A/V receivers

[clapple]

I am sure others have experienced great blasts of volume, when switching from Dolby Digital to normal channels, or even when commercials are not from the same source, as the program. I have seen ads for TVs, with automatic volume control. My question: Is there an A/V receiver that will automatically compensate for differences in volume?

[lonestar]

A majority of AV receivers on the market these days have what you're talking about. It's usually called something like "Smart Sound". Generally it's just compression, when implemented, levels out the sound field (ie. making lower volumes louder and higher volumes quieter for a mostly consistent volume.) I've also heard of it being called "Midnight Mode" or something. All in all, it's a pretty common feature even on lower end Dolby Digital receivers.

[clapple]

Thanks. I guess my really low end receiber does not have that feature.

[Ratman]

Also look for 'dynamic range compression'.

[djflash22]

also look for midnight mode.

[57U]

If your source of TV is satellite or cable, complain to your supplier. Significant volume changes can damage audio equipment - tell them you'll file a claim for damages if they don't shape up. If you're receiving OTA, call the offending station and complain, there are requirements that they are supposed to meet.

In Canada, we are currently experiencing these "problems" where one station is actually as much as 30 dB lower than others. You can only imagine what it sounds like when you switch back to another channel without adjusting the volume. The companies are aware of, and working on, the problem.

Sometimes your STB might have this sound compression feature. (narrow vs wide range audio, etc)

All of the suggestions so far (including mine above) have been for "sound compression". Your original question was really regarding an automatic volume control, perhaps similar to what a high end automobile stereo would have to compensate for ambient noise - in your case the ambient noise being the sound created by the receiver itself. A microphone picks up the volume and the stereo adjusts.

My Hitachi TV has this feature, but since I always run my audio receiver, the TV feature is essentially useless. My receiver does have a "midnight mode" which is sound compression.

Sound compression simply decreases the dynamic range of the programming that you are listening to. Normal range could be perhaps 40dB for analogue audio (more with digital sound from a DVD, CD or Digital TV) The compression may reduce this to perhaps 10-20dB. Compression doesn't really change the "volume" though, so if one station, or source, were a lot louder than another, it would still be louder using compression, but the range would not be as broad.

I have not heard of a home receiver with automatic volume control, although, if TVs have it, receivers may not be far behind...

[jerryez]

I have a device that I purchased several years ago that connects between the sound input and the tv or receiver. It is call a "Television sound regulator" It modulates the sound like the smart TV's. I purchased it from Heartland America, a mail order company. It is manufactured by "Brevet International. It works, but effects the subwoofer outputs because it compresses the highs and lows. It cost less than $50.00, so it might be worth a try, if you can find one. It controls the sound pretty well when changing channels on a c-band dish.
Her is a url for the item:
http://www.televisionsoundregulator.com/
I have a Yamaha rx-v620 receiver. I just looked in the owner's manual and it has a dynamic range adjust of max, std, and min. Check you manual.