Surround calibration

[JackVa1]

Can someone tell me what relationship the surround speakers are to be set up at?

I tend to mess with the calibration and have no clue what the calibrations should be. I have heard that I should use a meter, but after I buy a meter, what should each speaker be set at?
All even to seating or should the Center be a tad higher so the music does not drown out the speech?

What about the rears? I tend to exagerate them so I know they are out there. My sub? I think it's turned too high sometimes cause it vibrates during a movie, but I would like to know how that should be calibrated to.

Thanks a lot!

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Can someone tell me what relationship the surround speakers are to be set up at?

I tend to mess with the calibration and have no clue what the calibrations should be. I have heard that I should use a meter, but after I buy a meter, what should each speaker be set at?
All even to seating or should the Center be a tad higher so the music does not drown out the speech?

What about the rears? I tend to exagerate them so I know they are out there. My sub? I think it's turned too high sometimes cause it vibrates during a movie, but I would like to know how that should be calibrated to.

Thanks a lot!

All your speakers should have the same level.

So if you turn the volume to 70 dBC (SPL meter, slow response), ideally all your speakers should be set to 70 dBC.

Personally, I like the Center to be +1dB and the Subwoofer to be +5dB.

 

[JackVa1]

Thanks for the fast response. Is the meter necessary or should I trust my ONKYO receiver and just set them the same.

Jack

 

[Johnd]

Thanks for the fast response. Is the meter necessary or should I trust my ONKYO receiver and just set them the same.

Jack

I would suggest using the Onkyo if you must for the initial setup, and then tune (and tune again) to your own ears from the prime listening area, as that is what really matters...right? I mean if it's "calibrated" correctly, but then sounds out of balance, there's no joy.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I mean if it's "calibrated" correctly, but then sounds out of balance, there's no joy.

That would depend on what you mean by 'out of balance.' Perhaps that is the way it is supposed to sound like? That is why there is a calibration procedure so, hopefully the levels will be what was recorded, otherwise one could be retuning each event to a personal preference.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Can someone tell me what relationship the surround speakers are to be set up at?

I tend to mess with the calibration and have no clue what the calibrations should be. I have heard that I should use a meter, but after I buy a meter, what should each speaker be set at?
All even to seating or should the Center be a tad higher so the music does not drown out the speech?

What about the rears? I tend to exagerate them so I know they are out there. My sub? I think it's turned too high sometimes cause it vibrates during a movie, but I would like to know how that should be calibrated to.

Thanks a lot!

I believe there is a good write up at the home page here on how to set up your system sound wise. But, you will need a SPL meter, and maybe a calibration disc.
You also need to set up the receiver with the correct distance of each speakers to the listening position for the correct time delays.

 

[JackVa1]

Sub Question

Thanks for the input, guys. I will get a meter. I still wonder about the sub though and would like to reasonibly set the system up by ear for now. I can calibrate the sub the same level as the other speakers, but in addition to the setting on my receiver, there is the matter of the volume setting on the sub itself. No matter what I set the receiver to, the sub itself can be cranked up or down and this sort of over rides the receiver setting.

Subs don't seem as easy to calibrate be ear .

Do you just turn it up till your wife complains and then back it off a little?

Thanks again.

Jack

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Thanks for the fast response. Is the meter necessary or should I trust my ONKYO receiver and just set them the same.

Jack

I think for the most part, you can usually trust your receiver's Auto-Setup for the speaker level and type. The only thing I don't like is the Room Acoustic Equalizer part, which I would just Turn OFF.

Unless you are really hardcore (true Audioholic ), don't bother.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Thanks for the input, guys. I will get a meter. I still wonder about the sub though and would like to reasonibly set the system up by ear for now. I can calibrate the sub the same level as the other speakers, but in addition to the setting on my receiver, there is the matter of the volume setting on the sub itself. No matter what I set the receiver to, the sub itself can be cranked up or down and this sort of over rides the receiver setting.

Subs don't seem as easy to calibrate be ear .

Do you just turn it up till your wife complains and then back it off a little?

Thanks again.

Jack

If you decide to get one, I would recommend a Digital SPL Meter, which will make the reading a lot easier.

Initially I bought an Analog SPL. Then I gave in and bought a $60 Galaxy Audio Digital SPL, which goes in increments of 0.5dB.

 

[mtrycrafts]

Subs don't seem as easy to calibrate be ear .

Do you just turn it up till your wife complains and then back it off a little?

Thanks again.

Jack

Yes, the ear has a different reaction to the low frequency as the ear is anything but linear
I would not recommend your method as it will make the low frequency unnatural. Every step will sound like a giant's step, weighing tons
By the way, the volume on the sub itself is independent from the receiver's trim pots. You kind of balance it out so the trim pot is not at its max or min setting but closer to the 0 setting.

 

[dorokusai]

Jack - Are you in Virginia(VA) or is that simply part of your name?

Mark
Polk Audio CS