Ep. 25 - How to Calibrate for Reference |Tweak to Perfection!| Speaker Setup | Home Theater Gurus |

[@dluepnitz]

Thanks so much! I have been avoiding using a SPL meter because I wanted a quality one. Well your tip to use anything, even a cellphone since it will do it equally to all channels, was the best practical advice I've taken away this year. Finally I hear everything as it should be and what I've always expected. I always felt like I could differentiate the volume by ear. Wow was I wrong. Just had to let go of my pride long enough to try what everyone has said for years.

[@hometheatergurus]

Awesome. And yeah sometimes we get stuck in our ways so it's good to have a reality check every once in a while.

[@bach917]

Glad your are back and the selling of your home was successful. I love your mix of rules and tweaks from your experience.

[@hometheatergurus]

Thanks Bryce!

[@josephpicado1818]

Hey buddy good video I have a Sony STR DH790 but I don’t have volume scale settings but when I try to calibrate the levels on 0 volume I don’t get any sound so what do you think I can do thank you??

[@bacontrees]

Good video. But at 2:18 where the text shows "vocals will average 85dB", actually, looks like a misprint, where vocals (dialogue) would be around 60dB (maybe a tad higher, but not always). The Pink Noise is set to 85dB and peaks will be above that (correctly stated to 105dB, and 115 for subs), while dialogue will be below that. So, 85dBSPL is the mid point, pretty much. But, as you stated, the 85dB reference is a little loud for home theatre, where Dolby suggests 79, and a calibration DVD I have states 75, but I just go the mid point of 82 (between 79 and 85). Anyway, just a detail, but I had to mention it. Great channel, by the way!

[@lyons0079]

Hey Steve can you use the noise generator on REW to set your levels? And if so do you set both your processor and Rew’s dbfs to 0? Or are you better using the processor internal times? What about us that like it loud. If we have the power are we able to set ours at 85db for main bed and 95 for subs?

[@sutraleticsssutraleticss5001]

Audyssey set my speakers to 77db +/- 2db. I further tweaked and set all levels to 77db, even though generally I stick with 75db. I also increased the centre channel and subwoofer by 2db. Am I doing everything right?

[@MrDugath]

Helpful vid. Unfortunately my Onkyo tx-nr-545 does not have an option to change it to relative. So I am unsure what volume I should have it set to (in absolute) so I could calibrate.

[@payitforward6694]

I believe it's around 72. Select an option say CD and make sure CD player isn't on and turn volume up till your screen says reference. My TX830 has option for both but I use absolute. I may be changing tho.

[@Playboyer670]

After running auto calibration on my Yamaha TSR 700 I used sound level meter C weighting and SLOW setting and found that all my speakers were 70db. I decided to adjust from there raised volume to 0db and raised speaker levels until speakers were at 75db. Thing is, now alot of my speakers are +dB. Some at +1.5dB and others as high as +5.5dB and +6dB. Is this okay?

[@joelgonzalez8289]

I have the same receiver and the same exact thing happened to me. It was setting my LCR as high as +5db. I found that I had my subwoofer gain too high, I lowered it and then ypao adjusted the speaker levels to about +1db. After ypao I raised the gain to about 10db hot fpr the subs.

[@67Jasonp]

Great info! Question for my atmos speakers I had to run them higher at +3.0 using the receivers pink noise . Is it safe to run speakers in the positive values? I’ve heard about clipping and straining the receiver. Thanks

[@hometheatergurus]

Thsts absolutely fine. There's some weird false rumors going around lately about positive trims. You don't want it maxed as its easier to clip the signal but you're fine.

[@larry9079]

Thank you so much for explaining this

[@isak6626]

Do you use C-weighted for subs as well?

