Speaker Test Tones vs. S&V Test Tones

[kberg]

I discovered something rather interesting....

Before when I used the test tones from my receiver for sound level calibration using an SPL meter, I was seeing about 75 dB on the meter from all speakers when my receiver's master volume was also set to 75.

While using the Sound & Vision calibration disk however, I was seeing 75 dB on the meter from all speakers when my receiver's master volume was set to only 70.

Just an observation here. Any comments are welcome!

[Dr. Spec]

The S&V disc plays through your DVD player and is mastered at a different volume.

The internal test tones are generated by the receiver and have nothing to do with the DVD player.

The more important question/issue is this: Did the relative speaker levels change between the two methods of calibration?

If the anser is yes - go with the S&V. It is better to process the signal through the DVD player because it more closely matches what you will be hearing during HT.

[kberg]

Yep, speaker levels did change by + or - 1 dB, so I did go the S&V way.

[brettw22]

hey Doc......

If you calibrate to going through the DVD player, how does that affect any listening situation based on strictly stereo listening, or watching cable tv? I have to upgrade my receiver soon, and hopefully this weekend, but am curious.......

[TonyPTX]

Originally posted by brettw22
hey Doc......

If you calibrate to going through the DVD player, how does that affect any listening situation based on strictly stereo listening, or watching cable tv? I have to upgrade my receiver soon, and hopefully this weekend, but am curious.......

Had a similar question in a earlier post. Check out this thread:

http://clubpolk.polkaudio.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=6925

[gfong]

Some discs use 85db instead of the standard 75db as a reference level and that would attribute to the differences. If I setup my system at a reference level using 85db and another at 75db, if I turned the volume of both recievers to the same level on the volume, the reciever that was set up at 85db would be louder.

To calibrate to reference level, a reciever or amp is set to "0" and a test tone is generated and the speakers are set to output that noise at 75db using a sound meter to confirm.

Many people do not listen to their systems at reference level "0" on the dial; (they can if they want to) reference level is used as a benchmark or as it is called a reference.

I am not an expert and my knowledge comes from reading manuals and setting up my own systems. Some people will say to use 75db or 85db, some will say set the sub woofer 5db higher then the rest. As long as the number you use is constant, you will be fine.
Lots of info on this topic, and lots of opinions. Have fun with the new reciever.