How do you adjust your EQ with a SPL meter?

[carbon summit]

I bought a SPL meter from Radio Shack and was planning on adjusting the EQ to see if I could get it better than YPAO auto setup but realized I have no idea what to do next. I get how to set the levels to adjust for distance but how do you adjust the different EQ settings? I assumed the receiver would but out test tones for that too but not the case. Do you need to buy a calibration CD or am I missing the obvious?

[carbon summit]

http://forums.klipsch.com/forums/p/111682/1123263.aspx

No one argued with the last post so maybe I'll just take the meter back!!

[nezff]

you can use the spl meter to get your speakers the correct levels.

[USNRET]

I don't think you can. But I can loan you what I have, a Phonics PAA 3. Not top notch in some people's opinion but has calibrated mic and real time read outs. Do a search and PM if interested.

http://www.phonic.com/en/testers/paa3.html

[Pete H]

I would suggest putting the meter back in the box and just adjusting everything by your ear, and I don't mean that in any smart *** way at all, it all comes down to what you want to hear and the meters don't mean anything.

[DrWho]

You might find this interesting:

http://www.hometheatershack.com/roomeq/

It
was designed for measuring with the ratshack meter...I don't
necessarily recommend the ratshack meter as a high accuracy measuring
rig, but you already own it and the software is free. I also don't
agree with all of the EQ philosophies that you'll find recommended with this software, but at least it's a start.

I personally use REW with the Behringer ECM8000
and Tascam US-144, which will set you back about $300 or so after you
get all the cables. I've used other more expensive programs, but REW
does just as much and is way easier/faster to use (not to mention
free). I'd like to step up to TEF or EASERA, but they'll set me back a
few grand.....not sure if it's worth it just yet.

There is also Arta:

http://www.fesb.hr/~mateljan/arta/

and Speaker Workshop:

http://www.speakerworkshop.com/

both of which are also free and can be finaggled to work with your
SPL meter. The free version of ARTA doesn't let you save files, but you
can just take screenshots. Speaker Workshop is more geared for doing
impedance measurements and dealing with passive crossovers...the
frequency response measurements are a bit lacking in post processing. I
especially prefer REW because you can take multiple measurements and
it's real easy to gate the impulse response for pseudo-anechoic
measurements. I'm not sure if either of these other two will do that or not.

[tommyboy]

Ive never heard of anyone using a SPL meter to adjust the EQ; just levels. I simply used my ears for adjusting the EQ!

[carbon summit]

Yeah maybe I misunderstood something I read somewhere but I thought there was a way to do it. I know how to adjust the levels to allow for the distance from the sweet spot but no point in paying $50 for something my receiver does a good job off. It is neat to see how loud it gets when watching movies during the action parts but not worth $50 to know!

I'm probably going to bring it back to Radio Shack.

[USNRET]

Before you take it back thry this:

Have your receiver adjust levels automatically and jot them down. Re-run levels using RS meter and see how they match up. I have noticed a more seamless experience on several different brands of AVR using the meter.