lfe volume difference - dve and receiver

[supervij]

I'm level-matching again, and this time, I broke out my copy of DVE, just to check if I get the same results as using my receiver's test tones. And I found something kinda interesting.

Using test tones from my receiver and the DVE on the digital audio input, when speaker levels from both are matched, the lfe output on the DVE disc makes the needle on my SPL meter zoom all the way to the right! I can hear the monster test tone coming from the sub when using DVE, but I can hear the reasonable volume coming from the sub when using my receiver's test tones. Which is more accurate -- DVE sub level or receiver test tone sub level?

Also, I noticed that when switching to multi-channel, I had to increase the volume by about 4 dB in order for the needle in the SPL meter to hit the same level (70 dB). Why is that?

Any thoughts or opinions or suggestions would be most helpful!

cheers,
supervij

 

[jostenmeat]

No idea, but if I HAD to guess, I might go with the receiver. DVE is known to be not entirely accurate . . . but for which exact testw, I cannot remember. AVIA is usually recommended over it.

Also, RS SPL meters aren't supposed to be super accurate with low bass, IIRC.

For m-ch connections, it could very well be that your player is cutting LFE, as do most. Look in your receiver for LFE trim (NOT the same thing as simply turning up subwoofer gain, for summed bass is a separate entity).

 

[supervij]

josten, I have a feeling you're right about the bass being inaccurate on the DVE disc. With both it and my receiver's test tones volume-matched, the DVE sends out enough bass to get my sub's internals rattling and shaking. With every other channel outputting 70 dB, it's hitting 80 dB or more. I'll go with the receiver!

I know that RS SPL meters aren't supposed to be great with low bass, but there are correction tables online all over the place. I'll do that eventually, but for now, I'll just leave it where YPAO suggests.

I know that my player does cut LFE by 10 dB (according to Oppo), but I'm noticing a much smaller drop -- more like 7 dB. Although maybe that's just my inaccurate RS SPL meter telling me that! But what I actually noticed was an overall drop in volume from digital input to m/c analog input of 4 dB -- that's on all channels. I don't know if that's the player or the receiver. It's no big deal as it doesn't really affect anything; I'm just curious as to why it happens.

cheers,
supervij

 

[jostenmeat]

I know that my player does cut LFE by 10 dB (according to Oppo), but I'm noticing a much smaller drop -- more like 7 dB. Although maybe that's just my inaccurate RS SPL meter telling me that!

I am pretty unfamiliar with abilities of Yammies. Is the receiver tone playing LFE only? Or is it some sort of summed bass + LFE scenario? (I don't know better about these things). If both combined... it makes sense that its not -10, but close to half that. (Summed bass is playing correctly, but LFE is low). Your player is doing bass mgmt, yes?

But what I actually noticed was an overall drop in volume from digital input to m/c analog input of 4 dB -- that's on all channels. I don't know if that's the player or the receiver. It's no big deal as it doesn't really affect anything; I'm just curious as to why it happens.

Sounds like the player. Note that all players seem to be different... that's why receivers can level match different input sources. For instance, on my Onkyo its called IntelliVolume.

cheers.

 

[supervij]

Regarding the receiver's tone, I'm pretty sure it's LFE only. There's nothing coming out of the mains, centres or surrounds when playing the subwoofer test tone on the receiver. Just the sub is outputting sound. When using the receiver's test tones, its bass management doesn't come into play, though, right? It just sends a signal through the sub cable and that's it.

With the DVE's sub tone, the disc displays on the screen that it's a 40-80 Hz sound. I guess some of that could be going to the mains, as my crossover is 80 Hz, but the sheer incredible volume of sound coming out is way beyond a summed (mains + LFE, I presume?) sound.

Regarding the overall drop going from digital to m/c, yeah, I figured it was the player. Thanks.

cheers,
supervij

 

[jostenmeat]

I imagine that you are right, supervij.