Offer recommendations for a DVD and SPL meter to setup a new 7.1 surround system. I was not satisfied with the Onkyo 705 Audessey setup, I prefer to customize the sound and I need the DVD for the video as well.
Thanks,
Jim

The Audessy will give you about the most accurate setup you can get. If you want LESS than accurate you don't need a DVD or SPLM to do that. Just set it to what you like the best and you will be (un)set. Also the best inexpensive SPLM is the Radio Shack analog model. Setup and test tones can be found on may DVD's.

Which DVDs? The Audessey does not setup audio and I have a unique room so I think that I am better off customizing my sound. I do not know if Audessey is designed specifically for theater sound and perhaps not setup as well for music.

Which DVDs? The Audessey does not setup audio and I have a unique room so I think that I am better off customizing my sound. I do not know if Audessey is designed specifically for theater sound and perhaps not setup as well for music.

Not sure what you are using but Audyssey (http://www.audyssey.com/) is audio only and doesn't do anything for video. It is also designed for "unique' or non standard rooms. Please go to their site and read up on it.


Off the top of my head: you can find test tones on any THX certified DVD (Star Wars and Toy Story for example).

I guess you could get Digital Video Essentials or Avia

Which DVDs? The Audessey does not setup audio and I have a unique room so I think that I am better off customizing my sound. I do not know if Audessey is designed specifically for theater sound and perhaps not setup as well for music.

Audyssey is not a no-brainer despite the lack of support in the user's manual that comes with your AVR. Use it right and it will do more and better than anything you can do with AVIA/DVE, a SLM and the primitive EQ in the AVR.

I suggest you try reading the "official" Audyssey thread here on AVSforum and, perhaps, the one on 10 most common mistakes in setting up an Onkyo AVR.

Sounds like a good suggestion to read the Audyssey thread which I will get around to but my SVS sub highly recommends a SPL meter for sound adjustment and Audyssey doesn't cover video.