Tried a search through here and using google site search and didn't find much.

Basically when I play a DVD I have to turn the volume up way loud compared to just music. For me, about level 12 is pretty loud for music and 14 is really loud. On DVD's I have to turn to 15 just to barely hear while driving.

In turn I noticed from this that there is a bad hissing noise that comes from my sub. I never noticed it on music because their is no silence like on DVD and I never had to turn it up as loud but it is there at all levels and gets worse the higher the volume level is set. What gets me is it only comes from the sub and not my component speakers.

Any ideas on either problem, are they related somehow? The noise is not ground loop/alternator whine, at least not like I've ever heard it before. It is low in frequency and more of a sound simliar to what you hear if you hold a shell up to your ear.

Tried a search through here and using google site search and didn't find much.

 

Basically when I play a DVD I have to turn the volume up way loud compared to just music. For me, about level 12 is pretty loud for music and 14 is really loud. On DVD's I have to turn to 15 just to barely hear while driving.

In turn I noticed from this that there is a bad hissing noise that comes from my sub. I never noticed it on music because their is no silence like on DVD and I never had to turn it up as loud but it is there at all levels and gets worse the higher the volume level is set. What gets me is it only comes from the sub and not my component speakers.

 

Any ideas on either problem, are they related somehow? The noise is not ground loop/alternator whine, at least not like I've ever heard it before. It is low in frequency and more of a sound simliar to what you hear if you hold a shell up to your ear.

A couple things to try - may not be the cause of the problem - but it should help:

1. The level of each source can be adjusted from the AV settings menu. The adjustment is relative +- to the FM radio volume. You can adjust by 1st tuning to FM and setting it to a comfortable level, then switch the source to DVD - start playing then go to Settngs/AV Sound Settings/SLA (pg175 in Z120 manual). Adjust to a comparable (to FM) level.

2. I suspect the sound is just the backround noise you get from raising the volume so high. So it will likely not be noticable once you get the DVD level right. If you still hear you could set a Custom EQ setting for the DVD that filters-out or reduces the noise frequency.

By custom setting for DVD I assume you just mean use one of the two custom settings and have that standard for DVD?

One thing I don't like is that each source doesn't retain the setting. In other words what you set up for eq is same for each source you select until going in and changing it. On my previous Eclipse each source had its own saved setting. For example, the eq setting for cd out was different for ipod out.

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Quick question on adjusting the level output, I know it's there so it must be ok to do but should you have to need to? I mean why don't all the outputs just play at normal. I understand the aux ones would be different if you turned the volume down on the device but shouldn't dvd audio and fm audio be at least close to the same?

By custom setting for DVD I assume you just mean use one of the two custom settings and have that standard for DVD?

 

One thing I don't like is that each source doesn't retain the setting. In other words what you set up for eq is same for each source you select until going in and changing it. On my previous Eclipse each source had its own saved setting. For example, the eq setting for cd out was different for ipod out.

Use EQ Custom 1. It has a separate curve for each source. Custom 2 applies to all sources. See pg 173 in the Z120 manual. There are some caveats to be aware of. I might be wrong, and I couldn't find a explicitly worded statement in the manual, but it seems you need to customize each source to use Custom 1 effectively. What I mean is, if you select a non-Custom 1 setting in the current source - say "Natural" while in FM, it will be selected for all sources. So even if you set Custom 1 while playing iPod, then switch to FM and manually select "Natural", then go to any other source (including iPod), you will see it is also using "Natural". To say it simply, whatever EQ curve you select applies to all sources. However, if you use "Custom 1" you can customize/change/save that setting independently for the various sources. Hope I said that clearly.

Quick question on adjusting the level output, I know it's there so it must be ok to do but should you have to need to? I mean why don't all the outputs just play at normal. I understand the aux ones would be different if you turned the volume down on the device but shouldn't dvd audio and fm audio be at least close to the same?

You are correct, most people don't need to set different levels for the built-in sources. I only use it for iPod and BT audio.

Disclaimer: I don't play DVD movies while driving. I've got better things to do. So I don't spend much time worring about this issue. On my unit, the CD/DVD level seems to be dependent on the content I'm playing. On a DVD movie (5.1) it seems quieter than other things, like DIVX, an audio CD or MP3s on CD. Not much you can do about that. I suspect it has to do with surround-sound (5.1) decoding into stereo.

Ron, I think I'm following what you're saying with the EQ settings etc. I hear ya on having to adjust outside sources, even on my last cd player I had to set aux input to a higher level for the aux setting in order to have it play "equal" to internal sources. Sirius never was able to get quite as loud.

As per driving, yeah I honestly hardly ever use the DVD function. Even with something I've seen a million times already or music videos I still find it way to distracting.

Sometimes I get to work a bit early though and will sit in the parking lot for a few minutes and watch a movie, but even sitting still I have to turn the level up to 12-14 just to hear decently whereas with cd/bt it would be pretty damn loud at that same setting.

I have noticed though that the hissing is there if I listen for it at all volumes. Seems to only be coming from my sub. Might be some sort of ground issue?