After Calibration -- Wow!

[Justin Wright]

I received my Ventriloquist and STF-2 early this week and was less than enthusiastic about its performance; however, after calibration with the Radio Shack SPL meter and the Sound and Vision test tones -- WOW! What a difference; it sounds great. I use an NAD L-70 as my source and after trimming the center level -4 and the sub level -7 (with the sub's dial at high noon / crossover at 80), the Ventriloquist just came alive! I am so pleased; it truly is a remarkable system.

[wid]

They are pretty amazing for the size and price.I'm glad to see you are enjoying your new set up.

[tafguy]

I need one like the Ventriloquist to use with my Xbox Game system.

Has anyone use this set for your Xbox console? The Xbox console has optical out for dolby digital sound.

From Ventriloquist owner's outstanding reviews, it's hard not to get one! And from I read from last detailed review on Sensible sound magazine of this month, the Ventriloquist is a must have.

I could not find the soft copy of the article in any link, so you get to buy the magazine.

Today's games fully incorporated 5.1 channels bring another dimension to gaming. And the Ventriloquist seems to fit for my next purchase. If you won't hear often from me which means I will be busy playing Xbox Live game with the Ventriloquist.

And from your experience, calibrating with a SPL meter is indeed compulsory for success.

I have not had time to go to get one. But I do believe I need one like Wid suggests me in another thread. I was trusting more with my ears for stereo mode, but for surround mode, it will be hard to calibrate without a SPL meter.

[wid]

I have not had time to go to get one. But I do believe I need one like Wid suggests me in another thread. I was trusting more with my ears for stereo mode, but for surround mode, it will be hard to calibrate without a SPL meter

A spl meter is a must even when setting up a stereo rig.When doing so by ear we ussually will have the sub set way to high.With what ever application used when running a sub you should always use the meter.

I would have to believe the Ventriloquist system would an excelent choice for gameing.

[tafguy]

A spl meter is a must even when setting up a stereo rig.When doing so by ear we ussually will have the sub set way to high.With what ever application used when running a sub you should always use the meter.You're perfectly right!.

I learned that lesson setting the volume to high when I got my VTF-2 mk2.

Until I get my SPL meter to calibrate the sub correctly, I'm setting temporarily the sub's volume less than the 1st mark reading.

The SPL meter is definitely a good investment. I'll keep you posted of my calibration using the SPL meter.

[daviddo]

justin,

Does the SPL meter really easy to use? And how much does that cost?

[tafguy]

justin,

Does the SPL meter really easy to use? And how much does that cost?

I don't know how easy but what Wid explains how to do it seems to be straigt-forward for stereo / sub calibration.

Some prefer the analog over the digital one because it is easy to read reading with the needle.

Radioshack has the digital one on sale currently with $20 Cad off, level the digital price to the same with the analog one to $69 Cad + tax. So you probably get it if not on sale about $60 US.

I just check the flyer so I probably get the digital one since I read good reviews on it.

[Justin Wright]

The SPL meter is very easy to use. I was able to get a clearance analog model at Radio Shack for $15; the replacement model is $40. If you can find the clearance model, buy it.

I found that the center needed to be trimmed (which I believe is attributable to its higher sensativity), and that the sub needed to be trimmed -- both of which would have been hard to do by ear.

[Byron]

Is the SPL meter easy to use ? and where did you get the Sound and Vision test tones cd ?I received my Ventriloquist and STF-2 early this week and was less than enthusiastic about its performance; however, after calibration with the Radio Shack SPL meter and the Sound and Vision test tones -- WOW! What a difference; it sounds great. I use an NAD L-70 as my source and after trimming the center level -4 and the sub level -7 (with the sub's dial at high noon / crossover at 80), the Ventriloquist just came alive! I am so pleased; it truly is a remarkable system.

[Justin Wright]

Is the SPL meter easy to use ? and where did you get the Sound and Vision test tones cd ?
Very easy to use. The Sound and Vision calibration DVD walks you through proper use of the SPL meter. Go to www.soundandvisionmag.com (http://www.soundandvisionmag.com) to get the calibration DVD. Also check out the Avia calibration discs, which are more comprehensive.