Sadly I am in agreement there! It's too bad some manufacturers come up with their own standards, and how many suckers spend their bucks for this item. When it blows up. they wonder why. I see this stuff all the time, you are right, Caveat Emptor!
A sticker is good for 12 db and certifies the Amp as Creme Relator Axiom Prefectius or C.R.A.P for short. Very prestigious
The JBL GreenEdge in the Prius Plug-in only makes this cryptic statement ""8-channel high-voltage DSP amplifier, 120 Green Edge Watts = 600 Equivalent Watts" Not much useable information.
I've found that the better amplifier manufacturers: A) Underrate their amplifier wattage. B) Bench test each amplifier and provide a certificate showing what the amplifier actually produced. Speakers are rated by efficiency. A more efficient speaker will produce more SPL than a less efficient speaker from the same RMS wattage, ALL OTHER THINGS BEING EQUAL. A sealed subwoofer enclosure will require a LOT more wattage (double?) to get the same SPL as a ported or bandpass enclosure, but will have much tighter bass response. That $65 1000W amplifier <might> produce 1000 watts <ONCE> if struck by lightning.
