Why You Can Trust CNET SRS MyVolume HDMI review: SRS MyVolume HDMI
SRS MyVolume HDMI
Tell us if this sounds familiar. You're watching your favorite TV show and enjoying hi-fi sound out of a home theater system. The show cuts to a commercial, and the proceeding change in volume from the program to the ad is so jolting you literally jump out of your seat.
SRS MyVolume HDMI
The Good
The Bad
The Bottom Line
No, you're not going crazy. Some ad makers go out of their way to deliver commercials with above-average volume for one simple reason: to get your attention. For decades, the FCC has received countless complaints about the situation but has never stepped in. As far as they're concerned, there are no guidelines for volume levels in the broadcasting of commercials.
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Until we see some progress in Washington, there aren't many options for dealing with loud commercials. Enter the SRS MyVolume HDMI volume leveler, a tiny HDMI bypass box that successfully equalizes excess volume noise, allowing you to enjoy normal television programming without losing years off your life. It may be a tad expensive, but the MyVolume works exactly how we imagined it would.
There's not too much to talk about here in terms of setup, as everything is pretty much straightforward. You simply attach your source device (usually a cable box) to the HDMI input port and follow that up with an output HDMI connection to your TV or receiver. There is a small switch to turn leveling on or off on the box, and the device does require power. Ideally we would have liked a remote control option here
SRS ships the unit with one 3-foot HDMI cable, though you'll need another to complete the connection to your destination device. The MyVolume only allows for one device to be equalized, but since this issue primarily deals with broadcasting issues, you shouldn't need it for much of anything else. That said, you can buy more than one to smooth out audio from other multimedia devices.
Technically speaking, the SRS MyVolume HDMI volume leveler supports HDMI 1.3, HDCP 1.1, and DVI 1.0 protocols. In terms of resolution, it can carry a maximum signal of 1080p at 60Hz.
We suppose it would have been nice to have other connection interfaces on the device, as not all cable boxes support HDMI. Instead, SRS offers an analog version of this same device for $50. Also, an additional input would have been convenient here, but we do understand how costs can skyrocket once another HDMI port is introduced to such devices.
In our testing with the MyVolume, we were impressed with the job performed by the tiny box during cable sports broadcasting (a major culprit of loud commercials). We had our cable box hooked up to the device, which then fed into our Onkyo HT-S3200 receiver with the receiver's dynamic range setting off (meaning the receiver's own leveler was absent). We were pleased to hear a significant cut in commercial volume. After some time, we began to take the device for granted; it just sits there and does its job. Next we tried out standard broadcast channels. Again, we experienced no blaring commercial loudness the entire time we had the device connected. Simply put, the MyVolume just works.
It's impossible to know how long it'll be until laws are put in place to curb excessively loud commercials and broadcasts. For now, rest assured that a curable option does exist in the form of the SRS MyVolume HDMI Volume Leveler. Priced at $100, it won't be the cheapest accessory you'll ever buy, but the luxury of not panicking for the mute button is something most home theater buffs will really enjoy.