Poor volume output...

[Hillhouseson]

Evening,

I am having a real frustration with a new theater receiver that I purchased and I would greatly appreciate any help that anyone would be so kind to offer.

The situation is this, I am installing a new Yamaha RX-V2065 Receiver to replace my old Yamaha HTR-5590 Receiver. The problem is that the new receiver’s audio performance seems to be extremely poor compared to the old receiver in terms of volume level.

The level of sound output from the new receiver is approximately 25%-30% of the level of sound output from the old receiver for the exact same db volume level settings (assuming the db readings are actually equivalent) across the full volume range.

I am comparing the two receivers using the same CD player, music CD and song title and the difference in output is rather striking. The new receiver sounds very thin and weak across the full db range and the old receiver sounds large and very strong. (Sorry for the not-so-technical terminology but that’s the best way I can describe what I’m hearing.)

I have read the manual for the new receiver thoroughly (multiple times) and have switched the systems multiple times and I am not fining any setting that changes that alter the performance of the new system in any significant way.

I’m sure I’m being a complete dufus and am missing something here. Can anyone help?

-Dave


THE NEW RECEIVER

Yamaha RX-V2065 7.1-Channel Home Theater Receiver

THE OLD RECEIVER

Yamaha HTR-5590

THE SPEAKERS

Klipsch Synergy Series
SF-2 Floorstanding Speakers (2)
SC.5 Center Speaker (1)
KSW-12 Subwoofer (1)
SS.5 Surround Speakers (2)

-fin

 

[dkane360]

The volume readout on the display is meaningless. It doesn't show what the volume is that is coming out of the speakers. That Yamaha receiver can definitely power those Klipsch's to above and beyond the volume levels you need. Just turn it up

 

[Hillhouseson]

Thanks dkane360,

I do harbor some suspicions about the comparability of those db displays but it doesn’t feel/sound like it’s simply a matter of not having turned the knob up to 11 yet.

The old receiver at 100 W starts to overload the room at around –25db. As I said before, the sound is large and very strong. By way of contrast, if I push the new 130 W receiver up to +25db the sound is certainly loud but it is not overloading the room and it is very thin and weak in comparison.

There seems to be something else going on. Is there any way I can setup an objective comparison of output levels? As it stands, the knob turning strategy does not seem to be a winning solution.

-Dave

 

[Rickster71]

Did you use Yamaha's room calibration, YPAO?
There is also a setting for the Maximum volume setting; maybe that is set and limiting your volume.

If none of this works, I'd get a Radio Shack sound meter and verify your suspicions.

 

[Hillhouseson]

Solved, more or less.

After talking with a number of Yamaha service folks, the consensus is that the db values should be extremely close within the same model number and particularly within the same production run (it's an electronics issue). There could be variation between models but it should not be that significant. Between manufacturers is anybody’s guess. That said, within the same model, the audible output should be indistinguishable if the two units are utilizing the same base configuration and sound program. Between models, base configurations plus sound programs of the same name can produce different audible outputs and they can be fairly different. There are other configuration factors at play but there is little value in going into those now. So, the recommended procedure was run the system initialization on both systems (which didn’t change the situation) then run the firmware update on the new system (as the old system didn't need an update). This last bit worked reasonably well. The systems are now fairly close in output on comparable configurations and programs.

 

[GranteedEV]

Is YPAO EQ-ing your speakers?

My guess is that the 'large and strong' older receiver was letting your klipsch speakers do what they do. In comparision the YPAO is probably toning down the bass and treble to give a more relaxed and natural sound.

Only a guess though. A few other things i'm noticing from the specs:

HTR5590

Bass Extension +6dB (60Hz)
SUBWOOFER OUT: LPF fc=90Hz, 18dB/oct
MAIN, CENTER, REAR SP SMALL:HPF fc=90Hz, 12dB/oct

I can only assume that such a setup would sound more bass-heavy and thus "powerful".