Here is my problem. I live in an apartment and every movie/tv show has really quiet dialog and insanely loud action sequences with more quiet dialog in the middle. I need a receiver (or a device) that will auto adjust the sound to all be in the same range. (obviously I don't want this on at all times just at night). I seem to remember some TVs having this option, but I don't remember what it is called.

Is there such an option or am I just stuck holding the remote in my hand when watching TV and movies at night constantly adjusting it and rewinding to catch the dialog that I missed?

If you are just using the TV speakers, almost any TV has a "smart sound" or similar feature to compress audio.

Some TVs may have it, but most receivers have a "night mode" or something similar that's a dynamic range compressor.

Some TVs may have it, but most receivers have a "night mode" or something similar that's a dynamic range compressor.

Ahh! Thank you! This is exactly what I'm looking for.

I don't have a TV I have an HD70 projector unfortunately. Now I need to get a decent receiver. Back to reading this site. Thanks for the answers.

Some TVs may have it, but most receivers have a "night mode" or something similar that's a dynamic range compressor.

In fact, I actually believe *all* DD receivers are equipped with this feature, I think it's required by Dolby. My recollection maybe incorrect about this, but I've never seen a DD receiver or processor without a night or midnight (or whatever name they choose) mode. You can engage this for DD sources like DVD and it should work great. For other things you may just need to run the volume up and down still, unfortuantely, though as mentioned some TVs have a 'stable volume' feature or the like. Also, if you have a surround system, artificially increasing the volume of your center channel (assuming you're already calibrated) above flat will increase dialogue intelligibility since center channel dialogue is louder, and so you may be able to decrease the volume overall while maintaining the ability to understand dialogue.

If memory serves correct then "night mode" will only work with DD, not PL or any other sound mode.

If memory serves correct then "night mode" will only work with DD, not PL or any other sound mode.

I dunno, I've never actually used the feature. I'll have to give it a try and see what happens.

I know that my STB has settings for this as well, but I've never used the feature on that device either.

If memory serves correct then "night mode" will only work with DD, not PL or any other sound mode.

Correct.