test tone question

[slowtrain1]

I have a Yamaha RX-V663 reciever. When I calibrate sound levels manually I use the Avia dvd & a Radio Shack SPL meter. When I do it reads 75db at -21db on the reciever. When I use the built in test tones on the reciever it reads 75db at -10db. Should'nt both test tones read 75db at the same spot? Am I doing something wrong? Any help is appreciated.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by slowtrain1

I have a Yamaha RX-V663 reciever. When I calibrate sound levels manually I use the Avia dvd & a Radio Shack SPL meter. When I do it reads 75db at -21db on the reciever. When I use the built in test tones on the reciever it reads 75db at -10db. Should'nt both test tones read 75db at the same spot? Am I doing something wrong? Any help is appreciated.

Typically, when you play the internal test tones inside the receiver, the receiver bypasses all the equalization and processing. When you play a calibration BD/DVD such as Avia or Video Essentials, they are played with all the receiver's processing active. Moreover, the test tones on the calibration discs are recorded at different reference level than the internal test tones inside the receiver and generally play a little louder.

[rpatt]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Typically, when you play the internal test tones inside the receiver, the receiver bypasses all the equalization and processing. When you play a calibration BD/DVD such as Avia or Video Essentials, they are played with all the receiver's processing active. Moreover, the test tones on the calibration discs are recorded at different reference level than the internal test tones inside the receiver and generally play a little louder.

Good information BD.

[LordoftheRings]

Originally Posted by rpatt

Good information BD.

BD (Blu-ray Disc)?

[Yeha-Noha]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

Typically, when you play the internal test tones inside the receiver, the receiver bypasses all the equalization and processing. When you play a calibration BD/DVD such as Avia or Video Essentials, they are played with all the receiver's processing active. Moreover, the test tones on the calibration discs are recorded at different reference level than the internal test tones inside the receiver and generally play a little louder.

That is very interesting. I stumbled upon that very same thing in an empirical fashion when I used my DVE BD to calibrate my system instead of YPAO which uses the V663's internal test tones.

I use a V663 as a pre/pro. I found that I got much better results and better sound by turning EQ off in the receiver. DVE lossless audio is DD TrueHD 6.1. The V663 automatically goes in to STRAIGHT mode when it decodes DD TrueHD or DTS HD MA which bypasses all DSP modes. So, having EQ off and the V663 in STRAIGHT mode, I played DVE with all the V663's processing inactive.

Then what I also found out was that if I turned YPAO PEQ back on, by setting EQ on after doing the DVE calibration, the sound wasn't the same anymore. The audio lacked depth, detail, and presence as in dull and distant. Dialogue wasn't so clear. Leaving EQ off would restore the sound back to it's natural state having depth, presence, and detail and thus once again sounded live. Dialogue became clear and understandable even if it was low. I was truly amazed at how much YPAO PEQ degraded the quality of the sound in my system. I just keep that sucker off and I'm a happy camper.

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by LordoftheRings

BD (Blu-ray Disc)?

We decided long time ago that BD stands for Big Daddy. Anyone who disagrees will be beaten.

[Big Daddy]

Also, when you play external test tones through a DVD/BD player, the player, the interconnect cable (optical, coaxial, HDMI, or RCA), and the equalization/processing done by the receiver affect the output of the speakers. Since you normally play the movies through the same player with equalization/processing on, it makes sense to have more confidence on the calibration levels of the speakers/subwoofer as adjusted by using an external disc through the same player.

[LordoftheRings]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy

We decided long time ago that BD stands for Big Daddy. Anyone who disagrees will be beaten.

Ookie!