I feel stupid for asking, but...

[jrd]

Just replaced an old Sony ES receiver with a Denon 3808ci. I should probably know the answer, but can someone enlighten me on the true meaning of the volume levels? My ears remember a certain sound level at -72.0 on the meter, but the Denon produces almost no sound at -72.0. I have to turn it up much higher to get the same sound level my ears remember. Is there a standard, and why do the meters count up from negative numbers as volume is increased?

[P-Dub]

I think everyone has a slightly different setting. Since you are going from a Sony to a Denon, there will most likely be a difference.

I remember that through using a SPL meter and a calibration disc you would set your volume level to -10 and get all the speakers to output something like 75db.

Now days I think you just place a mic at your listening position and press calibrate and the receiver does the rest. I've not used any of these, but have heard they do a pretty decent job.

So don't worry about how high those numbers go, just sit back and enjoy.

[Hdale85]

It's supposed to mean the level below reference. Realistically its usually not the case