MCH, that is really strange with your brother. I have the Marantz SR6200, it has the same amp as the 7200, but fewer features. I have not noticed a power deficiency. My speakers go pretty loud, I can still tolerate the level they go to, but it doesn't really hurt. The neighbors would notice some though. My speakers are Mirage OM-5 mains, OM-C2 center and Bose 301 surrounds. I used to have Bose 701 mains and those things just rocketed up with the volume. They were set 8-10 lower than anything else and still dominated. These did hurt at high volume.