Wouldn't this mean I would have to set my other channel levels to 85 db? I think that would be too much for comfortable listening. When you say that there are no absolutes - only relatives, what do you mean specifically? Do you think it is possible that with my setup, quite possibly the only way to match the two is to raise the other channels? I don't know what other bass management tools I have at my disposal. My receiver only has settings for large and small and also provides for turning the sub off and on. I can also obviously adjust the sub level, I just can't get it low enough to "pass" the test on the Avia DVD.