is it ok to be in the +DB's ?

[Sniperslayer]

this is quite the noob question, but last night my SVS 5.0 Setup finally arrived, and i hooked it all up along with my sub to my Yamaha RX-V661

at first I hooked up my laptop to the receiver through the typical headphone jackstyle plug input to the laptop which splits out to 2 RCA style plugs [red and white]

after using this i was like WTF?!? its not very loud at all

so then i figured i'd hook up my PS3 and projector and try to play music through it since it's run all through HDMI

i did this, and yes it was louder but still not loud enough

Then..being the HT noob I am, i discovered on the receiver i could go into +DB's from the negative ones

for an adequet loudness i think i was going up to around +4DB

is this ok?

 

[GlocksRock]

It should be ok, but you ought to calibrate your levels with an SPL meter.

 

[Adam]

Yes, it's okay...but it's surprising to me.

A volume reading of 0db on a lot of receivers signifies some reference level (e.g. 70dB). So, the + and - readings are just offsets from that reference level. As you increase the volume, though, you'll be pushing the amp in that Yammy harder and harder.

I say that it's surpising because when I set mine to 0dB, it's loud. Quite loud. My speakers aren't vert efficient, either.

 

[ParadigmDawg]

Who knows what the volume means until it is calibrated at some reference point.

Calibrate it and see.

 

[Adam]

Who knows what the volume means until it is calibrated at some reference point.

Calibrate it and see.

Solid point. I was assuming that he'd run the auto set-up on the 661, which should set the reference output at 0dB. I shouldn't have assumed.

 

[fmw]

Sniper, what you are encountering is a difference in output gain between different input devices. The receiver inputs will have a given sensitivity, probably not adjustable with your unit. The the volume control will then cause the inputs to be amplifed from the level from where they started to what you hear from the speakers. If an input device provides a lower level signal than some other input device, the volume control will have to be advanced further to acheive the same volume at the speakers. That's all there is to it.

The numbers don't have much meaning without understanding the entire signal chain. View them as a reference for setting the volume control. You will know that your laptop needs to be at X number and your DVD player will have to be at another to acheive the same volume from the speakers. My receiver, as an example, doesn't have - or + db numbers. It just has integers from 0 to 100. That accomplishes the same thing.

 

[Sniperslayer]

ahh ok ok, i understand now

and yes, I have not even begin to setup or calibirate the setup yet, this was simply plugging in the speakers and going just to see how it would sound as i was excited to see them arrive

but now that i'm past that I will wait till the setup is complete and everything in the room is set before i crank em up again, thanks everyone

 

[j_garcia]

My gut reaction is the same as yours and that is why you are asking, I don't think it is OK; certainly not long term. I agree, calibration should be done, but you should also try running a CD or DVD player direct and see if it is dramatically different from the sound card, if it is, that simply means it is a source issue. If it sounds the same then I would check your settings on the receiver to make sure you don't have some kind of attenuation turned on ("night" mode, etc...).