Can you set surround volume levels?

I've read all of the reviews here and am seriously thinking about buying one of these. However, I looked at it in the store and couldn't figure out how to change the volume level for rear and center speakers. (The salespeople at BestBuy were clueless.) My front, center, and rear speakers are all JBL but different vintages (front - 2800's from 1990, S-Center, and rear N-26's) Could someone post and tell whether you can set rear vs/center/vs/main speaker levels in Pro-Logic and/or DD modes on this? I found it quickly on the Sony next to it but I know Sony packs in the features instead of sound quality.

Yamaha quality, Great sound, reasonable price.

REMOTE

This reciever is incredible. I did alot of research before buying and all of the reviews were good for this product. Searched on-line the cheapest I could find it was $399. I was in Sears a few weeks ago and purchased an Advent center speaker. At that time the saleman at Sears said they would now match any on-line advertised rate. So I printed it out and sure enough he matched it.The sound quality form this reciever blows any reciever I have ever owned out of the water.Crystal clear highs and deep bass. S video switching is flawless as well as the digital signal switching.I thought my sony was good. The people who own a sony dont know what they are missing. Dont worry about the 70 watts per channel. This amp pumps out the volume, and its extremely clear. I have done a few ratings on this site and this is the only product to get 10 stars from me. Buy this reciever!!!

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Pioneer, Sony, Aiwa

Well ...... It has clean amplifiers. Seperates the sound alot.

Over exaggerated dynamic range. No "music power". Boring to listen to with music.

I played around with the 1150/595a for over two weeks and came to this conclusion. Something is missing from the "cleaner" higher-end receiver brands, Denon, Onkyo, Harmon Kardon, Yamaha, Sony ES, etc. Its like they are filtering out some of the musical bass frequencies. For example, I listened to Wayne's World and the music passages always got me excited in the past, but with the 1150/595a it was uninspiring, in fact boring. I then hooked back up my 10 year old 120W Sony ProLogic receiver and what a difference. I could really enjoy the music in the movie; excitement plus! Yes the Sony has much less sound seperation, much more distortion, and even some small hiss in the rear surrounds, but it provides to me an enjoyable, energy filled, listening experience.

So I'm asking all the manufacturer's, Where's the beef?
Can't they have low distortion and "music power" at the same time?

I took the Yamaha back.

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10 year old Sony 120W Prologic Receiver

Great Sound -little else really matters. runs cool, great features, remote has many options and works well once you learn it.

Five or so DSP modes are nice, but the 20 or 25 that the higher end models have would be awesome. Would be nice to have a digital read out of the volume level for setting volume at desired level at start up or in between cuts. A simple feature and the kind of thing that's hard to understand how/why some designer or engineer left it out.

What has Bob from Orange, CA been smoking?! Next I thought he was going to tell us the radio in his '65 Volkswagen Bug sounded better because you could hear more noise along with the music. How about a transistor radio wired to a power amp? C'mon, who do you think you're kidding with that crap?! Either you are incredibly thick, you work for Sony or Yamaha fired you.
This receiver kicks but. The power is more than adequate for all but the largest of spaces or very inefficient speakers. I owned an old Yamaha integrated amp from 1975 that served me well for almost 25 years. When I went back to the market I looked at the lower-end, feature rich stuff that is aesthetically pleasing and enticing due to price - Pioneer, Kenwood, Sony, JVC and the like. When comparing to the Yamaha I just couldn't get past how clean and elegant the sound is, but still with plenty of punch to crank. Pay about a $100 more for Yamaha or Onkyo. You'll get fewer stated watts but you'll be much happier in the end. My system has worked flawlessly - you can't go wrong.

This is just a reply for Bubba

Bubba asked if you could set separate speaker levels with this receiver. The answer is yes and no. You can set the size of the various speakers which determines mainly where bass goes, and you can lower your mains by 10db. I believe that is the limit to the control that you have with this unit. Because I like to hear more of the surround sound, I have my mains cut back 10db. This is only a problem when you want to listen in regular stereo, as the cutback stays in effect (which I don't think it should, but I didn't design them so oh well). No on-screen total control of every speaker, but what can you expect for 400 bucks?

this is a reply to Ken and Bubba. You guys have to take a closer look at your MANUALS. You can set the SPL of every channel. The mains by the volume control, and the rest in reference to the mains. This is done by using the "pink noise" generator, by checking the +/- reading on the units display, or a combination of both. The levels can be further customized by setting the size value (large, small, and none, main or both for the sub). The center channel and rears can also have the delay set. Reading the manual carefully helps a lot.

