Thread: Manual calibration speakers and sub?

Ok, I get you go into the AVR menu, measure off your speaker distance and then input. Set up the internal xover, and set speakers to Large/Small etc...

After all that is (Audyssey and all that crap is OFF), how do you adjust trim levels for the speakers? My marantz of course has a test tone, but what do I set to? 75db's keeps coming up, so do I fire up the tone and my meter and increase/decrease trim until im at 75? How about the sub, its reading is never as steady as the speakers.

I noticed after running Audyssey, all my speakers are 72db's with the test tones.

Not digging Audyssey Jason?

Originally Posted by Jason Whiddon

Ok, I get you go into the AVR menu, measure off your speaker distance and then input. Set up the internal xover, and set speakers to Large/Small etc...

After all that is (Audyssey and all that crap is OFF), how do you adjust trim levels for the speakers? My marantz of course has a test tone, but what do I set to? 75db's keeps coming up, so do I fire up the tone and my meter and increase/decrease trim until im at 75? How about the sub, its reading is never as steady as the speakers.

I noticed after running Audyssey, all my speakers are 72db's with the test tones.

That is pretty much it Jason. Set the volume dial on the avr to 00db and adjust the test tones to 75db on your spl meter. Also what kind of spl meter are you using?? If using a radio shack spl, google what the offsets are for your particular model. All of them are off a bit in there own way. As far as the pink noise not being very steady just set the meter to slow and adjust it to the what ever the peak reading is.

I always adjusted manually when using Audessey, and liked the results better myself, but most would disagree with that.

Here is what I dont like about Audyssey, it sets my mains at -5.0dB and the center at -8.0dB. Now I get they are efficient and close to me (9.5ft), but I end up having to use a volume of -9.0db for Directv, sometimes even as low as -5.0dB, then I have to use 0.0 to +2.0dB for blu-ray with lossless. That just seems wrong.

When I check after Audyssey is complete, my Radio Shack meter gives 72 for the speakers and 71-74 for the sub. At 80dB, IIRC, you add 1.5dB to the reading for the RS meter. So I may be set a little low and this is why Im cranking the volume more, dunno?

I generally always add 2-3dB to the sub off the bat, have never been too happy with how Audyssey sets them, and I know calibrators have said Audyssey can set subs too low. What I generally do is set the subs gain know where Audyssey lands around 0.0 for trim, and then bump to +2 or +3db.

Originally Posted by caliberconst.

That is pretty much it Jason. Set the volume dial on the avr to 00db and adjust the test tones to 75db on your spl meter. Also what kind of spl meter are you using?? If using a radio shack spl, google what the offsets are for your particular model. All of them are off a bit in there own way. As far as the pink noise not being very steady just set the meter to slow and adjust it to the what ever the peak reading is.

I always adjusted manually when using Audessey, and liked the results better myself, but most would disagree with that.

I've been half way tempted to just cut Audyssey off, take my own measurements for distance and dB's, and try it that way. When I go into manual setup on the Marantz, it has test tone and then you pick a channel, I don't think you can adjust the volume, which is why I assumed when you started the noise tone it was outputting a set 75dB.

http://www.audioholics.com/tweaks/sp...heater-systems

This pretty simple for anyone wondering, and mostly what I knew. I do kinda like their suggestion of 80dB for the sub

10.0 hz: +20.0 db
12.5 hz: +16.5 db
16.0 hz: +11.5 db
20.0 hz: + 7.5 db
25.0 hz: + 5.0 db
31.5 hz: + 3.0 db
40.0 hz: + 2.5 db
50.0 hz: + 1.5 db
63.0 hz: + 1.5 db
80.0 hz: + 1.5 db

Radio Shack meter offsets. I think I may go home and start from scratch without Audyssey, and just see what I think.

I did a little more reading. Basically, unless you have a very expensive analyzer/mic combo (the guy I've hired has $6000 in his), room calibration eq's are better than nothing. It looks like a good recommendation after properly running Audyssey, is to turn it off, go into manual setup, and run the pink noise tone. Set your speakers to 75db from the main listening position, and then shoot for 80db (simply preference) on the sub. Once done, turn Audyssey back on and it can still apply the trim adjustments you made inside the AVR, to it's filters. I've always found it's distance measurements to be damn accurate, so not much reason to mess with them IMO, and of course make sure your speakers are set to small and then pick a proper xover point.

