Why does my Onkyo HT-R591 sound louder at TV/CD(optical) vs any other input(VCR/DVR(HDMI))?

[bokharij]

I would just like to first say hi as I am new here.

So I have an Onkyo HT-R591 set up using Audyssey 2EQ Full Calibration(with some custom db levels), when I play audio through my TV to my receiver(using TV/CD), the audio and bass are louder than when I play the same content through a standard HDMI input(eg VCR/DVR).

I tested this by playing a YouTube video off my smart TV and also playing the same YouTube video on my PS4(toggling between inputs). The YouTube off my TV(optical input TV/CD) is louder.

I tried to check if the audio settings were different in TV/CD, but they look the same as in any of the HDMI inputs. Maybe Audyssey doesn't work on input TV/CD?

Thanks for your help and I'll update if I find a solution.

PS: I love my receiver and 7.1 is great, I just noticed this(the above) and so did some of my family.

 

[TLS Guy]

I would just like to first say hi as I am new here.

So I have an Onkyo HT-R591 set up using Audyssey 2EQ Full Calibration(with some custom db levels), when I play audio through my TV to my receiver(using TV/CD), the audio and bass are louder than when I play the same content through a standard HDMI input(eg VCR/DVR).

I tested this by playing a YouTube video off my smart TV and also playing the same YouTube video on my PS4(toggling between inputs). The YouTube off my TV(optical input TV/CD) is louder.

I tried to check if the audio settings were different in TV/CD, but they look the same as in any of the HDMI inputs. Maybe Audyssey doesn't work on input TV/CD?

Thanks for your help and I'll update if I find a solution.

PS: I love my receiver and 7.1 is great, I just noticed this(the above) and so did some of my family.

There are no standard reference levels. What you are experiencing is the rule, different inputs and connections invariably have different levels.

 

[bokharij]

There are no standard reference levels. What you are experiencing is the rule, different inputs and connections invariably have different levels.

Could you please elaborate or give a recommendation of what settings to tweak? Would running the calibration again be worth it(as it does tend to have a huge impact on the audio(loudness)), or would TV/CD still be louder?
Would increasing the db for the HDMI inputs be worth it?

Again all inputs sound similar only TV/CD input is different(and optical). TV/CD sounds better for YouTube(stronger base and more clarity).

Also thanks for the reply.

 

[Irvrobinson]

Could you please elaborate or give a recommendation of what settings to tweak? Would running the calibration again be worth it(as it does tend to have a huge impact on the audio(loudness)), or would TV/CD still be louder?
Would increasing the db for the HDMI inputs be worth it?

Again all inputs sound similar only TV/CD input is different(and optical). TV/CD sounds better for YouTube(stronger base and more clarity).

Also thanks for the reply.

There isn't a tweak available, except to get different hardware. I have a Sony Blu-ray player, for example, that puts out annoyingly low output. The Comcast set top box is on the high side, so we're always adjusting the volume by a large degree if we switch between them, and I only use HDMI in the video system.

 

[TLS Guy]

Could you please elaborate or give a recommendation of what settings to tweak? Would running the calibration again be worth it(as it does tend to have a huge impact on the audio(loudness)), or would TV/CD still be louder?
Would increasing the db for the HDMI inputs be worth it?

Again all inputs sound similar only TV/CD input is different(and optical). TV/CD sounds better for YouTube(stronger base and more clarity).

Also thanks for the reply.

There is nothing to tweak. That is just the way things are and you have to put up with it.

 

[bokharij]

There isn't a tweak available, except to get different hardware. I have a Sony Blu-ray player, for example, that puts out annoyingly low output. The Comcast set top box is on the high side, so we're always adjusting the volume by a large degree if we switch between them, and I only use HDMI in the video system.

There is nothing to tweak. That is just the way things are and you have to put up with it.

Ok thanks for the replies. I guess I'll leave it or try to manually compensate for the volume difference.

 

[bokharij]

So it seems HDMI and Youtube together do not output using the center speaker. This solves one problem(switching PS4 settings to optical for youtube(only HDMI connected to PS4) but the bass still seems a bit weaker(than TV/CD). Which I guess follows what was said above(in other comments).

 

[markw]

Some sources are only two channel. You won't get a center, or surround, channels from these unless you choose DPL or some such DSP that forces "something" into these channels.

 

[bokharij]

Some sources are only two channel. You won't get a center, or surround, channels from these unless you choose DPL or some such DSP that forces "something" into these channels.

Yeah true, but why does optical get a center and not HDMI for stereo sound(tested using same hardware(PS4)).

 

[markw]

It's not the cable, it's the source.

If you watch a rerun of "The Honeymooners" on the biggest, baddest, newest, most expensive TV, it's still gonna be 4:3 SD Black & White. In fact, it'll be in glorious mono so it may ALL blend into the center speaker only.

 

[bokharij]

It's not the cable, it's the source.

If you watch a rerun of "The Honeymooners" on the biggest, baddest, newest, most expensive TV, it's still gonna be 4:3 SD Black & White.

But the source is the same(YouTube on PS4, same video while fliping HDMI/Optical). I'm not blaming the cable I'm merely stating what's happening. I think it's a receiver thing as I can probably change the setting on the receiver to get similar sound to the TV/CD input. Thank you for your continued help/suggestions/information.

 

[markw]

You still don't get it. Maybe someone else can get through to you. Obviously, I've failed.

 

[bokharij]

You still don't get it. Maybe someone else can get through to you. Obviously, I've failed.

Sorry I didn't mean it that way. Could you explain why optical uses the center while HDMI uses the left and right. Are you saying optical is playing in mono(some reason) and HDMI in stereo(using the same source)?