How loud, AVR setup
- Thread starter lude1962
- Start date
Soldato
- Joined
- 18 Feb 2007
- Posts
- 13,278
- Location
- London
It's about as loud as a 747 passing over your house I would say.
Seriously though, it's not that loud, it's normally like a popping sound individually from each speaker.
Seriously though, it's not that loud, it's normally like a popping sound individually from each speaker.
Last edited:
It's less about the absolute volume (75-85dB typically) and more about the pitch of the sound, its suddenness and its contrast in what is generally a relatively quiet room. For example, nails scraping down a blackboard doesn't have to be loud but it is piercing. Standing next to a HGV isn't piercing but it measures pretty loud. 85dB is around the volume of heavy traffic in a city. We don't notice it as very loud because we experience the sound level increasing gradually as we move closer to the source. By contrast, if you've ever switched on the stereo at 'last night's volume' and nearly jumped out of your skin then you'll have experienced the sort of sudden contrast that the test tones will produce 
The basic test tone sound used is pink noise. This is the full audio spectrum that humans can hear (20Hz-20,000Hz) but with reducing power as frequency increases. If the amp has additional audio processing to attempt to address multiple seating positions and room acoustics then it'll also do frequency sweeps.
One of the basic requirements of an auto set-up is that the room is quiet. Get the family and pets out of the way. Simples.
The basic test tone sound used is pink noise. This is the full audio spectrum that humans can hear (20Hz-20,000Hz) but with reducing power as frequency increases. If the amp has additional audio processing to attempt to address multiple seating positions and room acoustics then it'll also do frequency sweeps.
One of the basic requirements of an auto set-up is that the room is quiet. Get the family and pets out of the way. Simples.
A) we don't all live in a detached houseWhy does this even matter? Simply get the kids and pets out of the way or outside for the setup?
B) if the amp whacks up to max output you'd have to make sure your speakers were rated higher.
A) What has living in a detached house got to do with running a test setup for 10-15 mins? Just do it at a reasonable and sociable time and if you are feeling really nice give your neighbours a bit of warning, though I doubt that would be needed.
B) Why would the amp "whack up to max output"?
B) as the manuals don't state to what level they test at then it's a sensible question (how loud) to ask
Soldato
- Joined
- 18 Feb 2007
- Posts
- 13,278
- Location
- London
Common sense dictates not at the maximum possible output of the amp. You could simply watch a Youtube video of someone performing one.
re: amp full volume
It's general practise to maintain a minimum of 20dB+ of headroom. Unless an override limiter has been set then most amps will go to 115dB at max output. That doesn't equate to the sound pressure level as measured 'in room' though. The in room SPL is governed by the size of the room, the speaker efficiency and their placement, and any losses in cabling. IOW higher efficiency speakers in a smaller room with decent cable thickness will need less power to achieve 85dB SPL at the measurement position so the amp won't have to work as hard.
Most half decent bookshelf speakers at £80-£150 a pair can manage 86dB from 1 Watt of power when measured at 1m distance. Sound level falls off based on the inverse square law. Even so, it would be quite a poor amp that couldn't achieve 75-80dB at the measurement point. The only brand I am aware of that deliberately limited the SPL during auto set-up was an ARRAM 7.1 from around 2007.
It's general practise to maintain a minimum of 20dB+ of headroom. Unless an override limiter has been set then most amps will go to 115dB at max output. That doesn't equate to the sound pressure level as measured 'in room' though. The in room SPL is governed by the size of the room, the speaker efficiency and their placement, and any losses in cabling. IOW higher efficiency speakers in a smaller room with decent cable thickness will need less power to achieve 85dB SPL at the measurement position so the amp won't have to work as hard.
Most half decent bookshelf speakers at £80-£150 a pair can manage 86dB from 1 Watt of power when measured at 1m distance. Sound level falls off based on the inverse square law. Even so, it would be quite a poor amp that couldn't achieve 75-80dB at the measurement point. The only brand I am aware of that deliberately limited the SPL during auto set-up was an ARRAM 7.1 from around 2007.
Soldato
- Joined
- 17 Aug 2003
- Posts
- 20,160
- Location
- Woburn Sand Dunes
Like lucid said, its 75-85db typically - it's not that loud at all. Possible exception being the sub if you have the gain up too high prior to running the test.
But anyway, you definitely don't want the kids and pets in the room when you run it. Even the rustling of clothes can thrown the auto calibration off.