Orange Peel Posted September 17, 2002 Share Posted September 17, 2002 Yesterday when I got home I thought I would mess with my HK 520 to see what I can do with the SPL function. So I do what it says in the manual, and I find out that my center channel has been WAY to low, I had to add 3 db's to it, and my surrounds were SO FAR OFF, my lord, I had to add 6 db's to get them in the right area. It's CRAZY to hear movies now, I went out and rented the 2 Terminator movies, wow, lots of surround effects. I watched LOTR's again, sheesh, I should have done this a long time ago I always thought my surrounds were too quiet and couldn't hear that much out of them. I still plan to pick up the SPL Meter from Radio Shack, but for now, this one worked a bit I love this receiver, and I love Klipsch!!! ------------------ Scottc>s> Goldsmithc>s> Home Theatre:s> Klipsch RF-3's (Front Mains)c> Klipsch RC-3 (Center)c> Klipsch RS-3's (Rear Surrounds)c> Polk Audio PSW650 subc> Harman Kardon AVR-520c> Harman Kardon AVR-125c> Mitsubishi 60" Big Screen VS-60609c> Sony DVD DVP-S530Dc> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DillonW Posted September 17, 2002 Share Posted September 17, 2002 Hard to believe I've had one in my hand while browsing at RatShak, but actually left without making the purchase. (Don't tell HornEd, he will scold me bad) I better get back down there and make that purchase. Congrats on the improvement, so many things just add up to make a system better and better! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike Lindsey Posted September 18, 2002 Share Posted September 18, 2002 The Rat Shack SPL meter is a must have in my opinion. Not just for adjusting the Channel Levels in your HT but also to test the SPL at each frequency from a Sterephile Test CD. With each change I make to my speakers (crossovers, drivers, horns, placement, etc), I always run the tests and see what it does to my Frequency Response... Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Audible Nectar Posted September 18, 2002 Share Posted September 18, 2002 No home theater is complete and battle ready W/O proper calibration. It's the difference between an average system and one of high performance. It sounds cliche, but calibration is key to getting all of the sound that you paid for. $80 (Avia or VE + SPL meter) is a small price to pay to ensure such performance. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tripod Posted September 18, 2002 Share Posted September 18, 2002 Why is Avia so much more expensive than Sound & Vision Home Theater Tune-up? Is it worth the extra? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boa12 Posted September 18, 2002 Share Posted September 18, 2002 i ended up using my pre/pro for the test tone over my avia disk. it has everything the avia has there & more. avia does have a nice video calibration which is the only thing i've used on it now. ------------------ My Home Systems Page Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougdrake Posted September 18, 2002 Share Posted September 18, 2002 The reason I like using the Avia for the test tones, rather than the preamp, is that way I am measuring from the source component. Prolly not a big deal in my overall picture, but what the heck... I think I saw the Ovation logo on the cover of the S&V Test Disk, didn't I? Ovation produces the Avia disk... Perhaps the reason the S&V disk is so much cheaper is they fill it with glowing recommendations and advertisements of every imaginable piece of equipment, just like their rag. Doug ------------------ My System This message has been edited by dougdrake on 09-18-2002 at 06:49 PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DillonW Posted September 18, 2002 Share Posted September 18, 2002 dougdrake - thanks for the precursor to the snide comment, otherwise I may have misinterpreted it as sarcasm. Guess I better get my cheap a$$ down to RatShack and spend that money! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marksdad Posted September 20, 2002 Share Posted September 20, 2002 where can a person get the calibration disc's ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tripod Posted September 20, 2002 Share Posted September 20, 2002 Amazon.com has both of the discs mentioned above. I bought mine from eBay and saved a couple bucks. I chose sound & vision home theater tune up, sounds like it's just as good as the more expensive Avia. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric D Posted September 20, 2002 Share Posted September 20, 2002 Hey Orange Peel, you have a deadline on getting that SPL meter. I read elsewhere that you have a sub on order. You need the SPL meter because you just can't set the volumes to match your regular speakers using just your ear. Bass just doesn't sound the same as the full-range noise. But I guarantee you'll like the result. Enjoy, Eric Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boa12 Posted September 20, 2002 Share Posted September 20, 2002 doug, its no biggy , but what about other source components like dig cable box? i use that more than the dvd/cd player for watching 5.1/2.0 movies. also have a tuner in the pre/pro. plus the avia jumps around to the speaks for the tones instead of staying put long enough to get the setting right. or is there a way to get it to stop? (moot for me since i'm not using it anyway ). also the bass mgmt is goofy w/ it. though its a 5.1 disk, they don't put out a sub tone unless you put the speaks to small. iow, it doesn't have its own sub tone- it relies on the bass mgmt to produce it. worthless for lfe level. (again moot for me anyway). no biggy though. ------------------ My Home Systems Page Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dougdrake Posted September 20, 2002 Share Posted September 20, 2002 boa - Good points. Just speaking from my narrow little world where I only use DVDs and CDs for sources (don't have cable, by choice- isn't that amazing!!). There are chapters with test tones that are dedicated to just one channel, and the tone doesn't move until the chapter ends. Yeah, it does end eventually so I just have to A-B loop it or hit chapter backup on the DVD. I hadn't observed the "no LFE test" phenomenon you mentioned. I'll have to check that on my system. DD ------------------ My System Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boa12 Posted September 20, 2002 Share Posted September 20, 2002 doug, it is ok really. just my lil peeves. just seemed to move before i could ever finish a speak. put all your speaks on large & try the test tone for sub - nothing. of course, everyone should have their speaks on small w/ a sub anyway. ------------------ My Home Systems Page Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marksdad Posted September 22, 2002 Share Posted September 22, 2002 please explain, this is exactly what i have been looking to do, but have been too green to know what to ask. what exactly is lfe, and the other abbreviated terms you mentioned, plus how should i proceed? i haqve spent alot of money to upgrade recently, but i know i can get more out of what i have, thanks ------------------ ONKYO TX-DS797 ROTEL RMB-1075 ROTEL RCD-991 ONKYO DVC-600 RF 5 fronts (soon rf 7) RF 3 SURROUNDS RC7 FRONT CENTER SVS ULTRA SUB Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
boa12 Posted September 22, 2002 Share Posted September 22, 2002 md, here's the lil primer pdf on LFE - Low Frequency Effects. The .1 channel in 5.1 - dif from low bass contained in the other channels ------------------ My Home Systems Page Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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