[@kirkcunningham6146]

If you have a pre pro or receiver and separate amps, it can be a little confusing. You have your volume adjustment in your processor or receiver, your amp gain adjustment and then the master volume. I normally set my master volume according to what the owners manual says to begin with. Set my amps gain from half to three quarter. Then tailor the trim volume inside the processor or receiver. This gives me a starting point. I fine adjust from there depending on how loud music listening is because of the low recording levels of music. Currently, my master volume for reference level is a -15 on my Outlaw 976 Pre-pro with trims set to around +5 and my amps gain at 3/4. Works great for the dynamic sound tracks AND music listening.

[@hometheatergurus]

Most consumer amps don't have variable gains like pro amps. With most consumer amps there's no difference in setup at all as long as the gain is fixed (no gain knob adjustment) . You'll follow the exact same procedure to Calibrate for reference using the internal speaker level adjustments. If you're using pro amps then yes you'll set the gain knobs (actually input attenuators) So the input voltage from the pre/pro doesn't clip. Calibrating for Reference levels are still the same once gain knobs are set.

[@kirkcunningham6146]

@@hometheatergurus yes, i was pertaining to Pro amps.

[@FMD023]

Ok so i forgot where i read on a post but someone said set volume to 70 or 80. 80 if your av can handle it. Well i did presets on both and that actaully sound amazing. What I what do know is, it that dangerous to calibrate it that way? Instead of turning knob to 0 from the beginning.

[@schemkesa]

Great stuff! Now I know I'm listening -10dB (under reference lvl) and sometimes if I really wanna go crazy -6dB.... but wow that's (too) loud for a living room.

[@Richie131hun]

Hi! I just bought an SPL meter for calibrating my system, but I'm not sure if it's displaying the correct dB. I calibrated my system to reference, and when I listen to a movie at -4 dB, well.. I don't think it is as loud as it should be. When I watch for example Interstellar at -4 dB, my eardrums should bust right? It still sounds pretty loud, but absolutely not even close to that cinema I first seen it in. My SPL meter is a Voltcraft SL-100. It has C-weighting, which is good for home theater, that's why I chose it. They say it is calibrated to a factory standard. Do you think this is okay?

[@hometheatergurus]

I can't say if the mic is actually accurate or not. You really need something that's called with cal information backing it up to be certain. Some movies are also recorded lower even though we'd expect them all to be the same. John wick is this way and most that usually listen at - 20 may find themselves at - 10. The good news is that a mic that's not accurate in no way impacts the performance of the system as we can still use it to level match the speakers. The subs most do it by ear unless they can use REW and look at seeps across the crossover point which is the only accurate way. This of course is in the video.

[@geraldlaplante1972]

Another great video, I have a couple of questions. Depending on which source you use, some consider 75db to be reference while others consider 80db. I calibrated mine AFTER doing the subs through REW. I set the receiver (Pioneer LX303) volume at 0 and calibrated subs and set volume (through the minidsp 2X4HD) for 85db, then I used receiver to set the other speakers to 80db at 0 volume. Most of the speakers were set at 80db at around -4 to -7db. My question is, after doing this I realized that I had boosted the "volume absorber" +5db for sources. If I back that to default 0 its going to quiet things in respect to calibration settings. Would I need to reset the balance on all speakers AND sub for the default reference 0 and by doing so would I need to recalibrate subs or just change the "INPUT 1" volume on the Minidsp software?

[@shengchen728]

Thank you home theater guru, love your video. Just wondering if you could go through how to setup the surround speakers for 5.1 setup rather than 7.1 that you've talked about in your previous video? Hoe do you achieve 30 degree speaker separation for 5 speakers? Also, am I suppose to aim for placing my front left and right speakers at the room null? I know you've talked about placing subwoofer at the room null as this will fix that null, but will speaker do the same to fix say 4th order or even 3rd order room null? Thanks.

[@hometheatergurus]

Thanks Sheng . I actually cover 5.1 in episode 1 right before we get into 7.1. With 5.1 you will have a large gap behind you so you can pull the surrounds slightly back to help (staying in tolerance) but you won't quite get that seamless panning we can achieve with 7.1 where we can place speakers so they're no more than 60 degrees apart.

