What does db stand for on new receiver?

Question

Hello!

I know I am going to sound like a fool asking this but I just bought an Onkyo AV receiver for my home theatre. I hooked up my front speakers and there is an option to set the front speakers at anywhere from -12db to +12db.

What does this mean and which would make the sound louder/better??

Thanks!

Answer 1

Decibels.

Sorry if my answer was not good enough. You did not say you need a d**n Theseus to know what db stands for.

Answer 2

I have an HK AVR and it has the same thing.

I think it is for a loudness control, where your bass and trebel are boosted (or decreased) according to your room acoustics and listing volume.

Yes it can make it sound better.

Answer 3

db is decibels, and it's a standard unit of measure for electronic signals or sound pressure level.

For sound pressure level, db is an absolute unit of measurement. That is, if you have a certain amount of deciblels of sound pressure level, it's a certain volume (0 db is the threshold of hearing for a healthy youth, 60 db is an average conversation 1 foot away, 125 db is a jackhammer,etc. - see the following link: http://www.coolmath.com/decibels1.htm).

For electronic signals and for differences in db of sound pressure level, db is a relative unit. Since it's based on a logarithmic scale, it works out that an increase in sound pressure level of 3 db equals a doubling of the sound pressure level, while an increase of 10 db results in 10 times the sound pressure level, and +20 db results in 100 times the sound pressure level.

For electronic signals that are based on a db scale (dbmW - decibels related to one milliwatt, or dbmV - decibels related to one millivolt, for example), the same relationship in signal increase versus db increase applies. 0 dbmV is 1 millivolt, +3 dbmV is 2 millivolts, +10 dbmV is 10 millivolts, etc.

Basically, what that control is telling you is that you can increase or decrease the signal going to the selected speaker by plus or minus 12 db, as necessary to balance out your speaker outputs (depending on where the speakers are placed, if you have more or less efficient surround speakers, or where you are sitting in the room when listening to the system).

Answer 4

db stands for decibel.  Decibel means "loudness", hence, you should adjust the setting to your personal preference depending on the room acoustics.

Answer 5

decibles

leave it at 0... then play with it to see what you like

Answer 6

This option is to "calibrate" or "level adjust" your speakers.

Your main volume control raises and lowers the volume on all speakers.

But  - you sit closer to the rear speakers and to the center compared to the left right.

Most receivers give you the ability to add/subtract a bit of volume from the center, right-rear, left-rear.

You use test-tones and a Radio Shack SPL meter to set these properly.

The technique is this:

- Start test tones. These will switch to each speaker every 7 seconds or so.

- Adjust master volume so L/R speakers produce 75 db as measured by the SPL meter.

- When the sound switches to the center - you use that adjustment to raise/lower just the center volume to be 75 db.

- Repeat for each rear speaker.

When finished, the test tone will move from speaker to speaker, but the SPL meter will show the same volume.

You have now compensated for sitting different distances from the speakers.