Thanks!! Now I get it!
What confuses most people is, how soon the loudness or gain an absolute volume circuit reaches reference levels, from the minimum or silent position, compared with a relative volume circuit, that will reach reference levels and possibly an additional 20dB of gain, [at] max.
Which means, if the maximum range is 0dB on the control, reference level would be -20dB on the scale.
Sound and Vision has a fairly good explanation...
https://www.soundandvision.com/content/%E2%80%98relative%E2%80%99-vs-%E2%80%98absolute%E2%80%99-volume-what%E2%80%99s-difference
S&V has a very good explaination. Pity it took a Saloon member to explain: a relative “V” control has up to 20dB of add’l gain. Also thanks for the comprehensive LFE answer.
BTW I knew of issues setting any channel to Large: my LR and each surrounds each has a dedicated sub*. At the moment, my System sub handles the CC’s heavy lifting and all important LFE.
* small but acurate, robust, low distortion to 27hz, and high WAF!
Now to any one: are the balanced outputs hotter than the unbalanced?