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Two channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.2% distortion at 87.2 watts
1% distortion at 99.0 watts

Two channels driven into 4-ohm loads:
0.2% distortion at 95.1 watts
1% distortion at 133.1 watts

This graph shows the quasi-anechoic (employing close-miking of all woofers) frequency response of the MCS 160 satellite (purple trace), MCS 160 center channel (green trace), and MCS 160 subwoofer (blue trace). All passive loudspeakers were measured at a distance of 1 meter with a 2.83-volt input and scaled for display purposes.

The satellite’s listening-window response (a five-point average of axial and +/–15-degree horizontal and vertical responses) measures +3.76/–1.46 decibels from 200 hertz to 10 kilohertz. The –3-dB point is at 131 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 97 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 4.60 ohms at 360 Hz and a phase angle of –51.89 degrees at 6.7 kHz. Sensitivity averages 86 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz.

The center’s listening-window response measures +7.45/–1.42 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. An average of axial and (+/–15-degree) horizontal responses measures +7.38/–1.38 dB from 200 Hz to 10 kHz. The –3-dB point is at 137 Hz, and the –6-dB point is at 104 Hz. Impedance reaches a minimum of 5.31 ohms at 14.8 kHz and a phase angle of –53.91 degrees at 213 Hz. Sensitivity averages 87.5 dB from 500 Hz to 2 kHz.

The subwoofer’s close-miked response, normalized to the level at 80 Hz, indicates that the lower –3-dB point is at 50 Hz and the –6-dB point is at 42 Hz. The upper –3-dB point is at 150 Hz.

Crosstalk at 1 kHz driving 2.83 volts into an 8-ohm load was –91.87 dB left to right and –81.92 dB right to left. THD+N from the amplifier was less than 0.051 percent at 1 kHz when driving 2.83 volts into an 8-ohm load. The signal-to-noise ratio with an 8-ohm load from 10 Hz to 24 kHz with “A” weighting was –110.99 dBrA.—MJP

Video Test Bench
The Denon AVR does not scale or deinterlace, but rather passes the source directly through. As such, it passed all of the applicable tests perfectly. The video rating at the top of the review assumes this basic design capability, that it performs clean, transparent video switching (including 3D) with no video processing functions.—TJN