[@shengchen728]

@@hometheatergurus Thank you! yes, you are right, don't know how I completely missed it, so thank you for reminding me. As for the second part of my previous question, what I meant to ask is - in terms of how far "into" the room should I place my main front channel speaker? For example, if I know I have a 4th order null of 138hz at 2 foot away from the front wall, should I avoid place my front speakers at this distance away from the front wall to avoid this null? Or should I just not worry about it? Thank you again!

[@stephenfrancisvoros382]

Good to see your back again man, you should of taken the holiday after you moved lol, moving is never any fun. I'd like your opinion on a subwoofer I've been checking out, to use possible in my home theatre, it's the alto pro tx212s, if you see anything that might be not right, please let me know? In Australia I can buy two for $1100.ooau, they look to be well made, 450w rms with 900w peak, frequencies look good, for me to buy two like polk with this power, I'm looking at around $3000, any advice would be appreciated??? Stephen 🇦🇺

[@kenestra123]

My Sony STR-DH750 has a absolute scale for master volume. What should that master be set at when starting to do a manual adjustment for each speaker? Since you have 2 different levels to contend with. If I put my master at 0 my Radio Shack SPL meter doesnt even register yet. I dont have a THX reference level such as -0.0 to set it at like a Denon receiver. I am probably overthinking this but it is hanging me up! LOL.

[@rcdude86]

LOL! How did you do the math so you know the absolute of 82 on the volume knob? THanks. Cause some of my friends I help setup only have a absolute volume option and I didn't know where to choose the volume. Is there a math for this. Thanks.

[@RedJacketMike]

Can you recommend an SPL meter that has a threaded hole for a tripod mount? Something similar in quality to the one you linked to above? Thanks for the great series of videos. All are very helpful.

[@isak6626]

The umik-1 comes with a holder that has that.

[@beyondonethousand]

Love your channel. Two questions. I noticed further down in your videos in green letters you wrote about that you should set set the subwoofer with the Output of the Avr and not by the subwoofers knob level. So the sub woofer should be set to zero and the sub output should be then calibrated at the AVR output? I have my AVR set at 0 and I have calibrated the output at the sub. Does that throw things off on timing with the speakers? Second question. Even if Audyssey measures the sub woofer 3 feet further than it should be in my room I should readjust the distance to be exactly as it truly is using a tape measure. Is that correct? Thanks.

[@hometheatergurus]

Check out the sub setup video. Sub distance is not actual distance. There's also a video just on that with main to sub integration in the title. The gain knob should be a 0. Sometimes half is a good place. Just remember where you put it as that'll be you're reference spot once calibrated in the avr.

[@shaolin95]

Some subs have recommended volume settings then tweak the receiver after that. Like my HSU give me the setting on the manual

[@benfits8768]

When setting speakers to 75 db, dose it matter if you need to go into the positive db to get 75 db ?

[@kuriakos36]

Buddy when i setting my sub level where i have put the gain from back of the woofer?

[@Christopher._M]

If my speakers have some distortion at 105 db and I don't actually like listening too loud should i lower the reference by a good 10-15 db

[@stevenoconnor5693]

Excellent thank you. Subscribed

[@TheLkdude]

@Home Theater Gurus, When calibrating to reference levels, how do we make sure that you do not damage the speakers when your amplifier has more power than your speakers are designed for ? e.g amplifier channel is 350 W's but the speaker is 150 W's, kinds of situations.

[@taseti4803]

You wont blow your speaker because you will never turn the volume up to the max setting and leave it there so you can damage your speakers. More power doesn't hurt speakers. Not enough power damage speakers alot more. More power just gives your speakers the power it needs when they need it.

[@jonathankoh3118]

Hi Home Theatre Guru, at around 7:25 mark, while doing the calibration, when you said "turn it up a little bit", do you mean to up the volume of the AVR till the SPL meter reading is at 75dB? thanks in advance... hope to hear from you or some other gurus here since this is quite an old video. cheers!

