Is this normal on the Onkyo HT-RC160...?

[Kaspian]

Hello everyone. I just got the Onkyo HT-RC160. Its an upgrade from my 10+ year old Yamaha R-V1103.

My question is the sound while watching movies is relatively low. I have to set the volume fairly high (past mid point) in order to be able to hear it. With 0 being min and 79 being max, I normally set the volume anywhere in between 50 and 55. My old Yamaha receiver seemed to be able to play movies alot louder at a lower settings (I hope I'm making sense).

Now with that being said, the receiver has no problems playing music at high volumes, but the receiver will be mainly used for movie watching. Also the sound effects/quality is a little better on the Onkyo from my Old Yamaha (new sound formats I guess?)

*The speakers and cables are the same I used with the Yamaha.
*I've played around with the different movie modes and other settings in the Onkyo...no luck.
*Sound quality on the Onkyo is good. I just have to set the volume to almost max in order to hear the movies.



Thank you in advance for any input.


Kas

 

[anamorphic96]

Hello everyone. I just got the Onkyo HT-RC160. Its an upgrade from my 10+ year old Yamaha R-V1103.

My question is the sound while watching movies is relatively low. I have to set the volume fairly high (past mid point) in order to be able to hear it. With 0 being min and 79 being max, I normally set the volume anywhere in between 50 and 55. My old Yamaha receiver seemed to be able to play movies alot louder at a lower settings (I hope I'm making sense).

Now with that being said, the receiver has no problems playing music at high volumes, but the receiver will be mainly used for movie watching. Also the sound effects/quality is a little better on the Onkyo from my Old Yamaha (new sound formats I guess?)

*The speakers and cables are the same I used with the Yamaha.
*I've played around with the different movie modes and other settings in the Onkyo...no luck.
*Sound quality on the Onkyo is good. I just have to set the volume to almost max in order to hear the movies.



Thank you in advance for any input.


Kas

Gain structure is different on all amps. Have you run the Audyssey set up system or calibrated your system to industry standards. My 506 has to be turned up for many TV programs but when watching movies 45 to 50 is usually where the fader resides. It was higher before I ran Audyssey.

Calibration is the key though. Hope this helps.

 

[AVRat]

50-55 sounds about right. Anamorph explained it pretty well.

 

[Kaspian]

Gain structure is different on all amps. Have you run the Audyssey set up system or calibrated your system to industry standards. My 506 has to be turned up for many TV programs but when watching movies 45 to 50 is usually where the fader resides. It was higher before I ran Audyssey.

With manual settings and before I ran Audyssey set up the volume was in the 40+ range. After running Audyssey its in the 50+. It just seems weird to me that I have to set the volume to almost max to watch a movie. But then again last time I bought a AVreceiver was over a decade ago...yikes!

Thank you for your input!

Kas

 

[Kaspian]

50-55 sounds about right. Anamorph explained it pretty well.

I noticed on your sig you have a different brand. Is the 50+ range an average regardless of the receiver brand?

Thank you for the reply!

Kas

 

[AVRat]

Actually, most receivers use a relative scale, say -70dB - +10dB. Onkyos also offer an absolute scale which is probably how yours is set up. Check your manual to change it. On the relative scale many people listen at around -20dB which equates to +50 on the absolute scale.

 

[MDS]

It just seems weird to me that I have to set the volume to almost max to watch a movie. But then again last time I bought a AVreceiver was over a decade ago...yikes!

It's actually nowhere near max. Once it is calibated accurately the volume increases 1 dB for every subsequent number higher on the dial. At 50 you still have 29 dB to go.

Note also that movies tend to have a very low average level to reserve room for the big explosions and sound effects. If you play a CD, it will be much louder at the same volume setting.

 

[Kaspian]

Actually, most receivers use a relative scale, say -70dB - +10dB. Onkyos also offer an absolute scale which is probably how yours is set up. Check your manual to change it. On the relative scale many people listen at around -20dB which equates to +50 on the absolute scale.

