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Page 7
Setup, calibrating and integration (cont.)
G
etting ready to start now: A few more checks. Make sure your
receiver/processor master volume is set at “00 dB” or some other
easy to remember reference level. Finally, ensure your subwoofer
amp’s volume control (if it has one) is set full up, to start. It’s a
good idea to check the separate subwoofer level control of your sur-
round receiver before you begin the test tones too. Keep it to no
higher than “-5 dB” initially (that’s one fourth up on a typical re-
ceiver channel limits of –10 dB to +10 dB) . Your LFE “trim”, if
you have one, should be set to 0dB to start too. As the tones start,
alternating from speaker to speaker (watching your sound meter
now) set each speaker’s volume to about 75 dB, using the receiver’s
channel controls (leaving master volume the same). We recommend
you turn down the receiver’s subwoofer level, before you lower your
amp’s volume control to keep input distortion to a minimum.
When it comes to setting the level of the subwoofer channel, you
might find that a higher level is preferable. Tastes vary, and so do
movie soundtracks, but your SV Subwoofer is capable of tremendous
levels of low distortion, low frequency bass. Take advantage of this,
especially if you like action movies with lots of “.1” channel low fre-
quency effects (LFE). Keep in mind too that the human ear is rela-
tively insensitive to low frequencies. This, coupled with the fact
most folks don’t watch movies at Dolby Digital reference level
(loud!), means tweaking the bass up a few dBs usually yields a better
movie sound experience. If you hear your woofer “bottom” (a loud
clacking noise!) be sure to back off until this stops on that scene.
If you watch movies at relatively moderate levels (say -15 to –8
dB from reference level) try a +4 to +6dB setting on the LFE or “.1”
channel. This means that the VE test tone will waiver about 81dB
for the subwoofer portion of the calibration run. You’ll briefly need
to rotate the sound meter level dial to the 80dB setting to get a good
reading on the subwoofer. Don’t forget that most modern surround
sound receivers allow completely different subwoofer level settings,
depending on the listening mode you are in. With “DVD” as your
“source” use the above calibration routine. You may well find that
“CD” (music) calls for a lower bass setting for the best balance in
your home theater (try setting this by ear with music you are familiar
with). The above is a guide, experiment! Avoid bottoming your sub
repeatedly on your most bassy movies and it’ll sound great for years.
SV Subwoofers