I just purchased a Yamaha RX-V1300 and the Epic 60 system. This is my first foray into home theater. I have a question regarding the decible (db) level display on the LCD panel of the Yammi. When the volume is turned all the way down, it displays 99db and when it's turned all the way up it displays 0db. This is counter to what I would have expected. How should I interpret this information? From what I have read, I beleive that the volume of sound doubles with an increase of a few dbs (every 4-5 db?). But in the this case it appears that the dbs are decreasing as the volume is turned up.

Any insights will be helpful. Thanks.

That should be -99dB. It's 99 dB below reference, from what I understand.

Ya...my HK AVR325 displays volume levels the same way. Must be the new fashionable thing to do.

its a measurement of headroom. -99 means it can play 99 dB louder, 0 would mean its at its loudest and cannot play any louder. my kenwood receiver operates the same way.

Except that many CAN go louder. My Denon goes up to 30db above reference.

Thanks all. That type of display really does not give me much information. I would have liked to know what the db level is for a given amount of volume. Oh well...

That would depend on far more than your receiver can predict.

In reply to:

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That would depend on far more than your receiver can predict.

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Not so, with the Pioneer receivers featuring the auto-MCACC. When the volume is 0 dB on my 45TX, I am actually listening at the THX or Dolby reference level.

I don't think that's what he's asking for exactly. I think he means he wants it to display the real decibel reading for the output which is a bit different than its offset from reference.

However, it sounds like, from what you just said, this MCACC thing could in theory do that. I don't really know anything about that technology.

Is it basically some sort of ambient sound measurement hardware built into the receiver that allows for callibration?

Semi,

Yes, it is very simple in fact. The MCACC receivers come with a little measurement microphone, which you hook up to the receiver and place to the listening position. The receiver then generates a series of test tones, and automatically calibrate the response of the speakers and the room (levels/delays/EQs). In the process, the receiver leans how loud the speakers will play for a given volume level.