What Levels Should My Speakers Be for Surround Sound 5.1?

In this video, award winning composer and presenter for Cinema Sound Mark Edward Lewis shows us what volumes our surround sound speakers should be at for 5.1 mixing for the internet, DVD/BRD and Cinema deliveries.
For clarity - as this video may be a bit confusing:
Internet delivery: LCR =75, Ls/Rs = 92, LFE = 79 (or leave it at 75) (DX norm -6 or higher)
DVD/BRD: LCR = 80, Ls/Rs = 77, LFE = 84 (DX norm -12 to -9)
Cinema (NA): LCR = 85, Ls/Rs = 82, LFE = 90 (DX norm -23 dblufs)
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[@SMFilmStudios]

THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. I just finished my first feature film. I tested it in the theater and the rear surrounds were almost inaudible. I set my 5.1 with equal volume levels. NOW I KNOW BETTER.....I wish I could buy you a drink! This is a big leap from mixing music for stereo. I am a different engineer with this experience.

[@anto8093]

It was really helpful to understand about the DB. 75 and 77. I've onkyo receiver which has +12 max db. What would be best to keep for 144 sqft room

[@leecaldwell1029]

you need to get yourself a sound level meter

[@vbibinpaul8026]

Thank you, I’m looking for this detail so long.😃

[@mmcl1312]

How about 7.1 and 7.1.2? Maybe you already have a video about it, I'll do some searching. Thanks!

[@kidpoker9408]

so bringing down the sat's actually makes it louder im so confused

[@Altuz]

Bringing down the surround speaker volume makes you perceive it as quieter, therefore making mixing decisions that bring the levels up. When played back on a normal surround system or binaural headphones, these changes result in the LS & RS channels being louder.

[@shivamnrutya]

How can I set proper Speaker level for my Yamaha 5.1? if the DB setting in speaker level In + is better or Negative Minus is better?

[@RapzoneProductions]

can you suggest a better interface which can help me play 5.1 surround or 7.1 surround speaker setup? (many thanks)

[@ziabulhoque6932]

Nice

[@Sidharrtharun]

Thank you... Was really helpful :)

[@penjackson]

VERY HELPFUL STUFF!! Much as gracias!

[@zZiL341yRj736]

How do you get LFE to 75dB, it doesn't have static noises it just have a low bass noise.

[@sems1193]

So I've measured rear speakers while watching a movie and they read about 3 db less than the center channels, this is after I put them at their lowest level to be able to accomplish that (my rear speakers go from -6 to +6; I put them at -6). I'm getting that understanding that rear speakers should be a tad less loud than center channels. So I end with a "am I doing this right?" Thanks for the tips and I appreciate the content.

[@sravonpsunil6030]

I have a 1000w 5.1 home theater. While calibrating at what master volume should I keep to get 75dB in SPL meter? My system have volume from 0-100

[@2010klaudio]

Thanks, I have one, I will check it out.

[@cinema_sound5003]

Please do!

[@zeeunveil1324]

My 7.1 receiver naturally increases my rear back surround by 2 decibels per volume, which is causing my back speakers to be louder than my front. I just watched this video and have made the changes. I’ve always found it funny that my receiver does that and went with it anyway

[@xenopac]

OK quick question I have a rca 5.1 Channel surround sound system 1000 watts I have extra speakers connected because I like have a lot of bass and sound like I got 2 car subs wired to 8 ohms along with the stock 8 inch sub and two 12s in my tower speakers the tower speakers are peavey t 300 high frequency projectors so in total I have 1 left speaker 12 center speakers one right speaker and one left back speaker and one right speaker I used to be able to tell my speakers were working but now I can't when I have it setup as stock I can't here the voice in movies like I have my Center Channel at -10 decibels the rest are +10 decibels should I get rid of the extra speakers or do you hink I have my settings wrong

[@ShaileshPatel-le8cq]

Good video. I m using Yamaha HTR 3072 With all yamaha bookshelf 5.1 speakers. By using SPL for DB Level i have little confusion. What sound I should start DB level. Means AVR volume should set at what level say 50 or 70 etc. Pl reply.

