Power Ratings Results on Receivers/Amps??

AsSiMiLaTeD

Does anyone know where I can find information on true power ratings for various amps and receivers?

I believe that one of the audio mags does some testing on different amps and receivers to determine how much power they're actually producing vs. what they're rated at...

Anyone have a clue where I can find this...or is there a way I can do this myself?

smglbrth

A short while ago someone did post a link concerning this but couldn't tell you where it is now. It would be interesting to run over again though. It's always nice to see the surprises some manufacturers CLAIM.:D

dorokusai

That link will surely be dropped in here, I can't seem to locate it.

Take the chart that will accompany it with a grain of salt, as the testing procedure is just short of useless IMO. The only way I know of from a local perspective, is to have a audio shop bench test it.

I would most certainly agree that figures are pumped up, from many manufacturers. Everyone uses their own testing procedure, and/or Fidelity Firewall measurements...therin lies the whole problem. The FCC guidelines are loose at best for power measurement.

AsSiMiLaTeD

Originally posted by dorokusai
That link will surely be dropped in here, I can't seem to locate it.

Take the chart that will accompany it with a grain of salt, as the testing procedure is just short of useless IMO. The only way I know of from a local perspective, is to have a audio shop bench test it.

I would most certainly agree that figures are pumped up, from many manufacturers. Everyone uses their own testing procedure, and/or Fidelity Firewall measurements...therin lies the whole problem. The FCC guidelines are loose at best for power measurement.

I would think you and I would especially ignore that chart, as I don't think Sony does to well in those tests...

I'll tell you what though, I'll set that STR-DA2ES with my PA2000 bi-amping my 150s up against ANYTHING under $1000...and I paid $400 total...

pjdami

here's the link. I had it bookmarked.

http://www.geocities.com/Area51/Hollow/3401/ratevsac.htm

dorokusai

That is a valid point, the Sony STR-DA4ES data was not posted, although a model from the commercial line was expounded upon, and looked very unfavorable. You will find many positive reviews on the ES line and it's brethren, just depends on whos paying the bills that month in many cases. The reason Sony objected, was based on the testing procedure. The comment by S&V is ridiculous, and by author only. The Sony counter to their statement was that the other channels are not operating at full power in order to produce "surround" effects, which is true. Does it have the ability to run all channels, full power? Unfortunately no, and that sucks, but it is simply math and the guts of the units that tell that story.

I personally think that the gear should be capable of doing it at all times, but hey, I am just a consumer, and have yet to be underwhelmed by my ES at any level or any gear. That is just a singular experience.

ALL equipment can make large amounts of power, but it comes with a price, distortion. Fidelity Firewall is a better testing procedure, beings it accounts for the highest output before the onset of clipping or distortion.

I get really happy when I hear you having a good time PM

PolkWannabie

Too bad that list is pretty much exclusively receivers, almost all of which are low compared to the specs, some VERY low.

Most good amps on the other had don't start clipping til 25-75% over their rating.

Anyone know where there is a list like that for amps ?

pjdami

PW,

I don't know of a list per say of amplifiers like that receiver list. One thing you can do is go here and do a search for a professional review on the amplifier you are looking for and hope they did a good job with the benchmark testing.

http://www.ecoustics.com/Home/Home_Audio/Amps/Amplifier_Reviews/

PolkWannabie

Yep ... been there, seen that ... was hoping for a consolidated list. It's interesting of course that where the most action is in this hobby is also where the most hype is i.e receivers over amps, one usually overstated, sometimes by a lot, one usually understated.

AsSiMiLaTeD

Originally posted by pjdami
PW,

I don't know of a list per say of amplifiers like that receiver list. One thing you can do is go here and do a search for a professional review on the amplifier you are looking for and hope they did a good job with the benchmark testing.

http://www.ecoustics.com/Home/Home_Audio/Amps/Amplifier_Reviews/

Yeah unfortunately you don't find too many reviews on a lower end like my HK PA2000

PolkWannabie

HK while not generating a ton of power is one of the few receiver manufacturers ( yes I know you are referring to an amp ) that is above spec.

dorokusai

HK is known to be pretty accurate in the power struggle, it's solid gear.

A comprehensive list of all types of gear would be interesting.

Airplay355

o no not the list again.....according to that thing JVC and kenwood are kicking my receivers ****, and NAD too. damn, i should have bought my system when there was a blue light special, how stupid of me.

Tour2ma

As seen in Frank Z's posts of the FTC regulations, AVR manufacturers have been very free to rate their models to yield "impressive" power ratings. Still are to a large degree. I think that's what the geocities S&V testing summary indicates more than anything else.

HK is one of those companies that has always given honest, useful power ratings. They've been known for that for as long as I can remember. Which in this case, but not all cases, is back to the late 60's...

Mike682

Originally posted by dorokusai
HK is known to be pretty accurate in the power struggle, it's solid gear.

A comprehensive list of all types of gear would be interesting.

Dorokusai,

I agree that hk is solid gear...I only have the 225 which is only rated at 70x2 and 60x5 and this thing weighs 26.9 pounds. I peeked inside to see how big the caps are; the 2 capacitors are rated at 15,000 picrofarads each. Not bad for a 300w reciever.

dorokusai

Mike - Sweet, did you take a picture? That would be neat to see a naked HK.

Bruce you are as old as the hills

Tour2ma

LOL... yes, but thank God the hills are alive... with or without the sound of music..

Naked KH... ... bring it on...