How To Set Speaker Levels with an SPL Meter

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[@steveh5475]

Best SPL meter calibration video I have seen. Very thorough and easy to understand directions. Great job!

[@Kpaceguy]

I appreciate it!

[@doyouluvit]

1:18 thank you for giving an example like this which is exactly my situation. So many audio guys on here never bring up situations like this and act like everyone has a dedicated media room. You rock!

[@Kpaceguy]

I appreciate it

[@dfiler2]

I really like using my ancient, analog RadioShack SPL meter. The analog needle is easier to work with when adjusting trim to reference level. On the slower response setting, just make the needle point straight up. That's way easier than looking at numbers going up and down. My recommendation... get an analog meter if you can. They're better than digital for this purpose.

[@carmelo007]

When I change volume level on certain channel it will effect the whole other speakers sound as well. just playing a movie and doing manual volume set up until I got the best sounding ( as a whole) of my Yamaha RX-A3070. thanks for the informative video. Just subscribe to your channel and turn on notif . Looking forward to your other topics. Thanks a lot.

[@Kpaceguy]

I appreciate it! Thanks for watching.

[@ThePoolSharkWizard]

Perfect, Thank you for the Input, helped a ton! :)

[@Kpaceguy]

Thanks for watching

[@MichaelLHill-fd3kw]

My Denon is setting my db at 75 at reference level and will also setup the subs to be the same , so I cannot make any changes until the setup is complete and then I will go in and change my 8 channels to 78db and the center to 80db and then the subs are set to 86db with the mini DSP as they are calibrated to be as 1 unit and not 4 because the Denon will not move forward if the subs are above 76db , so I can only make changes after the Denon is done.

[@JayPatrol]

0.00 db on all three fronts Nothing higher than that (of course) Nothing too lower either But that up to every person too

[@MrRyadav3]

Very well explained. On my Denon remote there is an 'Options' button that also sets speaker levels. The DB values in Options, seem to be independant of the test tone procedure and the values that it sets which are primarily in the negative at 0 Reference level at 80db. So how should we treat the Options setting? Thank you.

[@Kpaceguy]

Options setting changes the volume of the speakers in that particular input.

[@johnsouza3243]

6:59 am. I agree with Steven! …… John S.

[@SangramVID]

What db handle bose redline double cube speaker? Plz

[@MyFatherLoves]

Great video.

[@DjBlaaack]

since you sit closer to your rears, as do i, do you set it a little lower or to match the front?

[@Kpaceguy]

Of course

[@DjBlaaack]

@@Kpaceguy which one lol

[@maze400]

Room EQ corrects timing of the sound waives so they arrive at a designated spot at the same time. The SPL lets you level out and balance those waves. I have the Onkyo NR7100, I have run the Dirac live for room correction and SPL levels... Question, on the Onkyo when running the pink noise levels the amp sets the volume to 82db's I assume this is the zero reference level you mentioned? I never listen to movies above 65db's and TV at 50-55db's, should I run the SPL at my listening volume or the reference volume?

[@Kpaceguy]

Reference

[@mitchgurney]

Thanks!

[@samidebs3559]

Do I turn the odyssey off before I use the spl meter?

[@Kpaceguy]

No

[@rtyhhytyty]

Toptes spl meter vs umik mini dsp..Which is best for calibration.. pl suggest ..

[@Kpaceguy]

@rtyhhytyty REW recommends using your own SPL meter not the umik

[@rtyhhytyty]

@@Kpaceguy can u pl tell how to use the rew calibration with spl meter .All are showing the rew calibration with minidsp

[@rtyhhytyty]

Can we connect toptes spl meter to a laptop for rew calibration

[@Kpaceguy]

@@rtyhhytyty no

[@rtyhhytyty]

@@Kpaceguy can u suggest any other brand that have this option

[@jeetencothundharamen3926]

Hi after callibrating my av receiver the front speaker is way high. When changing level to 75db. I must decrease it to max that is -12db please help

[@Kpaceguy]

There isn't too much you can do but whatever your front speaker is reading at -12db, set all your other speakers to match so at least everything is at the same volume

[@josephpicado1818]

Great video bro always watch your videos!! But I have a question I know you did a review on the Sony STR DH790 and I have one but I haven’t figure it out how to calibrate the levels any tips or suggestions pls I really need help thank you so much??

[@Kpaceguy]

What exactly is your question?

[@josephpicado1818]

I would like to know how I can calibrate the speaker levels on this Sony avr?

[@Kpaceguy]

@Joseph Picado I don't remember off the top of my head but I believe I showed it in the videos I made of it

[@josephpicado1818]

Doesn’t have a reference volume settings been having this avr for over a year bc and I haven’t yet calibrated it the way I would like to so frustrated!!

[@josephpicado1818]

@Kpaceguy I remember you did the calibration but with the mic but not calibrating each speaker level like you did

[@nekerrivera]

Hi, Do you set your atmos high speakers with the same db level as your front and rear surround speakers?