[@sutraleticsssutraleticss5001]

How would you translate this to setting speaker levels via SPL meter for home theatre? We look at setting all levels at 75db. Would you have the levels set higher for cinema as mentioned in the video?

[@yogabyaakaash]

how would this translate to our home theatre? do we follow the same speaker levels for cinema? or have all levels at 75db?

[@mhstoregameon]

pls explain. why 85 spl. the dialogue go down to -23 instead of going up?

[@49ers50]

Wat should height Atmos level should be for Blu Ray

[@rohithvishnuv]

How to set best home theatre volume for speakers mitsun model 1000w

[@youngstayoung6633]

If your rears are the same distance away as the fronts putting them up 1 or 2 is better imo

[@Chris-sm9ep]

What should my levels be if my home theaters decibel levels only go as high as 6 decibels increasing in increments of 0.5 decibels ?. My speakers and subwoofer are between 9 to 10 feet away from where I sit.

[@GregoryJKeyes]

What DB level would you recommend for music streaming?

[@hariharan4401]

I am having a doubt What is the internet listening to like prime , Netflix, what is cinema? Can anyone explain this?

[@GregoryJKeyes]

Is it the same levels for the marantz AVR?

[@Huidos001]

What DB level you recommend for my Ass?

[@craigbarrett7347]

I recently purchased a new 5.1 system from Sony. In the settings I noticed that you can change the distance of the left and right speakers...is this distance from me or from the TV?

[@Tracker5111]

You are measuring from your ears to the speaker....

[@49ers50]

My Home theater is rocking now

[@NickHronik]

not really a good context for me, I am mainly looking for how to get the best sound out of my speakers.

[@zane003]

Me too. I learned a lot from this one too instead :) I'll continue my search. goodluck

[@seanmckinnon4612]

The reason left and right surround are set to -3db relative to center is so that when both arrays are getting a signal they sum to the same level ie: 82 and 82=85 We don’t measure LFE by simple SPL it needs to be +10 dB in band gain over center as shown on an analyzer. Setting the LFE to 90 is a cheat that gets you close but is not actually correct.

[@cinema_sound5003]

You're right about the LFE, but few folks have a band EQ - and the 90 db only applies to 85 dB listening (which few do). As for the surround, that actually doesn't make sense as to why they're reduced. Of course your math is right, but if that were the case, then the L+R would be 88, and we know that isn't why we keep them at 85. In fact, we keep 82 for surrounds so they're turned up 3db in the mix to deal with most cinemas long theatrical presentation construction and folks near the front not being able to hear them. For DVD/BRD only, we don't do this, because home theater/internet is whole different kind of construction of course. Thanks for reaching out!

[@seanmckinnon4612]

It actually makes perfect sense once you consider the legacy of mono surrounds. When we setup a playback room we are looking for any pre split surround content to hit both LSS and RSS and sum to 85. If this wasn’t accounted for then all 4.0 content would playback with artificially loud surrounds. There is no such legacy in the screen channels so L + R equals 88db regardless of whether it’s 4.0, 5.1, or 7.1. One of the steps in a proper ISO2969/SMPTE 202 alignment is to measure and set SPL on each surround array separately with pink noise then measure then together to confirm 85db.

[@Synthematix]

In 5.1 channel 100% divided by 6 (5.1) = each channel volume at 16.6%

[@2010klaudio]

Great video. I just gonna know one thing. My Yamaha Surround System (5.1) on the MANUAL SET UP goes from -10db to +10db. You mention 85dbs. Why is my set-up goes from -10 to +10?

[@cinema_sound5003]

Claudio Martinez-Valle thanks for reaching out. That setting isn’t going to be able to help you. You’ll need a decibel meter to know for sure.

[@rageraramuris]

Puedes usar alguna app en el celular para medir los decibeles, asegurate de dejar el celular en la posicion donde te sentarias, de preferencia mide los decibeles en la noche asi evitas el ruido de la calle, saludos!

