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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
a high-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
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.
2.0
INTRODUCTION
AND FEATURES
S5160 OM 5/31/05 2:15 PM Page 6