The Marantz lists for twice the price that the Denon did, and there is 3-4years between them, yet they have the same internal gain structure? And the same volume-control range as well?
I’ll just say that I have my doubts and leave it at that. My current AVR gets a lot more audible “action” near the top of its scale, meaning its actual output is not linear with the display. My previous AVR, four years older, wasn’t like that. So I don’t put any faith in displayed volume settings being the same from one model to the next, even with the same brand.
Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt
Wow, coming from you I am really surprised and I am saying this with respect. In the last 9-10 years, I went through the 10 years old AVR-4308, 7.5 years Marantz AV7005, 5.5 years old AV8801 and now the brand new AVR-X4400H. All of them produced 71-73 dB at volume 0 using the internal test tone with volume set to "0" on each of the 7 channels. Using separate calibration tones, it would get to around 85 dB (THX reference) at volume "0" as expected. For D&M AVRs such as the 4520, after running auto setup, the unit is supposed to be calibrated to produce 85 dB average from the main mic position with volume set to "0". The absolute and relative scale for the Denon AVR-4520CI and Marantz SR8012 are both 0-98 and -79.5 to 18 respectively. So even just looking at this single fact, there is no way the 25 to 30 dB different (-48 to -15/-10) to get the same "loud" spl. I can understand and accept a few dB, even 10 (reluctantly),but not 25 to 30.
The price difference is a moot point because your argument of different vintage, features (such as 2 more amp channels for the Marantz) would then become totally relevant. Still, you are incorrect to say the Marantz lists for twice the price..
Fact is, the AVR-4520CI was listed for $2499 at launch time (source soundandvision.com),and the SR8012 $2999, even without factoring the new tariff (not sure on this),inflation for 4-5 years, the additional amplifier channels, licensing fess for the new features (Apple Air 2, eARC, among others..). All these may not be relevant to the volume thing, but facts are facts..
Now I am going to leave it at that too as you wish. This post is less for a rebuttal
, more just info for the OP. I also agreed with you on one pint, that if it sounds good, just turn it up... but I am a curious person so I hope he will come back with his findings. For now,
I suspect he might have somehow set the mute level to -20 dB, and have it set to always on when power is turned on. Regardless, the remaining puzzle is, as HD mentioned, -48 on his Denon's volume should not be "loud" unless the OP's definition of loud is very different from mine, and/or the 4520 was hooked up to a source of very high output level.
