Pioneer Elite VSX-42 A/V Receiver HT Labs Measures

HT Labs Measures

Five channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 66.8 watts
1% distortion at 79.9 watts

Seven channels driven continuously into 8-ohm loads:
0.1% distortion at 58.9 watts
1% distortion at 67.5 watts

Analog frequency response in Pure Direct mode:
–0.22 dB at 10 Hz
–0.06 dB at 20 Hz
–0.11 dB at 20 kHz
–3.61 dB at 50 kHz

Analog frequency response with signal processing:
–0.44 dB at 10 Hz
–0.16 dB at 20 Hz
–0.62 dB at 20 kHz
–57.32 dB at 50 kHz

This graph shows that the VSX-42’s left channel, from CD input to speaker output with two channels driving 8-ohm loads, reaches 0.1% distortion at 96.1 watts and 1% distortion at 118.2 watts. Into 4 ohms, the amplifier reaches 0.1% distortion at 123.0 watts and 1% distortion at 157.8 watts.

There was no multichannel input to measure. THD+N from the CD input to the speaker output was less than 0.073% at 1 kHz when driving 2.83 volts into an 8-ohm load. Crosstalk at 1 kHz driving 2.83 volts into an 8-ohm load was –75.56 dB left to right and –75.29 dB right to left. The signal-to-noise ratio with an 8-ohm load from 10 Hz to 24 kHz with “A” weighting was –108.46 dBrA.

From the Dolby Digital input to the loudspeaker output, the left channel measures –0.11 dB at 20 Hz and –0.55 dB at 20 kHz. The center channel measures –0.08 dB at 20 Hz and –0.58 dB at 20 kHz, and the left surround channel measures –0.08 dB at 20 Hz and –0.58 dB at 20 kHz. From the Dolby Digital input to the line-level output, the LFE channel is +0.00 dB at 20 Hz when referenced to the level at 40 Hz and reaches the upper 3-dB down point at 117 Hz and the upper 6-dB down point at 120 Hz.—MJP

Video Test Bench

3:2 HD 2:2 HD MA HD VIDEO CLIPPING BLACK&WHITE RESOLUTION COLOR RESOLUTION SCALING 3D PASSTHRU
N/A N/A N/A PASS PASS FAIL GOOD PASS

After confirming proper calibration of my Samsung plasma, I was impressed overall by the video performance of the VSX-42. While it does not deinterlace a 1080i signal via HDMI, it passed and maintained a high-quality 1080p image on most tests. After a noticeable moment to lock on, particularly in the scaling test, video became clean and steady. Both horizontal and vertical fine lines were plainly discernible in the black-and-white resolution test, and the fine horizontal alternating red and blue lines of the color-resolution test were distinct, but the box with vertical red and blue lines was mostly solid purple, which indicates that the horizontal color resolution is subpar.

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COMMENTS
willieconway's picture

That makes me feel like such a n00b. I usually watch movies at 25-35 out of 80 on my Onkyo TX-NR509. At 35 some movies are definitely too loud for me.

I've sometimes wondered if I need more power. I guess I don't!

(I'm about 7 feet from my front speakers, Energy V5.1s and a V-Mini-C.)

Thanks for the review and thanks for the avalanche of great content the last few weeks.

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