AV Receiver Reviews

All measurements were taken on the left channel. The VSX-59TXi's stereo analog frequency response, from the CD input to the speaker output in Stream Direct1 mode, was –1.72dB at 10Hz, -0.5dB at 20Hz, -0.12dB at 20kHz, and -0.72dB at 50kHz. The response from the multichannel input to the speaker output in Stream Direct3 mode measured –1.29dB at 10Hz, -0.04dB at 20Hz, -0.09dB at 20kHz, and -0.48dB at 50kHz.

The Dolby Digital frequency response (optical input to speaker output) measured –0.02dB at 20Hz and –0.13dB at 20kHz, left channel (-0.03dB at 20Hz and –0.09dB at 20kHz, center channel). With the surround left channel set to "small" and the crossover frequency set to 80Hz, the highpass filter response was –3dB at 81Hz, –6dB at 61Hz, and –0.10dB at 20kHz. The LFE line output, normalized to the response at 40Hz, was –0.09dB at 20Hz, -3dB at 118Hz, and –6dB at 124Hz.

The S/N (A-weighted, 2.83V@8Ω) measured –99.7dB. Gain measured 28.8dB, CD in to speaker out, with an 8Ω load and the level control set to +2.5.

THD+noise in stereo at 2.83V into 8Ω measured 0.012% at 20Hz and 1kHz and 0.008% at 20kHz. At 2.83V into 4Ω, the corresponding results were 0.013% at 20Hz, 0.015% at 1kHz, and 0.007% at 20kHz.

Driving all seven channels into 8Ω, the VSX-59TXi delivered 133Wpc at 20Hz and 140Wpc at 1kHz (to the nearest watt) before clipping (1% THD+noise). Into 4Ω, all seven channels operating, it delivered 181Wpc at 20Hz and 183Wpc at 1kHz. The 4Ω test blew the internal mains fuse; Digital Safety was turned off for all tests.

With only two channels operating, at 1kHz, the Pioneer clipped at 151Wpc into 8Ω and 276Wpc into 4Ω.—TJN