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SHOULD YOU WATCH EVERY DVD @ REF LEVEL?? |
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For most consumer's, this is way TOO LOUD!!
But there is another reason why you would only use your REFERENCE MARK as a Guide, . . .but NOT the FINAL MARK for REFERENCE listening. |
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Each DVD's DD-5.1 output will vary, depending on;
1) DVD Mastering Services 2) Master Film Soundtrack Source and 3) Mixing Engineer's Mastering Preference |
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WHY CALIBRATE, is it a waste of time?? No, . . . it's to established your DD-5.1 REFERENCE Mark (75 dB via Video Essentials, or Delos DVD Spectacular, or your A/V Receiver's internal signal test generator and/or 85 dB - all speakers & sub via AVIA & Sound and Vision HT Tuneup DVD)! Which is good, so, whichever Master Source you used, . . .just don't forget your mark!
Continue reading........... |
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MY REFERENCE RX-V995 MARK(s) NEW 1) "DOT" between 16 & 12 (using Video Essentials) 2) "16" (using Yamaha's internal DD-5.1 & DPL test signal's ) 3) "DOT" between 28 & 20 (For DD-5.1 & DPL* via Delos DVD Spectacular) ---------------------------------- NOTE: (Yamaha uses a dB Scale Increments) # -20 = 11 o'clock # -16 dB = 12 o'clock position # -12 dB = 1 o'clock position From: Dolby Digital Professional Encoding Manual - pg. 2-20 "the industry standard for film work uses pink noise at 0 dB reference level (i.e., -20 dB from digital full scale) producing a sound pressure level (SPL) of 85 dBc (slow)." |
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Click to see entire VE CAL Settings - RX-V995 |
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Click to see entire Dolby Labs DD-EX CAL Settings - RX-V1300 |
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SO WHICH REFERENCE MARK DO I USE?? It will depend on the DD-5.1 DVD Movie, but here's my procedure.
I start @ around #28 and work my way up until it sound's about right. I usually end up somewhere between that "DOT" below #20, to slightly below #16 depending on the Dolby Digital 5.1 DVD Movie! YES, depending on the DD-5.1 DVD Movie! (still evaluating, using my new JBL NSP1 HT Speakers)
Next, I used my Radio Shack SPL Meter and monitor the sub-sonic LFE SPL peaks and adjust my Volume Control until those LFE peaks go no higher than 106 dB MAX Peak Level.
That procedure, 'establishes' my REFERENCE LISTENING LEVEL MARK! (basically -10 dB below REF Level) |
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Radio Shack Analog SPL Meter Setting Dial = 100 / Weight = "C" / Speed = FAST |
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Why 106 dB?? |
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WHAT?? The following Blockbuster DVD examples have different VOL Control knob locations = 105/106 dB! (Established REFERENCE MARKS via 106 dB MAX LFE Peak SPL) |
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Great DVD's to try @ approx. 105 / 106 dB @ -10 dB below REF LEVEL 1) "Tomorrow Never Dies" & "Die Another Day" / SE 2) "Star Trek - 1st Contact; Insurrection & Nemesis / SE" 3) "The Mummy" & "The Mummy Returns" /UE 4) "Daredevil / SE" & "The Hulk / SE" 5) "Independence Day"/ SE 6) "Armageddon" / SE 7) "GalaxyQuest" / SE / DTS |
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CONCLUSION: Try it yourself, using your Radio Shack SPL Meter. After you're done REFERENCE Calibrating your HT Speakers & powered-sub, ... sit @ your 'sweet spot', play your 3, 4 or more favorite DVD's and adjust your Volume Control until the sub-sonic LFE SPL FAST peaks go no higher than 105/106 dB.
That level should be loud enough to move the air, wall, couch, pant-legs (SVS trait) with impressive sub-sonic impact(s) @ all your seating areas in your HT room when the encoded LFE calls for it, ... while at the very same time maintaining a very audible whispering dialog levels* during the quieter moments of your blockbuster DVD's!!! (*timbre-voice-matched HT Speakers is a must!!!)
I think you will find that, your -10 dB below REF Listening Level MARK will vary between most of your DVD's and if you examinie your present -10 dB below Volume Control Mark vs. your established REF CAL LEVEL Volume Control Mark, ... it's approx. -10 dB below your established REF CAL LEVEL Mark!
I noted where my approx. -10 dB below REF Volume Control Mark is and when I unwrap my new blockbuster DVD and fire it up, ... I raise my Volume Control Level to that -10 dB below REF Level Mark and see how it sounds - which is glorious!!! Sometimes though, the DVD LFE is mixed hot, ... like "Lord of the Rings", so I lower it using my RS Meter until my LFE SPL FAST peaks are around, ... 105/106 dB!!!
HAVE FUN!!!!!!!!!! |
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SPL CALCULATOR |
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Select the THX image to run C.M.Collins excellent SPL Calculator This calculator will compute the predicted maximum sound pressure level (loudness) at the listening position. |
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Home Theater HARDWARE INFO Webpages |
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Home Theater SOFTWARE INFO Webpages |
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Favorite WEBSITE Links |
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(Click for Calibration DD-5.1 Techniques) |
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PI - Sept. 25, 1999 / APRIL 2004 |
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