Receiver cutting off, HELP

[markw]

Not all manufacturers rate their power the same. IT's a marketig ploy to make tem seem more powerful than they are to wow the average consumer.

Here's an example at how it can be done, using approximate figures.

Let's take 100 watts X 5

This means that each chanel can put out 100 watts, most likely not all at the same time.

If only one channel is driven, it can put out 100 watts. If two channels are driven, they both might put out 80 watts. The more channels driven at any one time, the power ratings go down.

But wait, there's more.

Tey might rate them at au unrealistic figure, say at 1khz at a certan distortion level. Let's say that's how they arrived at that 100 watt figure above.

So, we've got one channel, at 100 watts per channel at 1khzs and .1% distortion.

Nobody listens to a 1khz tone. Real world speca would be something like 20 -20khz. That would result in a lower power rating, say 85 - 90 watts.

Now, if we go for a lower distortion level, that would lower the power ratings even more.

So, you've got to learn to read those watt specs with a bit of a jaundiced eye. You could esilly wind up with maybe 50 - 60 "real world" watts per channel.

And, keep in mind that, unlike 10 years ago, nowadays you're paying more for features and gee gaws than power. Note that as you go up the food chain of a manufacturer, power ratings don't go up in quantum leaps, but the features do.