I have to turn my pio VSX-32 to -20db or -15db(ish) to get it going, is this normal?

myke

Depends on the movie i'm watching but i sit 12 feet from the fronts and center/tv and seem to need to turn the receiver up to -20 or even -15db to really get the movie rocking is this considered normal?? I have been considering an amp but first i really want to ensure this is ok/normal, or am i just deaf:eek:? livingroom is 20x15 and in an open floor plan to the kitchen & dining room. My sub is rocking at those levels but it is turned up between half and 3/4 total volume around crossed over at 90htz on the sub and 80 htz on the receiver, the single cord from the receiver is plugged into the lfe too.

messiah

I'd say that's pretty normal. It depends on the movie, but I'm usually in the -14 to -20 range. Sometimes as low as -25, but not normally.

mdaudioguy

Yep. Agreed. Sounds pretty normal. If everything is calibrated correctly, that's supposed to be 15 to 20 decibels below whatever reference is - usually 75 to 80 decibels.

mantis

First off did you run MCACC? If so did you do it correctly? If so then turn the volume up to reference which is 0. Then watch a movie. If it scares you out of your chair then you have plenty of power for your room and speaker package. If it's so so on the volume , you might need more power. With the size room and speakers you own , I don't see needing anymore then the vsx32 can dish out. I have used that receiver in many room your size and bigger with Paradigm and Definitive Mythos speakers with ease.

Rivrrat

I usually have my vsx80 at around -15 for movies, -20 to-25 for concert dvd's.

txcoastal1

Very norm when I got a good movie going running I like -10 to shake the house down 0 is a little much unless cleaning the house to some jams when ever everyones away

tonyb

I would call into question your crossover settings, why are you using both for one and the receiver one seems a bit high to me.

myke

thanks everyone, thats reassuring to hear. tonyb, what i mean is that i calibrated the receiver with mcacc, correctly, and have the sub setting to crossover at 80, but on the back of the sub i have the Hz set to 90(ish) to get more bass.

Does anyone think thats defeating the purpose and i would assume its there to be adjusted, depending on what movie(game or music) is being played. I mean it goes much higher, like 240 if memory serves.

VR3

I like to watch awesome movies at 0 and casual movies at -8

myke

so would an amp really help out then? I was assuming it would open up the speakers more and i would therefore hear more clear and crisp sounds?

tonyb

An amp sure won't hurt none. Try turning the crossover on the back of the sub all the way up, also go into the receivers setup menu and see what the auto calibration set the speakers to. You may have to adjust it a tad.

txcoastal1

tonyb wrote: »

An amp sure won't hurt none. Try turning the crossover on the back of the sub all the way up, also go into the receivers setup menu and see what the auto calibration set the speakers to. You may have to adjust it a tad.

I agree with Tony, after running auto cal I put in a couple test movies and tweaked the Db settings on each speaker from my favorite sitting spot...note write down on paper where your original auto cal's were case you want to start over tweeking....helps a little after mind f---ing yourself

Ron

cnh

myke wrote: »

Depends on the movie i'm watching but i sit 12 feet from the fronts and center/tv and seem to need to turn the receiver up to -20 or even -15db to really get the movie rocking is this considered normal?? I have been considering an amp but first i really want to ensure this is ok/normal, or am i just deaf:eek:? livingroom is 20x15 and in an open floor plan to the kitchen & dining room. My sub is rocking at those levels but it is turned up between half and 3/4 total volume around crossed over at 90htz on the sub and 80 htz on the receiver, the single cord from the receiver is plugged into the lfe too.

Just about every AVR I've used has been at these levels for decent HT. Pioneer, Onkyo, and Denon! My room is bit less than 2500 cubic feet?

And subs always require 'extra' tweaking' even if you use auto-cal. mics.

A lot here, like to run their subs HOT--in any case. Especially in HT mode. I often add a few dbs to the sub, manually, for some films.

tonyb's suggestions will also work for you.

cnh

myke

Thanks for all the helpful advise guys!
Oh and i'm tweeking the db's:eek:, but luckily i've been taking notes too:biggrin:

If i go above 120 on the back of the sub I think my house will fall down:biggrin:

i've been toying with the idea of an amp, either 3 ch or 5chanel, just not sure what would be better. I have 7.1 running right now adn really enjoy it:biggrin: , much better than 5.1 imho but i'm also fairly new still to the theater thing so i might be in a honeymoon phase still, either way i at least realize i can't really go wrong.

Running 7.1 makes me think i should get a 5 ch amp, i know the receiver can handle the 2 remaining surrounds but if i get a 3ch amp can the receiver really handle 4 surrounds well?