Most of the recommendation after applying Audyssey is to test pink noise with it on because of the equalization. Problem is, it appears most AVR's won't apply that equalization from Audyssey to their internal test tone (see stupid). So, something like DVE Blu-ray with audio test tones are the way to go, because thats one of the devices you will be using for sound anyways.

DVE Blu-ray has two options, Full Bandwidth and Band Limited pink noise. Anyone have any idea which is the correct one to use for setting speaker level, and if they are 75db or 85db?

Thanks, I'll use Band Limited and set the volume to 0.0, see what happens. Im not as concerned about making sure the speakers are 75db, 85db, or whatever. Its more making sure they all match at current trim settings, and I want to try the sub 5.0db more hot.

Or, it may just be easier to use the internal tone, and set the sub 5db higher than what I read on the individual speakers. Right now, they are spot on at 72db's with the Marantz test tone. I guess I could just set the sub at 78 roughly. Like I said, Im not wanting to center on the exact number, because the meter has errors, just one set of numbers compared to the next.

Or, I could just figure Audyssey sets them mostly equal with each other, and adjust sub trim level in the menu up 5.0db after Audyssey is finished . I probably need to adjust the sub gain to where Audyssey sets it around -3.0db, so it would be +2.0db after adjustment.

Now that I think about it, is setting my sub 5db hotter than the other speakers after Audyssey runs simply as easy as adjusting the trim setting up 5db's?

It was in the two Audessey based avr's that I owned.

Audyessey uses a more accurate way to measure SPL than what you are getting with test tones and a Rat shack meter. Remember that once you run it, 0 becomes the reference point on the receiver. I would worry more about making sure all your source levels match. Run audyessy, then take a test tone DVD/Blu-ray and check each source. With the receiver set to 0 play the tone in one speaker and turn the source level up to 75db using the rat shack meter. Do this for each source as they will no doubt all be different and will be low. Mine were. This is the best you are going to do without expensive equipment and all your sources will be the same and audyessy dynamic eq will be the same for all sources. I have found Audyessy to be nothing short of amazing even with the maggies and once source levels were set correctly the low volume issue is gone.

I really don't get all the fuss about room correction systems. Yes one should always treat the room first, however, after that there is no way to achieve a smooth room response without some sort of room correction system. If one pays close attention to the measuring process with audyessy or any room correction system and the room is not an overly difficult room then results should be good. However, there is an off setting so if you don't like it just turn it off. Every time I have set up a system for myself or someone else, it always sounded better with Audyessy engaged.

So bottom line is run it, set each source level and then listen. If your not happy then disengage it. If your very careful when taking measurements I think you will like it better with it on. Just remember that you are measuring a very small bubble. Don't take measurements at extreme positions. Keep them all centered around the primary area.

For some reason, it always seems the sub is set low. Since I like tinkering, I went ahead and ordered the Galaxy Audio CM-140 spl meter. Once it comes in next week, Ill rerun Audyssey one more time, then throw in the test disc in my blu player and make sure the speakers are 75db and the sub is 78-80db.

I noticed Disney WOW has audio patterns too, but they used 85db reference (20 dbfs) instead of the 75db, and people claim it's just too loud. Also sucks once Audyssey is engaged, they say you should not use the simple and easily available internal tones.

Originally Posted by Jason Whiddon

For some reason, it always seems the sub is set low. Since I like tinkering, I went ahead and ordered the Galaxy Audio CM-140 spl meter. Once it comes in next week, Ill rerun Audyssey one more time, then throw in the test disc in my blu player and make sure the speakers are 75db and the sub is 78-80db.

Dont forget source levels. Mine were off a lot. They were all low all of them DVD, HDDVD and Blu. All had to be turned up at least 3db. I think this might be an HDMI issue of some sort. Damn I hate HDMI!