my yamaha receiver volume setting goes from -80 to 0 to +16. i'm trying to figure out where to set the volume control to calibrate and test it at 75 and 85 db. would 0 be 85db and -10 be 75? or is 0 a reference of 105db? i'm totally confused.

any help would be great.

I'm not directly familiar with the Yamaha but generally it works one of two ways.

1. The receiver calibration process is set up so that the test tone inherently references to the 0dB position of the volume control. If this is the case, usually the volume control is disabled and turning it during calibration will not affect the loudness of the test tone.

2. You must set the volume control to a position that provides close to 75dB or 85dB at the seating position at the start of the calibration process. Then the volume control is not changed until all the channels have been calibrated with their individual adjustments. What ever the volume setting was then becomes your "reference level" setting.

You do not need to play the system at reference, or for that matter, calibrate it to any given point. The most important thing is that you get all the channels set to put out equal volume at the listening position. From there, you merely adjust the volume to your desired loudness and enjoy.

http://www.audiophilia.com/hardware/spl.htm

http://www.bswusa.com/proditem.asp?item=SLM100

i have the ati meter. i was just trying to figure out at which point on my receiver's volume dial (which dials from -80 to +16) is a reference(s) level. meaning the starting point of either 7db or 85db that i would begin adjusting individual speakers to calibrate correctly. right now i played a 5 channel pink noise and truned volume up to 75db and began calibrating from there.