DOLBY DIGITAL PERFORMANCE
All data were obtained from computer-generated Dolby Digital test signals incorporating dither, which sets limits on measured distortion and noise. Reference input level is -20 dBFS, and reference output is 1 watt into 8 ohms, which was obtained with the volume control set to -4. Dialogue normalization in test signals was 27 dB. All speakers were set to "large" except for filter and subwoofer measurements, where they were set to "normal (small)." All are worst-case figures where applicable.

Output at clipping (1 kHz into 8 ohms)
one channel driven 187 watts................................ (22.5 dBW)
five channels driven 138 watts............................... (21.5 dBW)

Distortion at 1 watt
(THD+N, 1 kHz, 8 ohms)........................................... 0.037%

Noise level (16-bit signal, A-wtd)............................. -74.7 dB

Excess noise (with signal)
16-bit (EN16).......................................................... +2.05 dB

Frequency response
20 Hz to 20 kHz ±0, -0.2 dB

Channel imbalance
(at reference output level)................................ 0.37-dB spread

Subwoofer-output frequency response
-24 dB/octave rolloff above -6-dB point of 80 Hz

High-pass-filter frequency response
-18 dB/octave rolloff below -3-dB point of 80 Hz

Maximum subwoofer output
(at reference volume setting).................. 7.6 volts (no clipping)

Subwoofer distortion
(5.1-channels, 31-Hz, 0-dBFS signal played at reference level; all channel trims set to 0)............................................... 0.05%

Output at clipping (1 kHz, 8/4 ohms)
8 ohms............................................... 168 watts (22.5 dBW)
4 ohms................................................................ 280 watts

Distortion at 1 watt (THD+N, 1 kHz)
8/4 ohms........................................................ 0.018/0.019%

Linearity error (at -90 dBFS)................................... -0.4 dB

Noise level (16-bit signal, A-wtd)............................ -75.6 dB

Excess noise (with/without signal)
16-bit (EN16)............................................... +0.55/+0.55 dB
quasi-20-bit (EN20)...................................... +12.0/+12.0 dB

Noise modulation................................................. 0.75 dB

Tone-control range
100 Hz........................................................... +7.5/-8.7 dB
10 kHz........................................................... +8.5/-8.9 dB

Frequency response (at two sampling rates)
44.1-kHz................................. 20 Hz to 20 kHz +0, -0.2 dB
96-kHz............................... 20 Hz to 45.3 kHz +0, -0.65 dB

Testing top-of-the-line THX-certified receivers is getting to be a little boring. All those I've examined lately have had excellent to superb performance, and the Denon AVR-5800 was no exception. Its most outstanding results are for output power levels, which in both multichannel and stereo operation were unusually high. Noise performance was also extremely good. You can count on THX-certified products to have correctly operating bass management and subwoofer outputs that don't overload under normal setup conditions. And unlike many other receivers, the Denon doesn't alter its bass-management properties as you switch from multichannel to stereo operation. The only thing it lacks is bass management for its multichannel analog inputs. That means you'll have to pay extra close attention to proper setup and adjustment of the bass-management facilities included in devices that feed multichannel analog signals to the AVR-5800, like DVD-Audio players. — David Ranada