Question about sub SPL level (1 Viewer)

[Kevin Cagle]

I am new to HT tuning and recently bought the radio shack SPL meter(which BTW is on sale right now). I used the sound and vision disc to tune my system.

What I found was that my sub was cranked WAAAYYY higher than the rest of my speakers. Like 15db higher. It didn't sound like it was that far off, though I knew it was a little high.

Here is my question:

When setting to reference level 75db, the meter even on C weighting/slow for my sub is still pretty spikey.

Does the radio shack meter accurately pick up those low tones and do i really set the sub to exactly the same as the other speakers, b/c now it sounds kind of quiet OR am i just being an overindulgent bass-a-holic?

Thanks in advance,

Kevin

 

[ColinM]

Here are the figures to add to the meter's readout -

10Hz +20.5

12.5Hz +16.5

16Hz +11.5

20Hz +7.5

25Hz +5

31.5Hz +3

40Hz +2.5

50Hz +1.5

63Hz +1.5

80Hz +1.5

100Hz +2

125Hz +0.5

160Hz -0.5

200Hz -0.5

250Hz +0.5

315Hz -0.5

400Hz 0

500Hz -0.5

630Hz 0

800Hz 0

1KHz 0

My pink noise levels go from 74-76db between (guessing) 40 - 80Hz, so I'm 'naturally' 1-3 db's hot.

Pink noise is an average kinda thingy...

Hope this helps.

- CM

 

[Brian E]

The RS meter does need to be compensated for. Check ColinM's post toward the bottom of this page for a compensation chart.
http://www.hometheaterforum.com/htfo...6&pagenumber=2
EDIT: Damn Colin you're fast

 

[Kevin Cagle]

Talk about fast!

Call me a dolt or whatever term you prefer to use, but if I understand correctly the meter will read ~3db too low for the sub level tone and the meter is spikey b/c it is off different amounts at different tones?

 

[ColinM]

Yup.
Meter sez 70 @ 25, it's really 75.
Be aware that your ears act a bit like the meter...you are also not very sensitive to low bass at low volume, which is why you may hear the term 'house curve' thrown around.
- CM
'Swooooosh!'
Not fast, just bored...

 

[Kevin Cagle]

i feel comfortable letting this fall off the forum now.

thanks for helping a newbie...

I'm so excited. my cc-370 comes in 4 more days! Just in time for the weekend.