The essential Radio Shack (TM) Sound Pressure Level Meter.

Proper calibration of your surround sound system, including your SVS subwoofer, is not only easy, it's downright critical! On the left is a Sound Pressure Level (SPL) meter; using one is akin to checking your car tires with an air pressure gauge. If you don't have one (the SPL meter that is), by all means stop reading this now and get one! We prefer this model to the digital display SPL meter due to the analog version's ease in getting spot-on adjustments (though either can work well).

Why is calibration of the levels of your surround system so important? Well, think of it this way...in the old days you could just adjust  the "Balance" knob on your stereo and get that center image (of the singer, or various instruments) "just right". Try to imagine doing that with 6 channels of a digital surround sound system for a minute! Get any of those channels out of balance by a few decibels (dBs... something all but certain without a meter) and the complex realism of the soundstage DVDs and the new high resolution music formats are capable of  goes right out the window.

NEW! Avia II: Guide to Home Theater

Avia II takes up where the industry standard "Avia" theater setup DVD left off. It takes full advantage of DVD video's interactive features. Avia combines tutorials with professional quality test signals for fully calibrating and testing audio and video systems. Simply sit back and watch the live video presentation or get involved and select in-depth coverage of specific topics. You select the tutorial depth or calibration tool. Learn more about this new release here!

Adjusting your audio and video system for maximum performance is easy with Avia's step-by-step instructions. Professionals (or those who want to learn more) can directly access advanced calibration signals with on-line explanations. You'll want to use AVIA again and again to keep your system in top condition.

Easy Navigation: Avia gives you total control and flexibility in using the disc. On-screen menus make navigation intuitive. Just select a topic or calibration tool for instant access. The AVIA DVD is a truly interactive DVD with many on-screen menus that make it easy to access what you want.

Video Presentation: Avia's informative live video presentation tells you about home theater. You'll learn the basics about signal sources, processors, speakers, displays, making connections, arranging your viewing environment, and calibrating your system. In Depth Information When you are ready for more detailed information about a topic, on-screen buttons lead you to in-depth text, pictures, and video on home theater topics. You control the depth of information presented. Start with the basics and revisit topics for further study.

Audio Calibration: Setting up your sound system requires the right audio test signals. Avia DVD provides highly accurate and innovative audio signals for setting channel balance, sound reference level, 6 channel phasing, and subwoofer crossover. On-screen instructions lead you through the process. Advanced users can choose among additional test tones for additional tests such as checking voice matching, frequency response, room resonance, and ambiance effects.

Video Calibration: Avia DVD guides you step-by-step through the basic five user level video adjustments. New video test patterns were developed especially for Avia DVD to increase accuracy and ease of use. Live video demonstrations show you exactly what to look for while making adjustments. Over 180 video test patterns are included for adjusting and testing display parameters such as power supply adequacy, geometry, convergence, resolution, gamma, color decoder accuracy, and screen hot-spotting. Each pattern is accompanied by explanatory text.

DVD is NTSC only.  PAL customers must have multi format playback capability. Other formats such as HD-DVD, Blue Ray, or PAL may be available in the future.

The AV Calibration Bundle

Get both the critical tools any music and HT system must have. Bundles include the New Avia II DVD! (Previous version DVD shown)