I'm looking at buying a vintage Pioneer SX-737 receiver, which is 35 wpc. The
seller says its 170 watts, which it does in fact say on the rear panel. What is
the difference between these two figures? Thanks.

(Farrell8882) said:

I'm looking at buying a vintage Pioneer SX-737 receiver, which is 35 wpc. The
seller says its 170 watts, which it does in fact say on the rear panel. What is
the difference between these two figures? Thanks.

The 170 watts figure is the total mains power it may suck out of the
mains, worst case.
The 35 watts figure could well be the real output power in 8 ohms.
The rest is dissipated as heat.

--
Sander deWaal
Vacuum Audio Consultancy

Farrell8882 wrote:

I'm looking at buying a vintage Pioneer SX-737 receiver, which is 35
wpc. The seller says its 170 watts, which it does in fact say on the
rear panel. What is the difference between these two figures? Thanks.

Just confirming what the other poster said: The Pioneer SX737 was a nominal
35 wpc receiver.

170 watts is the power it would draw from the power line when its running at
something like quarter to half rated output into rated (proably 8 ohm) load.

The seller is either confused or trying to convince you that it is more
capable than it really is.

From: "Arny Krueger"
Date: 6/5/2004 1:06 PM

Farrell8882 wrote:

I'm looking at buying a vintage Pioneer SX-737 receiver, which is 35
wpc. The seller says its 170 watts, which it does in fact say on the
rear panel. What is the difference between these two figures? Thanks.

Just confirming what the other poster said: The Pioneer SX737 was a nominal
35 wpc receiver.

170 watts is the power it would draw from the power line when its running at
something like quarter to half rated output into rated (proably 8 ohm) load.

The seller is either confused or trying to convince you that it is more
capable than it really is.

Thanks to you and Sander.