Calibrating with an SPL meter

[Rama]

As a relatively fresh entrant into the SUB world (as you can guess from this question!), I've tried various movies and music, tweaked the position/settings with my STF-2 and Denon 2803 receiver and have decided on a corner place (also recommended by HSU). I've also found a good combination setting that suits my liking for music and movies (65% volume on the SUB, crossover of 80Hz on my receiver with LFE+Main's setting.) The SUB now sounds pretty blended in with my main floorstanding speakers. Will going the 'calibrating with a RS SPL meter route' still help me to fine tune my settings? I mean, could it still show me something that I'm missing? If calibrating results in, for example, an increase in the volume on the SUB (so that it matches the fronts on the dB level) and if it's too loud for me I would have to bring it down to the current levels anyway. Bottomline, aren't my ears necessary and sufficient and overriding a tool for me compared to an SPL meter?

TIA

[Sorny]

Just a thing to consider...

I thought I had my twin TN1220HO subs matched in level by ear. I tested with an SPL meter and found I had them cranked up about 12dB too much.

I suggest calibrating with an SPL meter, wait a week or two, then fine tune to taste. Me, I run about 3dB hot now, but that is because I prefer a bit more oomph. Many find that the calibrated values sound better; I did.

Sorny

[Lwang]

I've had my sub set pretty high when I first got it, with the assumption that I should hear the sub if I bought it. Subsequent measurement indicated that they were 10dB too hot.

One would usually adjust the sub level with a SPL meter, then fine tune its level +/- a few dB by ear, based on bass tracks that transcend across the crossover freq.

The end result should be for you to not know that the sub is on, that is until you turn it off.

[Rama]

Thanks. I don't have a test disc, will the "Boston Audio Society Bass Test Tracks" available on the HSU site be enough for me to use with the SPL meter?

[Dudley]

Can those tracks be downloaded from the web site so they can be put on a CD, and if so how?