Quetsion about receiver/speaker setup... speaker sensitivity

[slammy77]

just got my 1st klipsch 5.1 system, the RB-51 system. My question regards sensitivity ratings.

The RB-51 fronts are 92dB, kinda low for Klipsch bookshelf models

The RC-52 center is 96dB

The RS-42 surrounds are 93dB

My Sony receiver allows me to adjust the power going to the center channel and surrounds individually, on a scale of -6 to +6. My way of thinking is to set the center output to -4 (because 96dB - 92dB = 4dB) and the surrounds to -1 (because 93dB - 92dB = 1dB). Is this how it's supposed to work or am I barking up the wrong tree?

[jacksonbart]

Your sony should have a pink noise test option in its menu, best way to bark up this tree is with your own ears. Just cycle through each channel and adjust each speaker so the pink sound from each channel sounds level/equal to you while your sitting in the sweet spot.

[ginosony]

Better use a SPL meter instead of your ears, run the pink noise test and adjust every channel at same level.

[dougdrake]

The reason you want to set each speaker's level using a meter (or your ears, though not the preferred method) in the primary listening position, versus just attempting to compensate using math against the sensitivity, is that there are many room-based variables which will affect the volume of a speaker at your listening position.

[jamesV]

Everyone has given you great information already about a meter. Here is the one that people on this site have used. http://www.radioshack.com/product/index.jsp?parentPage=search&pg=3&summary=summary&cp=&productId=2103667&accessories=accessories&kw=spl+meter&techSpecs=techSpecs&currentTab=summary&custRatings=custRatings&sr=1&features=features&origkw=spl+meter&support=support&tab=custRatings#showReviews

James

[yojoe74]

Sorry to bring up a very old thread, but I havea similar question about speaker level setting in relation to sensitivity of each speaker.

Same situation...I have the RC-52 center (at 96db) and the RB-51 fronts (at 92db)....should the RC-52 level be lowered to match the RB-51s or raise the RB-51s to match the RC-52?

Or... lower the RC -52 slightly and raise the RB-51 slightly to meet in the middle?

This is how I currently have it, with just 1db higher on the center.

What is recommended in this situation...and no I do not have a sound meter and probably won't be getting one right off.

[SuBXeRo]

personally, i like to just listen to the pink noise and level it by ear. If not that, i like to adjust it based on how much sound i want, my rears for instance, i want them to be louder than they probably should be because i liked to feel more enveloped, i also like to jack my center channel up so i can hear voices more clearly, i am in an apt so i wanna hear voices from the center more than the rumble for my L/R channels, it all depends on your situation.

[Thaddeus Smith]

i'd like to kiss the feet of the team behind Audyssey calibration ..it's not perfect, but for me it's good enough.