Dialog Normalization

[Gremal]

My Integra AV preamp is automatically making adjustments I don't want it to make. It flashes a sign like "Dialog Norm +4" when I switch to a different channel or source and I really don't want it making automatic adjustments like this. I can't remember turning on the dialog normalization function and after going through the entire instruction manual, I can't figure out how to turn it off.

Any help would be greatly appreciated. The model is the DTC-9.8

[crackinhedz]

what is the source of audio? dolby digital?

[Johk]

I don't think it can be turned off, my Denon receiver also displays it. From a Yamaha manual:

"Dialogue Normalization is a feature of Dolby Digital or DTS, which is used to keep the programs at the same average listening level so that the user does not have to change the volume control between Dolby Digital or DTS programs."

It is not the same as "dynamic range control". Dialogue Normalization only affects the overall volume level, kinda like turning the volume up or down. It's coded as metadata in the stream and tells the decoder at what level the dialog is.

Read the article Dialogue Normalization: Friend or Foe and you will find that dialog normalization is not a bad thing.

[Gremal]

Ok, thanks...it's not user adjustable. I need to stop obsessing over it.

[H9k_]

Give them a call, maybe they have newer firmware that lets the user decide to have it on or off.

[Gremal]

After googling around, I think it was developed to automatically level-match between different DD and DTS sources.

[Clark Kent]

This is the key piece from that article posted above, which glosses over a very real issue with dialogue normalization. It is the main reason why audiophiles do not like dial norm engaged at all.

Another concern that comes up is the notion that if the volume is being adjusted by the decoder (for any reason) in the digital domain, there is a reduction in quality (S/N ratio) from bit-width reduction. Audiophiles should actually appreciate that, when performed in the digital domain, the Dialnorm adjustment is extremely accurate. Dolby Digital is capable of 24 bit resolution. Thus, a volume reduction of 4 dB would mean a bit reduction of less than 1 bit.

[DonRSD]

dialog is total BS

when i watch sunday night football on nbc it lowers the volume -4

my receiver had to be turned up to compensate for this volume loss

[aramis109]

Originally Posted by Gremal

After googling around, I think it was developed to automatically level-match between different DD and DTS sources.

Yeah, my Onkyo 805 does it as well. My old 605 didn't do it so at first I was pretty thrown off until I started reading on it as well.

*edit* Hah, just realized this is kind of an old thread.