Question Sub gain / listening volume ?

[panman40]

Sorry if this has been covered elsewhere. Just a basic question really, when running Ypao on my receiver it's setting my sub gain to around -4.5db, that's with the subs own gain dial around 11 o'clock position.
The thing is the test tones being generated by the amp are 75db but we don't listen to content at that reference volume for several reasons. More like 55db with amp volume approx -26/27db.
Would I be better to run the test tones for each ch at 55 db using an SPL meter from my seating position and adjust the sub gain to match the speakers ?.
Or will the sub gain still be correct just using the receiver 75db eq settings at my lower listening volume ?.

Thanks.

 

[paulst10]

Shouldn't make any difference as long as all speakers are level matched
Edit: your subs gain would be too high if you calibrated at 55db.

 

[panman40]

Shouldn't make any difference as long as all speakers are level matched
Edit: your subs gain would be too high if you calibrated at 55db.

Thanks Paul,

I guess that's why the receiver auto setup sets the sub gain quite a bit lower than the mains.

 

[paulst10]

Thanks Paul,

I guess that's why the receiver auto setup sets the sub gain quite a bit lower than the mains.

Are you using a Radioshack SPL metre? A 72db subwoofer reading on the spl metre is actually 75db.

If you're referring to the receivers subwoofer channel trim then that's purely set by the actual gain on the back of the sub.. If you lower the gain you'll get a higher trim level as the receiver is trying to boost the volume more than it would if you had a higher subwoofer gain set. A simple rule of thumb is too keep the trim levels for all speakers in minus numbers..

 

[panman40]

Are you using a Radioshack SPL metre? A 72db subwoofer reading on the spl metre is actually 75db.

If you're referring to the receivers subwoofer channel trim then that's purely set by the actual gain on the back of the sub.. If you lower the gain you'll get a higher trim level as the receiver is trying to boost the volume more than it would if you had a higher subwoofer gain set. A simple rule of thumb is too keep the trim levels for all speakers in minus numbers..

Yes the digital RadioShack,
I had noticed that the amp compensates for where you set the sub gain dial, maybe I will try 9 o'clock for a 0.0db amp result, I have read a few sub setup threads and they say to use 50% sub gain then run the eq, if I do that I would guess my amp would set the sub as -8db if not -10. Perhaps that would be a good option to try.

 

[paulst10]

Yes the digital RadioShack,
I had noticed that the amp compensates for where you set the sub gain dial, maybe I will try 9 o'clock for a 0.0db amp result, I have read a few sub setup threads and they say to use 50% sub gain then run the eq, if I do that I would guess my amp would set the sub as -8db if not -10. Perhaps that would be a good option to try.

I wouldn't worry too much, at its current -4.5db trim and 11 oclock gain should be fine.. and if you feel the bass is a little too low for your tastes then you could up the trim to -1.5db giving you 3db boost or a little more if you need..