Receiver Too Weak?

Is your comments on two channel music? Or on home theater.

Receivers are typically a big compromise, whether HT or 2 channel audio. But particularly 2 channel audio. All in one boxes are compromise after compromise. it doesn’t matter quite as much in Home theater because you’re distracted by the video. But even in the case of video, my home theater system has a separate amplifier and surround processor and input devices.

Home theater specifically. My biggest complain is that either the dialogue is too low relative to the other sounds or vice versa. I can’t ever seem to get them both to be the proper relative volume. 

Your receiver is low end and does not come with pre-outs for the fronts/center so you can run them to a powerful external amplifier.

What is your budget?

Get a processor with pre-outs (price can go up quickly).

Here is some affordable stuff

https://emotiva.com/products/basx-mr1l-9-2-channel-dolby-atmos%C2%AE-dts-x%E2%84%A2-cinema-receiver

Or

https://summithifiusa.com/collections/tonewinner/products/at-300-16-channel-pre-pro-releasing-soon

Pair such a processor with one of these amps.

https://emotiva.com/products/xpa-5-gen3

https://www.monoprice.com/product?p_id=15593

https://summithifiusa.com/collections/tonewinner/products/ad-7300pa-amplifier

If you have a slightly bigger budget...

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_642AV10/Marantz-AV-10.html

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_440B15852B/Rotel-RMB-1585-MKII-Black.html?tp=180

etc

If you have an unlimited budget...look at Trinnov, Storm Audio, etc.

Home theater specifically. My biggest complain is that either the dialogue is too low relative to the other sounds or vice versa. I can’t ever seem to get them both to be the proper relative volume.

@easytarget  This is caused by the huge dynamic range of many multi-channel audio track mixes. It’s optimized for folks who want "lifelike" whiz-bang effects at loud SPL. It’s NOT great if you’re trying to get strong, audible dialog without popping your eardrums when Godzilla shows up. It also forces you to push the volume up WAY higher than what you would expect, just to hear clear dialog.

Most processors/ receivers will have a setting for precisely this reason - to compensate for the benefit of dialog. Sometimes it’s called "dynamic range compression" (normally that has bad connotations, i.e. "CD’s loudness wars", but it can be very good here!). Sometimes it’s more wordy-mumbly like "make loud sounds less loud". You need to find that setting, and turn it on! In all likelihood, your speakers and amp are fine and will sound REALLY good once you rectify this. Sometimes just a simple 2ch downmix helps, but you should really look for this setting.

Personally, I hate it when a mix has TOO MUCH dynamic range, for exactly this reason. Most 2ch music formats have a much more reasonable mix for the home environment.

You can boost the center channel (where dialogue lives) to make it more easily heard. Run it into a ribbon tweeter to make it easier to understand.

A simple compander adjusts the dynamic range to your liking.