Taking home cinema seriously?
In that case, you’ll want a seriously good AVR – and we can’t deny the outstanding sonic performance of the JBL Synthesis SDR-38, which also boasts a stylish build and extensive feature set.
In our five-star review, one of our few gripes was the substantial £7300 price. That, though, is less of a problem now, thanks to a new low of £3499 at Richer Sounds.
To get this whopping 52 per cent discount, you’ll have to sign up for the (completely free) Richer Sounds VIP club to bring the price down to £3999. Add in our exclusive promo code WHFJBL500 at checkout to save an extra £500, and you’ve got yourself a five-star AVR with £3801 off.
The JBL Synthesis SDR-38 is aimed squarely at audiophiles, as shown by its enthusiast-leaning setup and operation, but we think even the pickiest will be won over.
There’s no shortage of features: the SDR-38 delivers 180W of Class G amplification with all seven channels driven, and seven HDMI 2.1 sockets which feature the full 48Gbps bandwidth. Dolby Atmos and DTS:X are also on board for immersive home cinema sound.
There’s also quite the list of wireless connectivity options, with hi-res and MQA support via Roon, as well as Spotify Connect, Tidal Connect, Google Chromecast, Apple AirPlay 2 and Bluetooth with the aptX HD codec supported.
All of which is contained within a rather stylish and premium chassis, complete with an OLED display, on-device controls and an appropriately premium volume wheel.
However, what really won us over about the SDR-38 was its incredible sound performance, as demonstrated during a test viewing of Dune in Dolby Atmos.
“The spacious, echoey environment of the aircraft hangar is reproduced with a grand and expansive sense of scale, while the conversation that takes place regarding the Stillsuits is packed with a tangible low-level dynamic flair that incorporates warmth, subtlety and (most importantly) character to each voice,” our JBL Synthesis SDR-38 review reads.
Testing further with the car chase scene in The Batman and everything is delivered with excellent detail and clarity, digging out all the finer details we would expect for an AVR at this price level and leaving no gaps between speakers.
There were certainly no issues with the sound performance in our five-star review – the SDR-38 excels at everything from large dynamic shifts to hushed conversations, making it an excellent choice for dedicated home cinemas.
It may still be pricey, but the SDR-38’s performance justifies the cost even at full price. So home cinema aficionados will not want to miss out on the chance to get this fine-sounding home cinema amplifier with a massive £3801 off at Richer Sounds.
MORE:
Read our full JBL Synthesis SDR-38 review
As well as our Denon AVC-X6800H review
And check out our picks for the best AV receivers
