High level input

Tvad, I am serious. I do know the formula for calculating db and I have a meter. I gotta run out now and check on a job. I'll be back in an 2 hours max, take a reading or two and get back to you. My room is VERY strange I'd be glad to email you a pic as well. In fact I would appreciate any other advice you may have.

Talk to ya in a couple hours.....

OK. I used my RTA mic on the behringer and a Extech digital meter. Both the mic and the Extech were placed on the back of the couch approx 14 feet from the speakers. I let the dog out put on some AC/DC and cranked it just shy of peaking out the meters on the Mcintosh. The behringer recorder a peak level of 99.1db. The Extech has an A&C weighting. I'm not sure what that means so I took measurements for both. A came in around 106db and C came in at 120.4db. Why the difference in readings? I have no clue, but it's got me wondering.

Larry

If you can set your MC352 power meters to measure peaks, you might do that, play the same AC/DC track and do another measurement. If the 99db reading is correct, then you might expect to see peaks somewhere between 2-4 watts on the MC352, accounting for the db rolloff at 14'. If the 122 db reading is correct, then you might see peaks over 260wpc. Big difference. The MC352 power meter reading in conjunction with your DEQ2496 and Extech readings should give you a better idea which decibel reading is more accurate.

I actually had the red peak lights flash on the MC when I did the test. Both meters were running with the peak hold activated. The MCs needles were almost stuck at the high end of the scale. If the meters on the MC are accurate I would have been pushing the 350 watt per channel envelope. I know it doesn't seem right but that's what I am reading. Maybe I am doing something wrong. You would think using pink noise would be more stable and give you a more accurate reading, but I dont really want to hear 120db of it.

My room may play a role in all of this as well, you'd have to see it. Custom built home with a WIDE open floorplan.

Something doesn't seem right. There is no reason why the MC352 should ever be close to clipping with 101db/1w/1m loudspeaker, unless you're trying to fill a barn sized space to 124db levels.

I think you should call Ty and explain what's going on and what you've done to test the system.