Regarding the power sentry and power guard
- POWER GUARD®
McIntosh designed and patented circuit that prevents speaker clipping. Photo-optics react in 1/1000th of a second to regulate power levels to speaker, protecting the speakers and the amplifier. A waveform comparison circuit continuously monitors both input and output signals. Power Guard dynamically adjusts the input level to avoid clipping while preventing harsh sounding distortion.
- SENTRY MONITOR™
McIntosh designed and patented circuit that activates in case of accidental “shorts" in speaker wires. Fuse-less short-circuit protection circuit disengages the output stage before current exceeds safe operating level-resets automatically
The Hypex modules also have sophisticated non intrusive monitoring and protection circuitry for excess output current, dc and amp circuit failure. Otherwise I would hope that most of us can hear the
"harsh sounding distortion" brought on by clipping and would turn the volume down.
Regardless, as an aid for this we are just about to introduce a clipping indicator on the stereo amps which will be available in a couple of weeks.