Page 1 of Tester DVDs - What do you use to set up your AV system?

Finally managed to get round to building my new AV system and I found myself using the old favourites I use all the time.

LoTR: FOTR using galadriels speech for the center and the first battle sequence to work out the surround and sub and SW: EP II: The Jango/Obi Wan asteroid duel for the mines and whizzy lazer effects that fly all around the soundstage.

Anyone got any faves or other recommendations for next time? (need some new blood ;))

Afraid I just use the amp internal shooosh business. Not very experimental, but I always feel I am getting the "sensible" setting.

I set mine up and then eternally fiddle with it afterwards depending what I`m watching....that`s SO easy to do when watching broadcast TV where the audio levels are criminally unmatched these days...

It`s best to use a film you`re familiar with.

I tend to use the THX setup facility which comes with the Terminator 2 DVD.

I use "Ultimate DVD Platinum",which is a 2 disc set.One has test ones for balancing and levels along with sounds from a wide frequency range to test for rattle etc.
And the other disc has demo pieces in DD,DTS and PCM.
There is also a range of tests for picture settings too.

I`ve found that the best method of calibrating your audio system is by using your own ear. I use some of my dvd-audio or dts music disc to set up/calibrate/tweak my system. Personal favourites are Queens Greatest Hits 1, A Night At The Opera and The Eagles: Hell Freezes Over (lame concert, great sound). When testing bass I stick in Metallica & The San Fran Symphony...

For video the THX Optimiser is very good though it tends to make "regular" t.v. broadcasts a bit too dark but is great for movies. As for calibrating my projector well thats another matter altogether...

Yeah, I use the THX optimiser and the whoosy noise on the Amp, but as I. Merriman said, theres nothing like using a familiar DVD for fine, personal preference, tuning. And then theres fine tuning the presets for different movies.....