Pioneer Elite SC-07 A/V receiver
Test report
(continued)
TEST BENCH
DOLBY DIGITAL PERFORMANCE
All data were obtained from various test DVDs using 16-bit dithered test signals, which set limits on measured distortion and noise performance. Reference input level is –20 dBFS, and reference output is 1 watt into 8 ohms. Volume setting for reference level was -9. All level trims at zero, except for subwoofer-related tests, all speakers were set to “large,” subwoofer on. All are worst-case figures where applicable.
Output at clipping (1 kHz into 8/4 ohms)
1 channel driven: 208/312 W (23.2/24.9 dBW)
5 channels driven (8 ohms): 138 W (21.4 dBW)
Distortion at 1 watt (THD+N, 1 kHz)
8/4 ohms: 0.05/0.05%*
Noise level (A-wtd): –75.2 dB*
Excess noise (with sine tone)
16-bit (EN16): 0.5 dB*
Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz +0, –0.3 dB
MULTICHANNEL PERFORMANCE, ANALOG INPUT
Reference input and output level is 200 mV; volume setting for reference output level was -4.
Distortion (THD+N, 1 kHz, 8 ohms): 0.08%*
Noise level (A-wtd.): –87.6*
Frequency response: <10 Hz to 160 kHz +0, –3 dB
STEREO PERFORMANCE, DIGITAL INPUT
Reference level is –20 dBFS; all level trims at zero. Volume setting for reference level was -5.
Output at clipping (1 kHz, 8/4 ohms, both channels driven): 154/262 W (21.9/24.2 dBW)
Distortion at reference level: 0.03%*
Linearity error (at –90 dBFS): 0.15 dB
Noise level (A-wtd): –75.6 dB*
with 96-kHz/24-bit signals: –85.4 dB*
Excess noise (with/without sine tone)
16-bit (EN16): 0.3/0.7 dB*
quasi-20-bit (EN20): 7.3/5.7 dB*
Noise modulation: 0.6 dB
Frequency response: <10 Hz to 20 kHz +0, –0.3 dB
with 96-kHz/24-bit signals: <10 Hz to 44.5 kHz +0.1, -0.6 dB
*Noise and distortion tests required insertion of a “brickwall” low-pass filter to suppress very high-frequency ultrasonics that were present on all speaker outputs. (Almost certainly artifacts of Class D switching frequency, these were not seen on line-level output traces.). This may have affected results to a very slight degree.
BASS-MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE
Measured results obtained with Dolby Digital test signals.
Subwoofer-output frequency response (crossover set to 80 Hz): 24 dB/octave (approx.) above –6-dB rolloff point of 80 Hz
High-pass-filter frequency response (crossover set to 80 Hz): 12 dB/octave below –3-dB rolloff point of 80 Hz
Maximum unclipped subwoofer output (trim at 0): 7.3v
Subwoofer distortion (from 6-channel, 30 Hz, 0 dBFS signal; subwoofer trim set to 0): 0.03%*
Crossover consistency: bass crossover frequency and slope were consistent for all sources and formats
Signal-format consistency: consistent for all applicable formats
Speaker size selection: all channels can be set to “small”
Speaker-distance compensation: available for all main channels.
The SC-07’s power output was impressive on just about every test—especially from a receiver that weighs only 50 lb, and never got more than modestly hot. As more channels were driven, maximum power fell off comparatively linearly—much more so than is usually the case with conventional, regulated Class A/B designs. (Class D uses available power supply current much more efficiently, but it’s not nuclear fission: the supply is still finite). Other test were generally excellent throughout. What I took to be artifacts from the amplifiers’ switching frequencies (at a guess, several hundred kilohertz), were visible on scope traces of all speaker outputs. While these made taking certain measurements a bit challenging, they are sonically not significant, being many times higher than the highest frequency of interest.
— D.K.
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