[@ryanr6240]

Add dB for each individual speaker, leave master volume at 0

[@P-LOWN1997]

So if my reciver is going from 0-100 in volume i need to set it to 82 and then calibrate it to 75 db level match each channel right ?

[@georgep2301]

What master volume should we set?

[@dwighthicks53]

So what about the volume offset part of the receiver? Should that be set at 0.0 before doing the pink noise?

[@zeppelin2900]

Yes

[@larryhazelwood5491]

so i calibrate with receiver at full volume?i always set mine at -20

[@andrewb12000]

My Onkyo Absolute volume only goes from 0 to 80 so I'm trying to find where refrence would be. 80 measures way over 75db when reciever levels are at 0

[@shaundavidssd]

My Onkyo tells me when I'm at reference level,I'm thx select 2 tho

[@robertobarrios2008]

Onkyo and Yamaha reciever the one i know have intelligent volumen. Going to 12db i will crank up the volumen on every movie at least a 40% doing that would break the reference level of 82 volumen ?

[@hometheatergurus]

Those are forms of compression where they only turn up some frequencies like the vocal region. Similar to other brands night modes or dynamic volume. If you want maximum dynamics and want to hear the material as intended leave that off. Of course some times it can be useful.

[@victorpulos823]

What is moderate listening volume level to set on the receiver

[@damienlahoz]

is there a way to calibrate your subwoofer using just an SPL meter?

[@pwrmx24]

I read that a sound meter that meets IEC651 Type 2 certification should have it stamped on the equipment. I don't see that on the meter in the link. It claims in one phrase on Amazon it "complies with IEC651" but it doesn't say it meets those specefications.

[@hometheatergurus]

If you're using it for level matching... Well you're level matching so it's irrelevant. Level matching is the most important part of setting levels. If you're using it to set reference it's a home theater. If it's a half db off from calibrated reference you couldn't hear that if you tried. We all turn the volume up to taste and often mixes aren't mixed at reference like they should be. In other words some of the stuff you read on line you should ignore. Now... If you're using it to to eq and tune your system you want a calibrated mic.

[@randysalsman6992]

I listen to movies generally at -5, I found some that I either turn it down to -7 to -10 and others -3 to 0. However I find that "MCU" movies I generally need to go into the + range.

[@josedesouzajunior6688]

thank you !!

[@hometheatergurus]

You're welcome!

[@jlane7731]

Hey bud, I’m just watching episode 25 again and I just like to say that I always have to turn my center channel up at least two DB. I must’ve set up 100 times but I always have to set the center channel up. Don’t know why maybe you can answer it

[@hometheatergurus]

Hey J. See the episodes on room acoustics. Assuming you have a good center that is most likely the issue.

[@andrewpolitano]

Ears aren't tuned to 'listen forward', though. Biologically speaking, the shape and curves of human ears (like most predators) ears are designed to capture sound waves from various directions and funnel them into the ear to start vibrating your eardrum. Just because you have a hole facing roughly forward does NOT mean that you hear better facing forward to a source from that direction in space and time. People adjust the center channel volume due to mix inconsistencies and room inconsistencies that occur naturally in most rooms. Many do this, it's not 'bad', per se.

[@thepiecesfit5049]

Small correction to this video. Playing test tones on the receiver temporarily bypasses any sort of calibration including Audyssey. If you adjust your SPL levels using the internal test tones you will have different SPL levels once Audyssey is engaged. Instead you absolutely must either use a HT Calibration disk like Spears and Munsil or send multichannel tones using REW ASIO4ALL with -30 dBFS to match 75dB at 0.

[@GingersKing]

Why -30dbfs?

[@thepiecesfit5049]

@@GingersKing most receivers target 75 dB, some 85 dB with their test tones at the relative volume level of 0 or refence level. This is so you don't damage your equipment or hearing. Playing the test tones at 75 dB ensures that your speakers peak at 105 dB from a calibration standpoint. So check with your manufacturer to be sure. The issue with using the receiver test tones is they ignore the calibration. This is why whatever calibration source content you choose should either have the compensation or you have to set it yourself.

