what's going on with specs?

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.

Power and distortion specs are just a minor reference point. A 30wpc amp isn't going to have the same power as a 250wpc amp but that is about as much information you can get out of a spec sheet. A watt is a watt but some watts are more equal than others. The only way to tell is to plug one into your system and try it.

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

Specs are a very small piece of the puzzle. Your ears will give you definitive measurements.  They have a direct link to the brain. 

People who post this question don't consider that specs are into a resistor.

Relation to a speaker [cables included] load: LESS THAN ZERO.

ONLY SONICS MATTER. And for once I agree w MC.

"If it measures good and sounds bad, –– it is bad. If it sounds good and measures bad, –– you've measured the wrong thing." –– Daniel R. von Recklinghausen, HHScott