The remote is much better than some but could be better, most receivers in this price range come with a poor remote.

could use S viedeo in for DSS, no obtical out for my MD

This unit does all I need it to do with out baking the insides as my Technics SA-DX930 did, it runs sooooo much cooler that I know it will last a much longer life. The Technics offered a lot for the price but as the old saying goes "you get what you pay for" Delivered $362.00

great sound, not much heat

lack of cable S-vid input (use the VHS one instead)

Another satisfied customer based on the reviews in this group. Digital Dolby from my DVD sounds great. Even Pro Logic movies (from cable) sound better than my old Sony Pro Logic receiver. There is much more distinct sound coming from the four locations (fl,c,fr and rears). I am not sure why this is since I assumed any pro logic receiver would decode and sound the same. Probably better circuitry and the use of the Yamaha Cinema DSP/Tri-field processing modes.

I am getting use to the remote at this point. The key thing is to make all your system setup button pressing (TVs, DVDs and receiver etc)with the room lights on. Then just use the remote for volume and start/stop type operations with the lights off (these buttons glow in-the-dark). It is next to impossible to rotate and see the wheel or the non glow-in the-dark buttons in the dark.

I am using the s-vid input switch to select between dvd and cable and the s-vid quality going to the tv seems very good. I don't think I am losing much if any quality. I also bought from One Call who treated me perfect.

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1996ish Sony Dolby Pro Logic receiver

Most Cleanest sound I ever heard. Everything.

None YET

I would like to thank everyone who reviewed this receiver and posted because I looked at the post and I got this receiver.
I bought this receiver from Sears for $359. IF YOU WANT TO BUY THIS RECEIVER LESS THAN $400 LOOK AROUND OVER THE NET AND LOOK FOR THE PRICE RANGE AND SHOW IT TO SEARS SALESMAN THEY WILL MATCH UP THE PRICE FOR YOU. I saw this model at best but, circuit city and sears. I was disappointed when best but and circuit city told me they are not matching up the price from online shoppers. But sears did! Awesome. Once again if you find this prodect less $399 online go to sears and show them the website. They will match the price for you with no question asked. Now the receiver itself is very clear. If you happens to have Starwars soundtrack like myself. Please listen to it at low or high volume. The sound is so clear! You have to hear to believe it. Now I used this speakers for listening to music and for my PC. Since I have no DVD yet I cannot say anything for the home theater sounds. You'll get more than what you pay for. Dolbe Digital, DTS I mean everything you can think of.
It's awesome receiver you'll not regret it for the price you pay!

My system:

Yamaha htr-5150
Old sony 5 disc player
Pair of Sony ss-MF515 (also in this site review)
old techinc center
old pair of KHL Surround speakers

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Very first digital receiver ever

Great bang for the buck! DD/DTS. All the inputs you will most likely need.

Doesn't support Dolby 6.1.

This receiver is an incredible buy. DD/DTS decoding. DSP modes. 2 optical / 1 coax input. Bananna plugs all around except surrounds.

The volume is more than acceptable for the casual listener (I rarely exceed 50%). If you like blow the lid off the place, this won't do it.

I primarily use it for HT, and it rocks. Very clean sound sound, even at moderately high volume. In my system, it is a little lacking in the mids, but I attribute that to my fronts which (while very nice) are 2-way speakers. I plan on someday moving the fronts to rear and getting some good 3-way fronts.

In short, if you want a very good receiver at an exceptional price, buy this receiver. You won't be disapointed.

We regard to the previous message from Mr. Adams, don't lend it too much weight. I suspect a possible lemon unit or, more likely, some configuration problems. Make sure you use good speaker wire (I use 14 guage, 16 on the surrounds) and bananna plugs (I NEVER have had it protect on me). Also, get a good remote like the MX-1000 (there is NO AV-remote that will compete). The surround balance is very standard and, once configured, should not ever have to be messed with again.

My system:
HTR-5150
NHT 1.5 (fronts)
NHT Super One (rears)
NHT AC-1
NHT SW2Si
JVC XV-511BK DVD
JVC HVHS HIFI
Home Theater Master MX-1000 (remote - yes, I consider it an integral part of the system!)