volume nob on receiver led ?

synaptik · 9 Jan 2013 at 20:43

I'm new to this but do not know why the led to the volume control at the next notch to minimun says -88db instead of 1. Turning anti clockwise it says -88db then minimun?

edit: Forgot to mention it's connected to a pc so wondering if volume levels might be associated with that?

lucid · 9 Jan 2013 at 22:36

It's a dB scale. It's based on attenuation. That's a fancy word for "making quieter". When there's no sound from the speakers and the control is fully anti-clockwise then the attenuation is at maximum. As the control moves progressively clockwise there's less and less attenuation. The volume gets louder.

There'll be a point where the display reads 0dB. That is used as Reference Level. It is the point where the amp is producing no attenuation of the signal. Depending on the amp it is possible to set up so you know that at 0dB the sound pressure in the room is 'X'dB. X is whatever sound level you decide is your reference level. Somewhere between 75dB and 85dB as measured at the prime listening seat is typical.

The benefit of using the dB scale rather than just numbers on the volume dial is that 75dB in the room is the same whether it's a £300 AV amp or a £3000 one. You get consistency across equipment.

Continue clockwise and the display will start to read +...dB figures. This is the amp increasing the signal level from the source.

synaptik · 9 Jan 2013 at 23:04

Thanks for the reply Lucid.

If I crank it all the way to the top in a clockwise fashion it says -07db then maximun volume. Maybe the - I am referring to isn't a minus?

chaparral · 10 Jan 2013 at 00:03

synaptic

My pioneer 920 amp volume scales goes from -80dB to +12dB
(My amp counts down from -80dB > 0.0dB and then counts up to +12dB)

I normally have it set around -25dB when watching TV/movies

lucid · 10 Jan 2013 at 08:41

synaptik said:
Thanks for the reply Lucid.

If I crank it all the way to the top in a clockwise fashion it says -07db then maximun volume. Maybe the - I am referring to isn't a minus?

Check the menus. Many AV amps and AV receivers have the option to set a maximum volume. This stops over enthusiastic teens wrecking the tweeters. Works for over enthusiastic adults too

While in the menus, have a look to see which option the volume display is using. There are two. One gives the dB scale. The other is the more conventional 0~max scale.

seanyc5 · 10 Jan 2013 at 14:20

My amp does -76dB to 0db. Its a technics su-x101 pretty old school.
It does not go over 0db and lord knows why you would want to lol. Dac/Preamp set at half way and amp set at -16dB if more than load enough for my small bedroom!!

ethan · 11 Jan 2013 at 00:30

It does not go over 0db and lord knows why you would want to lol. Dac/Preamp set at half way and amp set at -16dB if more than load enough for my small bedroom!!

just didn't know if it was a fault as I am quite new to av receivers etc.
What dac are you using and how have you got it setup to your receiver? I've got a Dacmagic plus and was wondering if I would gain any benefit in connecting it to my CA Azur 650? Thank you.

While in the menus, have a look to see which option the volume display is using.

No options at all for this.