A question on amp matching

You know the difference between a 400 watt amp and a 200 watt amp is only 3db. Just use the power output as a guide not as an absolute.

What speakers are you trying to drive? The impedance plot and efficiency of your speakers will shed some light on what amps might sound correct.

I would not enjoy the sound of a modest ARV receiver driving, for example, Focal Kanta 3's. On paper it might look like it should work, but the 8 Ohm nominal and 91 db efficiency rating is not the full story on these speakers and what you need to make them sound right.

+1 @nwres

@pryso - it would be much easier for us to help if we knew which speaker, or better yet which speaker and amp paring was disappointing.

If you want to figure it out yourself, you’ll have to be able to read/understand the impedance/phase vs frequency plot and efficiency of your speakers.

There are a lot of differences in amplifiers besides watts. I remember using a Naim 200, with 60 watts I think and it sounded a bit thin and anemic.  I switched to a Naim 250 with only 10 watts more, but it sounded twice as powerful because of the bigger and regulated power supply. So there’s that. You really need to go beyond wattage in your search, IMO.  As stated above, the way an amp handles difficult loads can make all the difference. It depends a lot on the speakers you are using.