If you want a large increase in headroom, more efficient speakers is probably the way to go.
Let's say you'd like 6 dB more headroom. You can get that from a fourfold increase in amplifier power, or by going from 86 dB speakers to 92 dB speakers. Not only is the latter probably more cost-effective, but I strongly suspect the VR-4's would exhibit serious thermal compression at peak input power up near 500 watts. So you'll also get better dynamic contrast with the higher efficiency speakers.
Duke
dealer/manufacturer
Let's say you'd like 6 dB more headroom. You can get that from a fourfold increase in amplifier power, or by going from 86 dB speakers to 92 dB speakers. Not only is the latter probably more cost-effective, but I strongly suspect the VR-4's would exhibit serious thermal compression at peak input power up near 500 watts. So you'll also get better dynamic contrast with the higher efficiency speakers.
Duke
dealer/manufacturer