Is there anyway to deal with low dialogue and loud action?

I know how you feel i have the same problem at times.
What i'll usually do is a manual adjustment on my surrounds and fronts and possibly turn the center up abit, i know it's inconveniant but that is how i deal with it. For the most part when it's just my wife and i and the twins are away i just let it rip with all levels set the same. The main movie i think of when this was the biggest problem is Dillenger with Johnny Depp, it seemed the dialouge was almost inaudible then when the action started it was just obnoxious.:dontknow:

Pretty much as Bambino says here I think,

You can use functions like DRC or late night modes some receivers have, and tweak the centre channel a couple db louder too. Just play with the options till you find a setup that does what you want. Films are designed for explosions to be loud, and shockingly loud, because thats what explosions are. The only way to get away from that is to tweak you setup away from what is considered typical. Turning down your surrounds a couple db, and/or reducing your sub channel a couple db may also prove helpful.

You might find however, that playing with these settings might reduce your listening pleasure if you use the system for music. It might not, but it'll be a bit of trial and error.

wil11o6 said:

I noticed that after getting into blu-rays, a lot of them have scenes where dialogue is almost inaudible and I'm scared to turn up the volume because the action sequences just explode with loudness out of nowhere. I live in an apartment so I always have my remote next to me to dial up during talking scenes and dial down during action sequences. I find it rather annoying. I understand if I had a dedicated home theater room, this would benefit as it would have a more theatrical feel, but it's not doing it for me. It's just a minor inconvenience to keep changing volume levels, but if anyone has a simple fix in an option or calibration, that would be great. Though, I am running a budget $200 Yamaha HTR-5930

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What you are experiencing is the full dynamic range of a lossless soundtrack(as designed for a big theater) played back with a smaller speaker system, in a smaller room, with acoustics that are not exactly optimal for proper playback of film soundtracks(high ambient level,s resonances, and dissimilar center channel orientation).

What you can do to compensate for both your listening volume, and your system, is to engage the dynamic range control in your receiver. Set if for the night mode, and it will reduce the dynamic volume of the soundtrack, and compensate for your smaller room(and possible sound leakage), and keep your neighbors somewhat happy. The bass will be softer, and overall volume will be softer as well. The dialog's volume will remain the same, and it will help with dialog intelligibility in your room(the dialog will be more forward in the overall mix).

Hope this helps you out.

My receiver doesn't have a drc mode, but a night mode. It is a budget yamaha receiver. Is night mode of the same audio quality as a receiver with drc mode? As in would I lose more from the yamahas night mode than one that says drc or is night mode just another name for drc.

Late night mode is similar to DRC. Your source may also have a DRC mode as well, so look at that.

wil11o6 said:

My receiver doesn't have a drc mode, but a night mode. It is a budget yamaha receiver. Is night mode of the same audio quality as a receiver with drc mode? As in would I lose more from the yamahas night mode than one that says drc or is night mode just another name for drc.

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DRC mode, night mode, they are both one in the same. The object of both is to decrease the dynamic volume of the entire soundtrack. It basically optimizes the soundtrack for apartment situations by reducing the highest peaks in the treble and bass range of frequencies, leaving the midrange untouched. You will no longer have to dive for the volume button at volume peaks once you get the volume right for the midrange frequencies.

Ah, thanks a bunch. I never really thought of turning it on as I always thought it took away the quality of what I am watching. I just thought it just makes everything quieter, not leaving the midrange untouched. I will test it out wen I get a chance.

Check the BluRay players audio menu, it may also have DRC and may work better than the receivers night mode.

Honestly I think the easy way to fix the problem is to turn your center channel up by a few db.

mdrake said:

Honestly I think the easy way to fix the problem is to turn your center channel up by a few db.

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Agree crank up the Center Channel 4 db at least. Then try it again. I doubt you will disturb the neighbors. You need a sub to disturb the neighbors. :R

Should I quote my initial post now then, seeing as we are repeating it and all

Moonfly said:

Should I quote my initial post now then, seeing as we are repeating it and all

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No just crank up your center channel a bit and you will be cool. :rofl2:

:rofl:

Cranking up the center channel is not a way to deal with this issue. By doing so, you are just pushing the dialog forward at the expense of the balance between the L/R mains and center channel.

The best way to handle this kind of situation is to engage the night mode or DRC in the player or receiver. This way the the loudest peaks, and low level information are altered in ALL channels. Turning up the center 4db will just make the center channel more in your face, without actually dealing with the real problem...excessive dynamic range.

I have tried turning up my center a few DB, but having all other channels at a lower volume, it doesn't sound that balanced to me. I normally do turn my center up a couple DBs so turning it up even more makes too much of the audio focus into my center channel.

I would never go more than 3db hot on any channel anyway personally. Have you had any luck with DRC on your source (BR player etc) or the night mode or both?

The other issue with increasing the centre channels level too much is if you push it to hard you may introduce distortion due to overloading the speaker or the amp. You will get a much more balanced sound if you use DRC

I usually run my center 3-4db hot especially since I got a reciever with Audyssey. I also turn down the surrounds about the same just to get a more even sound. I have only had to do this since Audyssey has been involved since I never needed to with Mcacc with my old Pioneer.

Sir Terrence said:

Cranking up the center channel is not a way to deal with this issue. By doing so, you are just pushing the dialog forward at the expense of the balance between the L/R mains and center channel.

The best way to handle this kind of situation is to engage the night mode or DRC in the player or receiver. This way the the loudest peaks, and low level information are altered in ALL channels. Turning up the center 4db will just make the center channel more in your face, without actually dealing with the real problem...excessive dynamic range.

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I do suggest verifying all levels with your ears or an SPL meter too. I've seen the center too low in setups before.