Question about the volume of my receiver

[MetalHead84]

I just receive my receiver (my first receiver, ayamaha htr 6150), and I was wondering something about the volume. It was a -40db and I can go lower or higher so was is the difference between -40db and +40db. And what is no sound ? Will it be at 0 ?

[blujacket]

0 is reference level when system is calibrated

[MetalHead84]

What do you mean by calibrated?

[blujacket]

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=38765

[Yeha-Noha]

Originally Posted by MetalHead84

I just receive my receiver (my first receiver, ayamaha htr 6150), and I was wondering something about the volume. It was a -40db and I can go lower or higher so was is the difference between -40db and +40db. And what is no sound ? Will it be at 0 ?

I have a Yamaha RX V663 = HTR 6160 which is probaby similar in most respects to your HTR 6150.

Let's get somethings in order here. First of all, the 663/6160 model volume control is minimum, or no sound, at -80 db, or totally muted. The max is +15.0 db. That's so loud that it will damage your speakers and your hearing too. Don't ever think about setting the volume to +15 db. That's speaker abuse and abusing yourself. Now, 0 db doesn't mean no sound. The zero is just a level that is normally used to calibrate the sound system by playing back tones or white noise when the 6150's volume control is set to 0 db. YPAO, the built-in internal calibration system in Yamaha receivers, sets the level automatically to 0 db during calibration. It's just a standard reference level. Be warned, 0 db on your receiver is extremely loud unless you have extremely inefficient speakers. On my system, 0 db is unbearably loud and I would never playback a movie or concert BDs at 0 db volume.

So just let YPAO do it's job after you connect your speakers. After that, you will probably find that the most natural or comfortable volume level you'll be using most of the time to watch movies will be in the -30 db to -15 db range.

Now understand this, please make sure you understand, because your question indicates that you don't seem to understand, that negatively higher volume like -30 db is at a lower sound level than -15 db. On your system -15 db could be way too loud for you and could damage your hearing if even tried listening at that level. After calibrating just turn the volume control to the level that on the average sounds realistic but not blasting you and your neighbors out of the house.

A 1 db difference higher or lower in sound level is just barely distinguishable by the human ear. Another thing, every +3 db level change in the volume control draws requires twice as much power from your receiver. If you watch a movie at -25 db and turn the volume up to -22 db, you just told your receiver to double it's output. So you need to exercise caution when using the volume control knowing the limitations of your receiver. Because once you start using around 50 watts rms from your receiver and then turn it up another 3 db louder, your might cause your amplifier section to go into clipping. There will be distortion. Damage to both your receiver and speakers could result depending on the amount headroom available.

So you tell me is 0 db in your volume control setting no sound? I hope you know the answer to that now.

[MetalHead84]

rwojtalewicz : thanks a lot for all those informations

I'm new to this, for me a volume level start at 0 then go to 10-20, which 0 is no sound at all, so that was a little bit confusing

[Yeha-Noha]

Originally Posted by MetalHead84

rwojtalewicz : thanks a lot for all those informations

I'm new to this, for me a volume level start at 0 then go to 10-20, which 0 is no sound at all, so that was a little bit confusing

You are very welcome!

Yes, it's seems at first to be counter intuitive for newcomers. Since no sound is -80 db in my V663 (HTR 6160) and no sound (completely muted) should also be -80 db for your HTR 6150. I often play background music at around -40 db on my system, nice low level softly quite sound while working around the house.

[ozzman]

Originally Posted by rwojtalewicz

You are very welcome!

Yes, it's seems at first to be counter intuitive for newcomers. Since no sound is -80 db in my V663 (HTR 6160) and no sound (completely muted) should also be -80 db for your HTR 6150. I often play background music at around -40 db on my system, nice low level softly quite sound while working around the house.

I never thought of this but i can see now how someone could think 0 is no sound

I never have to go pass 0 ,I think the most i kicked it was -10.Thats pretty loud for me

[Kai Winters]

Anyone not familiar with the "newer" method of volume numbering could misunderstand. In the old days 0 meant no sound and went up numerically using positive numbers. It is different now and has been for some time but someone not current would easily not understand.

I do not think I have ever had my 659 on "0" even when watching a concert dvd...AC/DC, Queen, etc. Was just watching 24 and had my volume set at -22 which was a loud broadcast...just the way I like it.

[Yeha-Noha]

Yes same here, in fact just so others in the family don't accidentally get carried away with the volume control using the remote, I set volume max on my receiver to -10 db. For most BDs that's far louder than I would ever listen to. Some HDNET movies for some reason are so low in sound level that sometimes we get close to setting the volume in the -12 db to -10 db range. That's a nice feature about Yamaha receivers allowing one to set the maximum volume level as well as setting the initial volume which on my receiver is set to -25 db.