[@manea7074]

I was confused after watching the video thanks for clarifying.

[@wells2671]

Welcome back and good luck with the new home! It would be great if you did a video series of how your new home theater room will come together in the new house. 😁👍🏾. That aside, here is question about reference levels: 1. Which part of the sound track is playing at reference level when we're actually listening? Is it the dialogue, action scenes, or the sum of it all? I ask this because the dynamic range of audio tracks will have some people raising and lowering the volume during different scenes (which is annoying), in part because they might think that they should be able to hear it all at the same level. However, I'm going to assume that some audio is purposely unintelligible at times, and therefore, there should be a reference within the track itself (maybe the dialogue) that is set to play at reference level, and everything else is experienced at higher or lower levels by design. This is even more evident when listening to classical music, which has some really quiet parts and that quickly rise to a very loud crescendo.

[@hometheatergurus]

Thanks! As for what's at reference, it's all mastered at reference or should be. Those raising and lowering the volume almost always have room issues. Remember what we watch was mastered in a studio setup like a home theater. They don't adjust the volume. All vocals should be clear and nothing should be too loud once you find your happy place or desired listening level. That's one of the biggest improvements of proper room acoustics. You hear every whisper with a clarity that is almost errie.

[@hdmoviesource]

Is there a law of how sounds in front vs how loud sounds are behind us?

[@shaolin95]

I have a question. You say to point the spl meter to each speaker but then you bring up a good point about how our ears are pointing forward so shouldn't we let the spl meter also point forward to more closely match our own ears orientation? I don't think you will have to boost your rears as you said you do, if you just leave the spl meter pointing forward. That is a small tip I was taught many years ago. Thoughts?

[@hometheatergurus]

The meter pointing forward will not resemble an ear lobe. You have to adjust the rears using a known demo track and adjust by ear. I use an atmos demo disc. There's a clip of a nature documentary with wind all around the room that makes setting rears easy.

[@shaolin95]

​@@hometheatergurus Adjusting by ear seems odd. I am sure studios dont adjust by ear their rears either. Why would they be any different from the other speakers. The SPL may not resemble an ear lobe but if you leave it point it forward when measuring those rear speakers will be a LOT closer to "right level"" for our ears than with it pointing up. Have you tried it recently? Would be nice to put perfect mold of our ears around the mic but not even that would be perfect in the end. I dont need to adjust my rears..never felt they were too low by using the pointing straight method. You on the other hand said you need to adjust them. So, I think that should tell you something. Regards

[@hometheatergurus]

@@shaolin95 if you have your room professionally tuned they will use measurments and they will listen. If they do one and not the other they aren't doing a good job. You asked and I answered. Try it. If you don't like it then don't do it that way. If you ask someone's opinion or method to tune rooms and aren't open to it then maybe don't ask.

[@shaolin95]

@@hometheatergurus LOL why the drama queen atitude??? I asked with and explanation of why your method was not correct. Perhaps the message was too advanced for you to grasp. Apparently you think you are mr Know It All and cannot be wrong. With your sad childish attitude, you are not going to win any favors. Next time I will make sure to post in a more Blues Clues level so you can understand it better. Or I wont bother with your channel again until you act like an adult...Grow up and accept when you are wrong and use it to LEARN..that is what wise people do. Or be stubborn and continue doing things wrong. I couldnt care less.

[@michaelbested123456]

is it wrong to adjust the sub level using the mini dsp input tab?

[@yogabyaakaash]

Many also like to run the sub higher than other speaker levels? Some soundtracks do not have a good centre channel and hence can sound suboptimal. In such cases, better not to play around ?

[@hometheatergurus]

This is covered in the video. If you want to boost the subs that fine. Most tweak to their liking also rooms behave different with different decay times. As for vocals it's very rare the center should be boosted. If you have issues it's speaker or room issues. Get those right and you'll never need to boost.

