Calibrating you sub...How hot do you go?

[GregBe]

I recently optimally placed and eq'd my sub to get a really flat response. Now that I am eq'd, I am playing with how hot to calibrate my sub for movies. Since I never listen at reference level...usually between -17db to -10dB below reference at most...I am inching the sub level up and liking what I am hearing.

I would love to hear what other people are doing. I have been listening to things flat (which is really 2.5dB below my other speakers because of the innacuracy of the SPL meter down low), and as high as 77dB as compared to 75dB for my other speakers (which in reality is 4.5dB hot).

What are you guys set at? In recognizing that the SPL meter is 2-3dB off for the subwoofer tones, just say what level you are at in relation to your speakers as measured by your SPL meter (such as my sub is 75dB and my speakers are 75dB), as opposed to saying "I am XX hot" which is always confusing.

[phantompwr]

I like a lot of low end, so I typically set my system to the loudest volume I am comfortable listening to, and then set the sub to the loudest it will go at that volume without distorting. I think it ends up being about 6 dB hotter than my center channel, which I usually leave at 0.0

[kareface]

Most movies are recorded at reference level. The problem is, when you scale the volume down you change the overall experience. Content recorded at reference may sound perfect when played back at that level, but as you scale down you lose perceived dialogue, bass and sounds coming from the back because of the way we perceive sound. There are 2 good solutions. When I calibrate a system I always gauge the preferred db level of the listener and calibrate based on that level. This method usually requires a full range fir EQ, a PEQ and takes a lot of time and effort. The other solution which is better for the average user is Audyssey Dynamic Volume. They created an algorithm based on professional recording studios to boost or lessen the range to keep the intended perception at reference when you scale the volume down. If you listen below reference, which most home users do, then I highly recommend this option.