Eric,

How do you figure that your Onkyo has 250W of headroom? Help me understand please.

My problem is that I don't like pianissimo at 55dB. I like it around 75dB. So that raises the bar for my amp compared to yours by 20dB! As a matter of fact, now that I think about it, 55 to 60dB is the ambient noise in my room. Maybe that's why I like it turned up for these quiet passages.

House of the Rising Sone
Out in the mid or far field
Dedicated mid-woofers are over-rated