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Ten Percent Distortion?

I have a little Panasonic SA-XR25 digital receiver for my TV rig (I can't really call it HT). Driving some good speakers it sounds great, and cost me all of $287. Tonight I was killing some time wandering around the Best Buy shop looking at similar electronics from Panasonic, and others, and I noticed that output power was quoted at 10 percent distortion! At first I thought this was a missprint, surely they meant 1 percent or even 0.1 percent. However several units, from several manufacturers, were described this way. Back home I quickly checked the SA-XR25 spec and was reassured to find a reasonable 0.3 percent stated.

What the heck is going on? Wouldn't 100 watts at 0.3 percent sell better than 140 watts at 10 percent?
eldartford
inpepinnovations1e75
395 posts
 
Of course true audiophiles aren't interested in the distortion figure! It is probably that 10% distortion that makes that amplifier sound better to that audiophile's ears, who naturally says that the sound of an amplifier is all that counts. That goes for power also. In fact, the lower power amps probably sound better due to the distortion!
Meanwhile, the non-audiophile, is oblivious to the "sounds better" issue and only sees watts and that is what he buys and that is the market which those products are aimed at.

Bob P.
killerpiglet
373 posts
 
who naturally says that the sound of an amplifier is all that counts.

What a silly idea! Everyone knows all that counts is the amount of coal it can carry.

KP
blkadr
731 posts
 
When I look for speakers on ebay or craigslist, I love when the seller lists how many watts they are.
timlub
1,649 posts
 
The law allows you to print any power ratings as long as you print how you got there.... Would you rather print it was a 100 watt amplifier or 20 watt amplifier. Most people wouldn't know the difference.
auxetophone
114 posts
 
Funny, back in the 50's it was normal to quote power ratings at 10%, for table radios, tv's etc. A tube amp is generally not unpleasant with 10% of mostly 2nd or 3rd harmonic content (it's not high fidelity either). But an inexpensive transistor amp at 10% is painful.
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