AV Receiver Reviews

Two channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 127.2 watts
1% distortion at 150.3 watts

Five channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 109.0 watts
1% distortion at 127.7 watts

Seven channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 99.4 watts
1% distortion at 110.3 watts

Analog frequency response in Pure Direct mode:
–0.37 dB at 10 Hz
–0.12 dB at 20 Hz
+1.01 dB at 20 kHz
–1.01 dB at 50 kHz

Analog frequency response with signal processing:
–0.72 dB at 10 Hz
–0.25 dB at 20 Hz
+0.75 dB at 20 kHz
–58.66 dB at 50 kHz

This graph shows that the SC-61’s left channel, from CD input to speaker output with two channels driving 8-ohm loads, reaches 0.1 percent distortion at 127.2 watts and 1 percent distortion at 150.3 watts. Into 4 ohms, the amplifier reaches 0.1 percent distortion at 213.8 watts and 1 percent distortion at 247.5 watts.

There was no multichannel input to measure. THD+N from the CD input to the speaker output was less than 0.011 percent at 1 kilohertz when driving 2.83 volts into an 8-ohm load. Crosstalk at 1 kHz driving 2.83 volts into an 8-ohm load was –79.63 decibels left to right and –79.14 dB right to left. The signal-to-noise ratio with an 8-ohm load from 10 hertz to 24 kHz with “A” weighting was –98.83 dBrA.

From the Dolby Digital input to the loudspeaker output, the left channel measures –0.20 dB at 20 Hz and +0.86 dB at 20 kHz. The center channel measures –0.12 dB at 20 Hz and +0.82 dB at 20 kHz, and the left surround channel measures –0.20 dB at 20 Hz and +0.92 dB at 20 kHz. From the Dolby Digital input to the line-level output, the LFE channel is +0.03 dB at 20 Hz when referenced to the level at 40 Hz and reaches the upper 3-dB down point at 117 Hz and the upper 6-dB down point at 120 Hz.—MJP

Video Test Bench
The Pioneer failed the 3:2 SD and 2:2 SD tests with PCinema set to Auto. It can pass the 3:2 SD test with PCinema off and the 2:2 SD test with PCinema on. But our standard requires a passing score in the Auto position so users don’t have to fiddle with controls like PCinema for different sources.—TJN