More power for moderate listening levels?

Hello brianbiehs,

     You didn't mention which main speakers you're utilizing but, based on your user profile thread participation details, it seems like you're using Harbeth super HL5+ main speakers.  If this is correct, these are very high quality 6 ohm speakers that are 86 db/@ 1 watt/1 meter efficient with no large impedance dips, which a low powered class A amp should have no problem driving to moderate volume levels. 
     I just read a 6 Moons review of your speakers, linked to below, in which the reviewer was very impressed by these speakers, stating "the Super works well with tube, solid-state class A/B or class D amplification, whether it puts out 8 or 800 watts".  

http://6moons.com/audioreviews2/harbeth/1.html

     If the reviewer can drive your speakers well using an 8 wpc Coincident Dynamo SET tube amp, it suggests to me that your issue may be better explained by a poor preamp to amp impedance match rather than just your amp.
    Exactly which brand and model preamp and amp are you using?  For optimum performance, the rated input impedance of your amp should ideally be about 10X the rated output impedance of your preamp.
     I suggest you start by gathering the facts on your gear, you can either do it yourself or give me the details on your amp and preamp brand/models and I could check it out for you.

 Tim       

Thanks for the replies and Tim, thanks for the offer. My amp is an integrated so no preamp issues here. sorry for the confusion, I'm not reporting a problem so much as wondering whether there could be an improvement on already good sound. Many folks pair their Harbeths with lower power amps and yes, good results can be had. An amp with significantly more power than my Int-25 would certainly drive my speakers to higher volumes with less distortion depending on the amp. Another way to ask the question is: Is this the only benefit?

Aside from helping the dynamic range as turnbown suggested, are there any other attributes associated with extra power in reserve that would augment medium level listening?

@noble100 I would appreciate the offer of you helping me to know whether I am paired correctly and what I need to look for in a pre amp when I go that route. I have a Sunfire Cinema Grand V rated at 200wpc, my integrated is a Denon AVRX3500H. It has 5 pre outs so I am able to harness all 5 channels. Of course only 2.1 when listening to music. Speakers are Polk RTiA7s. I'm looking at a future upgrade in both speaker and pre amp. Thank you!

This is not an easy question to answer, and it would depend on particulars that are impossible to factor in, such as your own personal preferences and priorities.  My own priority is for the amp to sound good while playing at lower output levels where the vast majority of my listening takes place.  For me personally, I happen to favor the sound of low-powered triode tubes, and even in the solid state realm, the amps I like tend to be lower-powered, such as the gear from First Watt.  This means using fairly efficient speakers (mine are 99 db/w efficient).

Millercarbon raised a very point--lower efficiency speakers cannot really achieve good dynamics no matter how much power is fed because of thermal compression.  As more power is fed to the voice coil, it heats up and that heating increases resistance which reduces the amount of power that can be delivered to the driver.  The less efficient the speaker, the greater the compression.  My difference with his opinion is that I would not be so dismissive of the Harbeths just because they are not efficient; there are plenty of other reasons to like any particular speaker even if it cannot do "really loud."

It might be the case that the higher powered Pass amp will improve the sound, even at lower levels of play, but, I have my doubts about this because caused by some inherent superiority of having much more power in reserve.  This is something you will have to try for yourself to see if it is the case.  A long time ago, I auditioned an am rated to deliver something like 50 watts/channel.  The same company made a 200 watt/channel amp that the dealer said was very similar in design and parts quality, but used more output devices to achieve the higher power capability.  I actually preferred the sound of the lower powered amp in a direct comparison.

Can you be more specific when you say you hear strain or lack of clarity at higher volume levels — maybe give some specific examples?