.

 

[Pyrrho]

Ok, I don't have an SPL meter. Is there a "ballpark" figure for where the Sub's DBL needs to be in regards to the other speakers?

For example, with my Energy S10.3's volume 1/2 way, the YPAO auto setup set my mains and surrounds at 1.5+DBL and my sub at -2.0DBL. It didn't seem to have much impact on bass, so I brought it up to +4.0DBL. Now it kicks for movies, music etc... Is this normal or am I running it too hot? Xover is 80hz.

It is very normal for people to like more bass than is recorded on movie soundtracks, and more bass than is recorded on CDs. Most likely, the YPAO auto setup set the levels fairly accurately, and you simply like excessive bass. This, of course, will be particularly common when one listens at low volumes, as human hearing is not linear, and when one turns down the volume, bass subjectively appears to diminish faster than midrange. This is why old two channel receivers typically had "loudness compensation" circuitry that could be engaged for listening at low volumes.

Additionally, if you don't have a great subwoofer, you will have less bass at very low frequencies than is recorded on some soundtracks and some CDs, and consequently one may be tempted to turn up the subwoofer higher to compensate for this. However, doing so overemphasizes upper bass, so one will not get accurate reproduction of the sound that way.