a/v receiver power rating

avphile

I have being reading alot of posting regarding the power rating spec for a/v receivers in this forum. The consensus seems to be that it is not accurate in that the manufacturer is only testing the output of their receiver at one single frequency (i.e. 1KHz). The question I have is that how do the seperate amp vendors test their gear. Do they have their gear output different frequencies (i.e. 1kHz - 20KHz) at different times and measuring its power outputs at those frequencies? Or do they have their gear output white noise (i.e. 1KHz - 20Hz) at the same time and then measure it power output?

ben62670

You kinda missed it. Receivers will typically rate their output at 20-20k at 8 ohms. Read the distortion specs. Then take a look at the rating at 6, or 4 ohms. The distortion level will be quite a bit higher, and a lot of times they will show 1k-20k. If you pushed that receiver a little harder at 8 ohms you would most likely come pretty close to the power spec at 4ohms. I know Adcoms pretty well so I use them as an example often. When they spec their older products they show power output at both 4, and 8ohms with close to the same distortion levels.
I hope this helps.
Ben

kuntasensei

Don't expect consistency in power ratings. Some manufacturers rate with a 1kHz tone, some with a full 20Hz-20kHz tone. Some rate with all channels driven, some with only two. Some rate at 4 ohm, some at 8. None of these methods are necessarily inaccurate... They just don't give the end user an accurate and consistent picture of the amp's true output. That's the sad truth of not having one set standard by which receivers and amps can be compared.

Don't get too hung up on the numbers. Find something that will drive your speakers well and that others have had good experiences with.