question on Onkyo's "Dynamic Volume"

[tattoo_Dan]

question on Onkyo's "Dynamic Volume" (TX-SR876)

what does it do ?

does it just keep the volume the same for different inputs?

or does it,keep the volume down for like TV when a loud commercial or louder scene comes on?

I watch alot of TV and I am constantly turning the volume down or muting it during the commercials and louder scenes like CSI has on the show for example,

 

[sptrout]

Best to go straight to Audyssey to get the best explanation about Dynamic Volume & Dynamic EQ: http://www.audyssey.com/technology/index.html

 

[tattoo_Dan]

Best to go straight to Audyssey to get the best explanation about Dynamic Volume & Dynamic EQ: http://www.audyssey.com/technology/index.html

thanks,

then my next question is does it work good ? is there any annoying aspects of it's use?

from any members that have it on their AVR

 

[sptrout]

Since I do not have Dynamic Volume or EQ, I cannot comment. However there is a very long thread over at AVS that will have the answers that you are seeking. The bad news is that the tread is 333 pages. The link below will take you to page 333 because I recommend that you review the information backwards to save time. Note that you will see replies from a person who logs in as "audyssey." Read what he says carefully, he is one of the developers of the Audyssey Products.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?t=795421&page=333

 

[tattoo_Dan]

well,this is the thing,I can still return my 806 for a refund until 01/31,I really like it,but I am considering if the $400 difference in the 876 is worth it for me,now that I know more about the line of receivers,

the 3 features that I think may be worth it are
1)HD radio ready
2)multiEQ XT (instead of multiEQ)
3)"Dynamic volume"
and some other amplifier and PS differences as well,
I am sure there are other deciding factors too,
I am hoping that some of you can help me decide

 

[sptrout]

Of the differences that you list, EQ XT would be the biggest selling point for me. I have an 805, which has EQ XT and it does a great job. Odd that Onkno removed XT from the 806. Marketing - - got to love it.

As I read the spec sheets the 876 comes with a built-in HD Radio tuner. Interesting feature, but I have no experience with HD Radio and seldom even listen to radio at all. But oddly, I have just recently considered adding an external HD Radio tuner.

The big reason for the price difference is the HQV Reon processor in the 876. However that is only important if you plan to use the 876 with a lot of SD video. For me, not worth the costs when I was considering the 805 vs. 875.

Tough call, but if I was buying a new AVR today, I would probably go with the 876 mainly for the EQ XT.

 

[tattoo_Dan]

As I read the spec sheets the 876 comes with a built-in HD Radio tuner. Interesting feature, but I have no experience with HD Radio and seldom even listen to radio at all. But oddly, I have just recently considered adding an external HD Radio tuner.


.

well,me and my wife listen to a lot of radio when we are putzing around the house during the day,whether it's smooth jazz or classic rock,both of those stations locally have a HD version,I don't think the HD radio feature is enough to upgrade in itself,I also watch a lot of tv in the evenings,so I am thinking that the "dynamic volume" is a big one for us.


BTW,what are the options you looked at for ad-on hd radio units?
(and I am an avid trout fisherman,is your user name related to that? )



*I am still looking for some real-world input from someone that has the 876 or 906 on the function of the "dynamic volume"*

 

[jostenmeat]

what does it do ?

It attempts to keep volumes more evened out, yet still tries to maintain dynamic effects within these evened-out volumes so to speak. It attempts to keep the surrounds as effective, and the dialogue as intelligible. When you calibrate your system, its doing it for reference level AFAIK (75db + 30db). However, very few people listen to anything close to reference, and at these lower volumes the audio is not always effective as we would like it to be.

does it just keep the volume the same for different inputs?

No, that's what your IntelliVolume is for.

or does it,keep the volume down for like TV when a loud commercial or louder scene comes on?

Its supposed to help quite a bit with that, but honestly I would have only tepid hopes for that as we all know how bad commercials can be. I'm sure you would love to be pleasantly surprised, however!

I watch alot of TV and I am constantly turning the volume down or muting it during the commercials and louder scenes like CSI has on the show for example,

FWIW, more than one knowledgable user has claimed that they will never live without this feature after experiencing it. A must-have according to some folks, and I believe them. I don't need it, but I don't have TV programming anymore, and I often listen loudly enough.

I think that if you had to choose between upgrading to XT or Dynamic vol/eq, you would much prefer the latter. Yes the 876 has both, but there are other receivers at your price point that has the latter. I say go for it.


EDIT: wait a sec, doesn't the 806 already have Dyn features??? Did you run multeq yet?

 

[dssmith999]

For me on the 906

Dynamic Volume = Bad
Dynamic EQ = Good
EQ XT = Very Good


Maybe for night time listening if it is in you bedroom?

 

[tattoo_Dan]

For me on the 906

Dynamic Volume = Bad

why do you say that ?

 

[sptrout]

BTW,what are the options you looked at for ad-on hd radio units?
(and I am an avid trout fisherman,is your user name related to that?

I just noticed a very positive review on CNET of Sony's HD Tuner a few weeks ago and thought it looked interesing, and not all that expensive. However, now I am seeing comments that Sony may have discontinued this tuner so I have not done anything. Maybe something else is in the pipeline?

And yes, my login ID is related to my last name, which is "Trout."

 

[tattoo_Dan]

well I pulled the trigger yesterday on the 876 !
I got a good deal from a local authorized dealer.

so far I like it,

now I just need to wait for the Paradigm center and fronts to come in,and I am set for now,

 

[MidnightSensi]

Dynamic volume is great for listening at low levels, especially in movies where dialog is mixed low in comparison to effects. Perfect for late night movies. I think you'll like it.

 

[3db]

My Yamaha RX-V1800 has the Dynamic Volume feature as well and I've noticed a big improvement over my old Techncis receiver that applied just staright compression across the entire sound track with values of on, min, and max compression.

If the Onkyo is similar to the Yamaha setup, the amount of compression used is a function of volume. The louder the volume, the less compression applied. The lower the volume, the greater compression is applied.

Even at low volume levels, there's still more dynamics which allows for more voluime of the subs and surrounds then there is using standard staright thru compression. It still allows for the soundtrack to be quite dynamic.

I experimented with it using U571 depth charge scene as I didn't think there was a big difference between Dynamici compression and no compression. I heard the bass, I heard the splashes all around me so I thought it wasn't working. I turned it off while playing a movie at a decent volume level and almost jumped out of my seat once the Dynamic loudness was turned off.

I love this feature and so does the wife unknowinlgy. She hates the extremes of both bass and volume and this feature allows us to enjoy a movie that satisfies both of us.

 

[jostenmeat]

Tattoo, "Audyssey" (Chris) just posted this about using Dynamic features with TV viewing, particularly in regards to low freq adjustment.


"In future products we will be adding a manual adjustment to Dynamic EQ so that the user can add an offset to make up for content that is mixed incorrectly.

For now, a good solution (on products that provide this option) is to turn DOWN the input level of the source. Most AVRs give you this option. Turning down the input and then turning up the master volume "tricks" Dynamic EQ into thinking that the content was mixed at a higher level and thus it reduces the amount of low frequency compensation that it performs."

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showpost.php?p=15556599&postcount=10073