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.