Technical explainer
Why Amplifier Power Specifications Are Frequently Misleading
How load, channel count, bandwidth, duration, and distortion thresholds change the number on the box.
One number, many conditions
Power changes with load and test method. Peak output for one channel at 1 kHz cannot be compared directly with continuous full-band output into several channels.
Distortion threshold
The point chosen as “maximum” may occur before or after visible clipping.
Duration and thermal limits
Short bursts describe musical headroom; continuous tests reveal power-supply and cooling limits. Both can be useful when clearly labelled.
Better reporting
Publish load, frequency or bandwidth, channel count, duration, mains conditions, and distortion threshold with every figure.
Conclusion
The answer is not to reject specifications but to demand their conditions.