home audio guys... a question

[brightb]

Can a receiver gradually lose its output power? I swear I am using a higher and higher volume setting to get a comfortable volume.
I am running a Sony "home theater in a box" that I paid about $300 for a year ago. My HDTV box is connected via an optical cable and cd player via regular cables. When watching tv we have the level set to at least 55 out of 70 and I am sure we had it around 40 or so when I first hooked it up. Same goes with music , I am rockin' some Grady right now at a level of 45, and I know 30 was loud enough a year ago. I know I am not losing my hearing BTW! my girlfriend doesn't like loud tv and she sets it high, when we have friends over same deal.
I held back from buying a better system as I live in an apartment building and can't really crank anything as loud as I would like. But still, having the setting at 75% of max just for regular use doesn't seem right.

Am I going crazy, or have my volume tastes changed?

Bill

 

[Hauser]

Sure it can, although it's unusual in my experience. More common is aging ears or an increase in ambient noise, are they doing any construction in your neighbourhood? When a building went up down the street from our condo we had to crank everything we watched/listened to by about 5db and didn't really know why, as the noise was just a dull roar.