Parasound D 200 manual Level Setup, Test Tone

SETTING UP YOUR D 200 continued 21

LEVEL SETUP

Use the LEVEL SETUP menu to calibrate the volume level for each speaker. Convincing surround sound depends on the sound reaching your ears from each speaker at the same volume level as the recording engineer intended. Because home theater systems and home theater environments vary, the simplest way to do that is to send a standard test signal to each speaker, one at a time, and measure each one’s sound level at the primary listening position. You can then adjust each channel’s level so that all the sound levels are calibrated to be equal.

Note: These adjustments do not effect the coaxial and optical digital outputs. Only the analog audio outputs are effected.

TEST TONE

Press this button to start the test noise which will cycle from speaker to speaker every few seconds. The current speaker reproducing the test tone is identified at the bottom left corner of the setup screen. As the test tone cycles through each speaker you can adjust each speaker setting so that all speakers will play at the same level.

Note: You cannot set the level for any speakers set to NONE or NO in the SPEAKER SIZE setup page.

You can match speaker levels to each other with reasonable accuracy just by listening to the D 200’s

test tone. However, you might wish to purchase an inexpensive SPL (sound-pressure-level) meter to make more accurate measurements. Radio Shack makes two popular and inexpensive SPL meters.

To use the SPL meter for level calibration will require both hands. Hold the SPL meter in one hand with its microphone end upright, near where your head would be when you sit in your primary viewing/listening seat. Hold the D 200’s remote handset in your other hand; you’ll be able to make level calibration adjustments using just your thumb to press its cursor buttons.