Does a non-audiophile have to calibrate?

To enjoy the best performance of your system, it certainly should be "calibrated". Your dealer should have done this with the audio equipment at the time of installation. It's a bit of a misnomer to use the term "calibrating" when referring to the process of balancing the sound levels of the 5.1 surround system. You could do the "balancing" yourself to ensure that all speakers have the same volume levels -- it only takes a Radio Shack SPL meter, which costs about $40. Your Krell HT processor has a built-in "calibration" tone which will move from one speaker to the next, and all you need to do is adjust each of the speakers until they have the same volume level at your listening position.

Calibrating a video monitor, however, is much more involved, and requires special equipment. Most high-end audio/video stores have a technician with special training that can calibrate the brightness level, color balance, etc., of your video monitor, and it often makes a substantial improvement in the picture quality. If you choose to have a professional do the calibration, look for a technician who is certified by "ISF" (an abbreviation for "Imaging Sciences Foundation", as I recall). Many video monitors come from the factory with their color balance, brightness level, and alignment out of adjustment with the NTSC standard, and it's well worth the several hundred dollars to get your monitor adjusted. Given what you've already spent, I strongly urge you to get the best possible performance from your system (which is a DAMN nice system!).

Wow looks like you jumped right in Cap ! If not an audiophile ..you will be one soon enough! It takes time and a lot of listening to tune your ears. It's just something that will come in time.You can start with a sound pressure meter and run your speakers thru the test tones. 75 db is a good place to start. From your listening position get all your speakers to peak at 75 db on the meter one at a time. You will have to go into your processor and make the proper adjustments.It probably has a input for footage also..so you can measure where you sit from each speaker and it will calibrate itself for time delays.

The most important thing to remeber.. is if it sounds good to you then it is all good!!

Happy listening!

Capn- At the price you must have paid for some VERY GOOD equipment, you should get the dealer on the horn and demand that he send an ISF certified video technician AND an audio tech over to calibrate and adjust that system. You will not get the best from it, esp. with regard to video set-up AND best imaging and soundstage from the audio. Trust your ears but demand the level of service that you undoubtedly paid for.

Ditto what "Swampwalker" said ...

Thank you all for your advice. I did buy the AVIA DVD and the one thing I understood was the tonal balance, which was the first step. I got lost at steps 2,3,4,5 when they were doing phase tests. I’m questioning if I need to do anything besides a tonal balance. Will I hear a difference?

I posted this forum in audio because I've already hired an ISF technician. The video I understand. How can I possibly calibrate what should be a proper red without being biased in to thinking the shade I like best is the proper red. I want a system that can be as close to realism as possible. When I play with the video controls, I’ll watch and think that looks good. Than I change back to the defaults and it now looks even better and more realistic.

However, perhaps music is not the same. Perhaps I will not even hear the difference between what is more realistic. Perhaps only an audiophile can hear what might sound a bit closer to realism.

Besides, what is my goal in calibrating? To make it sound as realistic as possible? Is my room suppose now sound like an orchestra is present? In my old garage? I don't think that is a realistic goal. I doubt if there is a system in the world that would get confused for a live performance.

After a certain price point I did not hear any difference, even when listening to speakers that jumped up $10-20K from the one I just listened to. I could not even tell the difference between the cables that I got and Monster. I tested after I bought my system. I bought my speakers because it matched my library very well and it sounded great. So I just looked for the best deal on those speakers. I told my dealer that I wanted a reference system to go with my speakers and he suggested the items that I bought. I researched all the items in this forum and Secrets and they all go good reviews and it looked nice so I agreed.

My dealer is offering to calibrate, but he has no test equipment. He says he can do all this by ear. I’ve been advised that it is not possible, though he insists he can. He just came the other day and did not even try to move my sub or do anything else but 2 channel listening. He says he can “hear” my weaknesses and that I must upgrade my cables and get cleaner power. (This forum really seams to frown on Monster, but I love the wattage usage indicator on my Monster power conditioner) But I question if I’ll hear a difference in upgrading the cables or a calibration, let alone by someone who does not use test equipment. My biggest priority is time. I have none to waist. Time is money.

I have spent far too much time on this project already. I installed every thing my self. I used many vacation days. I really do not have more time to spend on this project at this time unless I really must. I’m prepared to take this last step, if I understand that I must. I am just inquiring if it is worth my time for something that I might not even hear.

I asked my dealer about the audiophile buzzwords like standing waves and resonances and he said don’t get caught up in that bull**** and reminded once again about my weakness of using monster power.