Why is the rated power tied to the amount of features?

[Rob Babcock]

I think all else being equal, more power is better. And I suppose in an of themselves, bells & whistles are okay. But what I find baffling is why manufactures invariable tie more power in with more features. Why is this? Just because I may want 150 Watts per channel doesn't automatically mean I want 50 DSPs (Church, Hall, Arena, Outhouse, Tent...). Why not a bare bones model with 150 WPC? Or a model with 75 WPC that's got every feature known to man?

If you really think about it, that's just like having all size 6 shoes come in only one color and style and providing more colors and styles as the size gets bigger. Of course, only size 16 would have all the looks you want! Or what if MS Word scaled the amount of fonts available for a document to the length? That is, if you were creating a birthday card with only a few lines of text, you'd have access to one font. A newsletter would permit half a dozen. If you were writing a novel, then you could use all the fonts.

Am I the only one who's ever thought this?

 

[Rÿche 1]

I'm with ya. It's the exact reason I sold my Yamaha (with 1,000+ DSP modes), and bought a H/K (with alot less DSP modes, but actually delivers the power it claims too).

 

[joelincoln]

I feel your pain. The problem works both ways...

- Why should I be forced to buy all these features when all I want is clean power?

- Why should I be forced to pay for this huge amp when all I want is this neat feature?

But you shouldn't feel isolated here in the A/V world. Many consumer products are like this. Look at cars for example. You may only be able to get a trip computer if you buy a V8 instead of the V6.

 

[Rob Babcock]

I understand that the companies can't stock a model for every conceivable customer, but it's wrongthinking on the part of the manufacturers to assume that there's a relationship that isn't there. Just like in your good example with cars.

Denon, at least, puts most of their features in all their receivers, but they also assume anyone that needs Denon Link, 3 component inputs, Alpha24, etc also needs 170 WPC!

 

[Rÿche 1]

Personally, I couldn't care less with regards to video switching (don't use it), DSP modes (don't use them), e.t.c. I want power to crank it up...

 

[Unregistered]

Excellent point, Rob. I couldn't agree more. I am longing for the day when we can configure a receiver with ONLY the features we want. I personally don't care for a zillion DSP modes - it's hard enough to try out all the standard formats to determine which one you prefer. That's one main reason I dislike Yamaha. I think they should spend the money elsewhere instead of investing in 51 programs with 71 variations...

Unfortunately, just like the increase in power alongside more features, the new "configurable" receivers (Integra, et al) actually have a "base" configuration from which you can add more. The base configuration already has more crap than I want and alot of things I will never use. There is no way to start from a barebones chassis and add only what you want.

I would like a receiver with 150wpc or more, only 1 or 2 analog inputs, alot of digital inputs (coax and optical) and all component video. I fear that day will never come....

 

[annunaki]

What would be neat would be to buy the amplifier section that you wanted,(50 x 7, 100 x 7, 200 x 7, ect) and then have downloadable software, or over the counter software that you just plug in and upload to a completely blank, built in processor/control center. If you want to upgrade features/formats, just buy new software. Basically a totally user-configurable platform.
If you only wanted stereo, DD-EX, DTS-ES, DPLIIx, DTS-Neo:6, and 7 channel stereo, that would be all you would get. Of course it would have to have a program in the display area so that the logos of all the formats would show up constantlyfor royalty purposes.

Unfortunately, it doesn't work that way.

 

[Unregistered]

...I guess that's why there are separates out there.....you can get all the power you want in an amp and match it with a simple pre-pro. Just my 2 cents.