Amp power ratings and the FTC

[Swerd]

From time to time people post questions about amplifier power ratings. Usually there is confusion about what power ratings mean and how ratings from different manufacturers can or cannot be compared. Among the various answers, there is usually one post wondering why the FTC doesn't better regulate power claims by amplifier makers.

Dennis Murphy is a well known amateur speaker designer. I especially like his web site (Murphyblaster Productions) because it is well written - meaning that I can actually understand what he is saying . When he is not building speakers, he earns a living as an economist working at the Federal Trade Commision (FTC). Of all things, one of his jobs is to enforce the FTC's power amplifier output regulations.

In a brief Q & A session, he describes what the FTC does and doesn't do about bogus power amplifier claims. Read it. You may be surprised.

 

[mtrycrafts]

From time to time people post questions about amplifier power ratings. Usually there is confusion about what power ratings mean and how ratings from different manufacturers can or cannot be compared. Among the various answers, there is usually one post wondering why the FTC doesn't better regulate power claims by amplifier makers.

Dennis Murphy is a well known amateur speaker designer. I especially like his web site (Murphyblaster Productions) because it is well written - meaning that I can actually understand what he is saying . When he is not building speakers, he earns a living as an economist working at the Federal Trade Commision (FTC). Of all things, one of his jobs is to enforce the FTC's power amplifier output regulations.

In a brief Q & A session, he describes what the FTC does and doesn't do about bogus power amplifier claims. Read it. You may be surprised.

This is great
Can you now ask him about wires, who in the FTC would handle the claims for them and what are they doing to curb the apparent zelous claims

Maybe this should be flagged in the web site somehow?

 

[Swerd]

Can you now ask him about wires, who in the FTC would handle the claims for them and what are they doing to curb the apparent zelous claims

Someone did ask him that recently on the Madisound discussion board, "Has the FTC ever had to deal with any of the really bizzare science that's showing up more and more in high end audio?"

Dennis Murphy answered "We don't go there. And you shouldn't either. . .The FTC's priorities really don't include high end audio. These days, the agency is really much more into policing large-scale fraud--products that just don't work, or financial services that are really intended to steal identity. Now, that's not to say that some high-end audio gimmicks don't fall into the don't work category--but the small amount of commerce involved and the complexity of the scientific issues just don't add up to a very attractive cost/benefit ratio. . . The high fidelity market has its quirks and land mines, but overall it's one of the best performing industries in the economy when measured in terms of price and technological change. I guess competition works."

It seems the FTC only can act where Congress passed laws to authorize it. Murphy mentioned that the Power Output Rule of 1974 doesn't say anything about 5.1-channel or car audio. I guess the same is true for all the so-called high end audio tweeks. They exist because there is no FTC rule against it. For the present, we'll have to stick with his advice: We don't go there. And you shouldn't either.