Denon DVD-1920 Output Level (too loud at -80db)

[kinne]

Hello,
I recently bought a Denon AVR-2106 receiver and a Denon DVD-1920. I'm still lost in the setup issues of these animals, but the one problem that drives me mad right now, is that the output level of the DVD-1920 is too high: even at -80db it's too high. How can I calibrate the output level of the DVD player. The problem appears both on CD, DVD-A, DVD-V and SACD, but not with other external sources like my old CD player or the tuner.
Could anybody help me out? I'm sure that this must be something really simple, but I'm stuck anyway...

Kinne

 

[Nomo]

I'm about as far as you could get to a Denon guy but I didn't want to see you go without a reply.
What type of connections are you using? Digital Coax, Optical....??

 

[MDS]

Kinne,
Can you elaborate on how things are connected and how you determined that the level is too high? Are you saying that even with the volume control at -80 the SPL reading on a meter is too high and you can't adjust the level lower? At -80, it should be silent.

 

[kinne]

Analog 5.1 & high volume at -80db

>> To MDS:
That's right: at -80db the volume was too high and there was no way to reduce the level (but it could go higher starting at the 0db region ).

>> To NomoSony
Actually, I unplugged everything and started again. I connected the DVD player to the receiver by means of an optical cable. This solved the problem : now everything is working fine with the DVD player. It reads DVD-A, DVD-V, CD and SACD in CD mode .

Then I trying to have the player read SACDs in SACD mode, aware of the fact that the 5.1 connectors should be used for that. When the first DVD 5.1 outputs to the receiver (front speakers that was), the problem instantly came back: too much volume. I unplugged the connectors and everything was fine again .

I now located the origin of the problem just to find myself confronted with a new one : how to listen to SACDs in SACD mode? I'll check forums and the Internet to find out and I already saw that this topic has been posted many times (but not with the volume problem that I describe).

One last thing about the fact that I became a "Denon guy"... after many years of listening to my old Technics stuff, I never had to complain: this was built to last. But it doesn't sound very good and moreover, I wanted to enter the multichannel world. Next step will probalby be an new TV.
I'm not a Denon fanatic, I just found that it was the best price/value relationship and there are many positive reviews. I must admit that my Denon gear looks not as well built as my Technics stuff. Not sure that it'll last as long (my 17-years Technics CD player still works fine). I'm still listening to every negative opinion on Denon, especially those who provide argumented comments on this stuff. I can't say that the gear completely "floored" me yet when I installed it.

Kinne

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Denon DVD-1920 (DVD player)
Denon AVR-2106 (receiver)
Axiom M3ti (front speakers)
Axiom QS4 (surround spearkers)
Technics SB-95CS (back surround speakers)

 

[MACCA350]

Have you tried plugging your other CD player in the EXT IN inputs to see if its these inputs that is causing the problem, If it works fine then you know your receiver is set right and the problem must lie with the DVD players settings or the players analogue outputs(it's unlikely but it may be sending a higher voltage then it should).

Have you tried changing the Receivers EXT IN channel level settings and the DVD players channel levels down to their lowest values?

cheers

 

[kinne]

How to connect DVD player & receiver to listen to SCAD

Denon replied to the shop where I bought the receiver, that when connecting the DVD player to the receiver by means of the receiver's 5.1 pre-inputs, the volume problem that I described occures.

There is only 5.1 pre-input, not 5.1 input on the receiver.

So the question is: how to connect the DVD player (DVD-1920) to the receiver (AVR-2106) in order to listen to SCAD in (analog) multi-channel mode?

It works fine for DVD-A (as expected).

Kinne

 

[MDS]

Denon replied to the shop where I bought the receiver, that when connecting the DVD player to the receiver by means of the receiver's 5.1 pre-inputs, the volume problem that I described occures.

There is only 5.1 pre-input, not 5.1 input on the receiver.

What is a 5.1 'pre-input'? No such thing. The 5.1 input on the receiver is labeled 'ext-in' on Denons and that is what you use for multi-channel input. I think the Denon rep was confused by your question as am I, which is why I asked that you describe what is hooked up and how. It should be a simple matter of using 6 analog cables connected from the player to the ext-in and then select ext-in as the source. You then have to setup the player.

 

[kinne]

Pre-output & ext in

MDS,
Exactly... shame on me and sorry for being nearly braindead on this whole issue . There's a "pre-output" on the receiver where everything is labelled very clearly and that's why I did not look further. When hooking up the DVD 5.1 outputs to the pre-output, the high volume problem happens, even at -80db .

I finally understood the meaning of FR, FL etc. on the "ext in" group of connectors and that was of course where I should have connected the cables in the first place. The short labelling on the receiver was confusing. I finally found the answer in the manual also.

Entering the multichannel world after so many years of easy stereo listening is not easy though (I'm getting old )