Level Setting Using an SPL Meter
When setting up a complete home theater we strongly recommend that you use a Sound Pressure Level meter to calibrate the individual channel levels.At the time of this writing Radio Shack® has one that is affordably priced (approximately $40) and works well. However, for the best result in setting up the levels and the parametric EQ you would be much better served by using a true audio test instrument with a Real Time Acoustic Analyzer (RTA) such as the Sencore® SP 295.
To calibrate channel levels using an SPL meter, turn on your system, put the Processor/Receiver in the Test Mode and set its main volume con- trol to a moderate volume level. If the volume control has a 0dB setting with minus dB below and plus dB above 0, set the control to 0dB. Sit in the prime listening position, set the SPL meter to the 70dB scale, Slow Response, and C Weighting. Holding the meter in front of you with the microphone pointed up at the ceiling,cycle the test tone from speaker to speaker, setting every speaker (including the subwoofer) to 75dB using the individual channel level adjustments in the Processor/Receiver. In some cases, you may have to use the Processor/Receiver’s main volume control to get the first speaker you set (typically the left front) to 75 dB, but from then on use the receiver’s internal level adjustments to set each channel. These may only be accessible through the Processor/Receiver’s remote control.
As tempting as it may be to set the subwoofer and/or surround speakers higher than 75dB, don’t. Set them to 75dB and see if you can acclimate to the sound as the film maker created it. Try watching several different movies and keep in mind that the goal is to have a system that sounds like you’re actually in the movie.Just like in a well set up movie theater,in most cases,you shouldn’t be consciously aware of the surround speaker’s output at all, much less have so much bass that your furniture moves across the room.
When using the latest discrete digital electronics we recommend set- ting the SP-8000’s BASS LEVEL control to its THX/REF position and using the Processor/Receiver’s built-in subwoofer level control. Should you have difficulty achieving the correct subwoofer volume this way or should your Processor/Receiver not have a subwoofer level adjustment built in, you can use the SP-8000’s main BASS LEVEL control to make this adjustment.
Level Setting Without an SPL Meter
If you cannot use an SPL meter to calibrate the system try to set all the speaker volumes to the same level using the Test Tones. Of course, this will be much more difficult without the meter, especially for the sub- woofer.
Setting the Subwoofer Level Without an SPL Meter or Test Tones
Start your listening with the SP-8000's LOW PASS control set at the rec- ommended crossover point (or in the THX/EXT position if you’re using a THX Certified processor or unit with a built-in crossover).Set the PHASE control to 00, and the front panel BASS LEVEL control to the THX/REF position as shown to the left.
| | | | | Play some music that |
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| | | | |
�� ��� | �� | | | | bass content, and |
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| | | | | turn the Processor/ |
| �� | ��� | ��� | ��� | Receiver’s level con- |
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| | | | | trol up until you just |
start to hear the subwoofer working. Now, from your normal listening position,determine whether the subwoofer is playing loudly enough and filling in the bass frequencies of the music evenly.If adjustment is neces- sary, change the processor’s subwoofer level adjustment setting (or use the front panel BASS LEVEL control if your processor lacks a subwoofer level adjustment).
How Much is Enough?
Sometimes people prefer more bass impact for movies than sounds natural when reproducing music. The SP-8000 Preamplifier offers 4 EQ settings plus the LEVEL TRIM to help maximize your enjoyment of different source material. Remember however, the most common error people make when setting up their system is to play the subwoofer (and surrounds) too loudly.Although the Home Theater Police will not arrest you for this act,should you desire the most accurate overall reproduction, a well-balanced sound from deepest bass to highest treble is the best way to get it. Have fun. Experiment. Enjoy.
Remote Control Functions
There are 4 custom EQ settings that have been programmed into the SP-8000 (see graphs on back cover).These have been chosen to enhance your enjoyment of both movies and music. These EQ settings are fairly subtle in their effect,as we wanted to make them truly useful with a wide selection of software. They can be accessed by pressing one of the four EQ buttons on your Remote Control.
| | | | | EQ1 - This EQ was primar- |
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| | ��� | ��� ��� | | ily designed to enhance music. It |
| | | | | reduces midbass frequencies by a |
| | ��� | ��� | small, but noticeable amount. You |
| | | | | will find that on many music sources |
| | | ���� | this will make the bass sound tighter |
| | | | | and more defined. It should make |
| | | | | individual bass notes easier to hear |
| | | | |
as well. EQ1 can also be used to remove some overall bass boominess when playing particularly bass heavy material.
EQ2 - This EQ was programmed to enhance the impact and punch of special effects. It increases the bass output centered at 60Hz. Depending upon the source material, EQ2 could also be used to add some warmth to a bass shy music recording.
EQ3 - Another choice primarily intended to enhance movie and video soundtracks. This one uses a more subtle increase of bass output cen- tered at 80HZ with the addition of a very low frequency (subsonic) filter. This gives you the option of punching up the mid-bass while at the same time reducing the possibility of overdriving the subwoofer with extreme low frequencies.
EQ4 - We call EQ4 After Dark. At lower volume levels human hearing
