I am able to max out the volume on my 950. It is loud at the max voulme but not unberable. And my room isn't the largest either (12x20).

I remember reading a post that said 950 could drive any amp to clipping. My amp shows no sign of clipping at max volume. I tried this with various sources DVD (multiple), VCR and SAT. The sound level is slightly higher with DVDs compared to VCR or SAT. The sub gets really loud when the volume dial on the sub amp is only half way and am happy about that.

Has anyone else noticed this? I am pretty happy with the quality of the sound comming out of 950, but, concerned that there isn't much juice left, if I ever need it. I am usually watching SAT/VCR at 0db and DVDs around -8db. My old onkyo 797 seemed like it could go louder (I have to admit that I didn't do a side by side comparison, as I returned the 797 long before I got my 950).

Here is my setup..
Outlaw 950
Sherwood NewCastle 9080 amp
Magnepan 1.6QR fronts
Toshiba 65 H82 built in speakers as Center
Infinity H10's as surrounds
HSU sub (cylinder ~25Hz - can't remember model#)

All speakers are set to small, fronts are crossed over at 60Hz, rears and center @ 80Hz.

Thanks,
-4HT

I'm using a Model 750 and an old Parasound HCA-800 (for surround back channel) to drive Paradigm Reference speakers, and don't get to 0dB normally. I tend to watch TV (digital cable or VCR) at around -22 to -18 and DVD's at around -18 to -12. CD's are anywhere from -25 or -20 under normal circumstances to around -10 if it's just me at home and I'm really cranking it.

------------------
gonk -- Saloon Links | Pre/Pro Comparison Chart | 950 Review

Have you calibrated your system? Is 0 db, reference level? If so, I doubt you would max out your volume as maxing out your volume would translate to 115db at the listening position and you would run screaming from the room .

I use a Carver 705TX with Jamo Concert 11 (4 ohm speakers). At normal volumes for me: Digital music through satelite (-25dB) CD's (-25), DVD-A (-30). If I crank it up to +5dB the amp starts to clip. At this volome level the measured loudness on my sound meter is 105dB to 110dB. More than enough for me.

TPS

I have adjusted my system to have the same sound level from all speakers. Left is at 0, center -4, right -2, surrounds -4 and sub -4.

I do have the RS sound meter, but, don't know how to calibrate 0db on 950 to reference level. What does reference level mean anyway?

Thanks,
-4HT

Try changing your point of reference for callibrations. Change these:

Left at 0, center -4, right -2, surrounds -4 and sub -4.

to these:

Left at +4, center 0, right +2, surrounds 0 and sub 0.

That should increase your max 4 db. You can do more or less, just change them all at the same time.

4HT,

Try following the procedure described in the manual for calibrating your system. With all sources off, set the volume to 0dB, set the RS meter to C weighting, slow response and set the dial to 70. Go through the calibration menu and adjust the individual levels on all the speakers until the needle is at +5 on the meter. On this scale, the +5 will be 75 dB. This will be considered reference level using the internal test tones in the 950.

Let us know.

I had the same trouble with maxing out volume on my red dot 950 (but not with the original 950 I owned previously) so I upped the trim on the red dot 950 by 5 db on all channels.

The Outlaws said the red dots are only 3 db lower in volume than the original 950, but to me, it sure seemed like the reduction in volume was more than 3.

Upping the volume+trim does increase the hiss very slightly on mine (which I only discovered recently, when Soundhound showed me that hiss does increase slightly when the volume+trim levels are increased towards max).

Bumping the volume+hiss allows me to play the red dot loud enough, at least for me. I suggest you try bumping the trim by 5 db. If that doesn't work, try a 10 db trim increase. Good luck!

[This message has been edited by Will (edited October 02, 2002).]

Another benchmark, for what it's worth.

I play the 950 at ~-20 dB or so for music, and ~-5 for DVDs. (Cals all around 0 dB though.)

On the Sony TA-E9000ES, it was ~-50 dB for CDs, and ~-30 dB for DVDs. All cals around 0 dB.

"On the Sony TA-E9000ES, it was ~-50 dB for CDs, and ~-30 dB for DVDs. All cals around 0 dB."

So zero would be reference? That would mean you listened to DVD's whose maximum volume was 75 db (30 db below reference). Dialogue would be around 55db. Ambient noise in a room around 45db. I take it you do a lot of late night listening?