your right, but its not about top volume, its about dynamics and ease to drive the speakers. the new amp made changes i really didnt expect. the sound is so much more open and airy, the clarity and detail is dramatically better. FWIW, its also louder at lower volume according to the 970, which isnt any real benefit just an observation. but this change was so obvious my wife, who was jacked i was getting another toy even noted that it sounded very different(she wouldnt give me the satisfaction of admitting it sounded better ). its class A/B with a 1,200VA transformer, 45,000uF of capacitance, and 12 output devices per channel.... this thing really has the balls to get the job done. im very amazed how drastic the change has been. it does play incredibly loud and clear as a whistle too, but the better impression is the performance at low volumes, its so clear and detailed. its just amazing how much it opened my speakers up, like a cover that was slightly muffling the sound was lifted off them and i can really hear them sing now. im happy.

i bet my electric bill goes up a to prove all that too!

all i need now is a true stereo preamp and im set!