[@2010klaudio]

@@rageraramuris Gracias, tengo un aparato que es como un micrófono, lo puse en un tripié, y medí los decibeles de cada una de las 7 bocinas. Lo dejé entre 75db y 80db. Ahora, en mi Home Theater System cuando subes el volumen tiene medidas negativas y positivas, así que lo dejé en cero cuando calibré las bocinas. Gracias (ojalá hay tomado una decisión correcta).

[@rageraramuris]

@@2010klaudio yo tengo un onkyo y lo que hice es conectar el microfono que venia para tirarle la autocalibración, despues de eso varias bocinas me lo dejó en medidas negativas o en 0, pero ya con eso tome en consideracion la relación de db que menciona en el video y las fui nivelando, al final si me mejoró mucho en cuanto a la calibración que viene por default, al menos ya estoy mas contento con el sonido jeje. saludos!

[@2010klaudio]

@@rageraramuris Gracias Alejandro. El mismo es un sistema YAMAHA y viene con un micrófoo que se llama YPAO o algo así. Voy a decer los niveles en medidas negativas o cero.

[@AKOnlineChannel]

When you calibrate , for example on Logic Pro x - what should be the pan law setting from the 3 options given there ? - the default is -3db (compensated), other option available are 0db , -3db -- which setting should be enebled before starting the callibration according to your level recommendation in this video... not a single video on callibration on youtube tells us what should be the pan law setting before starting the callibration levels... do u drive the pink noise directly to outputs or via the planner ??? Pl explain these scenarios !!! Thank you !

[@cinema_sound5003]

3 dB compensated is the right one typically. It shouldn't matter if you're running your signals to the individual channels from MONO channels. Ideally, don't pan anything when doing a calibration. Thanks for reaching out!

[@AKOnlineChannel]

Cinema_Sound Thank you. One more matter. If I calibrate the surrounds 3 dB lesser... in large cinema halls my movie’s surround is too loud so I reduced the surrounds levels on my file and gave it again to cinema theatres. But if I calibrate surrounds also to same levels- in cinema theatres it’s neat !!!

[@marycortimilia5661]

Audiohlics av recveier center level rear level surround level

[@hansiangng2808]

does this apply to 7.1 and atmos?

[@cinema_sound5003]

7.1 yes. atmos, no.

[@aadithyaapowersaver55]

👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻

[@stenbiller99]

not 100% on..... so.... pink noise generator.... what we're measuring to hit these db levels..... ex: Cinema approach.... do I set my pink noise generator to -23db?.... then there's RMS or PEAK.... I saw two different videos claim one or the other. ughhh.

[@MisterRhul]

With one you recomend for a small apartment. xD

[@filmbuff1991]

I have an old SONY 5.1 DVD home theater system 1000 watts total power. The front left and right speakers only go up to 0 dB’s the most. So basically set center at 0 also as well, the left and right rears at -3 dB, and subwoofer at 4 dB?

[@cinema_sound5003]

Thanks for reaching out. Do you have a decibel meter? It doesn’t matter what the levels of textures if the actual level in the room is not measured.

[@filmbuff1991]

Cinema_Sound that I don’t have. But I believe it came with a calibration mic, would that help?

[@cinema_sound5003]

@@filmbuff1991 only if it is connected to a unit which can automatically change the delay and levels of your speakers from it. No decibel meter, no way to tell what the true levels of your speakers are I'm afraid.

[@filmbuff1991]

Cinema_Sound oh this thing you can connect to the receiver and run the test

[@cinema_sound5003]

@@filmbuff1991 then you're good to go.

[@bujoun76]

I usually turn up my surrounds. 2-3db louder for my home theater.

[@ziabulhoque6932]

Nice

[@AR_ZACK91]

Do you use 0.0 volume level to use test tones to set channel level per speaker.

[@cinema_sound5003]

-23 db for cinema. -12 for DVD.

[@AR_ZACK91]

@@cinema_sound5003 so set volume to -23db and than use spl meter to get 75 or 80 or 85 db per speaker?

[@cinema_sound5003]

@@AR_ZACK91for cinema yes.

[@derrickmcpherson44]

How does that work to set it at 23?and also in mind do I set my AV to 0 start?