Loud Commercials and Volume Difference on Pioneer Elite Reveiver

[budgetstripper]

hey all,

I just set myself up with a Pioneer VSX-90TXV receiver with my Verizon FiOS Motorola Cable Box. The receiver powers a POLK Audio sound bar. I have noticed that some comercials and some channels are louder than others. I am talkin a significant variance in volume. Almost uncomfortably louder. Do any of you have some suggestions that would alow me to "normalize" (I think I am using the term correctly) the sound? Thank you

 

[j_garcia]

There is one product out there that does exactly this, however it is analog only AFAIK, so if you have a digital connection from your cable box, it obviously won't work. Most digital receivers have an Attenuation circuit or "Night" mode that does what you are asking, reducing the highest peaks also, though this also lowers the overall quality of sound IMO.

 

[Halon451]

This has been brought up on the forum a few times before that I know of - my take on it remains that the problem is with the source material itself and nothing to do with your AVR, or system in general. Sometimes it is used directly as a marketing tool, in order to grab someone's attention, the producers of the "spot" (commercial to anyone else not in the biz), will intentionally mix the levels high; you see this in particular with commercials that are targeted for the elderly - presuming that their hearing is not so good anymore, the company wants them to be able to hear what they're selling.

I agree with j garcia - any attenuation or "Night" mode will reduce the problem, but also introduce compression which will lessen sound quality overall. I just keep my finger near the volume button on the remote when I know commercials are coming up.

 

[Pyrrho]

This has been brought up on the forum a few times before that I know of - my take on it remains that the problem is with the source material itself and nothing to do with your AVR, or system in general. Sometimes it is used directly as a marketing tool, in order to grab someone's attention, the producers of the "spot" (commercial to anyone else not in the biz), will intentionally mix the levels high; you see this in particular with commercials that are targeted for the elderly - presuming that their hearing is not so good anymore, the company wants them to be able to hear what they're selling.

I agree with j garcia - any attenuation or "Night" mode will reduce the problem, but also introduce compression which will lessen sound quality overall. I just keep my finger near the volume button on the remote when I know commercials are coming up.

I generally use the "mute" button instead of the volume control. Or, better, just switch to PBS, and watch TV without commercial interruptions. The shows are often better, too.