yes. most defnitely. the wattage isn't really what you're looking for in an amp when comparing similar numbers. what you really want is often called "headroom." the amount of power the amp will drive over a particular frequency range. a receiver can produce 20 watts RMS, but is it over the whole frequency range (20-20000 Hz) or just the mid frequencies (400-10000 Hz)? if you don't have the power across the entire audio spectrum, you'll get audible clipping in the areas where the amp is less likely to perform according to spec (usually bass notes). generally receivers use smaller and cheaper components than external amps, this often contributes to a smaller effective bandwidth and a smaller amount of "headroom."
for example, my Pioneer receiver is supposed to provide 30watts of power RMS over 4 channels. my Alpine amp is supposed to do the same, but the Alpine is noticably more accurate than the Pioneer. stronger bass, cleaner highs, and smoother mids. that's what separates the men from the boys, i guess.
[This message has been edited by baco99 (edited June 28, 2000).]
[This message has been edited by baco99 (edited June 28, 2000).]
