Mitch, "crank it up" is still unclear. If you calibrated with the new receiver to the same(usually 75dB)level as with the old receiver, then by definition the volume after calibration is the same with the two receivers. If you mean that the setting of the volume control is higher on the Sony than it was on the HK for the same volume, that's not necessarily a cause for concern. Volume controls differ in their calibration as to how quickly they increase the volume and it isn't unusual for a more powerful unit to require a higher volume setting for a given volume than the setting on a less powerful unit. In short, what you've reported doesn't necessarily have any connection with the maximum power of the Sony(as Alan commented, make sure that the Sony is set for 8 ohms, so that the power isn't limited), which should be plenty for your use.
