JimmyTango, Spiff, JohnK, all,
Putting it in a crude, Brookynese manner: "Whadda ya want for $600? Seven channels at 100 watts per channel, all channels driven?? No way."
The EIA standards for measuring multichannel receiver power output were diluted, to permit manufactureres to sell you relatively inexpensive 7-channel receivers that in many installations will be quite satisfactory (reference JohnK's comments) but that simply have nothing like the power output of the old era of stereo, 2-channel receivers. With the latter, continuous power was measured from 20 Hz to 20 kHz, both channels driven, into 8 ohms and 4 ohms. Now, it's usually measured at a single frequency (1 kHz) with one or two channels driven, and the remainder at 1/8th of rated power output.
To sell a receiver with seven on-board amplifiers that deliver continuous power output with all channels driven would cost multi thousands, with huge heat sinks.
If you recall, we now get 7.1-channel A/V receivers for what 2-channel stereo receivers used to sell for, or even less money.
Regards,
