Chris,
Please re-read the thread: The Denon is in my home theater. I'm talking about the Onkyo two-channel receiver in my hifi setup (that's where I'd like loudness compensation, but the amp offers no such button/switch).
Yes, I'd be the only one operating the system.
Have you considered an external DSP and loudness compensation via EQ ? WiiM (line-in) with PEQ would be a budget way . miniDSP SHD would be a fancy way to go about loudness compensation via EQ.
I haven't, as I didn't know the option was out there; how would this work with the connections at my disposal (based on the rear panel of my unit)?
Oh, this sounds like more than I bargained for, LOL; I don't use my phone for any kind of home entertainment (save for watching videos ON the phone itself; no music listening or connections to my HT or stereo). Also, this Onkyo unit doesn't have a tape loop, which is why I was running into the problem connecting and EQ -- the "TAPE" in and out you see on the back panel are regular ins and outs for, say, a VCR to be hooked up (though I don't know why someone would do that in this day and age), it's not an actual MONITOR/LOOP.
It works for both. It's about the way we hear things.
Perhaps you're on to something, as there is a way to switch this stereo amp's volume readout to render absolute or relative values (much like the option on most AVRs) -- however, I never really bothered with "reference" listening when it came to two-channel.
The volume scale is just putting the thx reference volume at one number vs another. Many people listen at lower than reference volume, whatever spec was used in the recording for reference. Sounds like you need gear to accommodate your desire, time to change out the Onkyo?
I understand; whether in my hi fi rig or home theater setup, I never got too caught up in shooting for "reference," being that, as you said, 99-percent of the time you're probably listening way under that. As such, I leave the Onkyo stereo amp's volume readout on "Absolute."
Indeed; on paper, that would be the deal. However, I really enjoy this unit outside of those limitations. The build quality, sound, robustness for the money...can't be beat. I just wish it had provisions for an EQ, but my ears have kind of gotten used to listening to albums with tone controls neutralized (more the way it should be).
The use of the two scales is just about what volume "number" you want to see displayed.
It's a bit more than that, as the "Relative" scale reflects where you're system is at if you're technically calibrated for reference -- so every step closer to "0dB" is closer to reference.
The bass and treble knobs on most of these mass-produced pieces of electronics don't have nearly the same adjustable range compared to a multi-band EQ, nor do they, from my experience, even do much until you start reaching the limits of the clockwise turn (i.e. when you're getting near maximum). Conversely, I'd just engage a loudness button, if there was one, as a compensation, but I just don't like bass and treble knobs on home audio gear as I feel that they're just not effective enough.
Please see my last post wherein I outlined what it is I actually like about this unit.
There were actual Integra STEREO models that were counterparts to the Onkyo units, and that includes models from the generation of my TX-8555.
It just puts the volume scale when reading "0" to be reference volume when using the relative scale. On the absolute scale it's generally 80-82 for reference level. Depends on the type of bass/treble control, but for eq I'd just prefer at least multiband peq. Trying to implement certain settings as a solution across the board, nah....
Yes, that's true (on most AVRs that don't have a reference volume scale, like my old Onkyo 605, the reference is usually around "82"), but I was merely responding to your comment regarding the suggestion that it's merely a way of reading the volume; at any rate, on my 8555 stereo unit, I just leave the volume on "Absolute" because I got used to the simple number scale that goes up to around 100 I think (so I know I'm comfortable at, say, 20 to 25 for late-night listening).
It has just been my personal experience that most of the mass-produced pieces of electronics offer bass and treble knobs that really don't do much to change the soundscape unless they're almost at their extremes; there doesn't seem to be much adjustable range. Now, if we start getting into more high-end pieces like the Outlaw RR stereo receiver or newer integrated amps with bass, treble and even midrange knobs, the situation may be different, yes. I just never liked using these simple knobs to make changes to the sound because the "guess range" is too steep and wide -- I would much rather introduce a graphic EQ into the system and adjust the overall tone in an s-shaped or smiley face curve, as I prefer that sound.
Generally when you have the choice of the relative and absolute scales, it's a dB scale, just the numbers rearranged/ordered. Just depends how you want to read them.
