AVRs....futur direction

[3db]

In reading reviews from Home Theater Magazine, here, and on other sites and mags I see a trend in the reviews where more emphasys is being put on the feature list and the desciption of these features than it does on the audio side of things. I can understand that too a degree as most AVRs now are buldging at the seems with features and it takes time and effort to gloss over all of them. However, it seems that the feature list is becoming a priority over stout amplifers and power supplies. I feel that AVRs role is morphing into a pre/pro with some rudamentry amplification built in and that seperate amplifiers will be required to augment their lack of power. Maybe teh AVR will fade in time and we'll be left with seperates. Anyone else share this view?

 

[avnetguy]

However, it seems that the feature list is becoming a priority over stout amplifers and power supplies.

The question is are the power supplies/amps really suffering in the latest offerings or is it just a misconception being circulated?

If one were to take a number of feature rich mid-level or up AVRs and compare it to the same price point AVRs of 10 years ago how would they compare output wise?

My guess would be that overall they are not suffering on output power.

Steve

 

[sholling]

Feature lists are easy to comparison shop. Real amplifier output comparisons take an BSEE and hours of research if you can even find honest bench tests of more than one or two. I think the only reason that amplifiers sections suffer is that the manufacturers are able to do a lot of a razzle-dazzle with the output numbers. As far as the consumer is concerned they look for a WPC number as a check-off item. They don't pay any attention to 1 channel driven @ 1khz vs all channels driven from 20-20khz. And even if they do they have no way of knowing if that 100wpc 2 channels driven from 20-20khz translates into 70wpc or 50wpc or even 40wpc when all channels are driven. There is simply no industry standard that allows them to really compare the capability of the amplifier sections. What I'd like to see is a WPC standard where all receivers are rated in both 2 channel continuous mode from 20-20khz and all channels driven continuous mode from 20-20khz. You need both measurements to give a idea of how it will perform in 2 channel systems and surround sound environments. I realize that little material drives all channels equally hard all the time but unless you can see both ratings the manufacturers will game the specs.