> the cochlea mechanically amplifies the incoming vibrations

Is that even possible in principle? Amplifying requires adding energy, it has to be either provided from somewhere else or redistributed from other parts of the input.

EDIT:

Aha, but apparently this system is not a passive amplifier at all! Per Wikipedia[0], this is an active, electromechanical amplifier, which makes the explanation you quoted more reasonable (if not accurate).

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[0] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cochlear_amplifier but the core observation is also stated in summary here[1].

[1] - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Organ_of_Corti#Cochlear_amplif...