Question about audio equipment

[coriolis]

I got my son a stereo for christmas. The thing cost $150 and boasts 400 watts of power. Yeah, it's loud, but not as loud as I thought 400 watts would be. It has a single sub-woofer that is probably 5" diameter.

I remember back in the 1970's and 80's, A "good" component stereo system might have like 40 watts of power and have 10" or 12" woofers. You would easily spend $1500 on a system. They were loud too, but of course there was the fidelity and clarity and all that. Lots of knobs and gizmos on the receiver too.

Obviously the low price/high power units today don't have the quality of sound. I guess that for $150 it's all about the boom.

How is it that 400 Watts isn't any louder than the 40 watt system of years ago? Do they still use the same measure for power? I guess that the electronics manufacturers cater to the demands of the market.

What's the latest in high-end audion equipment - has there been an inflation in "power" too?

Comments anyone?

[Aslkahuna]

My primary stereo system has 6X100W power (including subwoofer) and I can never play it anywhere near full volume if I don't want to shake the house down and break every window. However, it's a component system and is nowhere near 150 dollars but well above that. BTW that 400 Watts is probably spread out over 3-5 channels so the actual output per channel is less than 100W.

Steve

[coriolis]

Yeah, I have to admit to a case of Watt Envy. I have a component system from the early 80's thats rated at 45 Watts per channel. I got the receiver "used" from a shop: Pioneer SX780 integrated amp/receiver: Big Heavy, metal-framed, all analog, makes a lot of heat. The sound is exquisite.

It just bugs me. 400 Watts/ $150 bucks. And that includes speakers, cd player, everything!

SHEESH!

[j]

Yeah, I have to admit to a case of Watt Envy. I have a component system from the early 80's thats rated at 45 Watts per channel. I got the receiver "used" from a shop: Pioneer SX780 integrated amp/receiver: Big Heavy, metal-framed, all analog, makes a lot of heat. The sound is exquisite.

It just bugs me. 400 Watts/ $150 bucks. And that includes speakers, cd player, everything!

SHEESH!

Well...I've been out of audio for a while but I know the impedence rating of the speakers directly correlates to the Db output. Re: a 4 ohm speaker will put out twice the Db of a 8 ohm speaker with the same wattage. A common trick amongst sneaky manufacturers is to not tell you, (or have it hiddeen in fine print somewhere), that the measuring criteria was obtained with a 1/2 - 2 ohm impedence resistor load thus doubling, or quardrupling wattage figures. That being said, todays package systems and their ratings are a complete joke, and the ear is the only test that counts. Forget numbers.

Sometimes, they advertise ratings and don't tell you that the wattage is "peak power", not RMS which is the more real measurement. Then of course, there is the deceitful trick of advertising wattage as total system. The modern day surround sound amplifiers are perfect examples. They may be 600 watt, but that is divided amongst several channels. There's "Peak Power". Max. Power..etc...etc..

Then of course, there is the distortion at that "max" wattage. Some people are capable of withstanding incredible distortion, I hear it everytine a carload full of ...well never mind..I won't go there.

I am presently running a pair of very efficient Klipsch speakers with a Denon 65/channel Int. Amp. Very very loud, crisp and excellant imaging.

But...I paid close to $800 for the speakers and the amp was in the $400 range. You get what you pay for with audio.

Now...if I only had the equpment the Ex wife robbed from me when we got divorced! Somehow she made off with my Carver Receiver.


btw ---- still have my manual Luxman table ---- I'm sure it's worth some money by now.