Volume ? for B&K-AVR-507

[zipper]

I'm helping a buddy get into a HT/hifi system & I've got a question.He just bought a B&K AVR-507(good deal @$2500 new) & received his speakers from Axiom(M50s,175,qs4's).He's green so he asked the salesman to program the remote to control everything,so he has the receiver but not the remote.Helping him get things hooked up(got a Samsung 50" DLP too)I noticed that the volume on the B&K was real slight until it got up to about -20 which seemed to be,at best,average listening volume.Seeing as how this is the 1st time it's been turned on,& with new speakers,I told him to just let it play for a while at modest volume.
I'm a little perplexed at the volume setting/actual volume relationship as the same setting on my Yammy 3300 would be rockin the house.This unit is rated @ 150wpc(@ 1Khz which surprised me) so does the volume reading go up to,say,+30? W/O the remote I found it difficult to navigate through & try to check/set everything so we decided to wait for the remote to do it.I know there could be some setup issues causing this but I can't imagine it would be defaulted to defeat the mains by 10 or 20dB.

Anyone got any answers or experience similar to this?

 

[Aliixer]

volume

well I can't say for sure on the B&K, BUT i have the yamaha RXZ9. I have to crank the volume quite a bit to get it going as well. Well into -20 db or so. This receiver is rated at 170wpc. And the amp will reach +18 db. I would say for the B&K this is normal, it is meant to reach or approach full power with below -30 db on the dial.....

 

[Unregistered]

i always had it around -25 with speaker levels at 0 so yer about right. it also depends on your speakers, mine were 89db i think.

 

[zipper]

At this pt all we have hooked up is the center & mains.I believe the 50's are 89/93dB.


Thanks for the replies.

 

[mtrycrafts]

I'm helping a buddy get into a HT/hifi system & I've got a question.He just bought a B&K AVR-507(good deal @$2500 new) & received his speakers from Axiom(M50s,175,qs4's).He's green so he asked the salesman to program the remote to control everything,so he has the receiver but not the remote.Helping him get things hooked up(got a Samsung 50" DLP too)I noticed that the volume on the B&K was real slight until it got up to about -20 which seemed to be,at best,average listening volume.Seeing as how this is the 1st time it's been turned on,& with new speakers,I told him to just let it play for a while at modest volume.
I'm a little perplexed at the volume setting/actual volume relationship as the same setting on my Yammy 3300 would be rockin the house.This unit is rated @ 150wpc(@ 1Khz which surprised me) so does the volume reading go up to,say,+30? W/O the remote I found it difficult to navigate through & try to check/set everything so we decided to wait for the remote to do it.I know there could be some setup issues causing this but I can't imagine it would be defaulted to defeat the mains by 10 or 20dB.

Anyone got any answers or experience similar to this?

There is no way you can correlate th evolume position of the two units. They are different makes, everything. Who knows what kind of volume control is in each, how linear, etc.
You can actually see how far the volume contro goes by either not having an input signal and turn up the volume to max, slowly, or, unplug the speakers and try that. That will give you an idea.
I get furious when I overhear the sales person tell or confirm to a customer that one component is better because the it is louder with lower volume stetting. Total bs.

 

[Dan]

At least on my B&K which is similar if not identical, there is a section under each source that allows adjustment of a bassline volume for each input component. The purpose is to maintain a relatively even volume when switching input sources. Make sure these are set to 0 dB or things may be quieter than normal. The volume knob goes from -90 to+6 dB whatever that means in reality.

 

[stiletto pat]

B&K AVR-507 Volume

Zip,

I have the AVR-507, running Paradigm Studio 100 V3 Mains, ADP-470 V3 Surrounds and AVR-470 V3 Center, with a HSU 1220 TN Sub pushed by the HSU 500 Watt SubAmp. I too find the relationship to be slightly non-linear, such that it is very quiet below -30 db and then begins to come on strong. By -20 db, it's starting to rock, and -15 and -10 are quite loud, but still comfortable. But I have to ask, what does it matter, so long as it sounds great, and so long as one can find a suitable volume level?

To the best of my recollection, I don't thinkl I've ever pushed it past +6 db, as the system will literally blow you out of my rather large living area, and it's extremely clean up to that point. Bottom line, I'm not so sure I can find fault with the B&K. Thus, I'm pleased.

Pat

 

[Unregistered]

B&K AVR507

For movies I usually set the volume between -22db to -10db, for music rarely under -18db for nornal listening. Not in front of the system right now but it was professionally caliberated else I could walk you through the setup. Programming the remote is easy and everything is setup for 1 botton operation. The room is upstairs overlooking the living, dining and kitchen. Fills the whole house and sound is perfect specially SACD. I am very happy with my setup and the only thing I will upgrade to perhaps is the Denon DVD-3910 whenever that comes out. The receiver and sub were my best decisions and these speakers excellent.

------

Fronts - Vienna Acoustics Beethovens
Center - Vienna Acoustics Maestro
Sides - Vienna Acoustics Waltz
Rear - Vienna Acoustics Haydens
Sub - REL Storm III
Receiver - B&K Components AVR507
DVD - Denon 2200

 

[zipper]

Thanks fellas.I'm not real concerned as to the relationship between volume reading & the actual volume produced now as I suspected what you all have confirmed.I'm just used to the linear balance of my yammy,as it is audible @ a -80 reading & gets steadily louder as it is increased with -25 being as loud as I ever need to go.Have had it up to -15 but that's ridiculously loud for this room,may be better for outdoor parties.We didn't even hear anything out of the B&K until about -50.
Yeah Dan,I was reading about that feature in the manual online(just got done helping my buddy over the phone).I fairly certain everything is still at factory presets in that regard as everything else we've checked so far has been.
Two other issues we've come across are sub volume & tone controls.He got the EP-175(Axiom) sub & was concerned because there was nothing coming out of it.We went in & set the mains(m50's) to small,left the xover at 80,& turned on both sub settings.Still nothing.I had him turn the volume knob on the back of the sub from the 10 oclock position to 3 oclock.OK,we got some bass now.Again,different equipment.I've got a Boston sub & can't turn it past 11-12 oclock w/o it rumbling unnaturally.Still doesn't seem right but the B&K LFE is set at 0dB,so he can turn it up if he wants.
Are there Bass & Treble controls on this thing? Can't find anything in the manual on it.
The 507 is a beautiful piece of gear &,I don't mind saying,I'm envious of my buddy & those of you who own one.I'm sure he'll be happy with it.

 

[zipper]

Are there tone controls?

 

[Dan]

By my 2 and a half year old Reference 30 there are tone controls. These are accessible via remote under EQ. Variable EQ1 allows bass and treble control. This overrides the room EQ and is adjustable in volume and frequency. In general I use the tone controls rather than the room EQ which only goes up to 300Hz.

Also note that there are programmable presets which allow the volume levels to be set.

I see you are struggling with the manual which could be a bit clearer but is still better than most Japanese manuals. The best advice is to read the manual once and then try each adjustment on the unit. If you get messed up you can always restore the factory settings and start over.

Regarding the volume levels they are not totally linear. I too don't hear anything below 50dB and it was a long time before I realized just how much lower the volume went! In my 15 x 20 x 8 room I am usually between -15 and -40 dB but if I can get the place to myself I will crank it up although above 0 dB hurts my ears if on for more than a few minutes. Remember I have what is now known as the 200.5 amp (probably 175-185 W/ch in reality) and two 300w subs which is more than the 125w/ch receiver.