Watts what exactly is the sound quality difference?

[jackz4000]

With a good ear, one will "hear" the difference in quality and pure junk equipment. Also, AC power consumption from the AC plug is not the same as the rms output of an amplifier or receiver.

Once upon a time in the Stereo world there were specific measurements of an amp mandated by the FTC. Standards. At that time, Stereo was the "big wave" that everyone wanted to catch. Everyone was going to buy into Stereo. There were alot of "junk" peddlers too. And there were companies striving to build the absolute best. Because at the time there were so many unscrupulous manufacturers making incredible claims in regard to wattage output and distortion. "Peak Power". That FTC standard became the standard for all the reputable audio manufacturers at the time and for the consumer.... it gave a "standard" to help measure products. It was a good aid to the consumer in the stereo days. I still think the ear is the best.

HT is now the new "big wave" for manufacturers to catch. Everyone is going to have an HT rig. From NY to Omaha. From the USA to Malasyia. It's like a goldrush. It is a goldrush. Its a dollars and cents thing. It's biz and margins. Profit and loss. There is big money to be made within this window of opportunity. With HT, there are no real FTC standards, like there were with Stereo, except for the standards a manufacturer will use to best market their product. A couple tech's who work at big reputable companies have told me that their companies HT specs are measured in such a way as to inflate the # 's for the best marketing # 's. They were not thrilled, but the word comes down from up top. And they want to keep their jobs.

Anyway, the quality will all be in the build of the amp or pre-amp section. And then the speakers. It will all be up to the manufacturer to decide just what the build will be. The cost out and the selling price. And there are great quality manufacturers out there who do a solid build. Quality is timeless...you hear it with you very own ears. Usually quality will cost more.

Today most wattage and THD # 's can be almost comical. Last month, with a friend we stopped by the home of his friend to drop a couple things off. It became comical 'cuz the guy just HAD to show us the HT set-up he had put together....for $6000. He just had to impress me. He had devoted his whole living room to it...it was like a shrine. His wife has demanded a new addition, a new living room and it's being built. I really wanted to go. After politely listening for 15 minutes we left. The big TV he got for $2000 and $4000 he spent for audio.

As we pulled away, I had to laugh and mentioned it's a good thing the guys a plumber, 'cuz he doesn't know a thing about sound. For $4000, he gave alot of money away. But, he is happy. Absolutely thrilled. I know I wouldn't be. " It's 800 watts". Lotta BIG # 's in the supposed wattage....but, he got taken in by the HT goldrush. Why? Because he knew next to nothing about amps and sound, which with that knowledge would have yielded him a much better set-up for 1/2 the price. Watts? Its all in the quality of the build.

[mtrycraft]

Once upon a time in the Stereo world there were specific measurements of an amp mandated by the FTC. Standards.

This standard has not been cancelled it is still in force.

HT is now the new "big wave" for manufacturers to catch. Everyone is going to have an HT rig. From NY to Omaha. From the USA to Malasyia. It's like a goldrush. It is a goldrush. Its a dollars and cents thing. It's biz and margins. Profit and loss. There is big money to be made within this window of opportunity. With HT, there are no real FTC standards, like there were with Stereo, except for the standards a manufacturer will use to best market their product.

FTC has not updated the specs to standardize multi channel amps. The old standard is still in force when you rate for two channel operation.
And, most tested models do perform to their claimed power into 2 channel simultaneou operation.



For $4000, he gave alot of money away. But, he is happy.

I should hope so. He bought it to please himself only, no one else, right?

[jackz4000]

mmtrycraft, Yes, still in effect. A pretty good standard too.

Yes, again. I would think most reputable manufacturers will list their 2 channel specs appropiately. ie: 20-20K, 100 rms watts per channel both channels driven @ 8 ohms w/0.05% thd or 1% thd. Its the other 3, 4 or 5 channels. Then we have the one channel driven # 's or 150 watts at 1khz. Lotta people (nobody here) see that watt # and thats all they see. Kinda funny. So many people without a basic audio understanding, just go by the biggest watt #.

The plumber. Yeah, he was so thrilled with "800 watts" that I just hadda go and make sure I didn't say anything to let him think otherwise....for $4000 he blew plus the wife's new living room in progress, my lips are sealed. He is now going to get a sub, that will probably be a gigawatt or 2. I think he will become a more expensive plumber.

I got a friend I work with, nice guy, wife, 2 kids and the whole package. Knows not much about audio. Just bought a HT set-up. He is thrilled too 'cuz that new $225 Pioneer is "500 watts." There are watts and then there are...watts.

[gonefishin]

Hmmm...while you guys bring up several good pints of discussion.


Smokey, your sure right that you don't want to push your amps into clipping. If a persons system is clipping during normal use...They simply need to get...either a new amp, new speakers or turn the volume down. In this clipping situation there is little use talking about sound quality of the amp or system. Because neither the amp or system is operating within it's intended use.

But I think a better way to talk about Watts, would be to say that...Watts are relative. They are relative to the speakers you are using, They are relative to the room and They are relative to your listening preferences. While you certainly don't want any gross mismatch in your system(clipping), a general recommendation on how many Watts will work best for all people cannot be given. So...generic numeric Watt recommendations are useless, not necessarily Watts themselves.


have fun!

[Smokey]

But I think a better way to talk about Watts, would be to say that...Watts are relative. They are relative to the speakers you are using, They are relative to the room and They are relative to your listening preferences.

Hey GF, glad you still hanging around these parts.

I do agree with your statement. Somebody that own a Klipsch speaker might not need as much as power a person that have Magneplanar speakers that have lower sensitivity. But as general middle of road guide, it might be good advice to buy highest power (with lowest THD) amplifier one's budget allows. There is no such a thing as having too much power

I found the spoon.

I hope you put it back, or Eyespy will be furious