Another thing to consider is the impedance curve of your speakers. With them starting at 4 ohms I would be suprised if at certain frequencies they don't drop below 4 and possibly as low a 2 ohms. If that is the case your 7100 may be very unhappy driving those loads.

Thanks for the ideas.

Outlaw says 4 ohms is no problem, they accounted for the 2-ohm possibility.

I doubt I'm nearing 165Watts on these things, so I'm not clipping. There's no distortion that I can hear. It's still clear as can be.

It's just that details start to fade a little. The music still sounds GREAT, but the relative levels of everything shifts some.

That sounds like distortion to me. I assume you never had this problem with these SPEAKERS before?

It may indeed be distortion, if that's how you'd define it.

I was expecting some fuzzy sound, some choppy-ness, some Stratocaster-in-a-Fender-Twin kinda sound. THAT kinda distortion.

I never heard it before because the speakers, too, are brand new.

Now, my OLD speakers - THEY have distortion. I may have to bump my standards up a notch or three to become an appropriately critical listener.

Loss of detail sounds like compression to me.

Not to worry now...I just traded up to the 770.

: ))

I'm considering a pair of monoblocks, for running during Music Only sessions - at 300W/4 ohms. Only slightly louder, I understand

Incorrect, Will Robinson, ALOT LOUDER !!!!! (and clearer too !! )

I have found that the limits of my system are really the limits of the room. It just gets filled with sound and adding more defeats the desired results. I can reach a certain level of SPL and realize that the room needs to be larger to accommidate the volume or room treatments are needed to "gain" control. Something to take into consideration anyway.

Edit - Spell Check