volume is weird for onkyo tx-sr702

I need help figuring out if I've set up my Onkyo AV receiver correctly. I went through the manual and did the setup with the microphone. However, I do not hear anything from my speakers until the volume level is at 53 or so. The highest volume level is 99 so I find this strange. I could only put my last receiver's volume, a Nakamichi, a quarter of the way up and it was too loud.

The Onkyo has the opposite problem.... no sound until its pumped halfway! Can someone help?

Thanks,
L.