Relative scale? Absolute scale? Huh? Whatever happened to the 1-10 or 1-100 scale? lol, jk. After reading your reply, I looked at my old Yamaha and around the volume knob it starts at 70 (min), mid point is 16 and max is 0. Looking at those numbers around the knob, I guess we used to watch movies with the receiver volume set to between 29 and 25. For over a decade I always thought it was 1-10 or 1-100. I just never noticed it. Also whenever you adjust the volume (via knob or remote) all it would show on the display screen is volume up or down. Man do I feel like a moron.


Thanks again AVRat!

Kas

 

[Lordoftherings]

Relative scale? Absolute scale? Huh? Whatever happened to the 1-10 or 1-100 scale? lol, jk. After reading your reply, I looked at my old Yamaha and around the volume knob it starts at 70 (min), mid point is 16 and max is 0. Looking at those numbers around the knob, I guess we used to watch movies with the receiver volume set to between 29 and 25. For over a decade I always thought it was 1-10 or 1-100. I just never noticed it. Also whenever you adjust the volume (via knob or remote) all it would show on the display screen is volume up or down. Man do I feel like a moron.


Thanks again AVRat!

Kas

Hi Kas,

Relative scale = -81.0db to +18.0db
Absolute scale = 0.5 to 99.5

That's all. Older receivers don't even have numbers, it's only the Master Volume knob, with small white numbers around it, much easier if you ask me.

Your older Yamaha start at minus infinite, then -70db to +16db, 0db being 12:00 o'clock on the Volume dial, just like my older Yamaha too.
The max volume I used on that older Yamaha is usually about minus 20db, and the average volume I listened to, is minus 30db, about 9:00 o'clock on the dial.

Don't worry a single bit about all of that, it don't mean a thing. Just listen with the volume's knob where you like it, and that's all there's to it.
Just don't go over 12:00 o'clock, wcich is right in the middle, straight top, that's all, and you'll always be safe, same as your speakers and receiver.

Have a nice day,
Bob

 

[MDS]

Just don't go over 12:00 o'clock, wcich is right in the middle, straight top, that's all, and you'll always be safe, same as your speakers and receiver.

That was true of older receivers with analog volume controls because typically the 12:00 position was very close to maximum power.

Nowadays receivers use infinitely adjustable volume controls and there is no bottom or top - in other words the knob will not stop spinning after you turn it a certain distance to the right. Turn the volume knob manually to a high number and then use the remote to turn it down and the knob will not move.

 

[Lordoftherings]

That was true of older receivers with analog volume controls because typically the 12:00 position was very close to maximum power.

Nowadays receivers use infinitely adjustable volume controls and there is no bottom or top - in other words the knob will not stop spinning after you turn it a certain distance to the right. Turn the volume knob manually to a high number and then use the remote to turn it down and the knob will not move.

I know, that's just what I said, I was referring to the older receivers.

I was not talking about the newer ones when I said 12:00 o'clock, because there is no 12:00 o'clock with the newer ones; the Master Volume just keep turning. But even these newer ones have a maximum volume you should respect. And it is about 0db on a Relative scale (approximatively). You can go higher if you want to, after all, each person can do whatever they're please to do.
And on an Absolute scale, it's about 80. Again you can go to 100 if you want to, after all, it's your own receiver. But if you come home at my place, and you use my remote or front face volume of my receiver, you'll be stuck with 80. Sorry, it's my receiver here man.

 

[AVRat]

The nice feature on many of the newer receivers is that you can also preset the max volume internally so some buffoon can't crank it beyond that point.

 

[Lordoftherings]

The nice feature on many of the newer receivers is that you can also preset the max volume internally so some buffoon can't crank it beyond that point.

That was exactly my point, without saying it.

 

[bandphan]

That was exactly my point, without saying it.

how does one make a point without saying something (Alex leave the deaf and mute jokes out)

 

[Lordoftherings]

But if you come home at my place, and you use my remote or front face volume of my receiver, [[[YOU'LL BE STUCK WITH 80.]]] Sorry, it's my receiver here man.

how does one make a point without saying something (Alex leave the deaf and mute jokes out)

Like this.