[@jimgeroul]

Is there a point calibrating your system if u have audyssey (isn't this aleady done after setup up)? or u just talking about small adjustents in speaker lvl that may have been measured wrong?

[@pb24dagrk]

Audyssey will do that for you, yes, but it's still good to go in and double check the results and make sure they are balanced (keeping in mind that the built-in tones defeat audyssey, but it's still 99% close). I find that Audyssey is very good and consistent with level matching in general, and only rarely have I seen it get one way wrong but it's usually because of an anomaly like a noise or the mic shaking etc.

[@hometheatergurus]

@@pb24dagrk I definitely agree it usually gets levels right.. Well sub levels are so so. The issue I see most with audyssey is sub distance being off causing a poor response at the crossover point. This episode was actually requested several times.

[@kyleshays]

I do like +2dB on my center. I have a sectional so if your sitting somewhere in the L, dialogue can be hard to hear. +2dB seems to completely fix that. Everyone says they can hear the dialogue now instead of having to turn the receiver up and down for difference scenes. Now I can set it and forget it.

[@GingersKing]

It could also be sound reflections that make it more difficult to understand dialogue from the center channel.

[@kyleshays]

@@GingersKing wow been a year since I posted that already. I agree. This room sucks lol

[@GingersKing]

@@kyleshays An oldie but a goodie? 🤔😆

[@marcelmeijer7585]

I am wondering. Why do we set the speaker levels at 75db? If our Relative scale goes from -80db to + 18 does that not mean that 0 on the reciever should be 80db instead of 75db? Love your video’s btw. Greetings from Holland 👍🏻

[@Industen]

I never understood this. If you set say 13 speakers to 75DB reference isn't the combined DB 115+ reference? Everytime you double the power and/or cone area you are looking at at least a +3 DB gain.

[@hometheatergurus]

Reference is peaks of 105 for each speaker and peaks of 115db for the Lfe. That's pretty much all there is to it. With a system playing reference at peaks you'll far exceed 115db in the room. The 105db per speaker only refers to each speaker. Not cumulative.

[@Industen]

@@hometheatergurus I just hear conflicting things all the time. Somebody just said you should set all subwoofers combined to 85DB reference instead of individually to 85DB. This just doesn't seem correct to me. I have a 7.10.6 system with all subs calibrated to 85db I am pushing around 140+ DB in room. I set each of my 10 subwoofers to 85DB and have been doing individual speakers at 75DB for 30+ years. Just wondering if I was doing it wrong all this time.

[@felixarzuaga5805]

Where should i have my volume set on my sub when i calibrate my system with Ypao?

[@hometheatergurus]

Your auto setup systems should have you adjust the subs gain knobs if they are too high or too low. If yours isn't checking for it just pu the gain knob a half way and run YPOA. As for the volume on the avr the room correction will take over and set that where it needs it.

[@felixarzuaga5805]

So gain and low pass half way on the sub and run YPOA?

[@hometheatergurus]

@@felixarzuaga5805 gain yes low pass needs to be disabled /maxed out. Check out the video on sub setup and it'll set you up and explain why we do the things we do.

[@MrBoomtheroom]

so do you set the db meter to slow or fast?

[@hometheatergurus]

Slow

[@GucciGamerTV]

I love how he assures us that he’s washed his hands lol

[@hometheatergurus]

It was worse in person the camera showed. Looked like I smacked a smurf 😂

[@raymondayala5355]

@@hometheatergurus hi, in your honest opinion, do you prefer the SVS ultra Towers surround system with a PB3000 or the B&W CT 7.3 front stage and CT 7.5 for surrounds- for cinema quality sound. Have you heard either of these 2 systems?

