what's going on with specs?


I'm having a hard time buying a power amp. I'm in the 5-10k range and whae I'm finding are things like PS Audio BHK 250. Specs show 250@8ohms and 500@4ohms. Then the Parasound JC5 shows 400@8ohms and 600@4ohms. Looks like PS Audio doubles at 4 ohms which makes me think it's a stronger amp until I notice the PS Audio spec is at 1 kilohertz and the Parasound measures 20 to 20 kilohertz. That is very confusing and I don't understand why PS Audio doesn't give full power measurements. Anyone with knowledge of these two brands or others. I have the Elac Vela 409s to drive. 
dconfalone

Showing 3 responses by millercarbon

Full disclosure, much as I would love it to have been mine I must credit uber photography guru Ken Rockwell for coming (ahem) up with measurebator.   

But that doesn't mean they mean nothing right? There is some reason a Boulder amp is going to sound better than a Sony receiver and it must show in some measurements. Those are the three I'm looking at and was wondering if anyone had any experience with them or should flip a coin. 
No, they really do mean nothing. Just because I'm good and funny doesn't mean I'm also not good and serious. You really do need to figure out what kind of audiophile you are, and what you want. Right now it seems you are a measurebator and if so fine you will find the web chock full of specs you can download and get off on. If you want music though they trust me, you can very safely totally ignore all specs and do just fine.   

Seriously. Ignore all specs. Do just fine. Pay attention to listener evaluations. IF you want to listen to music. If you want to measurebate, flip a coin. Or throw a dart. Who cares? Either way you will have some meaningless measurements to get off on.
Measurebator, a classic from Chuck I won’t soon forget
Nor will a certain triggered prude who can’t take a joke.
Probably reminds him a little too much of himself.    
   https://youtu.be/8QOQEYA9YJo?t=8
The First Audiophile Commandment is Know Thyself. What you need to know is, are you an audiophile? Or a measurebator? Audiophiles love the way music sounds. Measurebators love the way numbers look.   

Figure this one out and everything else falls right into place.