Luc, there's nothing in either your present thread or in previous ones that contains any good reason for not simply trying your 1018 with M80s before looking for an amplifier with more maximum power; your search is premature at best. Your comment on the 1018's 110 watt rating indicates that you haven't read previous discussions here which explain that all amplifiers sold in the U.S.(which effectively applies to those sold in Canada as well)have to comply with the amplifier power rating regulations of the FTC(Federal Trade Commission). In summary, the rated power has to be sustained for at least five continuous minutes of operation; no "peak power" or similar rating is legally permissible for the basic rating. Audio magazine lab tests confirm that the advertised rating is in fact met, and manufacturers would be foolish to publish a power rating which was in violation of the regs. This is the only area of audio which has legal regulations and where we should be confident that claims will in fact be met.
If you want an amplifier with a higher maximum power rating, at least 500 watts would be required to make a significant difference in maximum sound level even possible.
If an amplifier has only balanced inputs, using an adaptor to allow use of an unbalanced output from the receiver or separate preamplifier shouldn't cause any noise problem. If running unbalanced all the way with a typical shielded coaxial cable doesn't result in a noise problem in typical home environments(and it doesn't), running unbalanced with an adaptor won't either.
