balancing output levels help

sjvilla79 · « **on:** 14 Jun 2004, 01:25 am »

is there an easy way to balance the output levels of a system's speaker setup without having to use a sound level meter? i own a denon 1804 and am wondering how to get best results when using the amp's "test tone" function. can anyone assist, please? should I just go by ear?

sjvilla79 · « **Reply #1 on:** 14 Jun 2004, 01:44 am »

maybe i should rephrase my question....

what is the best way to calibrate my setup, overall?... and remembering i'm kind of new to HT, but ready to learn.

ctviggen · « **Reply #2 on:** 18 Jun 2004, 07:29 pm »

You could go by ear, although a Radio Shack meter would be more accurate. This is particularly true when you do a subwoofer test, as it's hard to gauge a comparison of the sub and a speaker.

sjvilla79 · « **Reply #3 on:** 20 Jun 2004, 03:12 pm »

Quote

you could go by ear, although a radio shack meter would be more accurate.

why am i receiving conflicting information about this? i rang 3 different stored who specialise in HT and they all said meters were a waste of time and money. i'm happy to make my adjustments by ear, but this preference will probably change in the future as my knowledge grows, i guess. anyway thanks for the reply....

ctviggen · « **Reply #4 on:** 9 Jul 2004, 02:25 pm »

They might be able to do it, but the RS meter is easy to use, relatively inexpensive, and you know your system is correct. Personally, I've always thought that calibration is easier with the RS meter. Supposedly, people have a hard time distinguishing 3db. What this means is that you might have the center channel 2 db above the right speaker, but the left speaker 2db down from the left speaker, and you'd have a 4db difference between the center channel and the left speaker, which would be noticeable. This is a simple example, but you can see where this could be an issue.

Marbles · « **Reply #5 on:** 9 Jul 2004, 02:54 pm »

The best, as far as easiest and cheapest, is to get a RS analog spl meter, they are only about $35 if you can find one.

Then adjust by ear after you have set it by SPL meter.

If you use an EQ, you will need test tones, you can down load these off the inet, or buy them from Stereophile or Rives Audio.

If you do not get the Rives test disc, you will need to manually calculate the actually sound pressure level by using the RS SPL correction chart.

If you search here you can probably find it.

WerTicus · « **Reply #6 on:** 10 Jul 2004, 02:08 pm »

doing it by ear is great but the problem is if your USED to hearing what is 'wrong' then your going to tune it wrong

until you have an educated ear it will be hard to get it right that way...

much like some good mechanics can tune an engine by ear but how do you know what sounds right untill you get out the timing light and hear what sounds right?

WerTicus · « **Reply #7 on:** 10 Jul 2004, 02:15 pm »

im looking at the rs website and i cannot find the anologue metre they only seem to have rather expensive digital ones now.. anyone have the model or part number from their cat?

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #8 on:** 11 Jul 2004, 07:24 am »

Not sure if they still carry that one anymore....might be only digital now. Check Ebay , I got an excellent deal on one there...it was in great shape too !

Marbles · « **Reply #9 on:** 11 Jul 2004, 12:20 pm »

Quote from: lonewolfny42

Not sure if they still carry that one anymore....might be only digital now. Check Ebay , I got an excellent deal on one there...it was in great shape too !

I had heard they discontinued it a while ago, but not sure if a local store might still have one floating around in it.

Agreeing with the Wolf, Ebay would be a good place to find one at a good price.

The analog ones let you see the SPL's in infinately smaller increments than the 1 db ones that the digital lets you see.

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #10 on:** 11 Jul 2004, 01:12 pm »

Quote from: lonewolfny42

Not sure if they still carry that one anymore....might be only digital now. Check Ebay , I got an excellent deal on one there...it was in great shape too !

Found a few on Ebay... http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=3278&item=3733021611&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW and here's another ... http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=25423&item=3826945963&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW