That's how you need to test your current gear. This way you can reasonably know that the speakers still work like they used to and the receiver would naturally be the problem. YMMV. Find a retailer/etailer with liberal return policy if you can't borrow from a friend or family member.
That said, that soundbar was close to $700 new, if I recall correctly(!?). Wow. Skip that nonsense and get some entry level proper surrounds & sub. It will sound remarkably if not incredibly better since you would gain the ability to properly position and physically separate all the speakers to fit your particular (unique) HT/listening space. If budget is an issue, grab some Energy Take Classic 5.1s for half the price of that soundbar to see what I mean.
Help!
Receiver: Denon AVR-591
Soundbar: Definitive Technology SSA-42
Everything working great for 4+ years. Today, volume control malfunctioned on remote when trying to turn it up a tad while watching a DVD. Volume spiked WAYYY up until I was able to shut everything down.
Here are the data points in terms of what is now going on:
- Can't hear dialog well (center channel?) when watching a DVD. Other parts of the soundtrack -- music, sound effects etc, are fine, it's just the dialog that's barely audible. Turning the volume way up to try to hear dialog, only makes all the other parts of the soundtrack too loud. (Yes, I tried several different DVDs.)
- Music CDs seem to play normally through the same blu-ray player (i.e., sounds of voices as well as instruments)
- While watching cable tv, some channels repeat the problem, while others play completely normally
- Scratching my head because the fact that music CDs play normally; and most TV channels play normally; would seem to indicate that both the receiver and the soundbar are OK -- but something has obviously gone bad after the inadvertent huge volume spike.
- Checked all receiver speaker set up settings; checked all wire connections on the back of the soundbar.
- I don't have any other speakers I can use in lieu of the soundbar in order to further troubleshoot. Would replace either the receiver or the soundbar if that's the only answer, but don't know which of them is bad (if either) based on the data points above.
Would be VERY grateful for your wisdom/suggestions. Thanks in advance.

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