What level do you put your surround speakers relative to your front?

[ridergroov1]

Hi folks..I just added some bigger surround speakers to my HT and wondered how high in the mix they should be? Do you put them lower? equal to front? Just curious how others set it up. Thanks.

[Alpha Sixx]

Right and left surrounds about 25% lower than fronts and center. Rear surrounds about 70% lower than fronts but my rears are about a foot from my head. For music all equal. I guess it all depends on where you are seated. I have my pics posted.

[BIslander]

They should all be the same at the listening position when measured with an SPL meter. The channels are all equal when the material is recorded.

[Beerserker]

Originally Posted by BIslander

They should all be the same at the listening position when measured with an SPL meter. The channels are all equal when the material is recorded.

Yes, this is correct. You can get a SPL meter at radio shack, or parts express has many to choose from. This one's only $20.00 http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=390-722

Just play the test tone your receiver generates for calibration and match all channels.

[Hammie]

Originally Posted by BIslander

They should all be the same at the listening position when measured with an SPL meter. The channels are all equal when the material is recorded.

Originally Posted by Beerserker

Yes, this is correct. You can get a SPL meter at radio shack, or parts express has many to choose from. This one's only $20.00 http://www.parts-express.com/pe/show...number=390-722

Just play the test tone your receiver generates for calibration and match all channels.

And they should all be set the same. Many places say 75db, but I like mine to run a little hot at 80db. My sub is set to 83db. I test mine at least once a month to make sure everything is working properly.

[MADNOD]

Originally Posted by louhamilton

And they should all be set the same. Many places say 75db, but I like mine to run a little hot at 80db. My sub is set to 83db. I test mine at least once a month to make sure everything is working properly.

+1 for the above, u should run your setup calibration and verify it with an SPL, there are many factors that affect the surround sound field than just volume, like phase and room acoustics for example.

[solarrdadd]

I have all my speaker levels set to 0db in the receiver settings for speaker level (including the sub) and each set for distance as needed. all at 80hz crossover that's how i like it, that's how it sounds best to me in my place.

[ridergroov1]

Originally Posted by louhamilton

And they should all be set the same. Many places say 75db, but I like mine to run a little hot at 80db. My sub is set to 83db. I test mine at least once a month to make sure everything is working properly.

Okay that sounds good but I don't exactly know what you are talking about or how to set that up. Please explain. Thank you.

[ridergroov1]

Originally Posted by solarrdadd

I have all my speaker levels set to 0db in the receiver settings for speaker level (including the sub) and each set for distance as needed. all at 80hz crossover that's how i like it, that's how it sounds best to me in my place.

Hi Solar,

Right I know it's impossible to say what is going to sound right at my place with my gear and my room. So you set everything equal level and just set the distance settings on the receiver?

[solarrdadd]

Originally Posted by ridergroov1

Hi Solar,

Right I know it's impossible to say what is going to sound right at my place with my gear and my room. So you set everything equal level and just set the distance settings on the receiver?

it works great for me, give it a try and see how you like it. like i said for me everything is level wise is set to 0db and actual distances are set. crossover for everything is 80hz and i love it.

make sure you write down what your present settings are so, when you change them you can always go back to what you had before the change should you decide to.

keep me posted and let me know what you think should you give it a try!

[kingofgrills]

Originally Posted by solarrdadd

it works great for me, give it a try and see how you like it. like i said for me everything is level wise is set to 0db and actual distances are set. crossover for everything is 80hz and i love it.

make sure you write down what your present settings are so, when you change them you can always go back to what you had before the change should you decide to.

keep me posted and let me know what you think should you give it a try!

I'm glad that works for you. Are you using an identical speaker model all around your room?

I find the most realistic, seamless surround presentation in my room comes when I levelize all speakers with my SPL meter from the main listening position. I use a Radio Shack SPL meter, and they are known to not capture low bass frequencies quite as well as mids had highs. For that reason, I typically raise my subwoofer level by 2 dBLs when calibrating.

