Yamaha RX-V1400 Sound Levels?

Walt H · 07-16-2004, 08:35 PM

Broke down and bought the RX-V1400 to replace my RX-V800. I immediately noticed the sound is quite a bit lower, at the same settings as my RX-V800. Still using my same JBL-S38 (Mains), JBL S-Center and my same surrounds. Viewing a DVD I had to set the volume to -22 db to get about the same sound level that my RX-V800 would produce at about -35 to -33 db.

My normal TV viewing with the RX-V800 would have the unit set to -36 db with TV volume (variable) set to 15. With the RX-V1400 the TV has to be set at a volume of 25 (variable) with RX-V1400 set to -32 db to achieve the SAME volume level. These levels seem, to me, to be quite a difference. Could something be wrong with the RX-V1400?

I didn't let the YAPO set it up as I wanted to see what it sounds like doing it manually. Will do the YAPO deal sometime later.

If I were willing to wait about a month until my local dealer got more RX-V2400's in stock, they said they could let me have one for $865. Is that a "fair" deal?

P.S. I check and re-checked to polarity of all my speaker wires and everything checks out fine.

Wayne Ernst · 07-17-2004, 12:24 AM

Walt,

Some thoughts ...

1) Did you have any speaker adjustments made to the channels when using the RX-V800 (e.g. +5 for the front left and right speakers)?

2) When the RX-V800 would hit "0" on the volume level, how far into the positive range would the volume level go as you kept turning the volume knob? - (Alert: when doing this test, ensure that your speakers have been turned off or disconnected.) The RX-V1400 should go into the +15 range.

Walt H · 07-17-2004, 05:29 AM

No additional adjustments were made to the front speakers with the RX-V800. I never knew the volume number could go in the + range...I thought 0 was the loudest. I never tried disconnecting the speakers to see how far it would go because the RX-V800's volume was extremely fine. The lowest I would tolerate on the RX-V800 is about -32.

What has me confused is the fact that my old receiver is also a Yamaha (RX-V800)...so the volume increments I figured would not be that different. After all the RX-V800 doesn't exaclty qualify as an "antique" as it also uses the digital volume control.

I'm thinking now could the RX-V1400's lower volume have anything to do with the equalizers for each speaker (which the RX-V800 does not have). Since I didn't do the YAPO as yet, everything is straight down the middle.

Walt H · 07-17-2004, 06:44 AM

Just ran YPAO in the AUTO mode which upon completion showed no errors. Does this mean ALL speaker polarity is fine?

MarkGall · 07-17-2004, 10:25 AM

I have the HTR-5790 and noticed the same thing. I listened to dvd's at around -35 or -30 on the 800 and now it's -25 or -20 on the 5790. Don't sweat it. I don't have the manuals handy and I already packed my 800 up to sell but I believe the RX-V800's volume doesn't go as high into the + range as the 5790/1400's. I have a rotel RB-976 bridged to 150 watts to 3-channels for the front stage. Let me tell ya if I turn the 5790 up past -10 it will make your ears bleed! I've never had either the 800 or 5790 into the + range. Also Please see my post on 5790 volume fluctuations maybe you can help me out.

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Walt H · 07-17-2004, 10:37 AM

Thanks for the input Mark. Just to be on the safe side, Monday I will give Yamaha a call and ask them about the volume level and I'll post what they have to say about it.

Regarding your other post, so far I've not had the volume fluctuations you mention. Sorry I can't help you out there.

MarkGall · 07-17-2004, 12:17 PM

My problem's been solved. The ^&*#$ dynamic range setting was set to min instead of max.

Wayne Ernst · 07-17-2004, 06:42 PM

Mark,

I experienced the same issue with dynamic range a few months back. I created a thread here on the issue, but tried to search for the thread, but couldn't find it. However, at the time, the Yamaha users who responded to the thread indicated that Yamaha ships the receivers with the "max" setting enabled. I think it's our desire to tweak the receiver which creates problems.

Walt H · 07-17-2004, 09:25 PM

Is there a way to check the PEQ equalizer adjustments that were made by YPAO? I can get in to the GEQ equalizer but I can't seem to see what adjustments were made using the PEQ from YPAO.

Steve Schaffer · 07-17-2004, 11:57 PM

Walt,
You can choose to check the PEQ adjustments only once, immediately after the setup is complete. After that you can't access the data.

These self-adjusting receivers (I've had a Pioneer 45tx, RXV-1400, and now a Denon 2805) all set themselves up so a 0db reading on the volume control is a predetermined decibel level as measured by the microphone using the receiver's test tones. The Pioneer sets itself so that 0db on the volume scale represents 85db on the test tones at the mic position. Yamaha do something similar though not necessarily the exact same decibel reading at 0db volume control. Prior to auto adjustment the volume scale on these does not necessarily match up with that of the older models by the same mfg.

In other words the calibration of the volume control on your new Yamaha out of the box is not by any means the same as your old one was, and it most likely will change after doing YPAO. On all my self adjusting receivers I've found that after the calibration a volume readout of -20 to -10 db is about 75 db on the Avia test tones at the listening position. The whole idea of all this is to establish a 0db volume reading as representing Dolby Digital specified volume at the listening position.