Test Bench: Pioneer VSX-74TXVi receiver

DOLBY DIGITAL PERFORMANCE
All data were obtained from various test DVDs using 16-bit dithered test signals, which set limits on measured distorting and noise performance. Reference input level is –20 dBFS, and reference output is 1 watt into 8 ohms. Volume setting for reference level was –8. 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: 172/296 W (22.4/24.7 dBW)*
5 channels driven (8 ohms): 61 W (17.9 dBW)*
6 channels driven (8 ohms): 52 W (17.1 dBW)*
Distortion at 1 watt (THD+N, 1 kHz)
8/4 ohms: 0.04/0.05%
Noise level (A-wtd): –74.9 dB
Excess noise (with sine tone)
16-bit (EN16): +1.4 dB
Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz +0, –0.3 dB
* Speaker-impedance setup switch set to 8-ohm position.

MULTICHANNEL PERFORMANCE, ANALOG INPUT
Reference input and output level is 200 mV; volume setting for reference output level was –3.
Distortion (THD+N, 1 kHz, 8 ohms): 0.06/0.06%
Noise level (A-wtd): –87.7 dB
Frequency response: <10 Hz to 94 kHz +0, –3 dB

STEREO PERFORMANCE, DIGITAL INPUT
Reference level is –20 dBFS; all level trims at zero. Volume setting for reference level was –4.
Output at clipping (1 kHz, 8/4 ohms, both channels driven): 154/237 W (21.9/23.7 dBW)*
Distortion at reference level: 0.05%
Linearity error (at –90 dBFS): 1.2 dB
Noise level (A-wtd): –74.4 dB
with 96-kHz/24-bit signals: –88.4 dB
Excess noise (with/without sine tone)
16-bit (EN16): 1.5/1.4 dB
quasi-20-bit (EN20): 16/16.1 dB
Noise modulation: 0.5 dB
Frequency response: 20 Hz to 20 kHz +0, –0.4 dB
with 96-kHz/24-bit signals: 20 Hz to 44 kHz +0, –1.2 dB
* Speaker-impedance setup switch set to 8-ohm position.

BASS-MANAGEMENT PERFORMANCE
Measured results obtained with Dolby Digital test signals.
Subwoofer-output frequency response (crossover set to 80 Hz): 24 dB/octave above –6-dB rolloff point of 89 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): 8.8 volts
Subwoofer distortion (from 6-channel, 30-Hz, 0-dBFS signal; subwoofer trim set to 0): 8.6%
Crossover consistency: bass crossover frequency and slope same for all signal formats that receive bass management.
Signal-format consistency: consistent for all applicable formats; bass management not available for multichannel analog signals.
Speaker size selection: all channels can be set to “small.”
Speaker-distance compensation: available for all main channels.

The Pioneer VSX-74TXVi produced consistently solid numbers, the sole exception being high subwoofer-output distortion with fully 6-channel, 0-dBFS, 30-Hz signals, a fairly non-real-world condition; with –3-dB signals distortion was suitably low. Noise level in all modes was very good or excellent, though 96-kHz/24-bit stereo noise performance was a few decibels poorer than some receivers have shown, a condition I presume derives more from the analog circuitry than any digital-domain errors. When the speaker-impedance switch was set to its 6-ohm position, output power measured half or less as much as in the 8-ohm position. As compared with the published specifications, a low measurement in our steady-state multichannel power tests is often a consequence of power-limiting or steering circuitry and is not unusual — only the largest, heaviest, and most expensive receivers and amplifiers perform perfectly in these tests.