Dumb Questions - Need Some Help

[watson421]

I recently purchased a Denon A/V Receiver and with them Polk Speakers. I have a Samsung HDTV, with that HD service through my cable provider. I do not have a DVD player. What I use is my Xbox360 and the HD-DVD accessory. The audio from both the cable box and my Xbox are through Digital Optical cords, and all my video is component. I have no video problems, my problem lies in teh audio area.

I set my receiver up properly and it sounds amazing, however whenever I play a DVD in my Xbox the sound from the center channel seems to be much lower than the other speakers and as a result when action is on the screen I have to turn it down and when people are speaking I have to turn it up.

My question is: Is the low sound from my center channel a result of the sound coming from my Xbox and not a true DVD source? Or have I missed something in my setup? Or is it just how some DVDs are with lower center channel output?

If it is a problem of the DVD source, being my Xbox, then would I suffer the same problem with Blu-Ray from a PS3?

Thanks to anyone who can help me with my dilemma.

Wats

 

[avaserfi]

What denon receiver do you have? If it came with an Audyssey EQ I suggest running that and seeing if that fixes the problem. If it didn't look in your manual for something called channel level/test tones. Run the tones and you will hear the difference between all the channel levels and you can adjust accordingly by ear or more accurately with an SPL.

 

[watson421]

I have the Denon AVR-787. It has the auto set-up function where you plug in the microphone and it sets the levels automatically. I have done this twice and I still end up with the same problem of a lower center channel sound.

I was just curious if it had something to do with the fact that I was using an Xbox360 as my primary DVD source and not a DVD player. Thanks for the feedback.

Wats

 

[avaserfi]

I don't think it has to do with the source, but it could. I would try the sound level check I told you about in the previous post the auto set-up might have mistakenly set the center channel improperly.

 

[watson421]

I will do check it out when I get home from work. Thanks for the help.

Wats

 

[Davemcc]

Your mains have a 90db sensitivity and your center has 87db sensitivity. The center should need to be bumped up a bit to match the mains and your auto setup should pick up on that and adjust accordingly. If it doesn't just do it manually. It's the easiest function to do. Hit the Ch. select/Enter button on your remote and select the center channel and use the left/right arrows to raise or lower the setting. Your Denon should remember the different settings of the cable box to the DVD.

 

[watson421]

I bumped up the center channel slightly and they made a world of difference. Thanks for all the help.

Wats