It's certainly a part of the issue but it also has a lot to do with the voicing of the transducer. I can hear certain issues, such as how the bass on the 009 just stops when you reach certain amplitude and frequency, regardless of the volume level. This is due to the diaphragm material, it's thickness and tension i.e. the voicing of the driver. Damping does play a part here but it is minimal on the modern 'stats as airdamping only does so much.
As for the amps, yeah the Cavalli amps, WES, HEV90 and a few others will sound ok at meets but poor in real life. Same reason the HE90 concours every meet they are at...