AV Receiver Reviews

Two channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 70.1 watts
1% distortion at 78.1 watts

Five channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 11.6 watts
1% distortion at 19.4 watts

Analog frequency response in Direct mode:
–0.23 dB at 10 Hz
–0.07 dB at 20 Hz
+0.08 dB at 20 kHz
–2.48 dB at 50 kHz

Analog frequency response with signal processing:
–0.61 dB at 10 Hz
–0.17 dB at 20 Hz
–0.46 dB at 20 kHz
–61.33 dB at 50 kHz

This graph shows that the RX-S600’s left channel, from Audio2 input to speaker output with two channels driving 8-ohm loads, reaches 0.1% distortion at 70.1 watts and 1% distortion at 78.1 watts. Into 4 ohms, the amplifier reaches 0.1% distortion at 87.2 watts and 1% distortion at 101.4 watts.

There was no multichannel input to measure. THD+N from the Audio2 input to the speaker output was less than 0.026% at 1 kHz when driving 2.83 volts into an 8-ohm load. Crosstalk at 1 kHz driving 2.83 volts into an 8-ohm load was –95.39 dB left to right and –98.42 dB right to left. The signal-to-noise ratio with an 8-ohm load from 10 Hz to 24 kHz with “A” weighting was –106.13 dBrA.

From the Dolby Digital input to the loudspeaker output, the left channel measures –0.10 dB at 20 Hz and –0.35 dB at 20 kHz. The center channel measures –0.12 dB at 20 Hz and –0.18 dB at 20 kHz, and the left surround channel measures ––0.12 dB at 20 Hz and –0.26 dB at 20 kHz. From the Dolby Digital input to the line-level output, the LFE channel is +0.14 dB at 20 Hz when referenced to the level at 40 Hz and reaches the upper 3-dB down point at 94 Hz and the upper 6-dB down point at 116 Hz. —Michael J. Peterson

[Editor's Note: Observant readers will notice that the "Five channels Driven" results for this receiver are unusually low. We should point out, as we have prior, that this torture test places stress on the amplifier that no regular content ever would, and AVRs not equipped to handle it will often engage protection circuitry to clamp down on power output when faced with the challenge, or simply run out of steam. Nonetheless, potential buyers should be cognizant that this modest and generally good-sounding receiver should work well driving a stereo pair of relatively efficient speakers (for which it measured well), ideally with the assistance of a powered subwoofer that takes some stress off the amplifier. Dynamic 5-channel soundtracks—again, played through efficient speakers—should be fine to a point, but may start to exhibit some sonic strain at louder volumes or in larger rooms. Know your speakers, your environment, and your listening habits before you buy. —Rob Sabin]

Video Test Bench
The Yamaha RX-S600 does no video processing, it simply switches and passes HDMI signals. It passed all our applicable 1080p in/1080p out tests for signal integrity.