Brian_the_King said:
oook, thanks for all the RE's.
So, do we all agree that unless I go buy a high-end stereo reciever [~<$600] I won't notice a difference, as far as quality?
I mean, would I even notice much of a difference if I went out and bought like a $2000 400x2 amp?
Maybe, but probably not. So much depends on the electrical characteristics of your speakers. Speakers do vary in load characteristics and drive requirements, but in most cases any amp with a sufficiently low output impedance, sufficient power capability into the impedance of the speakers, stability to the phase characteristics of the speaker load, and sufficiently flat frequency response, will sound identical. Most amps meet these criteria into most moving coil driver speakers, so they'll sound identical.
Some speakers do present very difficult loads, and in very large rooms such speakers can present requirements that go way beyond what a $600 receiver is going to be capable of. So it is conceivable that different speakers in different rooms could result in audible differences between amplifiers. If you want to really rock a 10,000+ cubic foot room with no audible distortion, deep, floor-shaking bass, and your speakers are a difficult load, even that 400x2 amp might not have what it takes. I know that room size sounds huge, but a lot of mcmansions these days have some large open spaces. IMO, you have to be realistic about your requirements. In a relatively small room with modest speakers - no likely difference, unless you've bought some really junky electronics.
For most people's systems, better sound must = better speakers or better room treatments.