Arcam AVR500 / AVR600 / AV888 manual Settings, Volume Leveller, Calibration Offset

Dolby volume

Dolby Volume is a sophisticated new

technology that resolves the problem of different volume levels between programme content (e.g. a TV show and advert breaks) and between sources (e.g. a rock radio station and DVD, or between two TV stations). It lets the listener enjoy everything at the same preferred listening level without having to reach for the volume control to compensate for the different recording/output levels. This is the Volume Leveller function of Dolby Volume.

Dolby Volume also works in conjunction with the AVR500, AVR600 or AV888 volume control setting to compensate for the ear’s changing sensitivity at different frequencies depending on how loud the audio is. It

is based on a model of how human hearing works. It properly balances low, mid and high frequencies to maintain all the nuances and impact of the original audio regardless of the actual selected playback volume level. This is the Volume Modeller function of Dolby Volume.

Dolby Volume measures, analyses and maintains volume levels based on how people perceive sound. A variety of audio parameters are monitored including spectral- and time-based loudness to ensure that perceived dynamics, timbre and bass performance remain consistent at all volume levels.

Dolby Volume also lets the listener control a programme’s dynamic range – the range between loud and quiet sounds. For example, with the volume turned down for late-night viewing, dynamic range can be adjusted so that speech remains clear and loud effects or music passages retain their impact without waking up the family.

Settings

Dolby Volume can be applied to any analogue or digital stereo source or any digital multichannel source. It

is not available in Stereo Direct or on the analogue multichannel input. Dolby Volume can even be applied to processing of stereo signals (e.g. PLII Music) or when down-mixing a digital multichannel source (e.g. Dolby Digital 5.1 down to stereo).

Dolby Volume can be enabled and configured separately for each audio input in the Input Config menu. The default is Off for ‘audiophile’ listening to analogue or digital stereo sources, however you may wish to enable

Dolby Volume on some or all inputs to maintain the same perceived overall listening level between sources and frequency response regardless of the volume setting. There are two modes for Dolby Volume: ‘Cinema’ and ‘Music’, which calibrate the system to match the type of audio material generally played on each input. Movie should be selected for sources which typically play movie soundtracks. Music should be selected for all other sources (CD, TV, Satellite, Tuner, etc.). Most of the controlling parameters of Dolby Volume are automatic as they are dependent on analysis of the audio signal and the volume setting of the AVR500, AVR600 or AV888. However, the Volume Leveller and Calibration Offset controls (see below) can be adjusted to your preference.

Volume Leveller

The Volume Leveller function of Dolby Volume controls how closely quiet and loud sources and programme content are matched to each other, based on the

ear’s perception of loudness. The range of values is 0 (minimal levelling) to 10 (maximum levelling). The default setting is 9. If the Volume Leveller function is turned off, no level matching between sources and programme material is performed. This is not the same as turning Dolby Volume off as volume related frequency response processing is still active.

When Dolby Volume is being applied to the current input, a Dolby Volume processing mode indicator is shown on the OSD and the front panel display.

Calibration Offset

The Calibration Offset parameter of Dolby Volume allows you to compensate for speaker efficiencies and listening position – effectively moving the reference listening level up or down the volume scale. The default value is 0 and this should normally produce a good result when the speaker levels are set using a sound pressure level meter at the listening position (75dB SPL, ‘C’ weighting, slow response).

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