how does current work in an amplifier?

Dsper - the owner at the store I deal with is constantly telling me to ignor specs and just listen. He's given me some extrememe examples of equipment that he's heard where the actual sound was the opposite of what was expected. It was something crazy like 9 wpc and a THD in double digits that he said was amazing.

He also noted that there isn't really any true regulations going on to verify specs. Many of the specs are taken at the one and only ideal frequency. Think Ford commercials.

Specs are advisory to the knowledgable and misleading to those who aren't.

Magfan, isn't that the other way 'round? :)

Specs done well are useful for helping determine up front how well components might work together. I definitely recommend using specs for this purpose to get where you want to be faster rather than putting pieces together blindly and hoping for optimal results.

Less useful for determining how good a particular piece is. Since it always takes two or more components to actually produce music, this is really not very important anyhoo.

Mapman,

The last few weeks have proven to me that your words about matching components are true.

I had always wanted a Mac amp and got one and was happy with it until I got my Maggie 1.2's. At that point, the power into 4 ohms question came up.

I solved it by trading the nine month old Mac for Krell and paid a piece of change to make the trade.

I guess my only excuse is that I bought the Mac before I had heard Maggies. I will never forget that day - I was listening to Paradigm and Klipsch at a local dealer and he suggested that I might try the Maggies. The superior (to my ear) openess and resolution blew me away!

Anyway, it is now Krell and Maggie 1.7's.

I need to be happy with this for at least a while or the most beautiful woman in my life will shoot me dead!