Not very Loud...It seems

[newb]

I just set up my speakers and used my SPL meter to level them out (set volume at 0 and adjusted levels to get a 75db reading. I was listening to some movie dialog and it seemed I was at 0 or close to it and the sound wasn't that loud(I'm under the impression it should be).

I have the Yammy 663, connections are sound, room is not huge 12x13, speakers equidistant and aimed toward seating area, wondering if impedence of speakers is higher than I have set for(663 can be set for 6 ohms). Any pointers to see if I'm doing anything wrong? Some where to start?

There was another thread where someone had a similar issue but can't remember the title. I'm new to HT and may just be doing something wrong and ten at night with neighbors isn't the time to rock the house but I just want the best from my equipment.
Give me your thoughts please.

 

[MDS]

You used a test tone at -30 dB to balance the channels. The average level of dialog is similar, so when you set the volume scale to 0 you get on average 75 dB - which is not extremely loud. With your calibration, when the soundtrack peaks (0 dB) you will have 105 dB at the listening position (115 dB for the LFE because it is 10 dB louder). That is very loud.

If you play a CD where the average level is -10 to -12 dB, it will be much louder because it is louder to begin with. This is the part that seems to be lost on many people - you will only get 75 dB at 0 on the volume scale when the average level of what you play is close to the average level of the tones you used to calibrate. The average level of dialog in a movie just happens to be right around the -30 dB level of the test tones. Music is much louder.

 

[newb]

So Dialog will get the short end?

So if the calibration is done right, dialog is always gonna be quiet and music and effects swell really loud?
Seems kind of a bummer.
Or am I really missing your point?

 

[MDS]

A movie soundtrack has a very wide dynamic range, by design, as opposed to a modern CD that is compressed to death to achieve maximum loudness, so yes on average a movie soundtrack will mostly be at a low level so that there is room for the huge peaks ( such as explosions).


That is not a defect. Trust me, if your system is calibrated to reference level and you listen at that level, the extreme peaks, such as explosions, will blow you out of your chair - and that is the intent - the peaks are for special purposes, it shouldn't be uniformly loud at all times like wth most modern CDs.

 

[fredk]

So if the calibration is done right, dialog is always gonna be quiet and music and effects swell really loud? Seems kind of a bummer.Or am I really missing your point?

The way I read this you are talking about dialog and music on the same movie track? I don't have much experience with 5.1/7.1 sound, but I don't think this is right.

Fred

 

[newb]

I think it's fine

Thanks MDS, I think I understand, like I said, maybe ten at night(at least at our condo complex) is not the right time to test the volume limits.

I was listening to some music and -20 or so was fine for listening ( I may have preferred louder but you know how it is). Anyway, I think the sound will be fine.

I would like comments on speaker placement, so anyone, please look at the photos and see if the mains are OK? (back corner touches wall, further into room? less tow in?) The center will be up higher and is angled up as well on the stand ( I'm fixing the height DIY), The surrounds are pretty much in their homes (for better or worse) and I wouldn't know boomy bass if it bit me (I'm new remember?, sub placement in corner = bad? could be better next to entertainment stand?) but any suggestions help.

Thanks mucho
Happy Listening

 

[chadnliz]

If all speaker were set to same level on SPL I cant see an issue, is the center wored right (in phase)?

 

[Davemcc]

I would like comments on speaker placement, so anyone, please look at the photos and see if the mains are OK? (back corner touches wall, further into room? less tow in?) The center will be up higher and is angled up as well on the stand ( I'm fixing the height DIY), The surrounds are pretty much in their homes (for better or worse) and I wouldn't know boomy bass if it bit me (I'm new remember?, sub placement in corner = bad? could be better next to entertainment stand?) but any suggestions help.

Thanks mucho
Happy Listening

Speaker placement is unique to each listening area so you should experiment with locations/angles. Try to keep them equidistant from front/side walls to balance the imaging. Toe in can be adjusted to preference.

Corner placement of subs isn't necessarily bad, but it can excite room modes that cause certain frequencies to be much louder than others. Moving the sub more to the center might help if you find you have too much bass or if certain notes in a bass guitar riff are louder than others. You can use your SPL meter with a series of frequency sweeps to check if your frequency response is reasonably smooth. In this case again, experimentation is your best option.