The **OFFICIAL** Denon AVR-XX13 Model Owner's Thread & FAQ - Page 147

First off, as we were trying to explain to the other poster, don't confuse a different volume structure with a lack of power. 50% on the dial doesn't mean the same thing on every receiver. Denons are calibrated to a specific reference level and then digitally attenuate the volume by the decibel scale, which is logarithmic. That means a 10dB increase is 10 times more power. So 50% (e.g. 40 on the standard scale, with 80 being reference). is 10^4 or 10,000 times less power than reference level. It is totally normal to crank it up to near reference if you really want to rock out; typical home listening for a loud "movie night" experience would be 10-15dB below reference, or 65-70 on the standard scale. This doesn't mean the receiver is underpowered, it's just a different method of volume control.

Also note that engaging Dynamic Volume will drastically change the volume scale, both by making things easier to hear at lower volume but also by restricting the peak output at higher volumes. So if you want to rock out with Audyssey enabled, make sure Dyn Vol is off.

Second, if you do with to forego Audyssey, there IS a manual EQ you can adjust. You need to set the EQ setting (under Audio > Audyssey) to "Graphic EQ". After you set it as such, then a new "Graphic EQ" menu will appear in the Audio menu allowing you to adjust a nine-band graphic EQ. See pg 108 in your manual.

Finally, a lot of people who are used to un-EQ'd bass response think that there is a lack of bass after using Audyssey, because the room EQ has tamed some nasty peaks that you have grown used to. A lot of people like "hot" bass and are accustomed to these lumpy room modes which make things sound boomy, so give yourself some time to get used to the new smoothed bass response.

Unfortunately, not having a separate subwoofer does restrict what you can do in terms of tweaking this bass response. With a separate powered sub channel, you can independently bump it up a few dB if you want to run the bass a little hot after calibration, but with only two big main speakers you can't adjust that channel separately.

This has come up several times in the Audyssey thread with ultra sensitive speakers like your KHorns. There are basically two routes you can take:

1. You can install an in-line signal attenuator, something like a 12dB attenuator will bring the KHorns into a better range for calibration.

2. You can do what you did and manually rebalance all the speaker levels. However, raising all the speaker levels will impact Dynamic EQ (although it doesn't affect the Audyssey EQ filters). Dynamic EQ is calibrated to adjust to what it assumes is reference level (master vol = 0 or 80 depending on which scale you use), but if you bump up all the speaker levels, then you will be listening at a lower volume, which means Dyn EQ will be boosting a little more than on a properly calibrated system.

What I would suggest you do is pick a 5dB increment, which will allow you to more easily match the Dyn EQ boost to the new reference level using the Reference Level Offset. For example, let's say you pull out your Rat Shack meter and find that all speakers read 73dB at the Audyssey set speaker levels (except possibly the KHorns which may have run out of room). So rebalance all the speakers at 78dB, exactly 5dB higher. You will probably end up with the KHorns still way negative, but at least not maxed out.

So after doing this, you will end up turning the volume down 5dB to achieve the same loudness. For example, if you listened to a movie at -20dB, you will now be at -25dB because all speakers are 5dB louder. To combat this, you simply bump the Dyn EQ offset by 5dB, which will reset Dyn EQ so that -5 is the new "reference".

Note that this offset is memorized by INPUT, so you will have to set it separately for each source. For non-film sources (cable box, music, etc) which you probably want at a 10dB offset otherwise, that means you will then bump the offset to 15dB.

Just so you know, what you were getting before was correct. MultiCH PCM input is higher quality than Dolby Digital, when you unchecked the PCM output it defaulted to the downrezzed Dolby Digital output.

You should redo the "Auto detect" for audio modes on your PS3 so it identifies that your receiver can accept multich PCM input.

The correct surround mode in this case would be "MULTI CH IN".

Why do you feel you need to adjust speaker levels? Can you explain more clearly what the issue is?