Page 58 - 2022-08-01 Sound & Vision
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test report



            JBL SYNTHESIS SDR-38 16-CHANNEL A/V RECEIVER




                                                                                                                                    RATING



                                                                                                                                  PERFORMANCE

                                                                                                                                  FEATURES
             Extreme Receiver                                                                                                     ERGONOMICS




                                                                                                                                  VALUE
              By Thomas J. Norton











































           UP UNTIL a few years ago, the       SDP-58 pre-pro ($6,900) and         main speakers, four Atmos height    The SDR-38 can process up to 16
           heart of a JBL Synthesis installa-  SDR-38 AVR ($8,550). The only       speakers, and one or more                channels but only provides
           tion was the brand’s Synthesis      obvious change from their prede-    powered subwoofers) you’ll need        power for 7 of those channels.
           SDP-75—basically a rebadged         cessors is the addition of HDMI 2.1   to add two outboard amplifier
           Trinnov Altitude surround           connectivity, making this newer     channels driven by two of the JBL’s
           preamp-processor. But in 2017,      pair compatible with 8K video at    preamp outputs. The la er are      2 is also compatible with sources
           JBL’s parent company Harman         60Hz and 4K at 120Hz. Both these    rated for a peak level of 5Vrms,   offering high resolution audio and
           International bought British audio   benefits (4K/120Hz in particular)   which should be enough to drive    up to 4K video. 
           manufacturer Arcam, and the         are currently significant only for a   any outboard amp.                   The JBL’s amplifiers are all
           lights went on. Could they take     limited selection of video games       Along with the SDR-38’s seven   class-G. This is not digital ampli-
           the already well-regarded Arcam     and consoles.                       speaker-level outputs it has RCA   fication but rather class-A/B with
           line of AVRs and A/V processors,                                        preamp outputs for all chan-       two voltage supply rails, one low
           alter their cosmetics, maybe add a   FEATURES                           nels, but as with other AVRs, no   and one high. In normal use, the
           bit of Synthesis secret sauce, and                                      balanced preamp outputs. Also      lower rail provides sufficient drive
           rebadge them as JBL Synthesis       The SDR-38 can process up to        similar to most other AVRs, the    for most loudspeakers, but the
           models at prices dramatically lower   16 channels (to accommodate       SDR-38’s onboard channels can’t    high voltage rail is also engaged
           than the nosebleed-level Trinnov?   speaker configurations such as       be re-assigned. So, while you can   when more power is needed. The
              In 2019, JBL Synthesis           9.1.6), but only provides seven     add a more powerful three-channel   SDR-38 doesn’t run abnormally
           answered with the introduction      channels of on-board amplifica-      amp for the front three speakers if   hot, but you should nevertheless
           of the SDP-55 preamp-processor      tion. I find the lack of at least nine   desired, the internal amps intended   allow for adequate ventilation.
           ($6,000) and SDR-35 A/V receiver    internal amp channels to be a       for those channels will remain     There’s a small exhaust port in the
           ($7,500). A couple years later, the   notable omission in an AVR at     unused. The AVR can feed two       rear, though I never heard a fan
           brand released updated versions     this price. For the most common     operating zones. We’ll deal with   operating.
           of those original products, the     type of Dolby Atmos setup (five      only the main zone here, but zone     A large volume control plus

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