Maybe so....but I'm fairly confident I'm finding the sweet spot by ear....I take it down then bring it up to where it blends in well but doesn't dominate. Sometimes I turn it down at night 'cause of my neighbors. I live in a townhouse with one small common wall, so I have to be considerate. I love my place but wish it was detached so I could enjoy my system to the fullest. My typical -4db setting seems to work pretty well for both movies and stereo music, although I will occasionally adjust it. Plus, that number really doesn't mean so much when you factor in the manual volume control on the sub. Mine is set at about 10 o'clock and could go a lot louder. Anyway, good luck. I love this hobby and the pleasure it brings.