Topic: I don't know hot to tune my Amp :( Volume vs Decibel)

[Chiekotz]

I have a decibel setting and volume setting in my simple Pioneer VSX 523.

I dont know how to tweak the decibel thingy. The only thing i notice is that when its a max (15 db), 20 pa lang sa volume malakas na.

Obviously if its at -6 db, i need to turn it at volume 60.

With that being said, why don't i just pull it to 15db then enjoy music at a lower volume? Or am i doing something wrong here?

FYI. Last amplifier i used was back in the early 90s. Pioneer VSX 5700S.

[Courage]

I have a decibel setting and volume setting in my simple Pioneer VSX 523.

I dont know how to tweak the decibel thingy. The only thing i notice is that when its a max (15 db), 20 pa lang sa volume malakas na.

Obviously if its at -6 db, i need to turn it at volume 60.

With that being said, why don't i just pull it to 15db then enjoy music at a lower volume? Or am i doing something wrong here?

FYI. Last amplifier i used was back in the early 90s. Pioneer VSX 5700S.

I think you are talking about level settings for each speaker right? You adjust it to balance your speakers, minsan kasi sa isang room di pantay pantay ang ang lumalabas na tunog sa speakers kaya you need to balance all. An spl meter will help kung meron ka or download ka apps sa iphone or android.. Or may ibang avr na may automatic na pang adjust ng balance ng speakes(audyssey or ypao if yamaha) im not sure about your receiver so read the manual..

[tony]

tune your amp to what level pleases your ears without annoying your neighbors....

[Chiekotz]

oh ok, i just though id be overworking the amp by putting it at 15db.

Thanks

[Gino]

It may also be used for matching speaker levels against the rest of the 5.1 speakers. This way when the master volume is adjusted the volume of each speaker goes up or down at the desired loudness.

[Nelson de Leon]

Napatakbo mo na ang auto calibration?

[Chiekotz]

Napatakbo mo na ang auto calibration?

Yes sir, i did, defaulted at 0db

[Nelson de Leon]

Yes sir, i did, defaulted at 0db

That's the reference level listening for your room. Ako usually nasa -12 to -6 db lang @ 50hz xover for the speakers. Why? Di na kaya ng built-in amp ng AVR ko ang mga DIY speakers ko kasi super power hungry.

[Chiekotz]

That's the reference level listening for your room. Ako usually nasa -12 to -6 db lang @ 50hz xover for the speakers. Why? Di na kaya ng built-in amp ng AVR ko ang mga DIY speakers ko kasi super power hungry.

Oh i see sir thanks for the reply.

[IsoMetrix]

I have a decibel setting and volume setting in my simple Pioneer VSX 523.

I dont know how to tweak the decibel thingy. The only thing i notice is that when its a max (15 db), 20 pa lang sa volume malakas na.

Obviously if its at -6 db, i need to turn it at volume 60.

With that being said, why don't i just pull it to 15db then enjoy music at a lower volume? Or am i doing something wrong here?

FYI. Last amplifier i used was back in the early 90s. Pioneer VSX 5700S.

The dimensionless term dB, is a logarithmic ratio of two quantities normally amplitude or power. It is a ratio of the Output Power of a system to that of the Input Power, multiplied by 10. For Amplitudes, it is a ratio of the Output Amplitude over that of the Input Amplitude multiplied by 20.

As for the dB volume settings in an amplifier, the calibration starts down from -XX dB up to 0 db, with 0 dB representing the nominal Maximum rated Power of the Amplifier. So a -3 dB setting on the amplifier volume is 1/2 of the Maximum rated amplifier power (log(0.5) * 10 = -3), a -6 dB setting on the amplifier volume is 1/4 of the Maximum rated amplifier power (log(0.25) * 10 = -6)

For signal to noise ratios (S/N), it is expressed as positive numbers because the signal is normally stronger than the noise. A 90 dB S/N ratio means that the power of the signal is 1 000 000 000 times stronger than the background noise (log (1 000 000 000) * 10 = 90.

[markcrenz]

You seem new to this, and apparently you're referring to the individual speaker levels (channel settings) when you mentioned decibel settings, and master volume as volume settings. My suggestion is just run the calibration and let it do its work, you paid for it to do so, and more likely you'll get THE correct relative channel levels. Then set the volume setting to a comfortable level or just loud enough without obvious distortion.

Tweaking is optional, but it would be wise to write down or memorize the settings beforehand.

As for the dB volume settings in an amplifier, the calibration starts down from -XX dB up to 0 db, with 0 dB representing the nominal Maximum rated Power of the Amplifier. So a -3 dB setting on the amplifier volume is 1/2 of the Maximum rated amplifier power (log(0.5) * 10 = -3), a -6 dB setting on the amplifier volume is 1/4 of the Maximum rated amplifier power (log(0.25) * 10 = -6)

Not all amps/receivers use 0dB volume setting as reference level. Different manufacturers use their own scaling, some start with zero and max at 80, some range from - something to zero or + something, etc. Even some manufacturers implement different volume scales among their receiver models. Without the proper tools or documentation, we will not know exactly what volume setting is the reference level.

Also, a source material that is recorded hot (more than 0dB reference, think loudness wars) may max out your amp even below reference volume setting.

[tony]

0db, can be 100watts in a 100 watter amp, or 250 watts in a 250 watter amp....
setting these 2 amps into 8 ohm speaker, you might get shocked at the results....
so you have to know the term of reference for the 0db spec....

[Nelson de Leon]

Not all amps/receivers use 0dB volume setting as reference level. Different manufacturers use their own scaling, some start with zero and max at 80, some range from - something to zero or + something, etc. Even some manufacturers implement different volume scales among their receiver models. Without the proper tools or documentation, we will not know exactly what volume setting is the reference level.

Yan ata yun absolute and relative type volume.

[markcrenz]

^ Parang ngayon ko lang na-encounter ang terms na yan. I seem to follow the context though, and it would seem "relative-type" lahat ng volume controls. It is a fact that 0dB is the recording industry reference level. But even if the amp/receiver volume control is scaled accordingly, setting it to 0dB would still NOT necessarily produce reference levels at the listening position. The actual SPL will be affected by several factors such as listening distances, room gain and speaker sensitivity.

[Nelson de Leon]

^ Parang ngayon ko lang na-encounter ang terms na yan. I seem to follow the context though, and it would seem "relative-type" lahat ng volume controls. It is a fact that 0dB is the recording industry reference level. But even if the amp/receiver volume control is scaled accordingly, setting it to 0dB would still NOT necessarily produce reference levels at the listening position. The actual SPL will be affected by several factors such as listening distances, room gain and speaker sensitivity.

Yes. Dapat ata reference level ng amp/speaker combination ano? Where 0 is the threshold ng clipping or distortion?

[jjohnc]

Yes. Dapat ata reference level ng amp/speaker combination ano? Where 0 is the threshold ng clipping or distortion?

OT brad ah...