Surround Processor Reviews

Five channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 292.9 watts
1% distortion at 322.1 watts

Frequency response RCA input:
–0.03 dB at 10 Hz
–0.00 dB at 20 Hz
–0.03 dB at 20 kHz
–2.63 dB at 50 kHz

Frequency response XLR input:
–0.03 dB at 10 Hz
+0.00 dB at 20 Hz
–0.01 dB at 20 kHz
–2.53 dB at 50 kHz

This graph shows that the CT-5300’s left amplifier channel, with two channels driving 8-ohm loads, reaches 0.1 percent distortion at 390.2 watts and 1 percent distortion at 434.8 watts. Into 4 ohms, the amplifier consistently engages protection at 190.0 watts and cannot be driven further. An input level of 102.1 millivolts was required to produce an output of 2.83 volts into an 8-ohm load, indicating an overall gain of +28.87 decibels using the RCA input. When using the XLR input, a level of 101.8 millivolts was required to produce an output of 2.83 volts into an 8-ohm load, indicating an overall gain of +28.90 dB.

THD+N from the amplifier was less than 0.023 percent at 1 kilohertz when driving 2.83 volts into an 8-ohm load using the RCA input. When using the XLR input under the same conditions, THD+N was less than 0.003 percent. Crosstalk at 1 kHz driving 2.83 volts into an 8-ohm load was –91.28 dB left to right and –90.88 dB right to left using the RCA inputs and –108.76 dB left to right and –107.35 dB right to left using the XLR inputs. The signal-to-noise ratio with “A” weighting was –110.62 dBrA using the RCA input and –111.02 using the XLR input.—MJP