AV Receiver Reviews

Measurements
All measurements were taken on the left channel. JVC RX-D702B's frequency response from the DVD input to the speaker out (Surround Off) was –0.78dB at 10Hz, -0.32dB at 20Hz, -2.55dB at 20kHz, and -27.17dB at 50kHz.

The response with processing, DVD in to speaker out in All Channel Stereo mode, measured –0.70dB at 10Hz, -0.32dB at 20Hz, -2.54dB at 20kHz, and -24.47dB at 50kHz.

From the (analog) multichannel input to the speaker output the response measured –0.44dB at 10Hz, -0.24dB at 20Hz, -2.51dB at 20kHz, and -1.94dB at 50kHz.

The Dolby Digital frequency response (optical input to speaker output) measured -0.24dB at 20Hz and -2.43dB at 20kHz in the left channel, and -0.26dB at 20Hz and -2.0dB at 20kHz in the center. With the left-surround channel set to "small" and the crossover frequency set to 80Hz, the high-pass filter response was –6dB at 62Hz, –3dB at 82Hz, and –2.64dB at 20kHz. The subwoofer line output, normalized to the response at 40Hz, was –0.34dB at 20Hz, -3dB at 82Hz, and –6dB at 99Hz.

The S/N (A-weighted, 2.83V into 8Ω) measured –83.7dB. Gain measured 28.6dB, DVD in to speaker out, with an 8Ω load and the level control set to "39."

THD+noise at 2.83V into 8Ω (1W) measured 0.117% at 20Hz, 0.148% at 1kHz, and 0.95% at 20kHz. At 2.83V into 4Ω, the results were virtually identical, differing by no more than 0.004% in any of the three measurements.

With only two channels operating at 1kHz, the JVC clipped (1% THD+noise) at 149Wpc into 8Ω and 217Wpc into 4Ω, both at 1kHz.

Driving five channels into 8Ω (we could only drive five of the seven channels through the receiver's 5.1-channel multichannel input), the JVC clipped at 65Wpc at 20Hz and 104Wpc at 1kHz. Into 4Ω, the JVC delivered 82Wpc at 20Hz and 100Wpc at 1kHz. The unit became hot and stopped working for a time during the 20Hz tests until it cooled down. It then resumed normal operation. I would not expect operation with conventional program material to trigger a shutdown, particularly if the receiver is used with a subwoofer-equipped system.

Although JVC does not recommend 4Ω loads, and rates the receiver into 6Ω, we performed our usual suite of measurements into both 4Ω and 8Ω. As you can see, the receiver appears to meet its 1kHz specification for power output into 6Ω (the result at 8Ω suggest that this will be true), but the spec for all channels driven (and we could only drive 5 at a time) is rather optimistic. Nevertheless, MF had no reservations about the receiver's subjective power output; it's rare that a receiver is challenged by full power demands in all channels simultaneously, particularly if a subwoofer is involved.—TJN