iv been messing around with my settings on the receiver(Yamaha) and used the ypao mic thing

iv been setting my speakers upto +db in the settings

center+5.0db
fronts +2.0db
backs +4.0db

I used the ypao mic and it set my speakers down into the -1.0db ranges
i noticed it sounded abit calmer but I duno if I perfer it like that lol

im kinda confused is it better to have them in the -db range or +db range

I did the ypao thing right had it at ear level no interruptions no other sounds

It is entirely your choice.

The idea behind the settings is to balance out the various speakers relative to each other. Ideally they should all be equal loudness at your seating position. This does not mean necessarily that all should be set to the same dB value simply that if you play a test signal out of each speaker in turn the loudness appears the same.

You can also use the settings to change the balance of the sound mix of whatever you are listening to. For example on many movies the dialogue is on the centre channel. So boosting that channel can make speech easier to hear.

So long as all speakers are outputing the same db level during the test tone it makes no difference if you have +/-db settings or a mixture of both.