HK AVR230 Volume?

[brianwayne671]

Has anyone noticed there AVR230 or other HK receiver doesn't put out the same volume at similiar levels in digital (DVD) as opposed to analog sources? I can have my volume at -15 or -20 in analog and be plenty loud. However, when watching most any DVD, the volume needs to be at least -10 and preferably at -5 or even -3 to get real nice dialog. Of course it gets VERY loud in action scenes with the dynamics of DVD, but to get a real nice dialog volume it needs to really be up in the -5 range. Everything was calibrated with an SPL meter and my speaks are as follows. What do you guys listen at in terms of DVD's?

Center- Polk CSi30
Front- Polk RTi28's
Surrounds- Polk FXi30's
Sub Polk PSW303

Thanks,

Brian

[Ceruleance]

check the calibrations again? you can even push the center a bit higher if you are having trouble with dialogue

[brianwayne671]

Well, just in general the volume is much lower overall when playing DVD's than with other analog sources. For example, I play the tv on vid 2 at about -20 whereas the DVD at the same volume is at -5.

[Telemundo]

hi, brianwayne. I just got the same receiver recently, AVR230. Brought it back because i wanted to upgrade more power to the AVR430/630 instead. How did you system sound in your room? And how big is your listening area? I wanted to know how it sounds so it can help me base my decision between the 430/630. Thanks alot for taking your time for your help.

[brianwayne671]

My room is fairly small, roughly 13 x 13 with one open wall to a dining room/hall/kitchen area. In most all other sources (analog) I would say this receiver is more than powerful enough. It just seems that it's lacking in the DVD area (optical/digital).

[Airplay355]

DVDs are just quieter, im pretty sure they are just made that way. dont worry i have a marants sr7200 and i have to turn my dvds up too

[HBombToo]

Make sure you are not in night mode first off. Then when a DD source is locked go back into settup and check your channel levels. Put them at 0 across the board.

If you don't have an SPL meter do the best you can to hear level changes when running the h/k internal test mode.

Next step is an avia dist and most definetly an analog spl meter from the radio shack.

Hope this helps and is not redundant.

HBomb

[brianwayne671]

HBOMB-

Night mode is off, and as stated above calibration was done. What level do others of you listen to DVD's at compared to analog sources on your receivers?

[HBombToo]

Originally posted by brianwayne671
What level do others of you listen to DVD's at compared to analog sources on your receivers?

There is a slight reduction in volume on my h/k 520 but nothing like your experiencing. At a -15 on my h/k I am between 85 and 90 dB SPL. I'll typically run at a -25 to -30 for DVD's and I'll push a -15 for music because you don't have the huge swings in dynamic range on cd-music as you do on DVD's. You may have a bad unit....

HBomb

[brianwayne671]

HBOMB-

When you say it's at 85 and 90 db on the SPL, do you mean with the test tones? I get around 80 db at -10 on mine in DD with the test tones. The difference in that is that you receiver is rated at 75 watts x 5 while mine is rated at 50 x 5. Thing is, at -10 on a dvd the sound is fairly soft on the center channel, but when a loud passage comes around, look out! It get real loud real quick and I live in an apt. so that's not such a good thing. To get a real nice, clear, and good sounding volume from the center channel, I need it to be at around -5 which is a definite no no in the apt.

Brian

[HBombToo]

Originally posted by brianwayne671
HBOMB-

When you say it's at 85 and 90 db on the SPL, do you mean with the test tones? Brian

I am using an Avia pink noise disc but even with the h/k tones as a stand alone I was hitting -85 no problem. I hardly think the difference between 50 and 75 watts is causing the difference. What type/guage of speaker cables are you using? Perhaps try bi-wiring your center channel if your using 16/18 guage or just jump to a 12 guage.

I'm just throwing things out there for you to consider...

HBomb