A/V Receiver Problem?

[Redbone]

I recently bought an NAD T753 reciever and overall I am very pleased with it. The problem I am encountering is very puzzling; most of the DVD's I play sound very soft and you have to really put up the volume to get impact say maybe at -5dB. The amp has great power for an 80w receiver almost as powerful and in some ways more powerful than my old H/K AVR 520. But the lack of volume on some DVD's leads me to believe it may not be set right. In the store it sounded more powerful but I think he had his gains set way high like around +8dB for all speakers.

I do not own an avia disk, but do have a sound meter. Does anybody have advice as to how to set this properly. Right now I have all the channels set to hit 75dB when the volume is at -15. Though it is still very soft and I have to go up to near 0 on the volume to get the same impact as I did at -15 on my H/K. Also I heard it at another store in my area and it shook the room on Jurasic Park on volume setting -10. I don't understand why I am having so much difficulty setting this up.

I feel guilty about pushing the amps to +5 to reach reference volume as I am afraid it might damage the receiver. Though the store rep said it was no problem.

Please help.

My speakers are rated at 91dB and I use a toslink cable. All connections are solid.

 

[annunaki]

Not all receivers volume controls are calibrated equally. Are your speakers settings in the - db range? Have you tried calibration at 0db, as that is supposed to be reference level on most receivers? I would highly recommend a disc like Avia, or even better, Digital Video Essentials. System performance is much more appreciable when it is set up properly. By the way, it is no problem what sso ever to have the volume at +5db. The NAD receivers I have played around with had similar characteristics as to what you are describing.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I recently bought an NAD T753 reciever and overall I am very pleased with it. The problem I am encountering is very puzzling; most of the DVD's I play sound very soft and you have to really put up the volume to get impact say maybe at -5dB. The amp has great power for an 80w receiver almost as powerful and in some ways more powerful than my old H/K AVR 520. But the lack of volume on some DVD's leads me to believe it may not be set right. In the store it sounded more powerful but I think he had his gains set way high like around +8dB for all speakers.

I do not own an avia disk, but do have a sound meter. Does anybody have advice as to how to set this properly. Right now I have all the channels set to hit 75dB when the volume is at -15. Though it is still very soft and I have to go up to near 0 on the volume to get the same impact as I did at -15 on my H/K. Also I heard it at another store in my area and it shook the room on Jurasic Park on volume setting -10. I don't understand why I am having so much difficulty setting this up.

I feel guilty about pushing the amps to +5 to reach reference volume as I am afraid it might damage the receiver. Though the store rep said it was no problem.

Please help.

My speakers are rated at 91dB and I use a toslink cable. All connections are solid.

I agree with the above advice.

Does your reveiver move the master volume control automatically to a preset level when you engage the test tones? Or, you have to set it manually. I ask as some is an auto process.
If it needs manual setting, try that 0dB.

 

[Redbone]

I ordered digital video essentials from Amazon for $18 not bad I hope it works. I have to set my volume level manualy. The test tones just start and you adjust to the volume, problem is I don't know which volume level to calibrate it on? I remember the guy at the store were I bought it saying something not sure but I think he said set the volume at-18 and raise the dB level in all speakers til each one reads 75dB on my sound meter.

What really bothers me is that in the store even going through all his sound boards it was much louder at the same volumes then mine is. For instance at -20 on the volume his was quite loud and mine is very soft dialogue is almost inaudible on certain DVD's. As I mentioned this also happened at another store were I previewed the receiver watching Juraisic park and the room was virbrating at -12 on the volume.

What test db am I looking for with the master volume set at 0dB??


Thanks all I guess I will wait for the digtil video essentials.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I ordered digital video essentials from Amazon for $18 not bad I hope it works. I have to set my volume level manualy. The test tones just start and you adjust to the volume, problem is I don't know which volume level to calibrate it on? I remember the guy at the store were I bought it saying something not sure but I think he said set the volume at-18 and raise the dB level in all speakers til each one reads 75dB on my sound meter.

What really bothers me is that in the store even going through all his sound boards it was much louder at the same volumes then mine is. For instance at -20 on the volume his was quite loud and mine is very soft dialogue is almost inaudible on certain DVD's. As I mentioned this also happened at another store were I previewed the receiver watching Juraisic park and the room was virbrating at -12 on the volume.

What test db am I looking for with the master volume set at 0dB??


Thanks all I guess I will wait for the digtil video essentials.

Hard to compare in store performance and in home. Too many unknowns. Speaker sensitivity for one. Their calibration for another.


When you get the test DVD, you still need to level match to 75 dB with that 0 on the master.