Pioneer VSX-934 problems to adjust the volume

[Serge2019]

Hi, first of all I want to thank again all the people on this site who helped me with some connections issues I had with this receiver. I haven't been using it a lot since I got it but I really have some difficulties to adjust the volume on this receiver.... Sometimes I want to lower the volume on the remote and the sound instead gets louder and I always see a minus symbol in front of the number. If for example the volume is at -40.00 and I press up on the remote to get the sound higher the numbers go down -39.00/-38.00....but the sound gets louder. If I press down on the remote the sound gets lower but the numbers go up -39.00/-40.00, I don't get it!... I never had before a receiver with minus volume numbers so I'm quite confused. Thanks for your help.

Serge

 

[Serge2019]

Actually I should have said negative numbers instead of minus but hopefully you will understand what I meant

 

[lovinthehd]

That's called a relative volume scale and how negative numbers work, they are increasing volume as the number approaches zero, which if calibrated is the reference level (i.e. zero is the reference level, or about 85dB average, with allowance for 20dB peaks). Many of us use that volume scale on our avr, and is somewhat useful for comparisons. Did you calibrate the avr using MCACC? Or you have a missing mic? I forget. The other type of volume scale on most avrs is called an absolute scale and goes from usually 0-98 or 100 (and 82 or so is usually reference level). Some avrs don't use either scale (old Sony units I know didn't). Many avrs give you a choice to use either, check your manual.

Try this article https://www.soundandvision.com/content/‘relative’-vs-‘absolute’-volume-what’s-difference

 

[Serge2019]

That's called a relative volume scale and how negative numbers work, they are increasing volume as the number approaches zero, which if calibrated is the reference level (i.e. zero is the reference level, or about 85dB average, with allowance for 20dB peaks). Many of us use that volume scale on our avr, and is somewhat useful for comparisons. Did you calibrate the avr using MCACC? Or you have a missing mic? I forget. The other type of volume scale on most avrs is called an absolute scale and goes from usually 0-98 or 100 (and 82 or so is usually reference level). Some avrs don't use either scale (old Sony units I know didn't). Many avrs give you a choice to use either, check your manual.

Try this article https://www.soundandvision.com/content/‘relative’-vs-‘absolute’-volume-what’s-difference

Hi, thanks for your information and link, I will read more about this. Yes, I used MCACC with the mic to calibrate. However I've noticed something's not right, I only have a 3.1 speakers setup (2 front and center speakers) for now but I will get some rear speakers soon and also both Polk T15 are on the floor as I don't have any speakers stand yet, I live in an apartment and I don't have so much space... So back to the issue I have, when I go to "MCACC data check - Speaker settings" I see "large" for "front speakers" but the T15 are actually small... I don't know how I can fix that...

 

[lovinthehd]

Hi, thanks for your information and link, I will read more about this. Yes, I used MCACC with the mic to calibrate. However I've noticed something's not right, I only have a 3.1 speakers setup (2 front and center speakers) for now but I will get some rear speakers soon and also both Polk T15 are on the floor as I don't have any speakers stand yet, I live in an apartment and I don't have so much space... So back to the issue I have, when I go to "MCACC data check - Speaker settings" I see "large" for "front speakers" but the T15 are actually small... I don't know how I can fix that...

The avr found an f3 of 40hz apparently so set your speakers to large (dumb avr terminology for do not use bass management), i.e. the avr thinks you want to run them full range despite the presence of a sub. You can change the speaker to "small" and apply a crossover, I'd suggest 80hz.

 

[Serge2019]

The avr found an f3 of 40hz apparently so set your speakers to large (dumb avr terminology for do not use bass management), i.e. the avr thinks you want to run them full range despite the presence of a sub. You can change the speaker to "small" and apply a crossover, I'd suggest 80hz.

Well anyway I can't change anything it says "large" for front and center speakers and there's no other choice when I click on that field, for the crossover I have 80hz. What do you mean by sub? Subwoofer? I don't have any for now. I also checked channel level and it says "front left +1.5dB - Center -1.00dB - front right +0.5dB".

 

[lovinthehd]

Well anyway I can't change anything it says "large" for front and center speakers and there's no other choice when I click on that field, for the crossover I have 80hz. What do you mean by sub? Subwoofer? I don't have any for now. I also checked channel level and it says "front left +1.5dB - Center -1.00dB - front right +0.5dB".

Ah, you said you were running 3.1 and I thought you meant you had a sub already. There's no point to a crossover really without a sub. Maybe to limit content to the speakers if you tend to play them beyond their capabilities perhaps. Full range for all speakers until I got a sub is what I'd do in your situation....

 

[Serge2019]

Ah, you said you were running 3.1 and I thought you meant you had a sub already. There's no point to a crossover really without a sub. Maybe to limit content to the speakers if you tend to play them beyond their capabilities perhaps. Full range for all speakers until I got a sub is what I'd do in your situation....

Sorry I forgot to mention I don't have a subwoofer, I'm just adding little by little and soon I will get some Bose V201 speakers, I'm thinking about using them as front speakers and use the Polk speakers as rear surround speakers. I'll see for the subwoofer after, my wife is probably going to kill me to add all this home theater equipment in the living room as she will run out of space for ironing.. LOL Well, I'm not going to play them beyond their capabilities. What do you mean by "full range", do I have anything in the settings?...

 

[lovinthehd]

Sorry I forgot to mention I don't have a subwoofer, I'm just adding little by little and soon I will get some Bose V201 speakers, I'm thinking about using them as front speakers and use the Polk speakers as rear surround speakers. I'll see for the subwoofer after, my wife is probably going to kill me to add all this home theater equipment in the living room as she will run out of space for ironing.. LOL Well, I'm not going to play them beyond their capabilities. What do you mean by "full range", do I have anything in the settings?...

No, "large" and "full range" are the same thing in bass management terms. Different avrs use different terms too. Good luck with the sub and WAF!

 

[Serge2019]

No, "large" and "full range" are the same thing in bass management terms. Different avrs use different terms too. Good luck with the sub and WAF!

Ok. Thanks again for your patience and help. Have a good one. Serge