[@chrisohrling149]

What are some brand name for THX speakers

[@hometheatergurus]

THX is just a paid for label and guarantees they meet some specs but pay attention to the distance of each THX level is spec'd for. Even ultra 2 is reference to around 12' which isn't that impressive and many non badged speakers are far better than this but don't pay for the label. Just do your home work.

[@JunkerDC]

I find where ever I go the movies the center chanel is too low at the movies and IMAX its so low and when I did my auto eq at home it was low too maybe my ears are bad but I know it use to sound great at the movies

[@hometheatergurus]

Definitely check It out manually. Also the video on room treatments. That alone will open a new world of detail and focus. It's such an improvements words can't do it justice. You just need to know what to use were which I cover.

[@meirbergman5964]

How to maintain manual calibration in Danon 1300

[@joelane4670]

Just so I’m perfectly clear.(and I never am)..lol. When I do this 75 dB test,I should turn the receiver to max?

[@hometheatergurus]

Go to 6:45 in the video. On the relative scale you go to 0.

[@joelane4670]

Home Theater Gurus ..Hey,What’s your take on down firing subs?The reason I’m asking, I just bought home theater set up with a down firing sub..(klipsch). Probably Manufactured a few years ago!

[@hometheatergurus]

@@joelane4670 they're good. Years ago most of the diy subs were down firing sonotube subs. Performance wise they're the same as front firing.

[@joelane4670]

Home Theater Gurus ..that’s awesome!..thank you..

[@joelane4670]

Hey bud..Can I mount Surround sound speakers up high,like closer to the ceiling?But,not on the ceiling..Perhaps 6’ from our listing position?

[@NES088]

I'm alittle confused, you said the engineers use 85db as reference, then you said in homes we use 75, but at 75 you keep saying that we'll hear it at the levels it was intended to be, but I thought it was intended to be 85?

[@hometheatergurus]

The level an avr is calibrated at is determined by the avr manufacturers. 85 is loud so it's common for them to use 75. Once calibrated it'll be as loud as any other avr using 75 or even someone who had a processor that used 85db. It's up to the manufacturer what level they choose to set their system up.

[@owlpix8273]

Thanks for all your videos. I have a Denon 3600 and the max vol is 0db. When I run the white noise it is so loud I scared the dog and I panicked because I thought I would blow my speakers. I mean it so loud that I'd need an ear plug or noise cancelling headphone. Is that what I am supposed to hear and just ignore the loudness and adjust the levels to 75db? Will the white noise damage my speakers?

[@owlpix8273]

You had your max volume limit at -10db. You had to change that to none or 0db before level matching, correct?

[@TerminatorJuice]

So don't use the SPL Meter to get the sub level set?

[@hometheatergurus]

Not if you wanna get it right. Pink noise is sound at every octave so it's sampling just a few frequencies in The sub. A dip or null at one of them and it's worthless to use. A house curve also. You need to see the repsonse or just adjust it till you like it. Most tweak bass even after it's calibrated either through boosting the house curve or bumping up the trim or gain knob. Some like more than others, some want it calibrated . It's a taste thing. It definitely should be null free and a have nice response that's similar seat to seat with shouse curve. I have episodes on sub setup, modal behavior, alignment etc.

[@TerminatorJuice]

@@hometheatergurus Thanks for all the advise! I definitely like to feel the bass, but I also want to have the rest of the speakers at a good volume too so I don't lose that dynamic sound. I usually just turn the gain down on the sub and set the receiver volume at a point where I like to listen to music, and then turn the gain up slowly until it fills in nicely with the mains. That's how I've been doing it for 25 years an have had some really good results... And it seems like ever time I try to do more advanced stuff I end up with a lesser experience and revert back to what I had the settings at to begin with! Lol

[@eEvangeliste]

More B roll please

[@philadler9171]

I would never hire a guy that says you should "never boost your center channel". Its your room, if you cant hear the dialogue raise it. There are lots of bad mixes out there and a 3db boost pf your center should take care of it. (this comes froma guy who's mixed for 30 years -me)

[@kratoslostson3427]

Why is your hand blue?

