mdrew: I think that you just verified my above analysis that seems to indicate that for loud listening, you need more capability than 100 watts of peak power, at least for the fronts and center. It may be that the peak power capability is far more important than the average power capability. At least, that is what I am currently thinking.

I, too, was playing around last night with the SPL meter. I find that anything averaging 91-94 dB SPL on the meter is just too loud for me to enjoy. 87-90 dB SPL is about as loud as I would like to listen. But, that is just me.

The Rat. M80s, VP-150, QS8s, SVS PC 20-39+, OPPO, Onkyo 703s, Harmony 880 Sony 60" SXRD HDTV