Why aren't there RCA connections between speakers and receivers/amps?

[Swerd]

One reason, cited in interviews and other casual sources, and typically described as the "real reason", but never submitted formally to the FTC, was the fear that people who had bought HT gear prior to any rule change would be pissed upon the revised spec sheet showing them they didn't actually buy a -"200 watt", or whatever- component.

Interesting. I hadn't heard that before, but it does have that ring of truth to it.

I know someone, now retired, who used to work at the FTC. He was involved in this issue and was one of those inside the FTC who advocated for a revision to rate all channels instead of only two. He told me that inside the FTC there were few others who thought this was much of a problem because there was real competition among several manufacturers. There was no evidence of collusion or price fixing among them, and certainly no monopoly existed. And as long as manufacturers show power ratings that comply to the old two channel rule, there was no false advertising, even if it can be misleading. Compared to other types of more serious consumer fraud that the FTC must deal with, this seemed like a very small problem.

This former FTC person occasionally posts here on AH, although he really is more interested in speakers. Perhaps he has something to add.

 

[Johnny2Bad]

Interesting, Swerd. I can certainly see how, in an age where "consumer electronics" encompasses a breadth of products clearly unanticipated in the world as seen in 1970 or so, audio power specifications might be seen as a "back burner" issue, regardless of how important it might be seen by our small subset (those who take a serious interest in audio) which is in itself of a subset of a huge industry (consumer electronics).

I did, at one time, delve fairly deeply into the proposed revisions of the 1974 FTC Power Rule, and once I concluded it was likely dead in the water, I put it behind me. My previous comments were from memory based on what I found at that time.

The original rule had broad support from serious audio manufacturers, with a significant portion of the industry wholly based in the USA. Neither can be said to be true today.