What is a calibration mic and would a home theater system work without it?

Posted by admin in Home Entertainment Q&AFeb 12th, 2009 | 3 responses

elynn1111 asked:


I have been shopping for a "mini" home theater system. I found someone on eBay that is selling a lot of used ones, but the calibration mic is missing. I can't figure out what that is and if the system would work okay without it. I emailed the seller who just referred me to the manufacturer's website, where I find even less information.
Thank you!

3 Responses to “What is a calibration mic and would a home theater system work without it?”

1. tdog says:

   February 14, 2009 at 12:12 pm

   A calibration mic is used to setup your speakers for the best sound where you are sitting. You can do this with a sound meter from radio shack. Not unless you have a nice A/V Receiver with Audessy calibration will it do any good. All you need is the correct decibles from each speaker where you sit. That is when you adjust the speaker level or distance for each speaker.
2. Daniel K says:

   February 17, 2009 at 9:04 pm

   Don’t worry about the calibration mic. If the deal is good just get it. As the other answerer said there must be some way to set the levels manually.
3. Grumpy Mac says:

   February 18, 2009 at 10:29 pm

   Here is the concept:

   Draw a circle around your main chair in your living room.

   Put all the speakers for a home-theater system on the circle.

   If you do this – the volume from each speaker will be nearly identical.

   But in real-world homes, the speakers are not all the same distance from your ears so some are louder than others.

   All good home theater systems let you add/subtract a smidge of volume from the center speaker and each rear speakers. You use a device called a “SPL” metere to measure the volume to set these correctly.

   The nicer home theater systems include a microphone which you use when you first set things up and it adjusts things for you.