need help with surround sound setup

[jordan21]

http://www.thesourcecc.com/estore/Product.aspx?language=en-CA&catalog=Online&category=SoundMeters&product=1219799

this is the meter i have

 

[jordan21]

okay so the results are in!

apparently my spl only ranges from 60db - 130 db

i set all speakers to 70db at the sweet spot and my sub at about 74db although this one jumped around a little more.

i calibrated the fronts first as they were naturally the loudest....the center speaker had to be bumped up 2 decibles to match, the surrounds 3 decibles to match and the sub 1 decible to match.

the volume on the receiver was +2 to match the calibration of 70db

thanks guys for all your help and hopefully this was done right

 

[soms]

Yes.

Or, conversely, you could just use your ears and go off the test tones. From the lp, of course.

Ya know, I just can't do that cuz after a few years in artillery and then a lot around jets ... I don't hear too well on the detail but I want to hear the big shifts. I want to hear the cannon ball in The Patriot rolling in from behind me and I havn't been able to do that yet. I'd appreciate anyone who has the settings to put into your reciever for the average to below average hearing person to let us know. That would help out a lot.

 

[Halon451]

okay so the results are in!

apparently my spl only ranges from 60db - 130 db

i set all speakers to 70db at the sweet spot and my sub at about 74db although this one jumped around a little more.

i calibrated the fronts first as they were naturally the loudest....the center speaker had to be bumped up 2 decibles to match, the surrounds 3 decibles to match and the sub 1 decible to match.

the volume on the receiver was +2 to match the calibration of 70db

thanks guys for all your help and hopefully this was done right

Well, it seems like you did it correctly, but truthfully - your ears have to be the final judge in the matter. Does it sound right? Does it seem balanced?

A lot of people (including myself at times) have calibrated everything to an exact level, by the book, but when you sit down to listen to the system, maybe something still seems a bit off. That's when you can adjust a little here and there, by hearing alone, and to suit your tastes. But it's still always better to start from a known good reference value as you seem to have done.

I last calibrated my own system when I got my new speakers. Since then, I haven't had to touch a thing and they sound fantastic.

Moral of the story - if it sounds good, then you did something right. That's ultimately the bottom line here; not the numbers.

 

[jordan21]

okay it sounds awesome now and in synch..the surrounds are a little loud. overall its awesome....i set it all for 70db, my receivers volume setting for 70 db was +3..

 

[Halon451]

Good job - enjoy.