Weak Sound

[MSALLA]

I have just put a new enterainment system in our living room and it seems like I really have to keep the volume up high to hear it.

The room is 12ft. x 25ft. I have a Harmon AVR230, Polk monitor40,
monitor 30, cs-1 center, psw-303 sub.
All speakers are set to small.
My old system was a Yamaha R-530, boston VR-30 fronts and Infinity center and very small Infinity sat. type rears and psw-303 sub. That system, eventhough mismatched, sounded great.

Is the system under powerd at 55w per channel, or are the Monitor 40's too small for the room. I went with bookshelf speakers due to lack of room for floor speakers.

[PolkThug]

Adjust the speaker levels to your liking for each channel on the HK.

[aaharvel]

I replaced my sonyES receiver (110x5) with a Harman 235 (50x7). At first, I noticed that the H/K didn't appear to be as 'loud' as the Sony. When the brighter, more agressive Sony played at 25%, the warmer-sounding H/K had to play at 50%. That's because both H/K and Sony (as well as Yamaha & others) take different approaches to measuring actual volume levels on their controller knob. This can give the listener a false perception of what "loud" really is.

As with my 235, your 230's volume begins at -80db and ends at +10db. I usually keep mine between -30 and -20 for loud playback for movies, and -35 to -25 for loud playback for music. This may seem like you're maxing out the volume but you really aren't. At -20db. you've still got (EDIT- SOME) dbs. of QUALITY, HIGH-CURRENT headroom remaining in your amplifier. Don't be afraid to use it. Even after I connected my H/K to separate Adcom amps, it's volume control still behaves in the same exact manner- so this is definitely normal.

My setup is very similar to yours with a 12x18 layout, and a setup of rti4's, csi-3, & f/x' 300i's throughout- with all set to "small". Me-I'll take a warm/laidback sound over a bright/fatiguing one anyday, no matter what the volume control or wattage specs say. It's not about the quantity, but the quality. In the end however it all depends on the type of sound that YOU prefer from your receiver/amp/speaker combination that matters. Good luck & welcome to the forum.

=)

[Vr3MxStyler2k3]

Greensboro NC eh?

Your not to far away... thats the 8th NC Polky...sweeeeeeeeeet


When you get to -20, you have 20 DB of -possible- quality power. You are really pushing it.

That last stretch of 1-10+ is a BIG no-no, as that is past "12-O'Clock" - DO NOT do that!

[aaharvel]

hey Sid. yeah i meant to proofread that- i wouldn't recommend going over -10 myself. Thankfully, the volume changes drastically between -25 and -15 dbs. but seriously- why do YOU think H/K's volumes are like that? i've already given my opinion but i cant' i say i know for sure- i didn't engineer the thing.

[Vr3MxStyler2k3]

My B&K is that way to. Just in the design, I like it more - as it lets me further personalize my levels for calibrating, etc...

And my CDP has a volume control (only turns it down) as well for further personalization...

Just like it! LOL

[MSALLA]

I've. adjusted the levels and the delay. still. at-20 volume, the sound is very low. Sunday I am going to switch front speekers to see if there is a problem with the speakers or the HK.

[aaharvel]

hmm... that is very odd.
do that and if it still doesn't work. take it back and get a replacement (could be a H/K dud).

If it's still does it- contact H/K headquarters and who knows they might even give you an upgrade- or you could just merely buy another manufactorer.

good luck.

[MSALLA]

I switched the monitor 40's for my boston VR's. There is no sound at all from -80 to -55. I'm taking the unit back to the store on monday. I'm not real happy about it, could be the amp or something else.

[aaharvel]

that sucks MSalla- lets us know how it turns out!

[MSALLA]

Thanks for the help with this. I wound up taking the HK back and went to the tweeter around my way (they are closing this store, so BIG sale on) and bought a Yamaha RX-V650. List was 499.00 and sold for 359.00. The sound is alittle brighter.
I don't know what was wrong with the Harmon Kardon, but the Yamaha dose not have the same problem as far as the volume issue I had.