[ridergroov1]

Originally Posted by kingofgrills

I'm glad that works for you. Are you using an identical speaker model all around your room?

I find the most realistic, seamless surround presentation in my room comes when I levelize all speakers with my SPL meter from the main listening position. I use a Radio Shack SPL meter, and they are known to not capture low bass frequencies quite as well as mids had highs. For that reason, I typically raise my subwoofer level by 2 dBLs when calibrating.

Radio Shack has an SPL meter? I couldn't find it on their site. I'd love to go pick one of locally this weekend if this is a possibility. Let me know if you see it on their site. That way I can call and find out if we have it around here. Thanks.

[solarrdadd]

Originally Posted by kingofgrills

I'm glad that works for you. Are you using an identical speaker model all around your room?

I find the most realistic, seamless surround presentation in my room comes when I levelize all speakers with my SPL meter from the main listening position. I use a Radio Shack SPL meter, and they are known to not capture low bass frequencies quite as well as mids had highs. For that reason, I typically raise my subwoofer level by 2 dBLs when calibrating.

you see my speakers in my signature, all polk, all within a couple of "families" of each other. the front 3 are matched, the 4 surrounds are matched too. most of us do not use the exact same speakers for all 5 - 7 channels so, we either use timbre matched sets from the maker or do the hard research to try to get the best match by spec. again, music and movies sound fantastic in my house.

[solarrdadd]

Originally Posted by ridergroov1

Radio Shack has an SPL meter? I couldn't find it on their site. I'd love to go pick one of locally this weekend if this is a possibility. Let me know if you see it on their site. That way I can call and find out if we have it around here. Thanks.

i have one on my iphone for .99 cents, i still trust and use my ears more than anything.

[emoxley]

Originally Posted by ridergroov1

Radio Shack has an SPL meter? I couldn't find it on their site. I'd love to go pick one of locally this weekend if this is a possibility. Let me know if you see it on their site. That way I can call and find out if we have it around here. Thanks.

Here it is on their website, but it says they are out of stock:
http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...ductId=2103668
Check your local store. Just ask for a sound meter.

You can get it bundled with the Avia calibration disc. A good disc to have:
http://www.svsound.com/products-parts-avia.cfm

[Big Daddy]

Originally Posted by ridergroov1

Radio Shack has an SPL meter? I couldn't find it on their site. I'd love to go pick one of locally this weekend if this is a possibility. Let me know if you see it on their site. That way I can call and find out if we have it around here. Thanks.

Originally Posted by ridergroov1

Okay that sounds good but I don't exactly know what you are talking about or how to set that up. Please explain. Thank you.

Please read Calibrationg Your Audio with an SPL Meter. It was the first sticky thread that I created. I am surprised nobody gave you the link. You will find an explanation of reference volume and how to use an SPL meter to calibrate your speakers. There are also links to Radio Shack and other SPL meters.

[phansson]

I just bump the audyssey settings on my pro/pro a couple of db's for the surrounds and rears. Personally I like a lot of surround envelopment.

[jomari]

the ratshack spl meter has been considered one of the 'standards' of the calibration process. id highly advise having one. personally i prefer analog.

as BD has posted, theres a great thread discussing how to use it, and the benefits of it.

[JJ]

For me, it's calibration be damned for my three rears. I keep the equalizer settings, but for SPL levels, I like them a bit higher than even with the L/R fronts, as well as the center.

[lokir1]

Originally Posted by JJxiv1215

For me, it's calibration be damned for my three rears. I keep the equalizer settings, but for SPL levels, I like them a bit higher than even with the L/R fronts, as well as the center.

RIGHT ON BROTHER! lol i was jus watching t4 salvation in my l/v setup and was loving the surround effects my receiver set all spks at -3 and i raised the rears back to 0 luvin the way it sounds fools people all the time they look out my window thinkin people are standing in my driveway or a cars pulled up when watching movies