Hi markmd,
Yes, you should be able to play the M80s quite loud in your small room using the Technics amp without worrying about clipping the amplifier's output. Keep in mind that "quite loud" subjectively is about 85 dB SPL at your listening seat. "Very loud" would be 95 dB SPL. So if your Technics needed to produce 1 to 4 watts to produce 85 dB, then peaks of 95 dB would need ten times the power at 85 dB, so about 10 to 40 watts, which is still within the output capabilities of the vintage Technics. (Power demands are logarithmic in nature, so doubling the amplifier power only produces a "slightly louder" increase of 3 dB. "Twice as loud" subjectively needs 10 times as much amplifier power.
No need to unhook your speakers. Just don't crank up the Technics past the "very loud" level and you'll be fine.
Regards,
Alan
