Denon Dynamic EQ question

Dyn EQ can generally be left on for all sources, using the Reference Level Offset of 10db for non-movie (ie. non-reference) sources (ie. TV, music, games) to reduce the bass boost and bring out the dialogue. After running Audyssey with "reference" volume (ie. 85db+) set to an AVR master volume setting of 0db, a master volume setting of -40db would be (85-40=45db) or roughly about the level of a whisper. Average TV viewing master volume levels generally range from -35db to -25db. Modern AVRs generally use a logarithmic volume scale, such that the volume must be turned up over 50% for normal listening.

Also note there is a dedicated thread for Denon AVR-XX12 Owner's linked in my sig. Review posts #3-6 for more helpful information.

as usual JD nails it. WIthout DynVol, minus forty dB is one sixteenth as loud as zero would be and uses one ten thousandth of the power that zero would use. You typically see normal conversation defined as being in the 65 dB range. Typical movie dialog might be at 80 ti 85 dB at reference. So minus 29 dB, or one one hundredth of the power of reference, would get an 85 dB dialog scene down to 65, more like normal talk in your home. Each 10 dB is half as loud, and one tehnth the power. At minus forty you'd have dialog down around 45 dB, likely too quiet to understand . DYNVOL works to keep those things up in the range of audibility when we listen very quietly.