try again,

[Jerry Hunt]

There was a series of articles on soundboard construction in the Journal
earlier this year by Del Fandrich. In one of them, Del addressed that issue,
describing that the soundboard is not an amplifier but rather a transducer. I
don't recall all the technicalities of the difference. Something to the effect
that the soundboard (nor any other part of the piano) doesn't increase the
amount of energy output (string vibration), but converts it to another form
(soundboard vibration??) which is more efficient in propagating the sound
vibration to your ears.

I'm working off of memory here without the benefit of having finished my
coffee, but it's something along those lines.

--
Jerry Hunt
Dallas, TX USA