How prominent are surround speakers supposed to be?

[Cisco in HD]

First I hope this in the right forum since I'm speaking of volume rather than a specific brand.
Now I know how to tune speakers db wise with an SPL meter, now I want to know from people a bit better versed than I is, how faint/prominent are surrounds supposed to be? I understand that surrounds aren't supposed to "noticed". Then again it all depends on personal taste. The 85% or more of the sound stage comes from the front 3 and the back speakers are for "support". The reason I ask is because I watched part 6 of BoB: Bastogne today and the bullets whizzing by and the plane fly overs sounded a bit faint. Is there a general rule about how loud the rears should be? Is there supposed to be a db difference with the front and the rears? If so what's a good difference, for example.

[Johk]

The ideal is to have all speakers at the same dB level.

The rest is content related. The best in my opinion is to use the surrounds as required by the content to create the proper atmosphere.

[Cisco in HD]

Damn Johk, you got me on here and at the harmony thread.

So as an example... having all speakers at +1 including fronts and rears as one 'level' soundstage is best? Or using 0db on the SPL meter as the point where speaker levels should be individualy?

[Hammie]

Originally Posted by Cisco in HD

Damn Johk, you got me on here and at the harmony thread.

So as an example... having all speakers at +1 including fronts and rears as one 'level' soundstage is best? Or using 0db on the SPL meter as the point where speaker levels should be individualy?

Your SPL meter should read the same for every speaker. Some say 75 or 80db is a good starting point.

[HAMP]

Originally Posted by Cisco in HD

Damn Johk, you got me on here and at the harmony thread.

So as an example... having all speakers at +1 including fronts and rears as one 'level' soundstage is best? Or using 0db on the SPL meter as the point where speaker levels should be individualy?

No they should not all be equal. You have to take in consideration the distance. With the distance being different the db will be different.

[Cisco in HD]

I understand that different speakers WILL have different db settings via the SPL meter to reach at one specific number on it. Let's go with 0 since it's dead center.

My concern are the rears... how faint/loud should they be, obviously they shouldn't overpower the fronts, that's just ass backwards. Could they be on the same db level as the fronts, or do they have to be on a lower db level?

Obviously, this falls into taste as well. I know I like my center a few db's louder than the rest, no more than +3db than the fronts.

[J6P]

Let's define terms real quick, because I think we might be miscommunicating.

What everyone is saying is that all of the speakers should be at the same decibel level when measured from your single, preferred listening position. So, they're all going to be set at different attenuation amounts on the reciever when you are done.

Hold the SPL meter at your favorite spot to watch movies from, and adjust the settings on the receiver with a test tone for all speakers so that they read the same volume according to the SPL meter -- without changing its position.

Is this what you were thinking?

[prankster]

Originally Posted by Cisco in HD

I understand that different speakers WILL have different db settings via the SPL meter to reach at one specific number on it. Let's go with 0 since it's dead center.

My concern are the rears... how faint/loud should they be, obviously they shouldn't overpower the fronts, that's just ass backwards. Could they be on the same db level as the fronts, or do they have to be on a lower db level?

Obviously, this falls into taste as well. I know I like my center a few db's louder than the rest, no more than +3db than the fronts.

i adjust my surround db's so the test tone levels from all speakers sound the same from my primary seating area. i don't think there is a 'magic number' for your surround; you need to adjust it based on your seating arrangement/room dynamics, etc.