Current limit onset definition?

Thanks very much Al. On my DMA180 the fuses are specified as 8 amp for 100 and 120 volts. 4 for 220.
I bought my Spectral and MIT gear based on discussions with MICHEAL PERCY, who sells components via his website. I am reminded that he was especially knowledgeable and helpful. From my experience one can be very confident in dealing with Michael. I would not hesitate to send a bank draft or money order-with my order. He is a reliable gentleman.

The current rating is the amount of current that flows when the power supply is shorted out for 10 milliseconds. As Al pointed out, it has nothing to do with the power or the current that the output section can make.

The rating is really only there to show how the power supply is built up, and it is without question confusing! For example, you might be surprised normally to find that a tube amp (and for that matter an OTL) has the same rating. But we are not talking about anything to do with the output; simply the power supply itself. more:

http://www.atma-sphere.com/Resources/Common_Amplifier_Myths.php

The "6" is indeed an "8" - 8A. see this clear picture of the back panel at http://hifi.myinsales.ru/collection/usiliteli/product/spectral-dma-180

Newer amps have 5A fuses.

Clearly the 40A figure has nothing to do with power draw...

01-05-15: Ack
The "6" is indeed an "8" - 8A.... Newer amps have 5A fuses.

Thanks for the info, Ack. It seems that the specs at the Spectral site for fuse ratings have not been done very carefully. In addition to the discrepancy regarding the DMA-180, the ratings listed in the specs for all four of the currently produced amplifiers (2.5 amps for three models, 5 amps for the other, for 120 volt operation) would in every case not allow as much power into the amplifier as it is rated to output continuously into a 2 ohm load. And likewise for a 4 ohm load for two of the four amplifiers, with zero provision for internal power consumption or margin in one of the other two cases. (In saying this I'm assuming that the output power ratings for the stereo amplifiers are per channel, although that is not explicitly stated). Also, the top of the line DMA-400 monoblock is described as having two 5 amp AC line fuses, when the picture clearly shows only one fuse being provided (as can be expected).

01-06-15: Atmasphere
The current rating is the amount of current that flows when the power supply is shorted out for 10 milliseconds.... But we are not talking about anything to do with the output; simply the power supply itself.

Ralph (Atmasphere), thanks for your comments also. As a point of information, all of the peak current specs Spectral provides at their site for the recent models as well as for the DMA-180 are described as "peak **output** current" [emphasis added]. So I would have to assume that **if** their wording is accurate those specs are based on the short we have referred to being applied to the output of the amplifier, rather than to the output of the power supply. The numbers, btw, are 60 amps in each of those cases, except for the DMA-400 monoblock which is 90 amps.

Best regards,
-- Al