Calibrating my HT. Need some advice

[rdman]

After all the helpful hints. I am very close to having my full HT setup. I bought a SPL meter from Radio Shack and started tuning the system. I have a few questions below:

1. Why is it important to calibrate all speakers to 75 dB for each speaker? Is that what the sound engineers intended the listener to hear?

2. Is it good to calibrate the Sub +5-+10 dB above the 75 reference?

3. Some say that the center speaker should be +1/+2 dB above the other speakers. What is your feeling on that?

4. While tuning, I can either turn my master volume to a level = 75 dB (master volume at 60) OR I can turn my master volume to a level = 70 dB (master volume at 50) and then tune each speaker channel so the SPL reads 75 dB. Which is recommended?

Personally I feel at 75 dB, it's loud, but I assume I can turn down the "master volume" to a level I like to hear. As long as I tuned the individual channels to hit 75 dB as a reference point?

TIA

[danger boy]

when setting up your receiver.. each individual channel should reach a reference point all with the same db. 75 is good.. since it's loud, but not ear piercing loud.

You want to raise the level of each speaker one at a time to reach that 75db level using your receivers white noise or a set up DVD with tones on it.. such as the Avia set up disc.

Set up all speakers to 75 db.. you can always raise your sub or center to whatever db you like after that so it sounds good to you.. 75 is just a reference point.. many people run their sub's +2 or +3 higher and their centers +1 to +3 higher as well.

Oh yeah set the Radio Shack SPL meter to "C" weighted and slow response.

[THX 3417]

Unless you’ve got good control over the fronts with active crossovers for matching loudspeakers LCR matching! You’ll be getting a lot of bright end or toppy sound from the fronts due to the EQ boosting that is applied to films. This is tamed a little bit during the DVD authoring but I feel it’s too bright on most home cinema set-ups!

Now if you can make quick and decisive decisions on how to address these problems with a few days well then welcome to my world! I’ve found out the hard way and thou I’ve gotten used to it now over the past 25 years since I set-up my home cinema I’m still learning.

But all you really need to do is set a plan and stick to it! Use separates use a simple an yet affordable AVR with Dolby digital-EX dts-ES and use the RCA phones and get yourself (matching amplifiers) (matching 1/3 octave EQ 31 bands) (matching loudspeaker management systems) and bit of ole fashioned good luck.

I’m not too sure about those auto EQ systems, its not a new thing they have had auto EQ out for years long before they started installing them in AVR units.

I’ve had a Techincs SH-8066 EQ with built in RTA not as clear as a 1/3 EQ but still I didn’t like the EQ boosting it made it worse with over bright highs and worse it can damage the HF with sudden excessive burn out of the voice coils on films like “Die Another Day!”

This is why I’ve taken the professional move with affordability thou in the end it will work out close to a few K but not as much as most who have spent many thousands many.

So the 75dbC is a simple rule of thumb for the home cinema user. I’d use a little common sense and experimentation of the many films on DVD past and present and do your own research into this issue.

[jusdrink]

what is a good calibration tooll under 200.00 i would like to get my ht setup the right way thanks for any of your info.