Well if the speakers are really 40 watts total then why would Philips lie and say that they are 80 watts music power or put that 80 watts number big on the box??? Since it seems like it's really bad for the speakers to go 80 watts for a long time so technicly that aren't 80watts looks like. But I can say that they do go really loud and clear without hearing distortion when I play my music. My ears don't hurt at all even when they are up loud. Maybe since the amp is huge brick like thing so it is using a good amp to power them. I have heard other speakers around this price range and most do sound not as clear or I can his the hiss noise. But the Philips I have I don't hear any of that.