30 to 50 watts seems to be all I desire

A couple of comments. First, the position of the volume control on the preamp doesn’t tell you how much power is being used by the speakers. One is at the mercy of the recording volume, the output of the source/DAC/preamp, plus the input sensitivity of the amp and the efficiency of the speakers. I’ve seen systems where having the volume knob at 4 or 5 o’ clock gives a modest volume and other setups where 9 or 10 o’clock is overly loud and distorted.

Also, playback volume and power needed in watts have a logarithmic relationship. A 3 dB increase in volume requires double the power. Twice as loud requires ten times the power.

Hence, one of the critical issues revolves around an individual’s max preferred listening level. Headbangers with inefficient speakers in a large room need a LOT of power. Others, like me, rarely break the mid-80s in terms of dBs.

Like the OP, I found that I simply don’t need a lot of power. My class A Schiit Aegir (40 w/ch at 4 ohms) gives me way more volume that I ever need. Of course, having a separately powered subwoofer takes a load off that amp and the main speakers.

The key is to experiment with what it takes to make YOU happy.

Low power class A SS amps here as well. Small room’s and lower listening volumes.  

It is the gain on both the preamp and power amp that effects the use of the volume control.

I have a tubed pre, with adj. gain, combined with a 27db of gain on my amp. The pre`s gain set to 16 db= too loud; volume at 9:00, the pre`s gain set to 8 db= too loud; vol.  at 12:00.

I also have a low gain integrated w/ passive preamp section with a gain of 20 db. Unfortunately for me, I had to turn the vol. knob all the way to 2:00 for same level of volume.

@audiodwebe 

Caveat:  Listening to mainly Jazz at volumes less than 85db, normally.

This explans in large part your outcome and the fact that you listen in a modest size room. Quality of your amplifier has more bearing than the quantity of watts. Your scenario makes perfect sense to me.

As others have pointed out, the limited volume control usage range is a reflection of excess gain in an audio system and is not due to too much amplifier power. The higher the sensitivity of your speakers or amplifiers the less preamplifier gain is needed. If your digital source or phono cartridge is high voltage output,  the less gain you require. 

Charles 

I’m down from 255wpc with a Hafler DH-500 to 17 wpc from Dyna/VTA 70 with KT66 in triode mode. Plenty loud for me with average efficiency speakers in a 24x24 ft room, and sounds amazing.