AV Receiver Reviews

This graph shows that the DA4300ES left channel, from CD input to speaker output with two channels driving 8Ω loads, reaches 0.1% distortion at 153.7 watts and 1% distortion at 179.5 watts. Into 4Ω, the amplifier reaches 0.1% distortion at 188.9 watts and 1% distortion at 234.5 watts.

With five channels driven continuously into 8Ω loads, the AVR reaches 0.1% distortion at 46.7 watts and 1% distortion at 60.1 watts. With all channels driven continuously into 4Ω loads, the AVR reaches 0.1% distortion at 43.1 watts and 1% distortion at 50.5 watts. These results are less than half the power rating in Sony's specs and could well be a contributing factor in the AVR's relatively poor audio performance at high volume levels.