[@Kpaceguy]

Nope I set them higher

[@chijames9960]

For subwoofer measurement, how should the setup on subwoofer side (phase, vol, crossover….)?

[@chijames9960]

As I am using Definitive Technology Super cube 6000

[@Kpaceguy]

Volume on the sub itself should have been set to the half mark before calibration. If you're using the crossover in your receiver, turn the crossover dial to LFE or MAX. Whatever the highest you can set the crossover so you dont overlap. Run calibration after that and then do your SPL test.

[@chijames9960]

What is the difference between the Auto cal and the manual cal by SPL meter?

[@chijames9960]

@@Kpaceguythank you very much for your quick response 🙏🏻

[@DarthHater100]

Why does Avatar 2 in the thumbnail have letterbox bars? Was 1.78:1 for me from Apple TV. . .

[@Kpaceguy]

It was a trailer at the time

[@scroobthenookie8054]

How would I get the right reference level on my sony an1000 being it doesn't have a option to changed the volume to db

[@Kpaceguy]

Use 80% of the way to max volume

[@scroobthenookie8054]

Thanks I'll try that

[@davidmckee2898]

Why didn't you mention fast or slow response on the sound metre❓

[@Kpaceguy]

Mentioned it in the review video. And most all people who have a meter will know to slow it down so you can read it

[@doyouluvit]

after doing all my speakers to about 75b they are all in the + now and no longer in the minus. Is that bad?

[@Kpaceguy]

Depends how high they are

[@doyouluvit]

@@Kpaceguy +2 or 3, maybe 4

[@Kpaceguy]

@@doyouluvit not too bad

[@Alaw_83]

Mine are too they only read 75db with all at +3 , 4, 5 +

[@wendellwendellb339]

Damn, if you are setting your ear level speakers around 80db, what are you setting the subs at? I have mine set around 75.5, and run the subs hot, around 80db to 82db.

[@Kpaceguy]

Same as the center. 83-85

[@wendellwendellb339]

@@Kpaceguy You heard of Techno Dad n Joe n Tell, right? They put out a Spatial Audio Calibration Disc, which in my opinion, has taken my system to the next level. I rewatched the first John Wick movie (the basement scene with a sledgehammer breaking up the concrete) yeah, I’m still smiling!

[@Kpaceguy]

@@wendellwendellb339 of course I have.

[@wendellwendellb339]

@@Kpaceguy Look into it, you might like it, it will test your entire system!

[@Kpaceguy]

@@wendellwendellb339 Where do you get it? Downloaded file?

[@bigikes4137]

Did you announce a winner?

[@Kpaceguy]

Yes

[@Snapps240]

Why do you suggest 80? Isn't reference 75?

[@Kpaceguy]

Little extra boom. 75 is reference

[@Snapps240]

@@Kpaceguy ah ok I see. So I assume now your reference is -5 instead of 0?

[@Kpaceguy]

@Snapps240 I don't ever get to reference. It's too loud lol. I still calibrate at 0

[@Snapps240]

@@Kpaceguy I definitely agree with you on that!!! Lol

[@dfiler2]

This is bad advice. It doesn't provide extra kick. The amp still has the same gain and the preamp still has the same output capability. All it does is cause the volume display to show an incorrect number.

[@Albeno94]

Why do you do 80db instead of 75db?

[@Kpaceguy]

I like a little extra kick

[@Albeno94]

@@Kpaceguy I changed mine to 80db and it sounds so much better especially my atmos. You don’t have to turn the volume up at all like I had to before.

[@dfiler2]

@@Albeno94 Both produce the exact same result. There is zero advantage to calibrating to the wrong level. It's equivalent to calibrating your car speedometer to be inaccurate. It doesn't change the car's performance. Similarly, the amp still has the same gain and the preamp still has the same output capability.

[@chrisohrling149]

This video would've been more helpful if you actually had it going on the screen so everyone knows what settings you go to as every receiver is different and different settings

[@Kpaceguy]

1st. Not all receivers are the same, so your settings are not the same as mine. Like you mentioned. What anthem calls one setting may be a different setting in yours. 2nd. I have a "how to" playlist that has more in depth video that go through all the receiver settings, what they mean and how to set them up. Those videos are more what you're looking for. Link in description

[@chrisohrling149]

@@Kpaceguy I don't have a auddessy mic at all to do the proper calibration for my speakers and my front stage my speakers are cerwin vega VS 120 series is my left side and right side and for the center channel is a cerwin vega and all of my speakers 7.1 are set to +9 and +10 levels and +9 is set for my front stage and +10 is set for my rears and I am running 4 power amplifiers to run all of my 7 speakers and when I go to the speaker level setup I don't get the hissing sound like yours does but I get clipping noise coming from my speakers and when I go to get the sound to go through the center channel the sound is coming from the left side only and not the center and I really honestly need to know what to do to fix this problem and my power amplifiers are hookup to the preout puts on the back of my pioneer vsx-1016txv receiver and I need your help

[@chrisohrling149]

@@Kpaceguy it's like a popping sound