Setup and calibration
Reference level
The calibrated playback volume at which each main channel peaks at 105 dB SPL and the LFE channel at 115 dB, as film mixes were monitored.
Reference level is the loudness a film soundtrack was mixed at. It corresponds to a receiver volume of 0 dB after calibration, with each channel producing 85 dB SPL from -20 dBFS pink noise and peaking at 105 dB, while the LFE channel peaks at 115 dB.
It gives a fixed point to reason from. If you listen at -10 dB, your peaks are 95 dB and you can estimate the amplifier power you need. Many people find reference too loud at home and settle between -10 and -15 dB.
To check it, play the receiver's internal test tone at 0 dB and confirm 75 dB C-weighted slow at the seat, since most test signals are -30 dBFS. Reaching 105 dB peaks at 3 m from an 88 dB speaker takes about 100 W per channel.
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