[@JunkerDC]

I like reference level I wish the movie theater used this they are always lower at home we always listen around reference then we go to the movies and its always way lower

[@jessesleeper3167]

Man, I feel like I have watched so many of these videos 1000 times; so much good content. I just checked my levels, post Audyssey, and it sounds much better (most were way off). However, the left and right mains are at +2 in order to get them to 75db. Is this level bad practice and in danger of introducing distortion? Thanks!!!!

[@hometheatergurus]

Hey Jesse, Glad you're liking the content. +2 is perfectly fine and there is absolutely zero wrong with being in the positive. You don't want to have the trim near max as it can leave little voltage headroom but the thought any positive is bad is just people spreading false information.

[@victorpulos823]

How do you set 0 setting on avr

[@raymondayala5355]

Go to settings and look in the “volume” section, it should be able to switch to DB configuration. 0 is pretty loud

[@victorpulos823]

@@raymondayala5355 I was waiting for answer on this for long time but nobody answered until now thanks

[@raymondayala5355]

@@victorpulos823 yeah, that happens to me too so I try to answer most of the time when I see a question that hasn’t been answered lol. I hope you understood what I meant in the AV receiver menu. You got the Volume setting and it’ll have the section “scale” you change that to DB and then you can turn the volume up until you see it’s at 0db

[@seanmckinnon4612]

Subs really need to be set using +10 in band gain on an analyzer. An SPL meter is insufficient for setting subwoofer level. You want to set your SPL meter for C weighting and SLOW RESPONSE.

[@hometheatergurus]

We don't use an spl meter for subs. Did you watch the video?

[@seanmckinnon4612]

I did watch the video but it wasn’t really clear. You seem to advocate for subjective level matching between center and sub which is unreliable. Again, ISO2969/SMPTE 202 defines how subwoofers should be set using an analyzer and measuring in band gain.

[@hometheatergurus]

I recommend using a sweep of a main crossed to a sub. This way the sub level can be accurately set for a perfect transition and spl. There other ways but I feel this is by far the most accurate.

[@greenmarine5]

Love ya brother...but I am not interested in a monologue of my wasted Time. Other than that great video

[@morbus74]

Is it just me or did you not explain how to calibrate that sub channel..? You just told how to do it with REW but you didin't tell how to calibrate it with channel levels? You told that sub is little bit different.. Do i adjust my sub channel also to 75db or lower?

[@hometheatergurus]

You can't use an spl meter to Calibrate the sub unless it's calibrated and most cheaper mics even those that claim to be calibrated aren't that accurate down in the sub frequencies. A phone with an spl app is completely useless in this region which is why I didn't recommend you use an spl for the sub. You use rew as mentioned or adjust it by ear. Even room correction has a difficult time with the sub channel which is why people often feel the need to tweak the sub channel after auto setup. The rew method is the correct method if you want to do it by the book as pink noise in the subs is played at every octave so because we have a house curve in the subs using pink noise to adjust sub level won't guarantee the sub level will be where it should be at the crossover point to our mains.

[@morbus74]

@@hometheatergurus Okey, thanks for the answer. I have the REW but i haven't got a good, calibrated mic yet, that is one thing i need buy.

[@hometheatergurus]

@@morbus74 you're welcome. I should have done better in the video at explaining why I didn't recommend using a mic to Calibrate the sub level ... Ohh well. Hopefully anyone curious will see your question and the answer.

[@budgetaudiophile6048]

My hair fell out

[@hometheatergurus]

See... I told you not to boost the center channel.. 😜

[@budgetaudiophile6048]

@@hometheatergurus this is what I get for not listening. I tell everyone that I send to your channel to pay CLOSE attention otherwise they'll wind up like me.

[@phillipallen5564]

Absolulute is like a cheap Walmart stereo

[@shawncockrell6007]

The sound is terrible on this........crackle mic.

[@hometheatergurus]

I did that just so you'd comment on it.. 😁