JBL S5160 user manual THX Ultra Specifications Full Five-Channel Operation, High Power Capability

Introduction

Congratulations on your purchase of this JBL Synthesis S5160 power amplifier! You have chosen a product that embodies the best of what JBL has discovered about the emotional power of audio reproduction in more than fifty years of preeminence in the field. This amplifier has been designed and crafted to provide the user with a high level of sonic performance; special attention has been paid to minimize the number of components in the audio signal path, resulting in extremely low distortion, excellent tran- sient response and wide dynamic range. Synthesis prod- ucts set new benchmarks in audio technology, and, when used as part of a complete JBL Synthesis system, will bring the ambience and acoustics of some of the world’s greatest concert halls and theaters into your home.

To obtain the best performance from this amplifier, please be sure to completely read this user’s manual and use the S5160 only in accordance with its instructions.

Features

The JBL Synthesis S5160 power amplifier features the following:

THX Ultra™ Specifications

This amplifier meets or exceeds the stringent specifications, includ- ing those for power handling, total harmonic distortion, frequency response, signal-to-noise ratio, slew rate, and crosstalk, set by the THX Ltd. Audio division in their specifications for “Ultra”-class certifi- cation. When incorporated into a complete THX® system, you will hear in your home what the director and sound engineer heard in the recording studio.

Full Five-Channel Operation

The S5160 has been designed to integrate well into the world of multichannel audio. It is designed to reproduce the front left and right, center and side channels, to pro- duce a truly enveloping sound field. When coupled with

ahigh-quality subwoofer amplifier, such as the S800, it is a solid foundation on which to build a high-performance home cinema system that will astound the listener with its power and realism. The S5160 is specially designed for use with a Synthesis One system in which the front left, right and center speakers are bi-amplified for smoother and more accurate reproduction of every nuance of a movie soundtrack or musical selection. Two S5160

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amplifiers may be used, in conjunction with two S800 subwoofer amplifiers, to power a complete 7.1-channel home theater system. Alternatively, a single S5160 may be used with one S800 subwoofer amplifier to power a 5.1-channel system.

High Power Capability

The S5160 provides a satisfying 160 watts per channel of distortion-free audio (<0.03% THD) into 8 ohms. Because of their power capabilities, all Synthesis amplifiers have an extremely wide dynamic range, an element critical to realistic home cinema. Sound levels equal to those at original per- formances are easily re-created in even the largest of home listening environments.

Auto Turn-On and Power Sequencing Circuitry When used in a JBL Synthesis system, the S5160 can be turned on automatically whenever the surround processor is activated. No longer do you have to get out of that chair to turn on the various pieces of equipment in your enter- tainment system; just one touch on the remote control of the surround processor, and you’re a few seconds away from a truly impressive audio presentation!

Modern amplifiers produce more power per channel (and frequently have more channels) than those of the traditional two-channel stereo era. Due to the high current demands of power amplifiers at the instant of turn-on, the S5160, S7150 and S800 amplifiers and the SDEC digital equaliz- er are equipped with power sequencing circuits that turn on each unit in sequence, avoiding the large instantaneous current demand (and possible house circuit breaker trip- ping) that would occur should they all turn on at the same instant.

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