High Current Receivers????

[mike171979]

This story is from a while back, but its been bugging me for a while, and now that I'm looking for a new receiver, I thought I'd share it and get some feedback.

Maybe 10 years or so ago, in an old Circuit City, I was looking at receivers. I was looking at the $200 - $300 range.

A sales associate came up to me, and tried to help me. He explained I should get a "High Current" receiver, as they are far superior to a low current receiver.

His method of showing me this was taking an Onkyo 302, (Yes, very old) and picking it up. It was heavy, like 18 pounds. Then he walked me over to the low end Sony 5.1 Receiver, and it weighed about 12 pounds. He said "feel that difference, that is the power right there. High Current Power!!!!"

For some reason that always stayed with me.

Now, back then, Onkyo advertised this 302 as "High Current"

But now-a-days, I read articles that say all of these mid range receivers actually are not high current. So obviously this old 302 was never "High Current"

And now-a-days, new Receivers by Harmon Kardon are lighter than ever. So I'm assuming they are not high current?????

Its all too much to keep track of.

Anyway, I'm looking now to get a receiver. The Sony 1040 looks like a very good receiver, with great reviews, and a low failure rate.

But is the Sony 1040 a "High Current" Receiver????? It better be. I'd hate to think a 10 year old $200 Onkyo 302 is a better sounding receiver.

(BTW I'm buying a new receiver because my Denon 788's HDMI board took a dump. Now the Denon 788 is the same level receiver as Denon's new E-400. I would hope the E-400 is a "High Current" reciever like the 788. Its funny though that the new E-400 weighs less than my 788. Why would that be?)

Is my old train of thought about Heavy always being more powerful finally dead?????

[mike171979]

It seems like no one ever has a good definition of what is a "high current" receiver, and for years it was used as a marketing gimmick by Onkyo, Denon and the like.