Audio channel levels - set in amp or DVD??

[SidecarStew]

Good morning!

I've been into home cinema for a good few years now, and like to think I've picked up a fair amount of knowledge about equipment, configuration, technical audio/video topics, etc etc. But I've just hit a new challenge as a result of a DVD player upgrade.

I've just picked up a Denon DVD-3930 (yesterday) and have noticed that it provides the option to set the audio channel levels. Up to now, I've used my DD receiver to do this (an old Denon AVR-2700). Once the furniture is positioned in the room, I get my sound meter out and set all the channel levels based on a 50 decibel reading from my viewing position.

My query is this : should I be setting channel levels in the receiver or the DVD player? I'm guessing that it should be one or the other, never both.

Additional info - in the past, I was using the DD decoder in the amp, but now I'm using the DD & DTS decoders in the DVD player, and passing the decoded analogue signal for each channel direct to the amp. I have a hunch that I should be setting the channel level in the DVD player, as that is the box that is now decoding into analogue, and the channel levels refer to the line level analogue signals.

Any ideas / corrections welcome...

[bsuttie]

For best signal to noise ratio you want to have the DVD outputs as high as they will go (without overloading and introducing any distortion) and then adjust in your amp.

If you reduce the level coming out of the DVD player then crank it up in the amp you will introduce more noise than is necessary.

regards

Brian

[alwyn]

Originally Posted by SidecarStew

Good morning!

I've been into home cinema for a good few years now, and like to think I've picked up a fair amount of knowledge about equipment, configuration, technical audio/video topics, etc etc. But I've just hit a new challenge as a result of a DVD player upgrade.

I've just picked up a Denon DVD-3930 (yesterday) and have noticed that it provides the option to set the audio channel levels. Up to now, I've used my DD receiver to do this (an old Denon AVR-2700). Once the furniture is positioned in the room, I get my sound meter out and set all the channel levels based on a 50 decibel reading from my viewing position.

My query is this : should I be setting channel levels in the receiver or the DVD player? I'm guessing that it should be one or the other, never both.

Additional info - in the past, I was using the DD decoder in the amp, but now I'm using the DD & DTS decoders in the DVD player, and passing the decoded analogue signal for each channel direct to the amp. I have a hunch that I should be setting the channel level in the DVD player, as that is the box that is now decoding into analogue, and the channel levels refer to the line level analogue signals.

Any ideas / corrections welcome...

If you are using your dvd player to decode dd and dts then you should balance your speakers from the controles of your dvd.I would suggest you set them at 75db using your meter

[Warpaint]

The channel levels on the DVD player are for the analogue multi channel outputs which you will use to listen to DVD-A or SACD. The Multi channel input on your amplifier does not use the amplifiers channel levels but goes straight through.
There will be delay settings on the DVD player as well for the same reason.
Perhaps someone who has an amp with Denonlink can tell us whether the DVD level settings affect the sound when using DVD-A and SACD.

Basically you need to set both the amp and the DVD levels.
Digital outputs will use the amp settings and analogue outputs will use the DVD's